La Sal selects first ever Citizen of the Year

NORTHERN NEWS
by Maxine Deeter
Several locals, mostly the ladies at La Sal Elementary School, chose this year’s annual school holiday program to acknowledge the decades of work in the community by one of its citizen.
Karry Lynn Bradshaw Deeter received a big thanks for all her dedicated efforts for the town of La Sal.
The presentation was made by head teacher Ms. Shelly Thayn who, with emotion, touched on some of the high points of Karry’s long service. This is what she read to the audience as she gave the presentation:
“This year we would like to recognize one of La Sal’s valuable citizens. This person has been a huge asset to our community. This is just a sampling of her efforts on behalf of our La Sal community.
“This person has served many years on the La Sal school PTO, where she served as president as well as every other capacity. She still helps plan the annual Halloween Carnival and can be seen in the kitchen every year.
“This person has served on the Recreation Board for the La Sal Community Center since 1998. This person is also currently serving on the San Juan County Library Board, attending meetings to improve library services for all corners of the county.
“She also serves as the La Sal rep for the San Juan County Business Retention and Expansion program.
“Twenty-one years ago, she started the Toys for Tots program in La Sal. She still spearheads the fundraising, buying, wrapping, and delivering of all gifts for those in need in our community.
“This person also helps in organizing and carrying out the Republican caucus in La Sal.
“She spends much of her time organizing, working, volunteering, and doing what needs to be done to make our community a better place to live. She is currently trying to find a way to get better internet and cell phone service. Because of her selfless efforts, La Sal is a better place to live.”
I try not to get too personal in this column. (Yes, I know I fail at times, but that’s what comes from having an awesome family.) When I first heard that Karry was to receive this award, I told my husband,
“We are going to have a citizen of the year in La Sal”.
His response: “It better be Karry!” Congratulations to my awesome, beautiful daughter-in-law. I usually respect your privacy but being the family matriarch, sorry, your praises and photo need to be in the newspaper. I hope this will be an annual event, because there are a lot more unsung heroes in our village.
A goodly crowd converged on the LDS Church on December 18 for the annual Christmas potluck. There was no shortage of foodage! In fact, I kept waiting for the tables to buckle under the weight of all the food.
Ham was the main course, and there were many potato casseroles on the side. Each was uniquely different. It was hard to choose which ones to eat. No way could you sample each one.
A couple of big pans of hot dinner rolls also accompanied the meal. Desserts were varied and plentiful.
Yes, La Sal moves on its stomach, especially this time of year. A good time was had by all that very frigid winter night.
December 21 was the annual “strut their stuff” La Sal Elementary School holiday program. It was short and sweet but full of music and dancing and recitations.
Ms. Thayn’s kindergartners and first graders recited a poem and sang a song about jingle bells. Then they wowed the crowd with the cutest version of “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas” you’ve ever heard.
Ms. Bunker’s second and third graders – all four of them – presented a play which included singing and line dancing and solving a crossword puzzle. How many reindeer does Santa have? Eight did not fit.
Oh, there is Rudolph, but no, nine was also not the answer to the puzzle either. It seems there is a tenth reindeer – Leonardo the Red Necked Reindeer. The kiddos sang and danced as they introduced us to reindeer number 10.
As an interesting side, the four kids did a Country/Western line dance. And if you looked at the back of the auditorium, you saw Ms. Bunker leading them in the dance.
Someone noticed that second show taking place and recorded it. Keep your eyes peeled to Facebook; you might just see it there.
Well, just as the play was concluded, red lights and sirens could be seen and heard as the local fire folks escorted Santa onto the scene. The kids lined up to sit on his lap, with age 16 being the cutoff.
Some younger kids were a little reluctant to lap sit, even though they’d been telling great-grandma that day they were going to sit on Santa’s lap.
My little great-grandson could be heard yelling, “Help me dad!” Maybe next year.
Each child received a Santa goody bag from one of the elves. It all seemed to go smoothly and few know the tension and ulcers that it took to get this all put together on time.
Santa and the fire folks were out and about again Thursday night delivering the Toys for Kids gifts and then again he was on his regular rounds Saturday.
I hope everyone left out lots of milk and cookies for the jolly guy ‘cause he looked a little flacco this year – a lot like a tall, slim Steven Redd! Fatten that dude up would ya!
Some of Santa’s elves met Thursday morning to help him out by wrapping the Toys for the Kiddos gifts to be delivered that night. What a fun way to enjoy the season.
Lots of little elves have been scurrying around the town as well delivering holiday goodies to friends and neighbors old and new. One of the funnest things to do is take a plate of goodies to someone who might otherwise not receive any Christmas cheer. There was some of that going on as well. ‘Tis the season!
Friday night saw the Johnson family hosting a Christmas Eve Eve get together at the community center. They furnished the hot cocoa and everyone brought along cookies to share. This fun loving family did a pie party just before Thanksgiving and guess it was so much fun, they decided to do it again.
From La Sal we hope you had a great Christmas – now on to the New Year.