Athletes play Santa

Before leaving school for the last time before Christmas break, several football players climbed on a school bus one last time. But not for school, nor a game, but to go Christmas shopping Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Building character is important to head football coach Tony Travis who took his football players shopping Wednesday afternoon to buy Christmas presents for children.

“It’s important for them to give back,” Travis said, who hopes this year’s shopping was just the beginning of a tradition. He said he, his wife and son “adopted” an angel off the angel tree in Fayetteville and he wanted his football players to know the joy of giving.

Many of the football players contributed money, even if they couldn’t go shopping.

“I just wanted to give to kids who wouldn’t otherwise have a Christmas,” Drew Norris said. “I wanted to help,” Jonah Torres said.

Austin Easterling said it is good to give to others.

Morganne Rhine, cheerleader and reigning Miss Pea Ridge, said she had not adopted a child from the Angel Tree before and want ed to help make Christmas better for someone.

Travis said Keith Martin, principal at Pea Ridge Elementary School, helped with the selection of the recipients.

News, Pages 1 on 12/28/2011