Mathews Volunteer Fire Department said Santa Claus called this year to say he was sorry he couldn’t visit the fire station, but he was happy to help with a Santa run. So on Dec. 13 he hopped aboard a fire truck from Station 4 and rode through neighborhoods in Cobbs Creek and Hallieford. Here, in photo at left, he greets Carolyn Dixon and neighbors Danny and Kristen Walden and their daughter Aubrey. At right, he stops by to say hi to, from right, Stacie Worley, her daughter Skyller, and their friend Anja Davis of Richmond, who visited Mathews just to see Santa Claus.

SHERRY HAMILTON / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
...