>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A SMALL DAIRY FARM HAS SPRUNG UP ON BLOOMINGTON'S WEST SIDE.

IT'S HOPING TO CATER TO CONSUMERS' DESIRE FOR LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCTS.

>> THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM AND THAT HELPS TO CREATE VALUE TO THE FARMER HIMSELF.

>> BUT SMALL OPERATIONS SUCH AS TWIN SPRINGS CREAMERY FACE CHALLENGES IN AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET.

>>> EVERY YEAR AROUND CHRISTMAS, VOLUNTEERS IN SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA, ANSWER THOUSANDS OF LETTERS FROM CHILDREN ADDRESSED TO JOLLY OL' St. NICK.

>> THE WORLD NEEDS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING.

AND IN THEMSELVES.

AND THINGS THAT ARE GOOD.

>> AND EVEN MORE HOLIDAY MAIL FLOWS THROUGH THE POST OFFICE FOR THEIR UNIQUE POSTMARK.

AND WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

A NEW CREAMERY WILL SOON BE OPENING IN BLOOMINGTON PROVIDING A FRESH LOCAL OPTION FOR ON-THE-SHELF DAIRY AX.

ACCORDING TO THE OWNER TWIN SPRINGS CREAMERY IS FILLING A GAP THAT HAS EXISTED IN THE AREA FOR SOME TIME.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTNER SPOKE WITH THE BUSINESS AND OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY, TO LEARN ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY DAIRY FARMERS IN INDIANA.

>> THESE COWS WILL CONSUME 25 GALLONS OF WATER A DAY.

>> TWIN SPRINGS CREAMERY HAS GRADE A PASTEURIZED PRODUCTS ON LOCAL STORE SHELVES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AT THE MOMENT, TWIN SPRINGS HAS ROSY, LUNA, SKITTLES AND GENOVESE THAT WILL MAKE THE COMPANY'S PRODUCT LINE OF PLAIN AND FLAVORED MILKS AND YOGURTS.

IT'S NO SMALL FEAT.

MANY DAIRY FARMERS SEND THE MILK OR CREAM TO A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION TO BE PROCESSED.

JAMES FARMER SAYS THEY PLAN TO DO ALL THE MILKING AND PROCESSING ON SITE.

.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT SMALLER SCALE EQUIPMENT LIKE THIS 100 GALLONS, THAT PASTEURIZER, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE THESE.

AND SO 30 YEARS AGO, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS POSSIBLE TO FIND THE EQUIPMENT TO DO IT AT THIS SCALE.

>> IT TAKES A LOT LIKE AN OPERATION LIKE THIS TO GET OFF THE GROUND.

THERE ARE AGENCIES TO REPORT TO SUCH AS THE BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH THAT REQUIRE ON-SITE TESTING EQUIPMENT AND ALL THE STAINLESS STEEL VATS TO KEEP THE FARMER SANITARY.

THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO AN $85,000 GRANT FROM THE DAIRY BUSINESS INITIATIVE.

>> IT PAID FOR THE PASTEURIZER, THE CHART RECORDER, THE CHILLER BEHIND ME AND SOME OTHER -- A LITTLE BIT MORE EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS HELPING WITH SOME MARKETING AND GETTING A WEBSITE DEVELOPED.

SO WITHOUT THAT, THIS PART OF THE OPERATION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

>> FARMERSER HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN BEING A DAIRY FARMER SINCE HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD.

>> I REMEMBER GOING TO MARTHA'S JERSEY FARM, I SHOWED COWS IN 4-H AND F.A.A.

AND.

>> TO HIS KNOWLEDGE, TWIN SPRINGS IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE AREA.

AND ONE FACILITY IN BROWN COUNTY, HE'S NOT WRONG.

IN AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS GONE THROUGH AS MUCH CONSOLIDATING AS DAIRY HAS, THIS IS BY NO MEANS UNCOMMON.

ACCORDING TO STEVE OBERT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR INDIANA DAIRY PRODUCERS, INDIANA IS THE 15th HIGHEST DAIRY PRODUCING STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WE PRODUCE A LITTLE OVER 4 MILLION GALLONS OF MILK A DAY.

THAT LEAVES OUR STATE BORDERS FOR OTHER PROCESSING.

>> OBERT SAYS THERE'S JUST UNDER 700 GRADE A DAIRY FARMS IN THE STATE.

HE ALSO SAYS THAT A MAJORITY OF THE FARMS WORK THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED A FARMER-OWNED COOPERATIVE TO SELL THEIR MILK.

THESE BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS THEY ACT AS SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTRACTORS THAT MUST MEET CERTAIN QUOTE QUOTAS IN ORDER TO GET THEIR QUANTITY.

>> THE PROFITS OF THE COOPERATIVE AND MAYBE SOME DEDUCTIONS OFF YOUR OWN MILK CHECK GET PUT INTO THE EQUITY ACCOUNT AND THEN FOR THE -- SO THAT THE COOPERATIVE HAS MONEY TO OPERATE WITH.

>> HISTORICALLY THESE CO-OPS HAVE CAUSED A HOLLOWING OUT OF THE DAIRY FARMS.

BUT THIS IS PART OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDUSTRY, WHERE AN INTEREST IN LOCALLY SOURCED DAIRY PRODUCTS IS ALLOWING SMALLER, PRIVATE OPERATIONS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

TWIN SPRINGS IS ONE OF THE 37 DAIRY FARMS IN THE STATE OPERATING IN THIS WAY.

>> THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO IS -- YOU KNOW, WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

AND THAT HELPS TO CREATE VALUE TO THE FARMER HIMSELF BECAUSE HE CAN SELL -- YOU KNOW, HE'S BASICALLY CREATING VALUE ON WHO HE IS AND HOW HE DOES THINGS.

THAT'S BEGINNING TO BE MORE POPULAR.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH, CANADA.

SINCE THE '70s, CANADA HAS SEPARATED ON A QUOTA SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS HOW MUCH DAIRY FARMERS CAN PRODUCE AND LIMITS INPUT THROUGH TARIFFS.

IT STABILIZES INCOME FOR CANADIAN FARMERS, BUT DAIRY PRODUCERS LIKE NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED STATES FEEL IT'S AN UNFAIR WAY TO SHELTER THE INDUSTRY.

AFTER WINNING ONE CASE WITH LITTLE CHANGE ON CANADA'S PART, THE NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION JUST CONCLUDED ITS SECOND U.S. MCA CASE ON THE GROUND THAT THE QUOTA SYSTEM DOESN'T LINE UP WITH USCMA.

>> WE WORKED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BRING A SECOND CASE AND FOCUS STRONGLY ON THE NEED FOR A RULING ACROSS THESE VARIOUS PROBLEMATIC MEASURES.

>> THE USMCA RULES IN FAVOR OF CANADA IN THAT CASE AND NOW THE U.S. AND NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLAN THEIR NEXT STEPS.

>> I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN REALLY ENCOURAGED BY IS THE STATEMENTS FROM BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND BIPARTISAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAYING THIS CAN'T BE THE END OF THE LINE.

LIKE THIS DECISION JUST SIMPLY MAKES NO SENSE.

>> MORRIS SAYS THE ISSUE IS AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE IT CAUSES INCREMENTALLY DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON MILK OPERATIONS AND LOSSES FOR EVERYDAY -- PRICES AND LOSSES FOR EVERYDAY FARMERS.

>> WHEN WE SEE A TRADING PARTNER THAT SHOULD BE A LAW BIDING AND GOOD PARTNER LIKE CANADA, BASICALLY THUMBING ITS NOSE AT ITS OBLIGATIONS TO US.

THAT'S CONCERNING.

>> BEING ABLE TO EXPORT MILL TOCK CANADA, IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAYBE A PROPER LIVING DAIRY FARMING WITHOUT HAVING TO BRING IN A THIRD-PARTY CO-OP.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>> YOU CAN LOOK FOR TWIN SPRINGS CREAMERY PRODUCT AT THE BLOOMINGTON FARMER'S MARK AND THE BLOOMINGTON FARM STOP COLLECTIVE AND BLOOMING FOODS.

>>> BLOOMINGTON MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON AND COLUMBUS MAYOR JIM LIENHOOP BOTH CHOSE NOT TO SEEK REELECTION AFTER TWO TERMS AND TERRE HAUTE DUKE BENNETT LOST HIS BID FOR REELECTION AFTER SERVING FOUR TERMS IN OFFICE.

I SAT DOWN WITH ALL THREE THIS MONTH AND ASKED THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAYOR.

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS GOT TO DO WITH HOW MUCH THEY CARE.

AND SO TO REALIZE THAT COLUMBUS CAN AT TIMES BE A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE, BE REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A NEAT PLACE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY, TO -- JUST TO SPEND YOUR TOO MANY.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A GREAT SET OF AMENITIES HERE LOCALLY.

PEOPLE TEND TO TAKE CARE OF THE PLACE.

>> I THINK JUST RALLYING AROUND THOSE DOWN TIMES HELPED US, NOW HE, REACH SOME REALLY HIGH LOFTY GOALS THAT I SET.

AND SO WHEN YOU KIND OF LOOK BACK ACROSS IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT?

I MEAN, YOU JUST DIDN'T -- YOU CAN'T WRITE A SCRIPT FOR THIS KIND OF A JOB.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS -- YOU KNOW, WHOEVER IS IN THIS JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMEMBER THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU MEET THOSE GOALS.

>> ONE PERSON DESCRIBE BEING MAYOR AS BEING EVERYONE'S NEIGHBOR.

YOU ARE LIKE THE NEIGHBOR TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH MEANS YOU GET TO KNOW WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT.

YOU GET TO KNOW WHAT THEY WORRY ABOUT.

YOU GET TO KNOW WHAT THEY HOPE FOR.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS JOB IS YOU GET TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE ACCOMPLISH THEIR OBJECTIVES, CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE, CREATE MORE SUCCESS FOR PEOPLE, AND BLOOMINGTON IS A -- BLOOMINGTON IS A HIGH AMBITION COMMUNITY.

WE ARE NOT AS DIVERSE AS WE THINK WE ARE SOMETIMES, AND WE NEED TO REALLY WORK HARD ON BEING A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.

BUT IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE MAYOR ANYWHERE ELSE.

THE FUTURE IS REALLY BRIGHT, I THINK, FOR BLOOMINGTON.

I THINK OUR TRAJECTORY IS GOOD.

AND I HOPE THE MOMENTUM CONTINUES.

>> WHILE LIENHOOP AND HAMILTON SAY THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS RIGHT NOW, BENNETT WAS APPOINTED THIS WEEK AS INDIANA'S NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

THE JOB WILL BEGIN WHEN HIS TERM EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>>> WELL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTH FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

HI, CLAYTON.

>> HI, JOE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> GOVERNOR EHRLICH HOLCOMB, THE SALE OF U.S. STEEL TO JAPANESE -- ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS THE SALE OF THE U.S. STEEL TO JAPANESE, THREE'S THREE STEEL FACILITIES INCLUDING THE LARGEST MANUFACTURING PLANT IN GARY.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE ON A GLOBAL STAGE, IF YOU WANT TO STAY IN BUSINESS AND GROW.

>> HOLCOMB IS SIFTING THROUGH THE FINER DETAILS ON WHAT IT MEANS FOR CONTRACT U.S. STEEL HAS IN PLACE WITH THE UNITED STATES STEELWORKERS UNION.

>>> AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

ONE I IMMUNIZATION COALITION.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE TEN GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RECEIVE A GRANT FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, GSK.

THE ORGANIZATION WANTS TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES TO MAKE VACCINATION INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE.

>> I THINK REACHING NEW COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE REALLY THOUGHTFUL IN OUR APPROACH SO THAT THESE -- THESE IMMIGRANT AND MIGRANT FAMILIES DON'T FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE SYSTEM, IF WE CAN MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME AND THAT THIS IS A SAFE SPACE.

>> ROBERTSON SAYS I.I.C.

WANTS TO USE PART OF THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE INTERPRETERS FOR MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

>>> STUDENT CLIMATE ADVOCATES AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY WORRY THE UNIVERSITY IS LAGGING BEHIND ON IMPLEMENTING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

THE PLAN WAS APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER BUT CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES FORM THEIR OWN CLIMATE COMMITTEES.

I.U.

HAS A PLAN TO BECOME CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2040, SOHA VORA SAYS THE PLAN ITSELF SEEMS PURPOSEFULLY VAGUE.

>> ALL OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND DEADLINES WERE PUSHED OFF TO AN IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FORMED YET.

>> THEY THINK IT WILL PUT THE UNIVERSITY'S OVERALL GOAL OUT OF REACH.

BUT THE CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE SAYS ALL CAMPUSES MUST HAVE TO FINALIZE THE PLAN BY MID-JANUARY.

>>> THE ANNUAL REVIEW LOOKS AT FACTORS LIKE C-SECTION RATES, NEWBORN COMPLICATION RATES, BREAST MILK FEEDING RATES AND VAGINAL BIRTHS.

I.U.

HEALTH OF PRENATAL AND PEDIATRICS SAY THEY ARE FOCUSING ON HYPERTENSION AND CARDIAC ISSUES IN PREGNANCY.

THEY ARE WORKING TO COLLECT DATA FOR EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE.

>> BEING ABLE TO SORT OF TRACK OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE FOCUSED ON IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GIVING THE SAME CARE TO EVERYONE.

>> THE "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT" RECEIVED DATA FROM 680 HOSPITALS AND FEWER THAN HALF RECEIVED A HIGH-PERFORMING REVIEW FOR MATERNITY CARE.

>>> INDIANA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM WILL COST ABOUT $1 BILLION MORE IN THE CURRENT STATE BUDGET THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE LAWMAKERS USED TO WRITE THE BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE UNDERESTIMATED LARGELY FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES.

FLOAT OF UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH WHEN THEY GAVE THE LAWMAKERS THE FUNDING ESTIMATE IN APRIL.

THEY WILL HAVE TO DIP INTO THE BUDGET RESERVES TO MAKE UP THE BUDGET SHORTFALL.

>> I'M SURE BRANDON.

KEEP ON TOP THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

VOLUNTEER LETTER-WRITING ELVES AND POSTAL WORKERS SPRING INTO ACTION IN SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA.

>>> AND WE VISIT AN EXHIBIT ON THE I.U.

CAMPUS, CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF 16-MILLIMETER FILM AND HOW IT REVOLUTIONIZED THE INDUSTRY.

>>> THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE I.U.

McCULLA SCHOOL IS HOSTING AN EXHIBIT CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF 16-MILLIMETER FILM.

THE EXHIBIT EYE CENTURY OF 16-MILLIMETER FILM AIMS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW THE MAT HAS EVOLVED SINCE IT WAS RELEASED IN 1923.

ISABELLA VESPIRINI HAS THIS REPORT.

>> THERE ARE 62 CAMERAS AND PROJECTORS IN THE EXHIBIT DATING BACK TO 1923.

THE MAJORITY COME FROM ALAN LEWIS, THE HEAD OF PRESERVATION AND FILM ARCHIVE AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.

>> BEFORE 1923, ALL THAT EXISTED AND HAD EXISTED FOR THE PREVIOUS 28 YEARS, 28 TO 30 YEARS WAS 35-MILLIMETER MOTION PICTURE FILM CAPTURE ON ENORMOUSLY HUGE CAMERAS THAT WERE HARD TO MOVE, THAT REALLY WAS EXPENSIVE, EARLIER FORMATS WERE ALSO ON A NITRIC FILM BASE, WHICH ARE FAMABLE AND DANGEROUS AND KILLED PEOPLE.

>> IT ALLOWS KIDS TO PROJECT THEIR OWN FILMS USING MICKEY MOUSE REELS FOR EXAMPLE.

THIS UTILITY KIT CAME WITH A SPEAKER, PROJECTOR AND AMPLIFIER, WEIGHING 75 POUNDS AND COSTING $369.

THIS WAS USED AT HOME, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS SEANSCHOOLS AND CLUBS.

>> SO 16-MILLIMETER WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS AFFORDABLE AND PEOPLE COULD SHOOT THEIR HOME MOVIES, RIGHT OR AMATEUR FILMMAKERS COULD AFFORD TO MAKE FILMS.

IT CHANGED HOWEVER EVERYONE COULD RECORD FILM AND MOVING IMAGES.

>> EASTMAN KODAK SOLD THE FIRST ONE FOR $335.

FORD'S MODEL T SOLD FOR $298 AT THE SAME TIME.

A 16-MILLIMETER FILM BECAME MORE POPULAR AMONG OTHER COMPANIES, CAMERAS BECAME MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> COMPARED TO YOUR PHONE, IT'S NOT TINY, BUT COMPARED TO A 35-MILLIMETER CAMERA THAT DOESN'T MOVE, IT WAS PRETTY GREAT.

>> THEY WERE DESIGNED TO GET ARMY FOOTAGE FOR WAR FILMS DESPITE BEING MULL BEINGY AND HEAVY.

THERE'S A TABLE WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT OLD STRIPS OF FILM THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS.

THERE'S 24 FRAMES PER SECOND.

THAT MEANS 400 FEET OF 16-MILLIMETER REEL PRODUCES ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF FOOTAGE.

SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING CONTENT THAT IS BEING MADE.

>> FOR LONG-TERM DIGITAL PRESERVATION, PEOPLE WILL NOT BE CHECKING THEIR FILES FOR DIGITAL ROT.

THEY ARE NOT USING FIXITY TO MAKE SURE THE FILES ARE OKAY, NOT STORING IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

AND THEN AT LIKE IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, MOV MAY NOT BE THE MAT, ROO EIGHT?

-- FORMAT, RIGHT?

SO YOU MAY ALWAYS BE MIGRATING FILMS.

>> THE EXHIBIT WILL BE OPEN THROUGH MARCH.

THERE IS NO ADMISSION FEE.

>>> WELL, MAIL A LETTER IN DECEMBER TO SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA, AND YOU ARE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE WRITTEN BY SANTA!

REPORTER EAT ETHAN SANDWEISS VISITED THE SMALL INDIANA TOWN THAT RECEIVES STAMPS AND RECEIVES A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF HOLIDAY LETTERS.

>> EVERY YEAR, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LETTERS LIKE THESE ARE ANSWERED BY VOLUNTEERS IN SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA.

THE TRADITION DATES BACK OVER 90 YEARS.

TODAY, THERE'S ONLY THREE VOLUNTEERS IN THE OLD POST OFFICE OR HE WILL OFS AS THEY -- OR ELVES AS THEY PREFER TO BE CALLED.

THEY HAVE BEEN AT IT FOR HOURS.

LAST YEAR THEY ANSWERED OVER 23,000 LETTERS.

>> WE CAN HAVE 14 PEOPLE IN THERE ANSWERING LETTERS AND THAT'S IT.

WE CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE.

SO WE TRY NOT TO -- TO OVERSCHEDULE, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE REALLY NEED HELP.

>> KOCH HAS BEEN PENNING CHRISTMAS LETTERS SINCE WORLD WAR II, EXCEPT FOR A TEN-YEAR BREAK WHEN SHE WORKED AS A NURSE IN St. LOUIS.

HER FATHER BEGAN WRITING LETTERS WITH POSTMASTER JAMES MART ANYONE 1930.

>> WE WERE TOLD THAT THE POSTMASTER STARTED ANSWERING LETTERS IN 1914.

WHEN MY DAD CAME BACK IN '30, HE SAW HOW BUSINESSY THAT BUSY THAT MADE THE POSTMASTER AND THEY STARTED HELPING.

>> THEY USE FOUR FORM LETTERS.

>> THEY ARE DEAR FRIEND, DEAR LITTLE FRIEND AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

ONE OF THEM SAYS SOMETIMES I CAN'T GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT, SO WE TRY TO FIND A LETTER THAT SUITS THE CHILD'S LETTER.

>> WITHOUT A TEAM OF REINDEER SENDING LETTERS WORLDWIDE IS EXPENSIVE.

ACCORDING TO THE SANTA CLAUS MUSEUM, POSTAGE ALONE COSTS OVER $20,000, WHICH IS COVERED BY DONATIONS.

DESPITE THE MASSIVE INVESTMENT OF LABOR AND MONEY, KOCH SAYS SHE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR, JUST AS SHE HAS FOR THE LAST 63.

>> THE WORLD NEEDS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, AND IN THEMSELVES, AND IN THINGS THAT ARE GOOD.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

>> ACROSS TOWN, ANOTHER HOLIDAY TRADITION BRINGS THOUSANDS OF LETTERS TO THE TOWN'S NEW POST OFFICE.

THESE HOLIDAY WRITERS WANT TO SEND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES LETTERS WITH SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA'S UNIQUE HOLIDAY POSTMARK.

>> AND IT JUST HAS BECOME SUCH A HUGE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE DO HERE IN THE TOWN.

IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT, YOU MIGHT BE RUN OUT OF TOWN.

>> THE HOLIDAY POSTMARK TURNS 40 THIS YEAR.

THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD REQUIRES BAILEY TO BORROW CLERKS FROM NEIGHBORING OFFICES.

>> YOU MENTIONED LAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF CARDS THAT YOU POSTMARKED.

>> YEAH, IT WAS ALMOST 123,000, JUST CARDS AND LETTERS.

THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, LARGER ENVELOPES OR PACKAGES THAT GOT THE POSTMARK.

>> IT'S DESIGNED BY A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND APPROVED BY THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE IN D.C.

UNLIKE STANDARD POSTMARKS IT HAS TO BE APPLIED BY HAND.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> CUSTOMERS TRAVEL FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO STAMP THEIR LETTERS IN PERSON.

BUT MOST WILL MAIL THEM?

>> IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT HERE IN PERSON, THEY DO HAVE THE OPTION TO MAIL THEM.

SO WE GET LOTS OF PACKAGES IN DAILY ADDRESSED TO THE POSTMASTER.

THEN WE OPEN AND THEIR CARDS ARE INSIDE AND THEN WE TAKE THEM OUT AND CANCEL THEM FOR THEM.

>> BAILEY RETIRES NEXT YEAR WHICH MEANS THE DAUNTING JOB WILL FALL ON A NEW POSTMASTER.

BUT LIKE KOCH, SHE SAYS THE EXTRA WORK IS WORTH IT.

>> IT JUST BRINGS A SMILE TO THEIR FACE.

IT'S CHRISTMAS.

YOU ARE GETTING A CHRISTMAS CARD, AND IT WAS POSTMARKED FROM SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>> THEY USE THE POSTMARK FROM DECEMBER 1st THROUGH THE 24th.

THE ELVES RESPOND TO LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE 16th.

WELL, WITH THIS BEING OUR FINAL "INDIANA NEWSDESK" OF THE YEAR, VIDEOGRAPHER DEVAN RIDGEWAY PUT TOGETHER THIS PIECE ON SOME OF THE TOP STORIES WE BROUGHT YOU IN 2023.

♪ >> IT IMPROVES WALKING AND BICYCLING BY PROVIDING THIS RELIABLE CORRIDOR FOR PEOPLE TO USE, WHERE THEY WILL FEEL SAFER AND MORE COMFORTABLE.

>> IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAD A WOMAN THAT WAS SUFFERING, GETTING WORSE, SHOWING, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES AND THEY JUST LET HER DIE.

>> IF YOU WERE PROBABLY MONITORING AN INCARCERATED PERSON, THEY DON'T LOSE 44 POUNDS.

THIS HE DON'T LOSE A QUARTER OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT IN 20 DAYS.

>> VERY FEW STATES GIVE SMALL FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH PRODUCE THE PRODUCT AND SELL IT TO THE PUBLIC AND BEING ABLE TO DO IT ALL IN ONE SPOT IS WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

>> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR ANY KID, ANY SIZE, ANY SHAPE TO BE ABLE TO COME AND FIND SUCCESS.

>> DESPITE JUST A SMALL BORDER OF UKRAINE, WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT THIS WAS SOMEBODY WHO WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT MARK, BUT JUST IMAGINE WHERE SHE MIGHT HAVE GONE HAD SHE LIVED.

>> I WILL NOT SIT DOWN UNTIL MY QUESTION IS ANSWERED!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> AND HAVE THEY ALREADY BEEN DUMPED.

>> THEY WERE ACCEPTED TODAY AND THEY WERE DONE TODAY.

>> >> IT IS A MORE HUMANE PLACE, I THINK, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVEMENT THERE.

>> I LOVE GOING TO THE GAMES AND I LOVE SARAH SCALIA.

>> WE WILL REGROUP AND THEN THE GOALS WILL REMAIN THE SAME, TO WIN ANOTHER BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

TO, YOU KNOW, GET TO A FINAL FOUR.

>> I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD BE ELECTED MAYOR OF THIS CITY THAT I VERY SURPRISINGLY FELL IN LOVE WITH ON A CROSS-COUNTRY BICYCLING TRIP.

>> WE AS THE GOVERNING BODY NEED TO PUT LIMITS ON THE ACCESS TO TAX DOLLARS WE ALLOW INDIANA UNIVERSITY TO GARNER BY DENYING SUCH FUNDS TO BE DIRECTED TO KINSEY INSTITUTE.

>> IT'S TOO LATE TO GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT -- WE DON'T WANT THIS BILL, BUT I -- I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT, OTHER THAN SEPARATING THE INSTITUTE.

>> IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH FOR ANYBODY TO OVERPOWER A TEACHER IF THEY KNEW THAT YOU HAD A GUN ON YOU.

>> I'VE HAD THINGS THROWN AT ME, NOISES ALL THE WAY AROUND ME.

I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND ME, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD THAT ACTUAL VISUAL SIGHTING.

THAT'S WHAT I'M CHASING.

>> HE KICKED DOWN THE DOOR, AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THERE, AND HE SAID, I'VE GOT AN INFANT.

DO YOU HAVE A BASEMENT?

WE NEED TO FIND SHELTER.

>> THEY JUST WANT THE HOMELESS GONE, OUT OF SIGHT.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO.

>> YOU CAN SIT THERE AND FIDGET, YOU KNOW, TIGHTEN YOUR BELTS, BUT AS SOON AS YOU GO OUT, THERE IT ALL JUST GOES AWAY, AND YOU ARE FOCUSED ON ONE THING AND THAT'S WINNING.

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT, WHO IS GOING TO BE IN THIS RACE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO TURN THINGS AROUND.

>> EVEN AFTER WE SAY, THERE ARE CLINICS AVAILABLE TO YOU, WE CAN HELP, IT'S OKAY.

THERE'S STILL KIND OF RESPONSE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

>> I HOPE YOU HEAR MY VOICE CLEARLY AND LOUDLY TONIGHT AS I STATE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO LISTEN TO THE HEART OF THESE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND THEREFORE MUST BE REMOVED.

>> PEOPLE MAY LOOK AT IT LATER AND SAY, HEY, I DIDN'T GET TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, SOMETIMES IT'S TOO LATE, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT AND GOVERNMENT TRIES TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

>> DEFENSE!

DEFENSE!

DEFENSE!

DEFENSE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.

JOIN US FOR MORE IN 2024.

>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: