To the editor:

I went to the annual Christmas dinner at the fairgrounds, Saturday. It was a great time. As I was standing in line, people were laughing and talking, children sitting on Santa’s lap and the band was playing Christmas songs. Holiday season was in the air and everyone wishing the other Merry Christmas. Oh, what a good feeling.

As I approached the serving table, I saw Police Chief Will Balling and Sheriff John Lenhart serving food to the people of Shelby County. As Sheriff Lenhart put food on my plate, he remarked how much he liked my hat. I then saw my father-in-law walk over to one of his deputies and shake his hand and thank him for his service. I listen to the news and hear of the riots and shootings in other cities and communities and then I see our police department along with the sheriff’s office buying gifts at Walmart for Toys for Tots and passing them out to the children. It makes me proud to know we have a police department and a sheriff’s office in our community who care about one another the way they do. It also makes me proud to know we have people like this with the “right stuff,” who lay their lives on the line day after day to protect us and our way of life and make it possible to have a community gathering like this one. I like the “hat” you wear, too, John Lenhart! God bless these people, God bless our men and women in our armed forces, and God bless the United States of America.

Donald Hoaglin

Sidney