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PAGE XX v INDEPENDENT APPEAL
WEDNESDAY, XXXXXX
Independent Appeal
CHRISTMAS Making seasons bright for more than 111 years
2nd Grade
Honorable Mention Shelby Harris - Michie Elementary
Volume 111, Number 31, Wednesday, December 18, 2013
C Section
2013 Christmas Essay Contest winners Editor’s Note: As Christmas approaches and we prepare to bid farewell to another year, we at the Independent Appeal would like to wish everyone in the community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and thank our readers and advertisers for their trust in allowing us to be the most read newspaper in McNairy County. We would like to extend a special thanks to our local educators and their students for providing the essays, letters and artwork for this very special Christmas issue. Your hard work has helped us continue this long standing McNairy County tradition. One thing that is worth noting as you read this year’s submissions from our local children is our use of color throughout our two special sections. As a special Christmas gift to our readers and advertisers, we have decided to print these two sections in full color. This issue will stand apart from every other issue we have printed in the last 111 years. After printing more than 5,800 weekly issues of this paper, this issue marks the first time we have offered a full color, full size section. We hope you enjoy! Contest rules and winners In addition to the cash prizes awarded for the annual essay contest, we are beginning a new tradition by awarding cash prizes for each grade level in our Christmas Art Contest. We are also awarding an additional prize of $100 for the school with the most total submissions. For the second straight year, Bethel Springs Elementary School has taken the prize for most total submissions with more than 1,800 submissions. The following are the winners of the Independent Appeal’s Christmas essay contest for 2013. We would like to thank all the students for sending in their fine essays. There were so many good ones that it was really hard to pick the winners. Cash prizes of $35, $25 and $20 will be awarded respectively to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each grade. This year’s essays covered various topics and styles, so we tried to select a variety of work, including fictional stories about Christmas, essays about the meaning of Christmas, fictional stories and true accounts of their favorite Christmas. The primary considerations in judging were creativity, originality, relevance and emotional impact. Spelling and grammar were secondary considerations, and some editing for grammar and spelling was applied. We would also like to thank all the students for sending in drawings and poems. We used as many of them as we could, and there were a lot of great ones. Lastly, Santa Claus sent us a list of all the letters he got from our area, and we are including them inside this special section exactly as they were written. We hope everyone enjoys this special body of work put together by the children of McNairy County, and we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. 4th Grade 1st Place Winner Jabar McClendon Bethel Springs Elementary The Day Santa Came To Town It was Fall. Santa was checking the naughty and nice list. While checking the list, he got hungry and wanted some milk and cookies. He asked his elves to get him some. When they returned, he did not like the cookies. They didn’t taste like ones from Tenn. All he could think about is the cookies from Tenn. So the next morning he told the elves to ready his sleigh, he was going to Tennessee. In a flash, he flew over the Tennessee River, over Adamsville, through Selmer to a little town called Bethel Springs. He had to get the cookies from the family that made them on Otis Payne Rd. When he got to the house, everyone was asleep except the youngest boy, who was snacking in the kitchen. Santa tapped on the window and said, “for some cookies, you can have a sleigh ride.” With a handful of cookies, the boy jumped into the sleigh, and off they went. And that was the day Santa came to town. 2nd Place Winner Lindsey Jackson Selmer Elemenetary The Christmas Miracle One day Santa’s elves were making toys. They were having a very good day. They were singing and dancing while they were working. And then they checked the nice and naughty list and all of Selmer was naughty, they was super surprised. Then they went to Selmer Tenn. Then Santa looked at the nice and naughty list then he said “oh no that couldn’t be that all of Selmer Tenn is naughty.” The elves finally got their and they were tired. They looked around and said “man this place is a dump.” They was in the wrong place. Instead they was in the bad part of Jackson, Tenn., and Santa was almost their. Then the elves went to Selmer Tenn and said”This is a nice cozy place.” Then Santa arrived at Selmer Tenn
and said “This is the nicest place I have seen I can’t see why it’s naughty.” I’ll tell you why. It all started when Cole Amos was born. He didn’t know but his family was cursed. So he is the one who brought the curse to Selmer. Cole had his Birthday December 25, 1995. So he was a Christmas baby. The elves and Santa thought he was a Christmas miracle some other thought he was a mess. So nine years later he was in the 4th grade and he was very clumsy that his name was clumsy. His parents didn’t know that they were cursed. They got cursed by this younger man and he falled in love with Ms. Tiffany she was a witch her nickname was wicked. But Cole got bullied a lot of the time because he was clumsy. His parent’s didn’t know what to do about their son. But that day they went to their garden they found a note and it said “If your a Amos read below it’s all my fault because I got cursed and if you have a son he is cursing where you live.” So after that they went to Tiffany so they found her and they finely lifted the curse and live normal lives. So that is why they was on the naughty list but what you don’t know they gave it to Tiffany’s family so they got on the naughty list. So Santa was trying to think what happened then he said “ I know what happened, all the children in Selmer Tenn should get a present that is no fair they didn’t know that they would give it to the Tiffany family. So it came to Christmas and all the kids in Selmer were all very happy. The End 3rd Place Winner Angelina Hampton Bethel Springs Elementary The Night I Saved Christmas On Christmas eve I saw a shooting star. I made a wish. Then the star came closer and closer until I saw Santa’s Sleigh he had two elves hopped out of the slaigh. One’s name was Eivl the other was Vile. Eivl yelled “Santa get in the sleigh”. I said “no yay”. The elf stopped and look ed at me and said “you can’t tell us what to do” so I grabbed Santa and said “hop in” he hopped in some people saw us. Now I see why people started singing grandma got ran over by a reindeer “sorry, my fallught” I yelled. I said “Where is Rudolph?” Eivl took ‘em Santa said. Sadly it was true. Rudolph was not there “help santa” I screamed. There was the Elf starring at him. It was almost midnight. We hit a bump Santa fell out. He forgot about Christmas. It was all up to me to save Christmas. I had to deliver all the presents, but I didn’t know who was naughty or nice so I snuck into the glove box in the sleigh. I was amazed when I saw my sister’s name. She was... good. So I finished 1 min before sun rise, And that is how I saved Christmas 5th Grade Essays 1st Place Winner Lily Beth Durbin Michie Elementary Some Christmas Magic “When do we get to put on the tree topper?”, asked Ginger. Putting the topper on a tree was a big deal for their family. Every year they put up a special angel. “We haven’t even added the ornaments!”, said Zach. They also got excited about a Nativity scene that they had displayed since they were two. All they had wanted for this Christmas was that their grandparents would come see them. The nativity scene always reminded them of they’re grandparents and the real meaning of Christmas. It always seemed to come alive, along with the angel. Or was it a dream? Ginger’s brother didn’t seem to believe in Christmas magic, but she did! She had saw it herself. No one believed her but it was true. The angel would get off the tree, and go visit the newborn king of Bethlehem. The wise men would have to follow the North Star, and the Shepherd would watch his flock. “that is just make believe, statues cannot move!” said Zach. Later that night he went to bed, but Ginger stayed awake. She waited, and waited, but no movement. It was midnight, and still nothing. She just went on to bed. The next day Zach asked Ginger, “Was there any “movement” last night?” “No, but there will be!”, replied Ginger. Zach laughed, “I told there was no such thing as moving statues.” Ginger teared up, “I guess you were right.” It was Christmas Eve, and still no grandma and grandpaw. They woke up to a nicely cooked breakfast. Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage, Eggs, and Hashbrowns. They ate, and then went to decorate the tree. It was amazing! Lights, Bright Colors! The only thing that could make it better was the angels presence at the top. Zach grabbed the step-ladder. Together, they placed the angel on the point of the tree. “Just as I had imagined!”, said Ginger. Hours had passed and no sign of grandma and grandpaw. Zach and Ginger went upstairs. Zach passed by the nativity scene, “Hi, there!” said a wise man. Zach thought his mind was just playing with him, and walked on. “Hi, there!”, said a group of wise men. Startled, he turned around to see a group of wise men waving at him. He ran. “What is it?” asked Ginger. “It’s a, a talking wise man.”, told Zach. “Haven’t I told you, their magic!” smartly said Ginger. It was
Christmas night, and time for bed. Ding-Dong! Ginger opened the door, “Grandma, grandpaw!”, shouted the children. “Hi, my darlings I thought we’d never get here!”, said Grandma. Luckily they had got here right on time. “Oh look, its the nativity scene we gave to you two when you were little!”, said grandpaw. “Its magic!”shouted Ginger. “But Zach doesn’t believe.” She new she was right! That night when everyone was asleep, Ginger heard, “Ginger although your family doesn’t believe, I do.” “Who was that.” Ginger wandered. “Its me, Santa! In the morning there will be a great present under the tree,” he said. “Your family will also wake up to the presence of the talking statues. I have go to go now. Bye!” “Bye Bye”, answered Ginger. The next morning they all woke up, ate a good breakfast, and then ran to the presents. “A Great Present” she thought. She looked at the fattest and tallest present, “This must be it.” she said. “Open it”, her family said. She opened it, it was a note. Dear Ginger, I hear you are having problems with your family not believing in Christmas Magic. Let them read this note: Ginger is a good girl, and on the top of my NICE list. She tells the truth, believe her she isn’t lying. Although statues cannot move, with Christmas Magic anything is possible. Love, SC 2nd Place Winner Kylee Brown Bethel Springs Elementary What Christmas Means to Me What is Christmas really? THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!! Christmas is a magical time of the year. It is a holiday that is about giving, sharing, and helping. It is about giving the time to be with family & friends. It about sharing the love for each other. And finally it is about helping with the shopping, and putting up the lights, decoration, and putting up the Christmas tree to bring each other together. With the decorating and cleaning together, it helps bring families together united as one. It is a powerful holiday that that overrules hatred. It is a magical experience for children all over the world. Christmas is a feeling inside that makes you want to sing. It is about being able to be with family, and having hope to believe in Santa (the big guy in the red suit), and dressing up and having a Christmas feast with all your family members, and believing in all the elves and Santa’s helpers, and believing in the Christmas spirit. It is
about the love for the holiday. I for one believe in the Elves, Santa, reindeer, and I believe in the Christmas spirit. Christmas is magical, it’s not about the presents or the pretty wrapping paper on the presents you get, it’s about how you cherish the items in your heart and how you should be happy that you got something, not that you didn’t get the kind of phone or game system you wanted. So, that’s why I’m writing this paper because the magical things that happen on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning won’t happen if you don’t believe in the Christmas magic. Christmas is a holiday for the birth of JESUS. Christmas is something that is always exciting when you wake up. It brings happiness to everyone that believes in Christmas. It is something that lifts all the hatred and what is left is love, and the Christmas spirit. So year round if you used to be grumpy and rude all that changes because one tiny little piece of your heart disagrees with not letting Christmas in and soon your the best person you could be and you love Christmas with all your heart, little things make huge differences in our lives throughout the year back around to Christmas where the rejoicing begins again and over and over throughout your life. 3rd Place Winner MeKyland Williams Michie Elementary A True Christmas Gift Once Upon a Time, a little elf named Snowflake, blonde haired, blue eyed and very curious. Some might call her bouncy. She had a heart of silver. But, she didn’t think before she acted. Which led her to a lot of mischief. Santa was worried a great deal. Because he needs all his elves to be responsible and trustworthy, Santa thought and thought for something he could do for little Snowflake. And, finally he came up with a plan! The perfect plan to teach Snowflake was to let her go along with the biggest night of the year. Even though she was not old enough. Santa thought this was a good plan, to teach her responsibility and to think before she acts. Snowflake was soooo excited and the night had finally come! Later that night, Santa told her to bundle up and to not be so bouncy. She was trying so hard to do what Santa said but she was to excited. Suddenly the slay took off and the reindeer started flying! She saw the sparkling lights be-
See ESSAY WINNERS, 11C
Art Contest winners
Listed below, are the winners of the first ever Independent Appeal Christmas Art Contest. 1st Place winners will receive $15 and 2nd Place winners will receive $10. We would like to congratulate our winners and thank all of those who submitted work. In addition to the winners, we have printed a selection of honorable mention work throughout this Christmas Section. .
Pre-K and Kindergarten 1st Place Gavin W. - Page 2C Selmer Elementary 2nd Place Esteban Hernandez - Page 2C Bethel Springs Elementary
First Grade
1st Place Anna Clayton - Page 3C Selmer Elementary 2nd Place Jack Mullins - Page 3C Bethel Springs Elementary
Second Grade
1st Place Gillian Garner - Page 4C Bethel Springs Elementary 2nd Place Sydney Smith - Page 4C Selmer Elementary
Third Grade
1st Place Winter Nance - Page 5C Michie Elementary
(Third Grade - Cont.) 2nd Place Nate Moore - Page 5C Bethel Springs Elementary
Fourth Grade
1st Place Jacob York - Page 6C Selmer Elementary 2nd Place Mickela Stewart - Page 6C Selmer Elementary
Fifth Grade
1st Place Haven Gray - Page 7C Bethel Springs Elementary 2nd Place Dylan Baswell - Page 7C Bethel Springs Elementary
Sixth Grade
1st Place Jade Burks - Page 7C Adamsville Elementary 2nd Place Mallory Wagoner - Page 7C Bethel Springs Elementary