Christmas

    Christmas is over...and if your tree is starting to look sad, it can live on with a new purpose...     Sedgwick County has set up tree recycling locations that are open now through January 23rd.      One is at the county extension office.          You can drop off your trees which are then turned into mulch, that you can take for free.      The county says, just remember to take off all your decorations before dropping off your tree.       Click here for a list of tree recycling locations.

What do you do when you don't want to cook? On Christmas, a lot of people want to get out of the house and get themselves Chinese food. At Buffet City in Wichita, the management says the wait for a table usually isn't that long. But on Christmas, their business triples. "No cleaning, no cooking, none of that," one customer said when asked why she decided to go out. According to several surveys, Chinese restaurants nationwide do some of their best business on Christmas.

Wichita (17-8-1) was unable to sustain a 2-0 lead and the Tulsa Oilers (15-9-2) scored four third-period goals en route to a 5-2 win on Sunday night at the BOK Center. Tulsa scored the final five of the contest and won for the second consecutive year on Christmas. Despite the loss, Wichita remains two points back of Allen for first place in the Berry Conference. Alex Bourret (12) continued on his red-hot pace as he put Wichita up 1-0 at 1:32 of the first period. Kevin Seibel stole the puck in his own end, found Bourret up on a two-on-one and fired a laser from the right circle over the glove of Tulsa netminder Ian Keserich to extend his point scoring streak to eight games.

Inside their Haven house, there's never a dull day - at least not anymore. "Once we wake up in the morning we hit the ground running. It's like a marathon until we go to bed at night," said Jennifer Morrisett. She and her husband, Haven pastor Lance Morrisett gave birth to quads back in March. Lane, Bennett, Caden and Emma joined the Morrisett's six year-old Cullen. The Morrisetts now go through at least 24 diapers a day, 112 bottles a week and 45 cans of formula a month.

Christmas comes a week early for some Wichita-area people. On Tuesday, Episcopal Social Services and its Venture House center fed several hundred people a pre-Christmas meal. Venture House does lunch all during the year, but Tuesday's meal had a more holiday theme. Volunteers worked to serve a big lunch, and also handed out needed items like coats, hats, gloves and socks. And one other thing was on the menu. Barb Andres of Episcopal Social Services tells us "Walgreens are here and are doing flu shots..you know a lot of people don't...they don't go in to get flu shots so we thought let's have them here today for some of the folks that are really vulnerable to the flu and haven't had the opportunity to get a shot".

You've heard of black Friday, and cyber Monday -- well today is "Super Saturday. " That's because it's one of the busiest shopping days of a year. The national retail association predicts 73-percent of us still have shopping to do . It's the final Saturday before the Christmas holiday and last-minute shoppers are taking advantage. "I couldn't remember two of my members of my family so I just run to get something pretty fast," says Maria Cervantes . While some were cashing in on the sales at Bradley Fair, others were out to enjoy the good weather.

This is my grandmother's recipe (my mom's mom), and my mom makes it now.  This has been on my family's Thanksgiving and Christmas table since I can remember.  This is, of course, ironic considering the name of the eggs and the nature of Christmas.  You'll literally have to ration these out because everyone puts at least two on their plate.  The secret ingredient that makes Grandma's better than the rest is the sugar! Grandma's Deviled Eggs Ingredients 1 dozen eggs 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tsp vinegar 1 tsp mustard 2 tsp sugar 1/4 tsp salt Paprika (for garnish only)

For the sixty second day this summer, Medicine Lodge broke triple digits , it's record is 63 days. Many medicine lodge residents say this type of heat lasting for this long is unusual... "It's been in the 100's since June. Usually it's in August when it becomes that hot," said resident John Nixon. "Right now, I'm thinking, 'OK, it's only four months untill Christmas. But is it really going to be cooler weather?" wondered Sharon Gehlen. They're hoping that the heat goes away a long time beofre Christmas.

More people are postponing Christmas so they can get more for their money at after-Christmas sales. That includes a woman who plans to write her sons a note from Santa, saying mom will take them to the store later, and a couple who has set a spending limit and figure they'll be able to buy more later. Is that something you might do? Read the story here and let me know what you think.

Authorities in western Kansas are searching for suspects accused of burglarizing a Dodge City Country Club. Police said three men broke into the business in the 1900 block of Country Club Drive Dec. 25, 2012. The suspects stole various items, although a total loss value has not been released.  Click here to see surveillance photos of the crime Surveillance cameras captured the crime. Now investigators are asking for help identifying the suspects. Anyone with information on the burglary should call the Dodge City Police Department at 1-620-225-8128 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-877-424-4414.

"You don't know which emotion to go with, you really don't.  In one hand you're mad.  In the next hand you're frustrated," said Stephanie Sanderson of Valley Center about dealing with her emotions after her family lost their home on Christmas Day to a fire. But, the family is finding some good in the middle of the disaster. It took only minutes for flames to destroy a home the Sanderson's had spent years building.  But that's not enough to stop them. "We plan on rebuilding," said Sanderson.  "It just, it's a slow process.

Is your Christmas tree drying up?  Instead of tossing it in the trash, recycle it. Sedgwick County is offering free Christmas tree recycling now through January 21st.  There are several drop off locations throughout the county.  You can drop off your tree and pick up free mulch. Click here for a link of drop off locations

Wichita police hope you can help them figure out what happened to a man who was found dead in the street late Christmas Eve. Someone called 911 after seeing a body in the road at Boston and Market around 10:00 pm Monday. The man, identified as 42-year-old Brian D. Turner, was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. At first, crews thought he was struck and killed by a vehicle, but they've determined that was not the case. Now, police are trying to figure out why Turner was in the area and what happened to him. The coroner is working to determine the cause of death.

A caregiver in Wichita becomes Santa's helper every Christmas morning. "I like to creep in and they look up at me and I'll say Merry Christmas, Good morning," said Pat Roberts. Roberts is a certified nurse assistant. For the last three years, at 4 a.m., she brought holiday cheer to the residents at Lakepoint assisted living. "They enjoy it because some of them don't get to visit with family as often as they should," Roberts said. "We bring them gifts and they really enjoy them.

Light snow will gradually wind down over western and southern Kansas this afternoon.  Snowfall amounts of 1-4" inches are possible from Medicine Lodge to Dodge City and Goodland.  Winter Weather Advisories are out for this area of Kansas.  Little if any accumulation is expected now for Wichita.  Be sure to use caution while driving in the snowy areas today.  Along with the light snow, wind chills will be brutally cold, with single digits...

A local church serves up Christmas cheer to more than a hundred homeless people. “This is what Christmas is all about to me.  Helping people and celebrating and reaching out to people really need help,” said volunteer Chris Dill. On Christmas day, having a warm place to gather with friends and family is hard to come by for some. Every year, Baptist Homeless Ministries of Wichita offers relief from the hardship. “It's somewhere where they can be warm.  We have coffee, we also give them a warm van to ride in.  We'll pick them up, let them come eat, gather their stuff and drop them off wherever they need to go,” said Baptist Homeless Ministries Executive Director Deborah Long.

"Yeah, it's Christmas," said Lonnie Tormey, the Valley Center Fire Chief.  "Bad deal.  Bad deal. " A garage fire stunned a Valley Center community Christmas Day, leaving one family without a home this holiday.  But this is one family, and a neighborhood, that's used to dealing with life's struggles. "Kind of a sad story," said neighbor Jack George. The Sanderson family left home Christmas morning to celebrate.  They came back in the afternoon to pick up the pieces.  But sad stories are something the Sandersons have survived before.

A brick was all it took to break into a Wichita store.  It was all it took to steal jewelry and gifts from Sacred Heart Gift Shop.  But that brick and those thieves' actions weren't about to steal the owner's Christmas spirit. "I always have my Christmas spirit," says Sheri Ramirez.  Ramirez has been running the gift shop near downtown for years.  Thieves are not going to stop her.  "I've got a lot of good customers that support me and I'm here to stay," she says. Ramirez considers her customers, and their support, her blessings on this Christmas Eve.   After hearing about the vandalism and theft, they were there for her. "People are coming to buy," she says.  "I know it's the last day right before Christmas, I know everybody has their gifts by now. " The theft was frustrating.  Ramirez admits that as a small business owner she often struggles and that she works hard for what she has.  "For somebody to come and steal from me, it's very devastating.