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NORAD tracks Santas Christmas Eve journey
CDFA approves permit for reindeer to enter California
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Tracking Santa

·         The NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, www.noradsanta.org, will stream videos captured by NORAD “Santa Cams” from cities along Santa’s journey.

·         Santa trackers will also answer phone calls all day today. Children of all ages can call the NTS toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or send an e-mail to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com to get their own personal update on St. Nick’s progress.

The wait is over. Santa has begun his journey delivering presents to children around the world. His one-day trek across the globe started at midnight and will continue through to the wee hours of the morning.

For the 55th consecutive year, the men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are ready to track Santa’s progress around the world. Twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year, NORAD tracks airplanes, missiles, space launches and anything else that flies in or around the North American continent amongst other very important missions. While the tradition of tracking Santa began purely by accident, NORAD continues to track the jolly old elf every Christmas Eve.

According to NORAD, Santa usually starts his Christmas Eve trip at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west. So, historically, Santa visits the South Pacific first, then New Zealand and Australia. After that, he shoots up to Japan, over to Asia, across to Africa, then onto Western Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. The NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, www.noradsanta.org, will stream videos captured by NORAD “Santa Cams” from cities along Santa’s journey.

Santa trackers will also answer phone calls all day today. Children of all ages can call the NTS toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or send an e-mail to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com to get their own personal update on St. Nick’s progress.

Children of Turlock — and the rest of California — can rest easy knowing Santa will make it to town this year. On Thursday, the California Department of Food and Agriculture approved a permit for Santa’s reindeer to enter the state.

California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford granted a 24-hour permit clearing all brand inspection and health requirements for nine reindeer slated to visit California tonight and in the early morning hours of Saturday.

According to the CDFA, the permit application was filed by a rotund, jolly man with a red face and a white beard. The signature on the paperwork reads “K. Kringle.”

Brand inspections and health requirements—which help veterinarians prevent the spread of animal disease—mandate that all animals entering California be individually identified. The nine reindeer named on the permit are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph.

The permit was granted under two conditions: the nine reindeer may not co-mingle with other reindeer in the state of California, and the visiting reindeer may not be used for breeding purposes while in the state.

“We are pleased and honored to issue the permit to Mr. Kringle,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “As always, we wish him safe travels as he and his reindeer make deliveries to the good children of California.”

To contact Kristina Hacker, e-mail khacker@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2004.