12/09/2025
Here is the original story about the one red bulb from 2022.
It isn't a surprise to most people that Santa Claus has many helpers. Some we are familiar with like the Elves, Mrs. Claus, and the Reindeer. There are many behind the scenes helpers as well. Although you probably aren't familiar with them, you have heard about them and didn't even know it. They are Santa's S.L.E.I.G.H. no, not the shiny red sled that we all know carries the jolly fella around the globe. They are the helpers responsible for making sure that yearly trip is pulled off without a single snafu. Their official title is Santa's Logistical Engineering & Instrumental GPS Helpers, aka S.L.E.I G.H. Last year the lead S.L.E.I.G.H. member reached out to Eric Benz and asked about having a Rudolph Charging Station installed. A what? Yes, a Rudolph Charging Station. Eric thought it was a prank call so he giggled and wished the fella a Happy Holiday Season and ended the call. The next day there was another call. This time the call rang through on our North Pole Communicator. Yes, it is a real thing! We were a bit startled when the NPC rang. This time I answered. The guy thanked me by name for answering his call and asked me to hear him out. He told me he was a member of the S.L.E.I.G.H. Before I could think of a whitty comeback, he asked me if I still had the Holly Hobby lunch box I got for Christmas many years ago. That's when I knew this guy was for real! He went on to say that Santa needed our help. Due to global warming, the reindeer being on a low carb diet, and the hand sanitizer fumes around the world, Rudolph's nose wasn't able to hold a charge long enough for the journey. This meant Christmas was in jeopardy! Santa couldn't ask to extend the holiday an extra day. He couldn't travel in broad daylight. There wasn't a single solution that could save Christmas. Santa couldn't fly without Rudolph's nose lighting the way and he depended on the upgraded GPS feature. I found out this is why I never got that pony I asked for as a little girl. Santa took a wrong turn somewhere. I don't know where that pony ended up but that's a story for another time. Anyway, the S.L.E.I.G.H. found ONE SINGLE SOLUTION TO SAVE CHRISTMAS! There needed to be a high tech, super duper charging station installed at the exact longitude and latitude that would give Rudolph's nose the boost it needed to get Santa and his team of Reindeer the rest of the way around the world safely! That location happened to be in Melcher, Iowa! The location MUST BE PRECISE! It just so happens that Eric had installed the lights on Angie Warner's house already. The S.L.E.I.G.H. had built the device and made it look like a regular C9 bulb! They asked if Eric would be willing to switch out the regular bulb with the charging station. He told Angie Warner about the seriousness of the situation. Of course she was willing to do whatever she could to help save Christmas! So when you drive down Main Street, be sure to check it out! Just one more thing that makes our little town extra special! And just think of all those who pass by and think it's just a house with an out of place random red bulb!