MCCORDSVILLE, Ind. — Santa Claus has been returned to Hancock County.
Mark Hess said a 13-foot inflatable on top of the hill that separates his backyard and Olio Road near 96th Street was recently stolen.
Hess said people would honk as they passed by, but he never knew how much the Christmas décor meant to the community until someone cut Santa from his base and took off.
"We are getting all these comments from people, like, 'It meant so much to my kids. Every time we went that direction, we had to go by the house because they want to see it,'" Hess said. "An elderly neighbor came up and shed a tear that someone did that to Santa."
As expected, lawn decorations this big cost several hundred dollars. However, an anonymous donor has replaced it for him.
The new Santa is back up near Olio Road and 96th Street.
Hess said he plans to pay it forward by donating the cost of this new Santa to a local food pantry.