It is one of the great Christmas traditions, ranking with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Er, at least we like to think so, but we might be overstating the case. Anyway, with Christmas around the corner, we present our weekly Cheers & Jeers editorial with only cheers. Nobody wants holiday jeers.
Cheers: To Wreaths Across America. Led by a member of the Portland Police Highland Guard, a group of volunteers placed more than 600 wreaths on military graves last week at Vancouver’s Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The nationwide project was launched in 1992, when a wreath company in Maine donated surplus holiday wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and it has spread to locations in all 50 states. As the project’s website explains, the goal is to “Remember our fallen U.S. veterans. Honor those who serve. Teach your children the value of freedom.” The program is a meaningful way to remember those who have served this country while embracing the spirit of the Christmas season.
Cheers: To the Clark County council. Councilors demonstrated prudence in declining new fees to support the Clark Conservation District. The district, which offers assistance for landowners, is seeking $5 per parcel plus 10 cents per acre from landowners.
The conservation district, which relies upon state and federal grants for funding, provides many worthy services and deserves consideration, but council members opted to take more time before making a decision. Councilor Jeanne Stewart said, “I have to see benefits for all the people that are going to be required to pay, and I’m struggling with that.” Councilors made a reasonable decision in saying that supporters of the conservation district should strengthen their case for funding.
Cheers: To high-fives. Students at Heritage High School teamed with the school’s mascot, Terry the T-wolf, to take aim at a rather obscure world record: Most high-fives by a mascot in one minute. About 150 students lined up for a hand slap from Terry, who made it through the line nearly twice.
That would be almost 300 high-fives in 60 seconds, although the event is under video review. The record for high-fives by a mascot in one minute is 128 at the University of Indianapolis, according to Guinness World Records. There’s no word on why there is a record for high-fives by a mascot, but Heritage students seemed to enjoy taking a shot at it.
Cheers: To holiday generosity. This time of year is filled with heart-warming stories about Clark County’s charitable nature, including restaurants providing holiday meals to people who might otherwise go hungry or simply don’t want to spend Christmas alone (https://tinyurl.com/ycgss3d3).
Cheers go out to all of those who think of others during the holidays and work to make the season a little brighter for our most needy neighbors.
Cheers: To saving Christmas. This happened far from Vancouver, in Byram, Miss., but it is worth sharing. TyLon Pittman, 5, made a 911 call with an urgent report: “I just want to tell you something. Watch for that little Grinch. Because Grinch is gonna steal Christmas, OK?” That was Pittman’s concern after watching YouTube videos about the Dr. Seuss character.
An officer arrived at the boy’s house to assure him that the Grinch would not steal Christmas. Officers then invited Pittman to the tour the police station, where they surprised him by having the Grinch in the back of a patrol car. “Then the Grinch talked to him and said he was sorry and that he would stop stealing Christmas presents,” according to news reports. It hasn’t been confirmed, but it is believed the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day.
