Let me start out this column by apologizing for its tardiness. I had really planned for it to be ready by the end of December. But things just popped up that took priority instead; things like the flu, Christmas programs, shopping, college classes, and my family that took up any "spare time" I might have had last month.

But my best excuse, I mean reason, for this late column is its subject. After all, everyone knows how busy Santa Claus is during December. Surely no one can be too upset if I didn't find time to interview the dear, sweet man during his busiest season of the year.

That's right; my subject for this Good Deeds column is Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Well OK, maybe not the Santa Claus from the North Pole. But I am writing about McCook's own version of St. Nick, Mr. Bill Stewart and his lovely wife Bettye.

Bill has been associated with the McCook Toy Box almost since its inception. When Dr. Joe Magrath and the late Sharon Snyder began the project 37 years ago to provide Christmas toys to needy children in McCook, they asked Bill if he would mind fixing the one bike that had been donated. He gladly agreed to do so and has been involved in the fixing and restoring of their bikes, tricycles, and wagons since that time.

This past Christmas, the Toy Box project provided toys, dolls, and games to more than 600 children from our area. Along with these toys, 124 bikes, wagons and tricycles, all repaired and cleaned under the watchful eye of Bill Stewart, found new homes with these children.

Bill not only fixes bikes for the Toy Box, but he also helps promote the project. He dons his Santa hat and goes to fundraisers, works the raffle booth at Heritage Days, and talks to anybody who wants to know about this worthy cause. He is also down at the Toy Box workshop every Friday and Saturday throughout the year, supervising the volunteers and Work Ethic Camp probationers as they sand, paint, and restore bikes and trikes.

Bill's jovial nature and rotund tummy (Great, now I've offended Santa Claus!) make him the perfect person to dress up and play Santa during Christmas.

This past season found him portraying the jolly man for a local preschool, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Humane Society's Magic Show.

But this column is not just about Bill, but his wonderful wife, Bettye, as well. After all, Bettye is the person who watches after Bill, who tries to keep him in line, and who is the wonderful cook that is responsible for his added girth. (Maybe if I blame it on her he'll forgive me for the comment about his tummy).

Bill and Bettye were both raised in Palisade. They were married there in June 1947, a year after Bill returned from his tour of duty as a Marine in the South Pacific. They moved to Alliance and lived there 15 years; Bill working as a milk deliveryman and in a lumberyard and Bettye giving birth to and raising their five sons. They then moved to McCook where Bill had a variety of jobs; including work at the West Sale Barn, Electric Hose and Rubber, Cornbelt Chemical, and construction jobs. Bettye has always worked in the food industry, first at the Sale Barn café, then at A&W, and for the past 35 years at Mac's Drive-In.

Despite their busy lives, Bill and Bettye have always found opportunities to help in the community. As members of Memorial United Methodist Church, they serve as communion stewards and assist in cooking the Thanksgiving dinner which is open to anyone on that holiday. Bill has served as a mentor to youth during their confirmation process at the church.

One of the things that Bill and Bettye love to do is help the church's youth by volunteering to work at the Youth Food Booth at the fair each summer. Bill and Bettye both work several shifts at the booth, usually with aprons on and spatulas in hand in front of the grill. They also work before the booth opens by helping cook the hamburger for the taco salads and jiffyburgers. But perhaps one of the least known and most "tear-jerking" tasks they do for the Food Booth is the preparation of the onions used on the hamburgers. For several evenings in advance of the fair, Bill and Bettye chop away at onions, sniffling and crying, until they fill 12 five-quart jars full of them.

Through the church's missions committee, both Bill and Bettye have worked on several painting projects. These have included painting the nurses' quarters, a recreation hall, and Lakota Indian church on the Indian Reservation at Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Bill has traveled to Omaha to help paint a Habitat for Humanity home, and they have both worked on painting houses in McCook for those who were unable to do it themselves.

Bill and Bettye also help an 84-year-old neighbor of theirs with her garden, lawn and sidewalks.

In what spare time they have, Bill and Bettye enjoy raising flowers, growing a vegetable garden, playing cards, and playing with their Boston bull terrier, Bogie. You will find them at many Bison football and basketball games and at the SWNCTA musicals. Despite having his left shoulder replaced a year ago and three stints placed in his arteries last spring, Bill is an unstoppable figure. And I've yet to encounter Bettye without an effervescent smile upon her face.

Bill has been recognized by several organizations in McCook for his volunteer work. In 2000, he was named Volunteer of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Bill received a plaque and $2,500 stipend from Allen Strunk for this award. True to his giving nature, Bill gave all the money to the Toy Box. He did keep the plaque, however! Bill was also recognized as the 2002-2003 Citizen of the Year for the local Elk's Lodge. And Bill and Bettye were both selected to be the Parade Marshals for the 2003 Heritage Days.

I feel lucky to know Bill and Bettye and to live in the same community with them. They are the type of quiet, tireless workers who are always looking out for others and pitching in wherever they can. Our town is blessed by their presence and we are a much richer place by having them as residents. Thank you, Bill and Bettye, for everything you do. And if anyone ever questions the existence of Santa Claus, all we have to do is point out the Stewarts and respond that the giving and loving nature of Santa is seen in people like them.

I want to give a personal "thanks" to our neighbor, Greg Parde, and his snow blower. After the snowstorm a week ago, Greg got up early and went outside to clear the sidewalks along the entire length of our block. Not only did he do the sidewalk, but he also cleared a path up the front walk of each of the houses on our block.

When my husband stepped outside later in the morning to try and scoop out our enormous driveway by hand; Greg saw his plight, revved up his trusty snow blower, and brought it down for Phil to use. It saved my husband much time and spared him many aches and pains by allowing him the use of the blower.

However, Greg probably hasn't heard of the ultimatum that I've placed on my husband's use of power tools and equipment. After a particularly nasty episode with a chainsaw a few years ago, Phil is not allowed to touch anything that has a motor attached to it. For the sake of everyone involved, I'll have to ask Greg to refrain from letting Phil use the snow blower again. Let me borrow it instead!

The nice thing about living in a town like McCook is that there is a neighbor like Greg Parde on each and every block, armed with a shovel or snow blower and willing and eager to help out all his neighbors. The story of our block was, I'm sure, repeated all throughout McCook on that chilly Sunday morning. It's part of what makes living in McCook such a great thing.