Christmas wishes

Calen McKinney

This is one of my favorite times of the year.

It’s busy, but people seem happy. They spend time with each other. They decorate. They donate to worthy causes and pitch in to help those in need.

The winter season gets in full swing and even the chance of snow flurries makes me happy.

We laugh more and are more generous. People buy presents for those they love and those who might not get presents.

This time of year also brings appearances by Santa and many, many letters written to him arrive at the CKNJ office. I’m almost certain that nine out of 10 children today want an iPad this year.
News-Journal employees have read so many children’s Christmas wishes, from finding a cure to cancer to making sure their friends have gifts under their Christmas tree to asking for some new toys. You can read all of the letters to Santa we collected in a special section in today’s issue.

After reading the children’s Christmas wishes, I started thinking about mine. Here are a few.

For the children of Taylor County, I hope they are happy, healthy and safe. They are the future of our community and we need to do all we can to make sure they have a safe learning environment and know there are people who love them.

For the city of Campbellsville, I hope the water tower project is completed soon and the lights on the bypass are all installed and working. For Taylor County, I hope Santa brings some more blacktop money. I know a few magistrates who know where it could be used. And I also wish that residents would stop stealing traffic and street signs. This is just dangerous and silly.

For James Roberts, our former CKNJ staff writer and a dear friend of ours, I wish him a quick recovery from his bone marrow transplant and a clean bill of health.

I wish for high enrollment numbers at Campbellsville University. We are lucky to have the university in our community. That is evident by the large financial impact the university has here.

For those who are out of a job this Christmas season, I wish a job opportunity to come their way.

For our emergency services and law enforcement personnel, I wish them to continue to serve Taylor County with pride, integrity and compassion.

To the Taylor County Tire staff and family, I wish a quick rebound from a fire that destroyed their business. Someone asked me recently why tragedies like fires happen to good people. I believe it’s because good people can’t be kept down.

I wish that our legislators have a serious conversation about gun laws and come up with a solution that keeps everyone safe.

For the entire Taylor County community, I wish a healthy and happy new year, one filled with business and personal success.

And finally, for all people, I hope we know the true reason for the season.

Santa, are you listening?