Christmas Eve means work for some

'Twill be the night before Christmas, and all through Havre not a creature will be stirring, except for the people that are scheduled to work all night on Christmas Eve.

Though most places close, some are not able to, like the police and fire departments, Northern Montana Hospital and some the convenience stores.

Fire Chief Dave Sheppard said it can be difficult for some of his firefighters, especially ones with families.

"It's kind of a hardship, but it's the luck of the draw, and someone's got to do it," Sheppard said. "Families that usually celebrate on Christmas morning do so on Christmas Eve and vice versa. You just have to move your schedule."

Sheppard added that, usually, if someone works one Christmas, they will at least have the next one off.

In the other half of the building, the police have to keep up their duties, holiday or not.

Sgt. Andrew Poulos said it is also hard for them.

"There are a lot of officers here that have families and wish they could be with them," Poulos said. "But we have a schedule."

The hospital will also be fully staffed, and only the clinics will be closed.

The 24-hour convenience stores, like Town Pump and Zip Trip, will be open, but 24-hour diner 4B's will close on the evening of Christmas Eve and reopen on Sunday morning.

In the face of these seasonal sacrifices, some members of the community have felt the need to show their appreciation.

State Sen.-elect Rowlie Hutton and members of the fifth Avenue Christian Church, at which he preaches, have made a tradition of following the midnight Christmas Eve services with baking cinnamon rolls and delivering them to all of Havre's midnight-Christmas-oil-burners.

Hutton and his late-night crew have been spreading holiday cheer among the workers.

"It's just our way of saying thanks to these people," Hutton said. "They're away from their families and have to work on Christmas Eve."

He added that he felt cinammon rolls would be the preferred baked treat.

"Usually by Dec. 24, people have had so many cookies delivered, so we went with cinnamon rolls," Hutton said.

And for those who will be working this year, or have in the past, the rolls are appreciated.

Poulos got one of them a few years ago.

"I am usually hungry around that time, so it was great," Poulos said. "The community support is very appreciated."

Susan Somers, who has worked over night at the hospital in years past but has this year off, has also enjoyed the late-night cinnamon rolls.

"For one thing, it's wonderful to be remembered," Somers said. "And another, they're delicious!"

'Twill be the night before Christmas, and all through Havre not a creature will be stirring, except for the people that are scheduled to work all night on Christmas Eve.

Though most places close, some are not able to, like the police and fire departments, Northern Montana Hospital and some the convenience stores.

Fire Chief Dave Sheppard said it can be difficult for some of his firefighters, especially ones with families.

"It's kind of a hardship, but it's the luck of the draw, and someone's got to do it," Sheppard said. "Families that usually celebrate on Christmas morning do so on Christmas Eve and vice versa. You just have to move your schedule."

Sheppard added that, usually, if someone works one Christmas, they will at least have the next one off.

In the other half of the building, the police have to keep up their duties, holiday or not.

Sgt. Andrew Poulos said it is also hard for them.

"There are a lot of officers here that have families and wish they could be with them," Poulos said. "But we have a schedule."

The hospital will also be fully staffed, and only the clinics will be closed.

The 24-hour convenience stores, like Town Pump and Zip Trip, will be open, but 24-hour diner 4B's will close on the evening of Christmas Eve and reopen on Sunday morning.

In the face of these seasonal sacrifices, some members of the community have felt the need to show their appreciation.

State Sen.-elect Rowlie Hutton and members of the fifth Avenue Christian Church, at which he preaches, have made a tradition of following the midnight Christmas Eve services with baking cinnamon rolls and delivering them to all of Havre's midnight-Christmas-oil-burners.

Hutton and his late-night crew have been spreading holiday cheer among the workers.

"It's just our way of saying thanks to these people," Hutton said. "They're away from their families and have to work on Christmas Eve."

He added that he felt cinammon rolls would be the preferred baked treat.

"Usually by Dec. 24, people have had so many cookies delivered, so we went with cinnamon rolls," Hutton said.

And for those who will be working this year, or have in the past, the rolls are appreciated.

Poulos got one of them a few years ago.

"I am usually hungry around that time, so it was great," Poulos said. "The community support is very appreciated."

Susan Somers, who has worked over night at the hospital in years past but has this year off, has also enjoyed the late-night cinnamon rolls.

"For one thing, it's wonderful to be remembered," Somers said. "And another, they're delicious!"