Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 15, 1994                   TAG: 9412150023
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

GRINCH CAN STEAL MAN'S SANTA BUT NOT HIS CHRISTMAS

For the past few weeks, traffic slowed at night to admire the lights and his most recent addition, a 5-foot plastic Santa.

But early Sunday morning, someone forgot the spirit of the season and stole Santa from his assigned post beside a Seasons Greeting sign.

"I think that's terrible ... that anybody could do that," Widner said.

"You know, they walked up in the yard and didn't touch nothing but the Santa."

Widner bought a duplicate Santa - plopping down another $50 at Kmart - but he's offering a small reward for the return of the first one and has reported the petty larceny to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Meanwhile, Santa's no longer in the yard past Widner's bedtime. He stays indoors.

"I've got to put him out every morning and take him up every evening," Widner said.

He wonders whether the thieves thought their act was a harmless prank or if their motives were plain Grinch-like.

"It was senseless to me," Widner said. "It's so large, you couldn't have gotten it in a car."

The Widner house at 3118 Peppers Ferry Road has been known to motorists for the past four years for its seasonal decorations. Widner and his girlfriend began work on the Christmas display right after taking down their Halloween yard art.

Widner said he can't begin to estimate the number of lights he uses - he only knows that they added about 1,600 this year, along with the Santa.

"We put things out like that for people to enjoy," Widner said. People stop at night to videotape the display or take pictures. Others have left messages on his answering machine commending the effort.

"I would like to see whoever took it get caught," he said. "All I want him to do is pay me for the first one" and for his time and expense advertising for St. Nick's return.

Anyone with information about the stolen Santa should call the Sheriff's Office, 382-2951.