Persistence Pays Off: Chelsea Paxson Finds the Long-Sought Community Ornament

Staff Report

For years, the hunt for the community Christmas ornament has been a holiday staple. This year, that mission finally ended in victory for local resident Chelsea Paxson, who found the ornament tucked away at the Oasis.

The hunt this year represented a special moment for our community’s history. For decades, the News Examiner built the foundation of this tradition, creating the clues and community excitement that so many look forward to each December. The Whitewater Valley Voice—now celebrating our first year—is honored to pick up the mantle and keep this beloved tradition going for the community.

“I’m just glad they decided to do it,” Paxson noted. “I had heard they weren’t going to do one this year and that was disappointing.”

For Paxson, the hunt is a deeply personal holiday tradition. “It’s just always been a fun thing to do around Christmas time which is my favorite holiday,” she said.

Having participated for as many years as she can remember, she had a specific strategy for 2025. After searching around the courthouse the night before and moving through public areas she thought it could be downtown, she decided to look in not obvious places. She remembered that in the past “I’ve literally walked right by it and never found it.”

The strategy led her to the Oasis, where the final clue pointed her toward the ground:

Above it, things rest. Behind it, history stands. Below it, winter settles. That’s where you’ll find me.

Paxson discovered the ornament hidden inside a cinder block within a stack on the ground. “It was like a row of them stacked together,” she described. For this long-time hunter, finding the ornament was a solo victory years in the making. “I was just excited I found it,” she said. Her advice to others is to stay patient: “I’ve looked for this as many years as I can remember and it’s always fun to wait for a new clue and go out searching.”

This community adventure was made possible by the incredible support of our local partners. This year’s ornament was specifically sponsored and hidden by Oak N’ Barley and Wranglin’ Welds.

The Whitewater Valley Voice would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our 2025 sponsors who helped us keep this tradition alive:

American Heritage Realty, Inc. Bath State Bank Blythe J. Robbins DDS – Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Brown’s Heating, Cooling & Electric Floyd & Son Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Logan Electrical Solutions LLC Mayor Chad Frank Oak N’ Barley Sanders Jewelers Waterloo Diner White’s Realty Wranglin’ Welds