COVID was the constant thread that ran throughout the Dec. 14 county commissioners’ meeting—fitting testimony to the virus’ gradual but certain impact on every element of this community’s life, in the year that cannot end soon enough.

When Rachel K. Ward, BSN, RN prepares to care for a postsurgical pediatric COVID patient at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, she dons fresh surgical scrubs, outer-space-like booties, a sterile gown, two sets of gloves, a face shield, a respirator and a mask over the respirator. It takes two people to dress her and so far--months into the coronavirus pandemic, these measures have protected her from infection, protected her patients, her colleagues, friends and other people around her.

For the first time in a long time, Canadian had to dig deep. They had to show their character, and believe that they were the best team in all of Texas.

The First Presbyterian Church presented its annual Live Nativity Scene last Wednesday evening, December 9, inviting the community to drive by the Presbyterian Gazebo from 6 to 7 pm to view the recreation by members of their Middle School youth and Wee Believers kids groups. A nativity scene draws its inspiration from accounts of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In the photo below, Ava Guillen and Zaylee Ortiz are the sheep, Joaquin Flores is the shepherd, Cinch Hanson and Kate Escarcega are Joseph and Mary, and Baxter Landry and Corbpin Palmore portray two of the wise men.