Hart PD spreads Christmas cheer

Hart police officers, along with Santa, spread Christmas cheer Monday evening, Dec. 22, by delivering Christmas presents and a holiday meal to a local family.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — Officers from the Hart Police Department got into the Christmas spirit Monday evening, Dec. 22, when they visited a family that includes four little girls and gave each child several presents and all the fixings for a delicious holiday meal.

Of course, the officers made sure that Santa Claus came along with them to hand out the gifts they bought for the kids.

Sgt. Kevin Skipski came up with the idea to “adopt” the family to ensure that they have a Merry Christmas. Skipski’s army of law enforcement “elves” included officers Shawn Anderson, Juan Salazar and Alexander Schulz. But all the officers on the force contributed financially to the cause, he said. Other HPD officers include Chief Dan Leimback and patrolmen Troy VanGelderen, Michael Ratliff, David Gregwer and Paul Aksamitowski. “A lot of people donated,” Skipski said, including his father-in-law Matt Gale, who owns Mac’s Meats in Rothbury. Gale donated a ham for the family’s Christmas dinner.

Skipski’s wife, Heather, and Salazar’s wife, Natalie, also helped deliver gifts and food to the family Monday night.

The family includes mom Tyanna McConnell, daughters Leasha Ranes, 7, Harmony Ranes, 5, 2-year-old identical twins Natalie and Savannah Moss, and grandma Pat Frazier. They were all very appreciative of the officers’ generosity and exclaimed many “thank yous” as the gifts were distributed.