Santa makes first of several visits to Phillips County

A line of people nearly as long as his "Nice List" wrapped its way through the doors at Malta's First Security Bank last week as the big man himself, Santa Claus, made the first of several trips to Phillips County.

Monday, December 3, marked the 36th consecutive year that Saint Nick has made his way to the First Security Bank in Malta and he said he was happy as ever to be here.

"I love Phillips County year-round," Santa said, "but especially this time of year, my busy season."

Santa said he has received all the letters and drawing submitted by Phillips County Schools of late and said that once his staff had filed all the letters, he would then forward them on to the PCN so as many as possible can be printed in next week's paper.

First Security Bank's Kylee Williamson assisted Santa on the night by writing down everyone's name in attendance who had photos taken of Children and Santa - taken by Lynne Brewer - could be sent to families once the pictures are developed. Williamson said a total of 215 children met Santa at First Security Bank on the night during his two-hour visit.

One of the first young men in line to meet Santa on the night was Jettlynn Malmend who turns 7 on December 12. He said that he has been nice all year and cited the fact that he watches shows with his family as an example of his niceness.

"I told him I want an Army Lego Tank," Jettlynn said of his time with Santa.

PJ Bibbs - son of PCN Sports Editor extraordinaire Pierre Bibbs - was at the event with his grandmother, mother and little brother Lincoln. After receiving his candy cane and coloring book from the First Security staff like the rest of the children would, PJ, who is four, talked about his visit with Santa. He said that he had been nice all year and said he asked for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Rafael (all the turtles are his favorites.)

"Merry Christmas," PJ concluded.

Making the trip to Malta from Whitewater was Mylee Clark who is 10-years-old. Mylee said she had been nice all year and that she recently donated money to a cancer fundraiser in Billings as but one example. She said she would likely ask Santa for a reading chair, somewhat like a hammock, and added that she got much of what she asked for last Christmas.

"I think I asked for an Easy Bake Oven," Mylee recalled. "I made a mini cake and it was pretty good."

Malta's Lavida Grotte-Dalby, a freshman at Malta High School, didn't visit Santa but rather helped wrangle the small child in her party prior to the child's meeting with the Old Jolly One.

"This year I want to ask for presents for little kids so that we can give them to children who need them," she said.

After Santa had met with all the children in attendance he told this reporter that Lavida was a shoo-in for his "Nice List."