A slow but enjoyable buildup to Christmas

A couple of us who have been on staff for a while were chatting the other day about how this might be the first time we’ve ever produced a paper with a publish date other than Thursday.

We’ve come out earlier or later, but never changed the pub date. Always Thursday. That was the rule. But several factors entered our thinking this year, and as I write this, with the press deadline closing in, it feels like the right decision.

This is our Christmas issue, after all, and what we’re sharing with you this week, from the holiday lights package to the kids performing to the Santa letters, wouldn’t have the same impact on Dec. 26 or Dec. 27.

Besides, Santa has work to do. He needs those lists ASAP.

December has been a slow but enjoyable build. It started the first weekend of the month, with perhaps the best turnout we’ve ever seen for a Holidazzle parade. No doubt, it attracted its most entries, with nearly 30.

We’ve enjoyed all the Christmas programs and concerts that followed over the next two weeks, starting Dec. 9 with the littles and ending Dec. 19 with the bigs.

We’re thrilled that our Greybull Area Chamber of Commerce has chosen to continue sponsoring its holiday yard decorating contest.  I don’t envy the judges.  They had a tough job this year. While they chose three very deserving winners, several others were fantastic and, perhaps in a different year, might have ended up in the money.

I doubt any of them do it for that, though. They do it to brighten the holidays — for themselves and others — and to share the Christmas spirit.

Which, by the way, is alive and well in south Big Horn County. Despite the inflation that has driven up the price of everything, we hear that the giving programs were successful. We applaud those who organized and supported the programs offered through the Greybull Elks Lodge, the Angel Tree at the Bank of Greybull, the Wiseman’s Star Tree and food bank at the Community Outreach, and Toys for Tots.

So here we are.  Christmas is upon us.

From our little newspaper office, we thank you for supporting us throughout the year and send our best wishes for a joyous holiday season.

See you in 2025.