‘Twas the night before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas in Guthrie so bright, City staff was preparing, as the end of event season was nigh. The lights were hung from downtown buildings with care, In hopes that many visitors soon would be there.

The police were hidden all along South Division While desperately praying for no intoxicated collision. Dispatch was taking calls about a sleigh on a stoop while Animal Control was tired of cleaning fresh reindeer poop.

When out on Division St. there arose such a clatter,
Guthrie Fire sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the tankers, they flew with great speed,
Down the fire poles, eager to proceed.

The moon on the new-fallen snow glistened over the fields. Coyotes danced with their young, oblivious to the chaos about to unfold. From the woods stumbled a group of escaped inmates, wearing makeshift Santa hats and smudged chalk beards. "We’ll blend in with carolers and hitch a ride," Jerry announced, holding a stolen sack of marshmallows. The coyotes froze, sniffing the air, then charged. "Are coyotes supposed to like marshmallows?" Carl yelped as the pack made off with the bag. Slipping on icy furrows, the inmates gave chase. One coyote howled, sounding eerily like "Jingle Bells." Carl finally collapsed, groaning, "I’m freezing, and we just got mugged by a dog!" The coyotes pranced away, tails wagging, leaving behind a pile of red jumpsuits and crushed holiday dreams.

When what to our wondering eyes did appear, then the city manager with the councilmen, councilwoman and mayor standing near.

"Now! On Mayor Gentling and Vice Mayor Aguirre, as our airport’s fantastic future is seen ever more clearly! On Councilman Williams, Bothroyd and Mills, so proud of the Youth Sports Complex – it is such a thrill! On Councilman Ropp and Councilman Taylor, for all the capital improvements are such great motivators! To the top of the “Best Small Town” lists, our citizens, administration and community organizations are absolutely the finest!!

And all through the town, we could hear with delight, the rhythms of Christmas filling the night.

They were dressed all in their Guthrie best smiling so bright yelling Choose Guthrie, Community Wins, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.