Santa called: On his way to Saline County

Santa Claus is just about finished checking his list twice and making final plans for his trip, which might be, in the words of that old song,  "A foggy Christmas Eve."

The jolly old elf said he should come through Saline County sometime after midnight, early on Christmas day.

"I plan to work my way through all the towns in the county paying visits on all the good little girls and boys," St. Nicholas said during a break from mounting his brand-new Global Positioning System on his sleigh.

The temperature in Saline County is supposed to be around freezing on Christmas Eve and early on Christmas day, so it won't be too cold here by Santa standards. However, Rudolph definitely will be leading the sleigh this year -- AccuWeather is predicting fog, especially where warmer weather in the South meets a rain and snow system in the Northeast. Northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan could get several inches of snow Christmas Eve.

Cold, warm or foggy, it takes quite a bit of energy to fly around the world and distribute presents. Joy Suits, nutrition educator at the University of Illinois Extension, has prepared a high-energy trail mix Santa can eat on the go.

"However, I don't ever say 'no' to some cookies and milk to warm up before I continue on my trip," Kris Kringle said.

Saline County is ready for its visit from St. Nick. Sheriff Keith Brown is set to provide anything Santa may need on his trip through Saline County, he said. Workers at Saline County Central Dispatch will be monitoring Santa's progress through the county.

"Santa has the phone number for Central Dispatch in his Blackberry just in case he needs directions or any other kind of assistance," Brown said.

Santa has been provided maps of Eye Center Drive by Harrisburg Street Superintendent Rick Brown. Maps showing the new state Route 13 bypass have been sent to the North Pole by Danny Clayton and David Phelps at the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"We always try to keep Santa up-to-date on any changes in the state highways in Southern Illinois," Phelps said.

Eldorado hasn't had any major street changes this year, but Street Superintendent J. B. James gave his cell phone number to Santa just in case he is needed.

Santa's connections in Illinois run deep. Dr. Clifford Shipley, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Veterinary Hospital in Urbana, is on Santa's speed dial in case anything goes wrong with one of the reindeer. If Rudolph's bright nose goes out or Vixen has a toothache, Shipley can take care of the problem quickly. Shipley specializes in treating both deer and reindeer, according to a news release from the U of I.

Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, Santa schedules checkups for the reindeer with Shipley about twice a year. Shipley pays particular attention to their hooves, which must be in tip-top shape for all that landing and taking off on Christmas.

While they do not need metal shoes like horses, reindeer have split hooves that continue to grow like our fingernails.

"Usually about once a year we need to trim their feet," he said.

Most people don't know it but reindeer are the only deer where both males and females have antlers. So the next time you see a reindeer with antlers, don't call it a "he" or "she" without checking first, Shipley said.

They may be tiny, but Santa's reindeer are tough. They can stay warm in almost any temperature. Reindeer have hollow hair that provides good insulation.

"It's almost impossible to make a reindeer cold," Dr. Shipley said.

Everyone knows Santa loves cookies and milk, but reindeer like slightly different treats. Mark Hardy of Hardy's Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul passed on the secret treat reindeer love.

"They love Graham crackers, that's what we use for treats," Hardy said.

A few crackers along with the milk and cookies will make Santa's reindeer especially happy.

Along with setting out feed for Santa's reindeer, Danny Evans at Southern FS plans to put out a few crackers just in case the sleigh stops for a quick snack on the way out of the county.