This column will feature items that relate somehow to Grant County - the name of a street in the case of the first one, and maybe other streets, or the name of a building or whatever catches the fancy of the contributor, Richard Donough. Readers are encouraged to send him topics of interest to them, so he can do the research and write an article.

Santa Claus Was In Town 2023 Part Two

The Chronicles Of Grant County

new mexico sky santa claus 2023Santa Claus and his nine reindeer are seen in the skies over Chihuahua, Mexico (in the red circle) late last night as they headed towards the South Pacific Ocean.

In our quest to break breaking news, The Chronicles Of Grant County is now able to report – exclusively – that Santa Claus and his nine reindeer began their Christmas travels from Grant County late (local time) last night.

The team took off from the Grant County Airport at approximately 9:47 PM on December 23. It was explained to us that elves at the North Pole determined that this departure time would allow Santa Claus sufficient time to deliver gifts throughout the world prior to the start of Christmas Day.

"Santa Claus and his nine reindeer were able to take off from our airport right on schedule," said Rebekah Wenger, Manager of the Grant County Airport. "Everything went according to the plans set by the elves. We were pleased to help Santa Claus again this year."

As in the past couple years, the elves built extra time into the schedule in case there were any detours because of local conditions.

The Chronicles Of Grant County has been able to confirm that leaders in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus; in Venezuela and Guyana; in Israel and Palestine; and in other areas of conflict have each agreed that Santa Claus and his reindeer will be able to travel freely throughout their lands.

"Santa Claus has 24 hours to deliver presents to good little boys and good little girls in more than 200 countries worldwide," stated Denis, one of the elves in the North Pole Scheduling Department. (Please note that elves only have one name.)

"I am able to confirm that Santa Claus will also be delivering gifts to a number of boys and girls that may not have been as good as they could have been during 2023," continued Denis. "Additionally, Santa Claus will continue his efforts to provide gifts to a number of adults – children-at-heart – this year."

The Chronicles Of Grant County had agreed to not disclose certain information while Santa Claus and his reindeer were visiting southwest New Mexico. We are now able to provide important details about his visit and how he and his reindeer prepared for their worldwide travels.

We can now confirm that Santa Claus and his team stayed at Bear Creek Cabins in Pinos Altos.

"We were elated to be able to host Santa Claus and his reindeer," said Dawn Donnel, Co-Owner of Bear Creek Motel & Cabins. "It was wonderful to see the reindeer enjoy our accommodations. Watching Prancer and Dancer as they roamed around the woods was a treat for our staff."

"I must say we were amazed at how much food the reindeer ate," Mrs. Donnel continued. "The elves at the North Pole Commissary did an excellent job of getting the food to our location. They were able to source all of the food locally here in southern New Mexico. We were able to deliver the food to the reindeer each day in the portions requested by Santa Claus. Vixen noted that the reindeer truly enjoyed the taste of the mushrooms. Cupid told me that the willow tree leaves were delightful."

The Federal government confirmed much of what Mrs. Donnel and the staff at Bear Creek Cabins saw first-hand. According to a statement issued in February of 2023 by the United States Food and Drug Administration, "an average adult reindeer eats 9 to 18 pounds of vegetation a day."

"The food for Santa Claus was, obviously, a little more varied than mushrooms and willow tree leaves," Mrs. Donnel commented. "It is true that Santa Claus does love milk and cookies. He also seemed to enjoy salads filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables."

She added that "we do love Christmas here at Bear Creek Cabins. We went all out decorating Bear Creek for Santa Claus. We'd love people to drive by and see the Santa Wonderland."

The Chronicles Of Grant County was able to meet with Santa Claus while he was visiting the area. Our interview – an exclusive interview – focused on a wide range of subjects.

"Our stay at Bear Creek Cabins was just what I and my team of reindeers needed," stated Santa Claus. "Donner told me that he especially enjoyed being able to get in his exercise routine prior to our trip."

"I enjoyed taking in some of the sights while here," Santa Claus continued. "The City of Rocks Park was amazing. We don't have anything like that at the North Pole. I found walking along the Continental Divide Trail to be quite relaxing."

Area tourism officials were joyful as they learned of the comments of Santa Claus.

"We're pleased that Santa Claus and the reindeer had a wonderful time in Grant County," said Kelly Johnson, Assistant Coordinator of the Murray Ryan Visitors Center. "He told me personally how much he appreciated the friendly welcome from the residents in Silver City and the surrounding communities."

Santa Claus also indicated that he was quite pleased with the services provided by the Grant County Airport.

"I've had occasion to stop at a number of airports and airfields in many places," Santa Claus noted. "The facilities and staff at the Grant County Airport are top-flight."

He detailed that his flight plan will have his sleigh enter the airspace over Chihuahua, Mexico, as he and his reindeer fly towards the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. Initial stops will be in such locales as Samoa, the Marshall Islands, and other South Pacific nations.

From the smaller islands, Santa Claus explained that they'll then visit Australia and New Zealand.

"Our travels will then take us to countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and North America," said Santa Claus. "I should be back in southwest New Mexico to deliver gifts locally in the late hours of Christmas Eve."

As he concluded our interview, Santa Claus told us that he hopes all children – and children-at-heart – will get to sleep tonight so that he and his team can deliver gifts to homes throughout Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties as well as other areas of New Mexico.

"Tomorrow morning, children living all around the world will wake up to love," Santa Claus stated. "I realize that not everyone will be able to get everything that they may want, but I am an optimist at heart. Through the eyes of children grows the love that provides the joy for this season and year-round."

"Merry Christmas!"

grant county airport terminal rebekah wenger december 15 2023 15Santa Claus and his nine reindeer made final plans for their global trip as they visited with airport personnel at the Grant County Airport Terminal last night. (The photograph was provided courtesy of Rebekah Wenger.)

Do you have questions about communities in Grant County?

A street name? A building?

Your questions may be used in a future news column.

Contact Richard McDonough at chroniclesofgrantcounty@mail.com.

If your email does not go through, please contact editor@grantcountybeat.com.

© 2023 Richard McDonough

Santa Claus May Be In Town 2023 Part One

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Santa Claus May Be In Town
2023
Part One

reindeer arctic research station in ny alesund norway u s department of state june 16 2016 35Dancer (left) and Prancer enjoyed some relaxation during the off-season while on an earlier visit to Ny-Alesund on Spitsbergen Island in Svalbard, Norway. The reindeer enjoy this section of the Arctic. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the U S Department of State.)

The Chronicles Of Grant County – continuing our tradition of exclusive reporting on events in southwest New Mexico – has found evidence that Santa Claus appears to be staying in Pinos Altos. It is likely that this world-famous leader is again planning to begin his annual global travels from Grant County.

While governmental and business leaders have been tight-lipped this past week, it appears that Santa Claus has been in town for several days.

Read more ...

Holodomor Remembrance 2023 Part Two

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Holodomor Remembrance
2023
Part Two

holodomor memorial national park service 65The Holodomor Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2015. (The photo was provided courtesy of the National Park Service.)

Seven to ten million people were victims of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 – the Holodomor, according to the United States of America. A memorial was dedicated to the victims of this genocide on November 7, 2015. The bronze and granite monument is located at Massachusetts Avenue NW and North Capitol Street NW in Washington, DC.

This past Saturday, November 25, 2023, the U S Department of State issued a statement "In Remembrance of the Holodomor Famine":

Read more ...

Holodomor Remembrance 2023 Part One

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Holodomor Remembrance
2023

Part One
holodomor holodomor museum fall of 1932 25This photograph is of “5-A class of Kryvorudsk (Zarudyansk school) of Kremenchug district, Poltava region [in Ukraine],” according to a statement from Holodomor Museum, part of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. “A third of the class did not survive the Holodomor of 1932-1933, including Lida Gonchar, born in 1921, (second row, 4th from the left).” (The photo was from the archive of Hanna Kapustyan’s family and was provided courtesy of Holodomor Museum, Fall of 1932.)
As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, some will also plan for the remembrance of the Holodomor on Saturday.

Folks in southwest New Mexico may view the news about the war in Ukraine and express sympathy for Ukrainians. Or, local residents here may see that war as one that is not one that should involve the United States of America. Some may have views that straddle those lines.

It’s important for people to understand the background of this situation.

Read more ...

Gila Wilderness Centennial Anniversary Poster Contest

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Gila Wilderness Centennial Anniversary Poster Contest

gila national forest 2023 photo contest overall winner smokey sunset from signal peak fire lookout by michael ruggiero photo courtesy of the us forest service gila national forest march 29 2023 50"Smokey Sunset from Signal Peak Fire Lookout" This photo was the 2023 Photo Contest Overall Winner of Gila National Forest. (The photo was produced by Michael Ruggiero and was provided courtesy of the United States Forest Service – Gila National Forest, March 29, 2023.)

Photographers who enjoy producing photos of wilderness are encouraged by the United States Forest Service to submit photos to be considered for Gila Wilderness Centennial Anniversary Posters.

This photography contest is accepting submissions through December 1, 2023.

The winning photos will be used as part of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Gila Wilderness by the Federal government.

Read more ...

Veterans Day 2023

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Veterans Day
2023

veterans day 2023 u s department of veterans affairs 25(The image was provided courtesy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023.)

Today is Veterans Day.

This is the day designated by the United States of America to honor military veterans who have served our nation with honor.

The service of military veterans of what was then called the "Great War" was recognized by then-President Woodrow Wilson in his "Address To Fellow Countrymen" in 1919.

According to a book issued by the Bureau of National Literature, Supplement to the Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Covering the Second Term of Woodrow Wilson, March 4, 1917, to March 4, 1921, President Wilson stated on November 11, 1919:

Read more ...

Zombie Territory In Grant County Part Two

Nuacht Aoirplease do not feed the zombies signage october 17 2017 alan levine flickr 25Federal officials are considering placing signs like this around Grant County. (The photograph was provided courtesy of Alan Levine, October 17, 2017.)

The loss of land in Grant County is troubling to many, but leaders of the United States of America indicated that this loss is actually an opportunity for the nation to help an ethnic group that has borne the brunt of systemic discrimination for generations in this country.

In Part One of Zombie Territory In Grant County, Nuacht Aoir detailed that the Federal government has decreased the size of Grant County – that part of Grant County has disappeared.

Read more ...

Zombie Territory In Grant County Part One

Nuacht Aoir

Zombie Territory In Grant County
Part One

u s census bureau grant county state of new mexico1 land area with circlesThe top image is from a public document issued by the United States Census Bureau showing that the land area of Grant County decreased from 2010 to 2020. The bottom image is from a different public document issued by the U S Census Bureau detailing that the land area of the State of New Mexico increased from 2010 to 2020. (The images were provided courtesy of the United States Census Bureau, 2023.)

In the unrelenting quest to answer questions that many have never thought to ask, Nuacht Aoir has learned that a portion of Grant County has disappeared.

Read more ...

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