It's that time of year when we try to do our little bit to help ol' St. Nick with an idea or two for folks in the Bootheel. He's been a little busy and a couple of things might have slipped his mind. I have nothing better to do than play elf for the round, jolly fellow.

Let's start off with one of the younger set. This gal has been very good all year and certainly should merit consideration for a special present. Megan Walker has been looking longingly at a new Toyota FJ Cruiser sitting in her driveway. She would just love to take that thing cruising one night through town. I'll bet she wouldn't allow more than five or six of her friends to ride with her down First Street. She needs a little help Santa. Who knew the Grinch wore a uniform?

Some folks really get in the spirit of things and want to enjoy all the trappings of the season. For some that can include the smell of a real, live tree decorated and sitting in the den. Sometimes though, it makes more sense to be practical. Would you please, Mr. Claus, bring Daryl Wilcoxson an artificial tree for next year. Daryl holds on to the tradition of a live tree at all costs. This year he got the tree home only to have Vicky point out that it was too big in diameter for the tree stand. Daryl set about cutting it off. He went to work, grunting, groaning and perspiring like it was the middle of summer. He worked and worked but finally got several inches cut off from the bottom of the tree.

I think Vicky remained in the Christmas spirit when she pointed out that the tree was still big for the stand.

This time though, he resolved to work smarter and not harder. He cut on the tree a while, then decided to drive a screwdriver into the stubborn tree to wedge it apart. After the screwdriver disappeared somewhere into the trunk of the tree Daryl got more determined. Having exhausted all the available screwdrivers he started using nails in an effort to get the tree wedged apart enough to at least get the screwdriver back out.

Once he had succeeded in driving all the available nails into the tree, Daryl decided it was time to call for backup.

His neighbor has been known to be handy with tools, so Daryl called in reinforcements. The neighbor shows up and after looking the situation over, dons a pair of gloves, a saw and goes to work on the tree which would not be cut. Several cross-cuts into the hardwood a screeching metal on metal sound is heard throughout the neighborhood.

He stopped then started sawing away again. Soon another screech is heard. He cocks his head and looks at Daryl.

"How many nails did you put in this thing," he asked. Reportedly Daryl only grinned and mumbled something like, "I lost count," but his reply couldn't be confirmed.

Finally a large portion of the tree falls away and they are able to get the family tree into the stand.

So, there you have it Santa. Daryl needs an artificial tree, or at least a wider tree stand.

While you're in the neighborhood Santa, drop off a new bow saw at Jim Warrington's house.

Marsha Blanchard needs a new pair of running shoes, she's just about worn out the pair she has now. While competing in the St. Jude Marathon, okay, we know technically it was the half-marathon she ran in but 13.1 miles still takes a lot out of a pair of shoes. I would suggest just getting her a bike, but she's probably only end up pushing the bike as she ran along beside it.

Nelson Perez needs a little help and I know that normally you don't do such things, Santa, but Nelson is just about worn out from all the decorating he's done in and around the house for the holidays. So many people have had an opportunity to enjoy the home this season because of his and Michelle's generosity it would be nice if Nelson had some help taking all those decorations down in a few days.

Teddy Burnett needs a little sunscreeen, St. Nick. Teddy ventured out to the golf course just last weekend and got in a round of golf in shorts. He was so tickled to be playing in shorts in the middle of December, Teddy forgot his sunscreen.

Everett Mobley would like for you to take an interest in "cow magnets" Santa, but maybe not for the reason most people think. Cow magnets are used to prevent what's called "hardware disease" in cows. Cows eat everything, including nails, wire and other metal objects that gets lodged in their digestive system and causes them to become sick. However, rumor has it our animal doc bought these "cow magnets" when they were the latest moneysaving craze for people who heated their houses with natural gas. The story goes that cow magnets, when placed on the gas lines, aligned the gas passing through which supposedly burned more efficiently and saved money. By the time Everett had cornered the market on cow magnets the craze had passed. There's one school of thought that the doc bought these cow magnets for his business, but Santa, if you need any of these for stocking stuffers they're available.

It was nice of you to give Matt Shetley an early Christmas present and let his coaching contract be picked up for the coming year. After not having his Kiwanis girls basketball coaching contract renewed, Matt sat out a year. We're glad to hear his agent got everything worked out for the 2007 season. P.S. Santa, as a stocking stuffer you might give Matt a seat belt so he doesn't have to worry about those pesky technical fouls.

Please Santa, let Tom Edgington open all those presents he saw several weeks ago. It must have been tough on this youngster having to try on clothes he was going to get for Christmas then see them sitting under a tree in a box waiting to be opened on Christmas morning.

It seems like the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents could use a calendar, Santa. Last week they elected Brad Bedell president of the board for the coming year. The, uh, confusing part of that election is that Bedell's term expires next month. In the meantime Dunklin County sits without a representative on the board and two centers of the university are located here.

Well Santa, that's about it this year. Most of us are blessed enough already.