Dear Santa, This may seem like an unusual request in that I’m not asking for personal items this year for Christmas, though any kind of magical hair-growth formula would be appreciated, but none of that spray-paint stuff for me.

Nope, all of my items this year are for the community.

First, please stock up on a couple of books: Robert Fulghum’s book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" and Henry M. Robert III’s "Robert’s Rules of Order" – the de facto standard for smoothly and fairly conducting meetings.

You’ll need more than a dozen copies for the elected officials with both the Rock Hill Local School District and the City of Ironton.

Hopefully, if the folks who make these meetings appear more like an episode of the "Jerry Springer Show" and less like government will read the books, our community will move ahead more quickly.

Please put something special in the stockings of all the area business owners who work hard to compete locally and provide the backbone of our local economy. Without them the county would fall apart.

Give the hard-working teachers in our area something special. Each of them – from kindergartens to the higher education halls of Ohio University Southern – plays an important part in shaping our future. Too often, we take them for granted.

For all of the smokers who feel it’s OK to randomly toss cigarette butts all over the place, please give them personal ashtrays so that they can clean up after themselves.

Ditto for other litterbugs, too.

I’m not sure what it would take exactly – I’ll lean on your years of gift-giving experience here – but a small group of people in the area obviously needs something to keep them better occupied. Recently, these vandals have marred the beauty of the Wayne National Forest and the facilities at Lake Vesuvius by destroying property for apparently no particular reason. Would a few pieces of plywood and some spray paint work? That way they could paint to their heart’s content and not destroy one of the best things this area has to offer.

Please add something special to all of the volunteers and organizers of the Friends of Ironton. If anyone in our area deserves an extra gift this year, it’s this bunch.

They’ve single-handedly touched all sorts of things in our community – from street signs and body armor to festivals and supporting the new Ironton port authority.

OK, so maybe my wish list is selfish in a way, but all of the things I’ve asked for would also help others, too. Thanks, Santa. Hope you have a great Christmas. Drive (fly) safely.

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Ironton Tribune. He can be reached at (740) 532-1445, ext. 12 or by e-mail to kevin.cooper@irontontribune.com.