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Errant letters to Santa lead to adventures
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By WENDY MITCHELL Staff Writer
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AUGUSTA -- Students in the Spanish class of Gertrudis Siguenza at Augusta Independent School were busy putting finishing touches on a special batch of handmade Christmas cards, Friday.
Because of the arrival of a pair of errant Christmas lists, the class was sending holiday wishes in Spanish to Carlos and Johanna Cardona, the children of Sara Cardona of Dallas, Texas who launched a cluster of balloons with their letters meant for Santa Claus in November. The letters and balloons were found by Mike Rumford in Bracken County and forwarded to property owner John Parker; Parker forwarded them to the man in the red suit, but has kept a copy of the requests Siguenza was asked to translate into English.
"She also got on the phone with the mother and the children in Texas," said Parker.
While speaking with the mother, Siguenza found out that Carlos, 5 and Johanna, 4, have been launching balloon mail to Santa for the last three years.
"This was the first time they got any reply," said Siguenza. "The entire family is very excited."
Carlos was very talkative and may have believed he was speaking with the North Pole, said Parker.
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| Kayla McBride gets advice from Augusta Independent School teacher Gertrudis Siguenza, on how to finish her Christmas card for the Cardona family in Dallas, Texas. The Cardona children sent letters to Santa via balloons that landed in Bracken County in Novembe.
Wendy Mitchell/Staffr |
"He was making sure Santa knew they had been good this year," said Parker.
The class of Augusta first-graders was waiting for another pair of special visitors, Friday.
Word of the discovery had also landed in the hands of Pete Delkus, meteorologist at WFAA-TV in Dallas. On Friday, a videographer and reporter Mike Castellucci headed to Kentucky to do their own story about the letters.
Their trip was nearly an adventure in itself, said Parker.
"The plane was to land at 11:45 a.m. at Cincinnati, but was delayed and didn't land until nearly 3 p.m., too late for them to get to the school before the children had to go home," said Parker.
In the original possible itinerary Thursday, Parker had joked that he hoped the crew did not lose their luggage.
"Apparently about 10 passengers lost their luggage, including them," said Parker late Friday afternoon.
Siguenza was looking forward to the visit, and held out hope the crew would be able to arrive before she travels to her homeland for the holidays. Siguenza is a native of Elche, a tourism-based Mediterranean Sea community in the Valencian region of southeast Spain.
"It is also time for Spanish Christmas," said Siguenza.
Finished with their cards, students made a circle, joined by their teacher and student aids for a festive holiday dance accompanied by the tune "Feliz Navidad."
In the meantime, folks at the Parkview Inn in Augusta, overnight destination for the television crew, have left the light on.
For more area news, go to www.bracken-online.com
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276.
By WENDY MITCHELL Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- Students in the Spanish class of Gertrudis Siguenza at Augusta Independent School were busy putting finishing touches on a special batch of handmade Christmas cards, Friday.
Because of the arrival of a pair of errant Christmas lists, the class was sending holiday wishes in Spanish to Carlos and Johanna Cardona, the children of Sara Cardona of Dallas, Texas who launched a cluster of balloons with their letters meant for Santa Claus in November. The letters and balloons were found by Mike Rumford in Bracken County and forwarded to property owner John Parker; Parker forwarded them to the man in the red suit, but has kept a copy of the requests Siguenza was asked to translate into English.
"She also got on the phone with the mother and the children in Texas," said Parker.
While speaking with the mother, Siguenza found out that Carlos, 5 and Johanna, 4, have been launching balloon mail to Santa for the last three years.
"This was the first time they got any reply," said Siguenza. "The entire family is very excited."
Carlos was very talkative and may have believed he was speaking with the North Pole, said Parker.
"He was making sure Santa knew they had been good this year," said Parker.
The class of Augusta first-graders was waiting for another pair of special visitors, Friday.
Word of the discovery had also landed in the hands of Pete Delkus, meteorologist at WFAA-TV in Dallas. On Friday, a videographer and reporter Mike Castellucci headed to Kentucky to do their own story about the letters.
Their trip was nearly an adventure in itself, said Parker.
"The plane was to land at 11:45 a.m. at Cincinnati, but was delayed and didn't land until nearly 3 p.m., too late for them to get to the school before the children had to go home," said Parker.
In the original possible itinerary Thursday, Parker had joked that he hoped the crew did not lose their luggage.
"Apparently about 10 passengers lost their luggage, including them," said Parker late Friday afternoon.
Siguenza was looking forward to the visit, and held out hope the crew would be able to arrive before she travels to her homeland for the holidays. Siguenza is a native of Elche, a tourism-based Mediterranean Sea community in the Valencian region of southeast Spain.
"It is also time for Spanish Christmas," said Siguenza.
Finished with their cards, students made a circle, joined by their teacher and student aids for a festive holiday dance accompanied by the tune "Feliz Navidad."
In the meantime, folks at the Parkview Inn in Augusta, overnight destination for the television crew, have left the light on.
For more area news, go to www.bracken-online.com
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276. |
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Rafa Valor wrote on May 20, 2008 4:58 AM: " You're amazing Gertru!!!! huhuhuhu!! "
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