Sending everyone a Thankful, Happy and Safe Holiday Reminder

Weather wise, 2008 is going out kicking and screaming with a few ice storms and some heavy fog, but even that could not dampen the spirits of the local law enforcement officers.

We worked a few accidents, had a couple small bumps in the road with I-70 closings due to ice and some issues with heavy fog. As we were working our way through the problems Mother Nature was handing us, at the last minute, she threw one more curve ball at the city with a ruptured water main that shut down the city's water supply on Christmas Day!

In a lot of small cities or towns this might have put the last nail in the coffin, but not in Brazil. When traffic got bad, I saw many local drivers taking to the side streets and as bad as those streets were, I watched drivers adjust their driving habits to compensate for the dangerous conditions and make themselves winners as they triumphed over adversity. All in all, the local citizens came through it with positive attitudes and a resolve that made me proud to be a part of this community.

Christmas this year was especially uplifting for me as I saw the annual Shop With A Cop program flourish with the help of some local businesses. This year, we found the need was greater than ever. We were presented with more families than ever before facing hard times financially, some families even devastated and misplaced by unforeseen events. Because of this, a few local business owners and their employees assisted me in seeking donations from other sources.

The response was overwhelming!

In past seven years, the Brazil Police Department has relied on donations from just a few private sources for the program which had allowed us to help approximately 20-25 children a year. However, because of the efforts of local business and church volunteers, this year we were able to select 68 children from the over 200 applications we received to Shop With A Cop.

To see their smiles and to let them know that there are people out here in this community that REALLY do care what happens to them! Although I was ecstatic we were able to help the 68 children, unfortunately there were many more that did not get selected due to limited funds.

So for this reason, I hope you will allow me to use this forum to thank some of the local businesses that helped us share Christmas with these 32 families and at the same time, helped put a smiles on the faces and the joy of Christmas in the hearts of the law enforcement officers and helpers (elves if you will) who received, I believe, the bigger gift for just being part of this Christmas miracle.

I would also like to ask you, as citizens of this community, to support these local businesses when you shop throughout the coming year. I know you might be able to find what you're shopping for a few dollars cheaper in Terre Haute or Indy, but you won't find bigger hearts or better community spirit anywhere else at any price!

On behalf of the department I would like to say thank you to the following:

A Cut Above,

The Alabama Bar and Grill,

Beasley Towing,

Blue Moon Gifts,

Brazil Automotive,

Brazil First Church of The Nazarene,

Brazil Heating,

Brazilian Lanes,

Britt Tool,

Clay County Podiatry, LLC,

Cloverleaf Health Care,

Dr. Linda Colter,

Brazil Eagles Lodge No. 274,

French Funeral Home,

Gasway Insurance,

Hughes Auto Sales,

Morris Mfg.,

Premier Tax,

ReMax Home & Land,

Schurick Heating & Cooling,

Shear Image,

Dr. Staddt D.D.S.,

Terre Haute Savings Bank,

River Community Church,

East Side Christian Church,

Brazil Moose Lodge No. 780,

Brazil City Utilities,

Hannum, Waggle & Cline Engineering, and

Umbaugh & Associates.

We also had several personnel donations from citizens who wanted to be a part of making somebody's Christmas brighter. Thank you all so much, may God bless each of you through out the year.

I would also like to give a special thank you to Clay County Sheriff's Department deputies and staff, Sheriff Mike Heaton, Sugar & Spice, The Riddell National Bank, Bethel United Methodist Church, Brazil Wal-Mart, Brazil Mayor A. Ann Bradshaw's Office, The City Clerk's Office at Brazil City Hall for not only donating money, but for their awesome employees who helped work many hours to make this our best year ever! And…. last, but certainly not least, Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Thank you all so Much!

Now, New Year's Eve is coming and I want you all to be safe as you usher in 2009.

The Brazil Police Department will have extra officers on the streets watching for intoxicated drivers so I am asking you to please select a designated sober driver if you plan to consume alcoholic beverages during the New Year's Eve festivities. If you have a friend that you believe has had too much to drink, be a friend and don't let them drive while intoxicated.

The Clay County Prosecutors Office, Clay County Sheriff's Department, Brazil Police Department and Indiana State Police want to wish all of you a Safe and Happy New Year!