“When he entered Santa Paula’s airspace he became our responsibility and we responded as we would for any citizen in distress,” said SPFD Chief Paul Skeels. “Most of our firefighters got started in their careers when they received fire engines for Christmas and we owe Mr. Claus quite a lot. . .I’ve still got the engine he brought me and it’s still shiny.”Phelps admitted that Santa had given him an airplane when he was a boy: “Granted, it was an early wooden glider but I was hooked.”All emergency vehicles on scene at the airport trained their headlights on the runway so Santa was able to land. When the reindeer touched down, Rudolph’s nose again glowed bright red.“I’ve got to get that checked again,” said Santa Claus as he patted his lead reindeer. “We had that nose tuned up just before we left the North Pole, but when we get back I’m dumping that elf and bringing in a new nose-glow specialist.”Santa said he had briefly considered turning into a wisp of smoke but, “frankly, I’m not even sure if I can do that or if that’s some other guy’s trick. It’s hard keeping track of those things.”“Hopefully, next year Santa will do this again, I mean a reenactment of this incident,” said City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz. “It would really bring a lot of visitors to our fair city.”Bobkiewicz said he also remembers a favored present from Santa: “A combination calendar and calculator. . .gosh, it was beautiful!”Santa got a big “Ho-ho-ho” going when told of the comments, his belly shaking like a bowl full of, well, you know the story.“I love everyone,” he said. “Especially the kids, no matter what their age. By the way, what time does Logsdon’s open?”
Santa Claus: World disaster averted when Santa guided to safe landing!
December 26, 2003
Santa Paula News
A world disaster was averted when the landing gear on international traveling gift-giver Santa Claus’ sleigh failed over Santa Paula, but a community-wide effort brought the jolly plump man down to earth.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA world disaster was averted when the landing gear on international traveling gift-giver Santa Claus’ sleigh failed over Santa Paula, but a community-wide effort brought the jolly plump man down to earth.“It was a close call,” said Santa, his brush with disaster not dimming the twinkle in his eye.The reindeer pulling the sleigh over the sky had a landing problem when Rudolph’s bright red nose guiding the toy-laden sleigh went out on the approach to South Mountain, plunging Santa into darkness.At one point the reindeers stumbled as they barely breached the ridge, their delicate hooves brushing over the brow of the Lady of South Mountain.“The Lady was very nice about it, but I’ve found legends are a pretty decent bunch overall,” mused Santa Paula. “But then I thought, ‘Well, this is it, I guess we’ll just keep flying around until morning,’ and I was so worried about all the little girls and boys who get up so early. What if they woke up and Santa hadn’t been there? No smiles of joy, no wonder at how I got in with that sack, no presents under the tree, zip! And,” Santa added, “I was going to miss my cookies and cocoa, which is also not a trifling matter.”Aviators at Santa Paula Airport notified Santa Paula Police and Fire departments that there seemed to be a sleigh circling the runway but, “frankly, I was afraid to come right out and say it was Santa Claus,” said Bob Phelps. “The old guy’s a pretty darn good pilot considering his load and all, but I could see he was headed for a hard landing, if he was able to land at all.”The combined public safety agencies raced to the airport, said SPPD Commander Mark Hanson.“Old St. Nick brought me a toy patrol car and, well, we’re used to dealing with bad guys but Santa’s no perp. . .and, there was no concern he might lawyer up and sue the pants off the city if there was a problem,” said Cmdr. Hanson.
