Columnist: Circle the wagons
Happy New Year and circle the wagons may seem a strange greeting in a normal economy. Happy New Year is a wish for happiness, good health and prosperity in the new year. Circle the wagons is a suggestion that you concentrate on what lies ahead in the coming year and prepare to protect what you have, just as our rugged ancestors pulled their wagon trains into a circle when danger threatened.
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Headlines

Santa Claus shares local letters with The Villager Santa's helper at the Auburn Post Office gave us copies of letters to Santa Claus that she received this year, and we're thrilled to share a few. Some were found in the outgoing mail, some were picked up by mail carriers and some came from daycare centers. Most were just addressed "Santa Claus" (sometimes Clause or Claws), while others added "North Pole."

Witt responds to Villager column University of Alabama president Robert E. Witt recently responded to a column written by Villager contributor Dona Dunn.

Chizik's recruiting; state media Growing up in junior high and high school in Opelika in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I enjoyed reading the Opelika (and Auburn) Daily News sports section when Robert "Scoop" Owsley was its sports editor. In particular, I enjoyed his annual letter to Santa Claus written this time of the year. Several weeks ago I called Scoop (who is now retired) and sought his permission to continue the annual letter. He gladly said, "Yes." So here goes!

Proration cuts millions from school budgets Auburn City Schools will likely lose about $2.5 million in state funding as the state moves into a prorated Education Trust Fund budget, ACS superintendent Terry Jenkins said Tuesday. Gov. Bob Riley's declaration of 12.5 percent proration Monday would have cost Auburn City Schools $3,492,736, if it weren't for the existence of a Rainy Day Account voters in November agreed the state could tap.

Local charity to benefit from Tuberville T-shirts Colt, a 16-year-old Opelika boy with Cockayne Syndrome, really likes the Auburn Tigers. In fact, he may be their biggest fan. And they return the favor. Members of the football team have taken. Colt, who weighs only 42 pounds and stands just 42 inches tall, to practice with them. One of them mounted Colt on his shoulders while the team chanted "War Eagle." There wasn't a dry eye on the field.