Christmas events to help you enjoy this season

4-H Santa Train

The 4-H Santa Train will gear up on Thursday, December 17, 5-7 p.m. For $5 your child can enjoy a movie, popcorn, talk to Santa and get a bag of goodies to take home as well as ride the train down Main Street.

Due to social distancing this event has been moved to the Off the Square Market near the Downtown Shopping Center.

Special events of the evening will include non-stop Christmas movies on the big screen, pop corn, a chance weekend by teaching your children the true meaning of this blessed season, then drive to the little town of Algoma on Highway 15 South. Algoma Baptist Church will once again be hosting the live Christmas Nativity this year Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5, 6-9 p.m. even if it rains. Folks can even drive through any time during the day and see it as well. The folks won’t be out there, but the time of reflection on the real meaning of Christmas will be there. to chat with Santa as he sits in his sleigh and a bag of goodies to carry home and enjoy. The little draw string bag will have cookies and different coloring activities as well as a package of reindeer food for Christmas Eve as well as other things to keep the little ones busy for hours to come.

The highlight of the evening will be that magical ride down snowflake lane streets of the city in the train.

For more information call Jane Chamblee, 4-H agent, at

Algoma Live Nativity

If you want to come away and begin your December the Pontotoc County Extension Office at 662-489-3910.

The five scenes portrayed are: * The angel appearing to Mary * Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem * Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in the manger * The angel appearing to the shepherds * Three wise men on their way to find the new-born King

There is no charge. Bring your group by bus, by van or by car. Algoma Baptist Church is located off Highway 15 South, one mile down Algoma Road.

Breakfast with Santa

Ecru’s breakfast with Santa will be Saturday, December 12 at the Community House there in Ecru from 8-11 a.m. Cost is $5 for the breakfast and a canned good to get to ride on the train.

Christmas Calendar

Christmas Parades • The Sherman Christmas Parade was slated for December 5, however due to the mask mandate officials opted to cancel this year. • Ecru Christmas Parade was slated for December 5, however due to the mask mandate officials opted to cancel this year. • Pontotoc City Christmas Parade was slated for December 7, however due to the Governor’s mask mandate for Pontotoc County through Dec. 11, officials opted to cancel this year. • All activities on these pages are subject to delay or cancellation because of the Covid 19 pandemic. Please check the pages of the Pontotoc Progress for any updates on your Christmas happenings. Friday, December 4 • Thaxton Christmas parade - 6:30 p.m. Line-up time will begin by 5:30 p.m.and parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Please be making plans to enter a float, antique cars, tractors, ATV, walk as a group, or “whatever.” Let us make this a Christmas Parade that we can remember. There will be no activities at the park building. • Algoma Drive-thru Nativity - 6-9 p.m. Discover the true meaning of Christmas through the six scenes of the nativity.

Saturday, December 5 • Sherman Christmas Parade - 2 p.m. Line-up time will begin 1:30 p.m. at Barclay. • Algoma Drive-thru Nativity - 6-9 p.m. Discover the true meaning of Christmas through the six scenes of the nativity. • Ecru Christmas parade - Cancelled due to pandemic.

Monday, December 7 • Pontotoc Christmas Parade - cancelled due to mask mandate because of the pandemic.

Saturday, December 12 • Breakfast with Santa in Ecru - 8-11 a.m. $5 for breakfast. Canned good to ride the train

Thursday, December 17 • 4-H Train Ride at the Off the Square Market 5-7 p.m. Watch Christmas movies! Eat popcorn! Talk to Santa! Ride the train down snowflake lined streets! $5 each child for these special activities.

All calendar activities are subject to delay or cancellation because of the Covid 19 pandemic. Please check the pages of the Pontotoc Progress for any updates on your Christmas happenings.

Little Angels

are ready for adoption at the Salvation Army thrift Store

It is time to open your hearts to those least of these our brothers and sisters who need a little Christmas cheer in the form of Salvation Army Christmas Angels.

They have been placed on the tree and are ready for adoption. After you choose your boy or girls please do your the key signal that the Christmas season is here. If you want to help out there is always a need for bell ringers.

If you are shopping for Christmas, getting food for dinner or making a trip to the bank there’s always a chance to donate. However, if you find yourself without a dollar or two or some change in your purse or pocket, you can pay by phone this shopping and carry it back to he thrift store on Reynolds street.

Rather than having everyone come at once, organizers will call the family to come get the goods when you deliver them. The deadline to bring your gifts back to the Salvation Army is

Salvation Army

has stepped up with the times at the Christmas kettles

The bright red kettles with the bell ringing beside it is

Thursday, December 17. year.

There are smart chips and QR codes in the signs that connect with the Apple Pay or Google Pay app on your phone.

All you have to do is tap for Apple Pay or Google Pay. If don’t have either one of those, if you just use your camera and scan the QR code. So ring a child’s Christmas a little brighter this year with your gift to the Salvation Army. Any monies you donate in Pontotoc will stay here.

Santa Letters & Old Photos

are due Friday, December 4

Santa Claus is standing by getting ready to receive all those letters! We want to help him by getting them to the North Pole early and then publishing them in the Progress.

So get your pencils out and get those letters written while you are on Thanksgiving vacation! Or you can E-mail your folks in Pontotoc have is looking at all the old photos of your past. Countless people far and wide enjoy looking at pictures that depict a simpler time of life and enjoy reading the names of the people who were part of their past.

This year the old photos for the newspaper are due by Friday, December 4 so we may have time to get them processed for the Christmas Paper which will be Wednesday, December 23.

Photos may be emailed to the Progress at regina.butler@ letters so they will get here faster. The last day to have letters to the office is Friday, December 4. Please email them to pontotoc.community@journalinc.com and put Santa Letters in the subject line or they won’t be picked up as a letter. If you choose to mail them, send it to Santa Claus; P.O. Box 210;

One of the most cherished Christmas memories

Pontotoc, MS 38863. journalinc.com. Please identify each photo. If there is a circle of people you may identify them clockwise from top left. If there are rows of people, please start on the front row and identify them left to right. Please let us know what the occasion is, whether it is a school day or just outside playing in the sunshine, or an important occasion like a birthday. Please let us know who submitted the photo so we may give you credit.

You may also bring photos by the Progress office at 13 Jefferson Street or mail them to c/o Regina Butler; P.O. Box 210; Pontotoc, MS 38863.