Letters to the Editor published in the Jan. 13, 2021 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.

Hometown Christmas thank you

It is with much gratitude and joy that thanks should be given to all who helped make Hometown Christmas 2020 possible during this difficult year. If I forgot anyone, I apologize, since there are so many.

First, thanks to Mary Smith, the heart and soul (and sweat and muscle) behind the beautiful window displays.

Thanks to Dalpha Halvorson for being “the boots on the ground” and doing much of the “leg work.”

Thanks to the many, many volunteers who made the windows come alive.

Thanks to Jennifer at Main Street for the community tree this year.

Thanks to Relay for Life’s “We Can Be Heroes” team for selling lights to light up the tree.

Thanks to our city crew, our police officers, and our fire department for all their help before and during our event.

Thanks to Barbara and Steve Kubichek for running the barricade brigade.

Thanks to all the participants in our premiere parade. We hope to see you all back in 2021!

Thanks to all the businesses downtown who went the extra mile to make this all a success.

Thanks to 89Q out of Wausau, who came up here to spread “hope and encouragement” for the evening.

Thank you to all who donated gifts for Santa and Secret Santas to hand out.

Thanks to the Secret Angels who put the festive red bows on the light poles.

Thanks to our warming pit crew, Kyle, Julie, Madison and Smokey Dog, for keeping strollers safe and warm.

Thanks to our judges, Heather, Amanda and Jed, for helping choose the fairest in the land.

Winners were announced on WJJQ and with certificates at winning stores. Stop in and congratulate their work.

We didn’t get out picture-perfect snow, but I’m sure the Lord wanted everyone to have safe travel to and from the event.

So, as my dad would say, “Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.”

We hope to see you all for Hometown Christmas, Dec. 10, 2021. Mark your calendars!

Happy holiday wishes from the Hometown Christmas Fairies,

Mary, Roxanne, and Dalpha

Sen. Johnson, Rep. Tiffany – We will not forget

As I submit this letter, a group of violent, domestic terrorists breached the US Capitol, at the direction of Donald J. Trump. One police officer and four rioters are dead, along with multiple injuries to other law enforcement personnel. Willful, physical damage occurred to the Capitol building itself. Pipe bombs were found and defused. The nation is shocked, appalled and rightfully infuriated.

This seditious act was a logical and predictable conclusion to the intentional promotion and instigation of The Big Lie – that our national election was somehow fraudulent and therefore not binding.

Donald J. Trump and his attorney Rudi Giuliani – on national live TV – directed their profoundly gullible and dangerously delusional gathered followers to take a strong stance and go specifically to the Capitol building in response to their false claim of a stolen election. The consequences are unfolding before our very eyes.

This Big Lie must stop! Governors, Secretaries of State, State Attorneys General and election officials from each of the 50 states, Republicans and Democrats alike, have verified and certified that each state’s election was secure and valid. Even the US Attorney General stated that the election results were accurate.

In spite of constant transparent verifications, various Trump supporters continue to promote The Big Lie – supporters like Rush Limbaugh, Breitbart News, Laura Ingraham, Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity to name just a few.

Sadly, not only media personalities made this insurrection inevitable. Some of our own elected officials willfully continue to repeat The Big Lie.

Senator Ron Johnson and Congressman Tom Tiffany, what did you expect to happen as you and some of your elected fellow Republicans persisted in promoting The Big Lie? Feigned outrage over the attack will not change the fact that you also are partially responsible for the events and deaths that took place on January 6th. We will not forget.

Diana C. Smith

Tomahawk