Becky Wisdom, center, sings along with Christmas carolers on the porch of her southwest Lawrence home Friday, Dec. 23, 2011.

Photo by John Young

Becky Wisdom, center, is surprised by Christmas carolers as she answers the door to her southwest Lawrence home Friday, Dec. 23, 2011.

Photo by John Young

Ehren Penix wants the city of Lawrence to change the city’s animal code to allow for potbellied pigs as pets, including the 70-pound Starky, who he says has formed a deep bond with him.

Photo by Special to the Journal-World

Owner Ehren Penix says his potbellied pig, Sparky, is clean, well-behaved and affectionate.

Photo by Special to the Journal-World

Read story

Maci Spreer, 1, did not care for Santa at Oak Park Mall! Every time she sees Santa, she hold on to mommy or daddy tight.

Meghan Spreer

Retired Lawrence Police Sgt. Mark Warren

Nebraska Furniture Mart

Retired Lawrence Police Sgt. Mark Warren

Nebraska Furniture Mart

Taylor Schreiner, Lawrence, left, and her mother, Brenda Schreiner, look at a children’s alphabet book as they shop for last-minute Christmas gifts Friday at The Toy Store, 936 Mass. “We’ll be out tomorrow, too,” said Taylor, of their Christmas Eve plans.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Paperwhite narcissus, a type of daffodil, is an exceptionally easy flower to force into bloom. If you've tried to grow them before and they have flopped, try a splash of liquor. Alcohol stunts the growth of flowers, which will keep them from flopping.

Photo by iStock photo

Read story

Bill Kitchen

A crowd fills the inside of Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt., for a public forum on Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration decision to close the Lawrence SRS location. The staff of the Lawrence Journal-World named the near-closing of the local SRS office the top local story from 2011.

Photo by Kevin Anderson Lawrence Journal World

A zigzagging string of Christmas lights connects a neighborhood of homes and trees just north of Quail Run School on Woodridge Drive. Chad Dodd and Chris Eagle are the neighbors who provide and install the lights each year.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Emergency crews wait for a patient at the intersection of Sixth Street and Folks Road. A driver was critically injured when his car hit a tree early Friday morning; he was taken by air ambulance to a Topeka-area hospital.

Photo by Alex Parker

Read story

Missouri's Phil Pressey, left, heads to the basket past Illinois' Sam Maniscalco during the second half Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in St. Louis. Missouri won, 78-74.

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

The holidays can often bring an uptick in emergency room visits. Common reasons are falls, chest pain and car accidents.

iStock

Dwayne and Ruby Peaslee

Gregory Joe Glover and Meghan Elizabeth Oberzan

Rebecca Lysen and Justin Hosek

Jacob Hamilton and Ashley Butler

Joel Limes and Elisabeth Betzen

Employer of the month: Culver’s was chosen as JobLink’s Employer of the Month for December. Celebrating from left, are Anita Burkhalter (JobLink consultant), Donna Nichols (Culver’s owner), Cindy Sanders (Culver’s employee), Michelle Cooper (Culver’s manager), Nick Czarnik, Rebekah Holbert, Nicole Henley, Karen Geyer and Albert Gauna (Culver’s employees), and George Nichols (Culver’s owner). Kari Bentzinger submitted the photo.