Santa steps in to help after deputy’s house fire

When Ron Romshak heard about the fire that destroyed Deputy Mark Clark’s home, he knew he had to help in some way.

Romshak has spent the past 30 holiday seasons dressing as Santa Claus alongside his wife, JoAnn Romshak. Over the years, the couple has visited schools, hospitals and participated in the Harrison County parade.

“We had a Santa gig already that morning,” Ron Romshak said. “We had gifts for the family, so we decided to just head out to the sheriff’s office to make sure they got them.”

Earlier that day, the Romshaks visited a school to distribute gifts. While they are unable to provide individual presents for each child, they coordinate with parents or staff to ensure small items are available. Last week, the couple also visited about 80 children at Weirton Medical Center.

“We’ve been busy,” Romshak said.

Since they were already dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, the couple decided to stop at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Although they do not know the Clark family personally, they said they were moved by the family’s hardship and wanted to offer support.

“It was an impromptu deal,” Romshak said. “We just popped in to give what we could.”

The Romshaks are now preparing gifts for veterans at the Carriage Inn in Cadiz, which they plan to distribute in the coming week.