WELCOME — Today there will be a Red Cross Blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion in Fairmont. Call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), go online to www.redcrossblood.org, or text ‘BLOODAPP’ to 90999 to make an appointment or to locate a blood drive near you. Give the gift of life with a blood donation this holiday season. Each unit may save up to three people.

There will be a Cribbage Tournament at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Welcome Legion Hall beginning with registration at 1:15 p.m. All area cribbage players are welcome to join in the fun.

Condolences to the families of Chris Brookins and Kenneth Johnson who passed away recently. They will be missed.

The Sherburn Theatre will feature Mufasa (a prequel to The Lion King) this weekend and next weekend. The dates of the shows are Dec. 20 to 22 and Dec. 27 to 29. Tickets are $5.

The Burn Site will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 28. There is a Christmas tree drop-off site in Fairmont and at the Sherburn Nursery in Sherburn from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10. Only real trees may be dumped. No wreaths, roping, tree stands, ornaments, or artificial trees are permitted. Questions should be directed to the Solid Waste Coordinator at (507) 776-3232.

Christmas Eve services for area churches are as follows: St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Sherburn at 4 p.m. (those members may attend 9 a.m. services in Jackson or 6:30 p.m. services in Lakefield). Christmas Day services are at 8:30 a.m. in Jackson. Jan. to March St. Luke’s services will be 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The Circle of Faith Parishes have communion at each of the four Churches at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 at St. Peter in Ceylon, at 5:30 p.m. at Waverly north of Welcome, at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity in Welcome and at 7 p.m. at First Lutheran in Trimont. The Sunday service on Dec. 29 will be a joint service at St. Peter in Ceylon at 9 a.m. with a brunch following. This Sunday, Dec. 22, the First Lutheran Church in Trimont will have a Cantata by the choir at their 9 a.m. service. St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn will have two Christmas Eve Services. One at 5 p.m. for families and one at 9 p.m. (candlelight service). Their partner church in Wilbert will have a 7 p.m. Candlelight service. On Sunday, Dec. 29, St. John’s will have an 8:00 a.m. service and Wilbert will have a 9:30 a.m. service.

A well-attended public hearing about the street improvement project for 2025 was held Tuesday evening despite the weather. An informative and interesting presentation was given and many questions were answered.

There is no school at Martin County West today for a teacher workshop and the school will have winter break until Jan. 2.

Please have a Blessed Christmas and a Great New Year. Drive safely.