Locals gathered last week at Swanny City Park for the annual tree lighting event. In addition to the colorful lights, cookies and hot cocoa, one of main attractions each year is a guy with a white beard and red suit. Kids lined up to speak with this man, telling him what they are wishing for this holiday season. Plus, rescue crews responded to the scene of a helicopter crash on Mount Tukuhnikivatz in the La Sal Mountains Thursday morning. And, a new currency is gaining popularity in several states in our region.

// And later, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses Grand County’s attempt to regulate takeoffs and landings at airstrips, challenges to building workforce housing and ‘skyrocketing’ student lunch debt. Rachel Fixen of the Moab Sun News talks about an animal cruelty incident prompting calls for policy changes, a future plaque to commemorate local WWII history, a local’s recent loss of their home to a fire and a new homeless outreach coordinator at Moab Solutions. Plus, the Moab Sun News tells us ‘what happened’ at this week’s Grand County Commission meeting.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Local kids waited in line to see Santa during the annual tree lighting event in early December, held by Moab City and the Moab Chamber of Commerce. KZMU

// Music in today’s newscast is ‘The Christmas Song (Piano)’ by Zight

// Music in ‘what happened at the meeting’ is ‘Paris Gipsy Swing’ by Dieter van der Westen

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: County’s attempts to control noise brings loud response

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/countys-attempts-to-control-noise-brings-loud-response/

// The Times-Independent: Prime roadblock to affordable housing? A lack of land

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/prime-roadblock-to-affordable-housing-a-lack-of-land

// The Times-Independent: Student lunch debt skyrockets

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/student-lunch-debt-skyrockets/

// Moab Sun News: Animal cruelty incident in La Sals prompts calls for policy change

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/animal-cruelty-incident-in-la-sals-prompts-calls-for-policy-change/

// Moab Sun News: WWII bridge guards honored

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/wwii-bridge-guards-honored/

// Moab Sun News: Moab local loses home, memories to fire

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/moab-local-loses-home-memories-to-fire/

// Moab Sun News: Q&A with Moab Solutions Homeless Outreach Coordinator Win Bludworth

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/qa-with-moab-solutions-homeless-outreach-coordinator/