The Greenwood Commonwealth from Greenwood, Mississippi • Page A001

Commonwealth House oSantas Tornadoes death toll increases EBB Photos by Andy Lo Louise Overly started her collection of Santa Claus figures 20 years ago. Now her Norman Street house is home to more than 250 Santas of all shapes and sizes. we've had in some cases houses leveled, and they're just not there anymore," Flynn said. In Linden, Tennessee, Tony Goodwin ducked into a storm shelter with seven others as the storm passed. He emerged to find his house had been knocked off its foundation and down the hill.

He managed to climb inside and fetch some Christmas gifts that had been under his tree. Goodwin's neighbors weren't so fortunate. Two people in one home were killed. "It makes you thankful to be alive with your family," he said. "It's what Christmas is all about." In Benton County, relatives helped Daisy and Charles Johnson clean up after the storm flattened their house.

They carried some of the couple's belongings past a Santa Clause figure on a table. Daisy Johnson, 68, said she and her husband rushed along with other relatives to their storm shelter across the street from the house after they heard a twister was headed their way. 'We looked straight west of us and there it was. It was yellow and it was roaring, light ningjust continually, and it was making a terrible noise," she said. "I never want to hear that again for as long as I live." Peak tornado season in the South is in the spring, but such storms can happen at any time.

Exactly a year ago, twisters hit Mississippi, killing five people and injuring dozens. By PHILLIP LUCAS and ERIKSCHELZIG Associated Press ASHLAND Instead of doing some last-minute shopping or wrapping gifts, families across the South spent Christmas Eve taking stock of their losses after an unusual outbreak of December tornadoes and other violent weather killed at least 11 people and damaged or destroyed dozens ofhomes. Unseasonably warm weather Wednesday helped spawn twisters from Arkansas to Michigan. The line of springlike storms continued marching east Thursday, dumping torrential rain that flooded roads in Alabama and caused a mudslide in the mountains of Georgia. Authorities confirmed seven deaths in Mississippi, including that of a 7-year-old boy in Holly Springs who was in a car that was swept up and tossed by a storm.

Four people were confirmed dead in Benton County Three more died in Tennessee. One person was killed in Arkansas. Dozens more were injured, some seriously, said Greg Flynn, spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Search teams combed damaged homes and businesses for people still missing, a hunt made complicated because so many had left for the holidays. 'Until they know for sure where those folks are, they're going to keep looking, because Woman collects over 250 in 20 years By NICK ROGERS StaffWriter Louise Overly has been collecting Santa Claus figurines for two decades now at a remarkable rate.

Between 250 and 300 Santas ceramic, wooden, glass, plush and plastic currently call her house at 418 Norman St. home. Each year an assortment of children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren arrive at Overlys home to celebrate Christmas. Despite the chaos of the holiday season, not a single one of Overlys Santas has ever been broken or lost. On average Overly acquires roughly 13 new Santas annually.

Some of them she buys for herself; others are given to her by her friends and family members. See SANTAS, Back Page It takes Louise Overly three straight days of work to remove her Santas from storage and place them around her home. HOLIDAY NOTICE Government Most city, county, state and federal offices will be closed today for Christmas. There will be no mail delivery or garbage pickup. Schools All schools will be closed.

hmmbhh flkt flEnHJI The Greenwood Commonwealth The Commonwealth's office will be closed today, but the circulation department will be open to take calls from 7 to 1 1 a.m. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday. A band of musically inclined Santas crowd in front of Overly's fireplace, many of which will dance and play music at the push of a button. of its readers a safe and merry The Commonwealth wishes Christmas.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS Teacher hosts holiday 'tribute to the kids' hand, giving free haircuts. McCroy, a graduate of Greenwood High School and Mississippi Valley State University, is a lab tech teacher and assistant coach of the boys basketball team at Amanda Elzy Junior High School. He said his efforts are about building community, not pover- ty. See MCCROY, Back Page McCroy hosted scores of neighborhood children at the Greenwood Community and Recreation Center, where he gave away basketballs, Barbie dolls, toy trucks, footballs, puzzles and books as part of the second annual Johnathan Giveback, named in memory of McCroys brother. McCroy, 24, said he intended the event as a "tribute to the kids" and a way to provide a positive holiday experience.

"It's all about giving the kids a positive outlook," he said. The atmosphere Thursday morning was festive, with children dancing, eating and playing under the watchful eyes of McCroy and a few parents. Jeremy Collins a Greenwood native who now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is McCroys cousin spent most of the morning with clippers in By NICK ROGERS StaffWriter Dexter McCroy says he always knew that as soon as he was able to, he wanted to give something to the children of the community he grew up in. That's why, for the last two years, he has organized Christmas Eve festivities at his own expense. On Thursday morning, Mm qwcommonweann mm SPORTS Read by more than 20,000 people every day WEATHER Today: Cloudy, 70 percent chance of rain.

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