Rick Wagner

Many area grades K-12 public school students Thursday were having parties and celebrations right before winter break for the Christmas holidays.

Imagine a United States in which the number of high school graduates drops by 13% from 2025 through 2041. Recommended for you Local Events

Imagine a United States in which the number of high school graduates drops by 13% from 2025 through 2041. Robinson True Local Events

Projected declines in the number of U.S. high school graduates after the Class of 2025 through the Class of 2041 could leave some colleges and other post-secondary institutions scrambling for incoming students.

Left to right, Mark Todd of Maryville as Santa and Christy Peters of the Kingsport area of Mrs. Claus talk to a the Ross family of Blountville Saturday morning at

Left to right, Santa's helper Mark Todd as Santa and Chisty Peters of the Kingsport area as Mrs. Claus. They greeted some receipients at the 2024 Toys from Cops Saturday

Far right, Marty Thomas, head of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Auxiliary, talks with a Sheriff's Office official in a a Santa hat Saturday. They were at the 27th annual

Mark Durbin, director of gambling operations at the hard rock Hotel and Casino Bristol, was one of the volunteers from the Bristol, Virginia, casino at Saturday's Toys from Cops event

Left to right, volunteers Mark Todd as Santa Claus and Christy Peters as Mrs. Claus are framed by a vehicle's rear windown at Saturday's Toys from Cops program of the

BLOUNTVILLE — For the 27th year, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Saturday distributed toys to children in the county who may otherwise have a not-so Merry Christmas because of economic hardship or other situations.