KILGOROUND

WE’RE IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT for Kilgoround today. Almost every item — save the one toward the bottom, where you can read about what happened to La Marque High School last weekend in the Class 4A football playoffs — is a holiday item.

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WORD HAS IT that Santa Claus will make a special appearance at the Kilgore Public Library this weekend, on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30. Children are invited to come and have a last word with St. Nick before he makes his annual trek around the world.

And by the way — the library’s annual open house is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12.

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IN A RELATED ITEM, here’s something a lot of people don’t have: Santa’s address.

If you’d like to help your child write a letter to Santa, address it to Santa Claus, No. 1 Reindeer Lane, North Pole, 756629998. You can mail it conventionally, or bring it to a special drop box located in the lobby of the U.S. Post Office on Kilgore Street. Nextday delivery to Santa is guaranteed.

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IF YOU’RE IN LIBERTY CITY, you don’t have to drive far to see some fantastic Christmas lights.

The Christmas In The Park Festival at the Hugh Camp Memorial Country Park boasts more than 100,000 lights, and there’s no admission. Also, on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., area churches provide hot chocolate and Christmasrelated entertainment.

If your church would like to help, call (903) 983-3640. The park is located on Old Gladewater Highway, between FM 1252 and Interstate 20.

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HERE’S THE ULTIMATE Christmas celebration if you’re a snow fan.

The Chamber of Commerce will again bring in snow to make a snow hill downtown, where hundreds of children — and some of (us) adults — had a great time last year.

The snow hill will be a part of the ongoing Holiday Trail of Lights celebration downtown, and is set for Friday, Dec. 16. If it’s cold enough for the snow to hold on, the snow hill will be available for Saturday, Dec. 17, as well.

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THE CRISIS CENTER of Kilgore has applications from 11 more families for help in getting Christmas presents for their children.

I can’t imagine a more worthy cause than that.

They need individuals or businesses to adopt one family or more. Anyone adopting can ask for a family with one child, or a family with several children.

If you have love to spare this year, please consider sharing it by adopting a family for Christmas. For more on this, or to volunteer to help, call Susie Prater at (903) 984-3019.

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FOR THOSE OF YOU who might be interested in what happened in the Class 4A Division II playoff game between La Marque (the team that defeated Kilgore) and Brenham, La Marque lost, 41-31. Brenham advanced to the state semifinals with the win.

And Marshall beat Pflugerville Connally over the weekend, 24-17 — the Mavs are now in the 4A Division I state title game for the second straight year. This time, their opponent will be Highland Park.

Marshall lost the title game last year to Ennis.

The Mavericks face HPHS Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rose Stadium in Tyler. And if you’re planning on going to that game, you might consider getting get there Friday night. I understand it will be a little crowded.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY to Sage Huskey, Brent Durham, Dwight Friesen, Donna Woodruff, Bill Brunson, Cheryl Edwards, Dustin Walden, Ed Ebel, Bonny Wade, Rena Dikes, Kelly Layne Allen, Shannon Isaac, Melvin Templeton Jr., Shanaya Bell, Jo Beth Reeves, Zachery Tingle

Among those celebrating with them are country singer Helen Cornelius (64), actor James Naughton (60), actress JoBeth Williams (57), actor Miles Chapin (I have no idea who that is; he’s 51, though), comedian Steven Wright (50), and actress Janine Turner (I know her; she was on “Northern Exposure.” She’s 43).

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TODAY to Pete and Yvonne Jones.