Community Corner

Defense Agency Has Breaking News on Santa

"Why is the military reporting on Santa?" you ask. Well, it started with a bad phone number that had kids calling an important colonel who was trying to defend the United States and Canada.

Now just why does a military group with a serious name like North American Aerospace Defense Command track Santa and take notes on just where he is and what he is up to?

This doesn't make sense.

Any kid can tell you, the man who says, "ho, ho, ho" is no danger to anyone. He may eat one too many a cookie, especially if they're chocolate chip, but that's no crime. So why is the military watching him? 

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Good question.

Well, it all started with a wrong number. But we'll get to that.

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For more than 50 years NORAD and a group that came before it, CONAD, have tracked Santa on Christmas Eve.

Here is NORAD's scoop on why (with a little commentary from the peanut gallery ... that would be me.)

The adventure began in 1955 after Sears put the wrong number for Santa Claus into an advertisement. Well, lo and behold, all the kids who called trying to talk to Santa got none other than the Commander-in-Chief of another group with a very serious sounding long name (told you I'd have comments) —the Continental Air Defense Command. 

Despite having a title that makes you want to salute and stand at attention, CONAD's chief, Col. Harry Shoup, knew just how important these children's calls were.

And Santa himself will tell you only the kids who grew up getting a bunch of coal in their stockings have forgotten the importance of children's wishes.

Col. Shoup was no coal-getter, because he got on it right away. Within no time his staff was checking CONAD's powerful radar equipment to give children everywhere information on exactly where Santa was and when he was there. 

Since that time, the United States and Canada got together and that's how CONAD became NORAD. And the men, women, family and friends of NORAD decided to keep up the Christmas mission that Col. Shoup started. They pitch in to take phone calls and emails from children all around the world. 

This group didn't get its important sounding name for nothing, because it has gone and figured out how to get kids information on Santa even faster, and it's using the Internet to do it.

So starting Dec. 24, children can track Santa online and get the latest info right quick.

Between now and then, kids can also get updates on what the big guy in red is up to. About 350 I'd say (again with the comments).

A Lot of Coal Piling Up for Big Kids Fighting in Washington, DC

NORAD reported on Wednesday that Santa's elves have been busier than normal preparing for Santa's launch on Dec. 24.

Just why they've been busier is anyone's guess. But the peanut gallery (yeah, me again) bets it's because Santa has to figure out how much coal to give some big kids in Washington, DC, who are doing a lot of arguing right now trying to figure out how to fix something called the "fiscal cliff." Scary sounding, right?

Well old Santa isn't scared. He has delivered presents in blizzards, so he knows no fear. But he is stalling a bit on the coal because he really doesn't want to have to do it. He's nice like that.

Mrs. Claus is pulling for them too. She's hoping those men and women in Washington will stop with the shouting and start fixing things.

But don't worry kids, Santa knows most of you have been nice, so you're set. And those of you who could maybe pick your game up a bit. Well, he's pulling for you too. There are still 12 days until Christmas after all.


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