Blowing snow and icy roads couldn’t stop the New Year’s baby from arriving at Crete Area Medical Center seven days into the new year on Thursday, Jan. 7.

Meleni Yamileth Linares was born to Laura Linares Chavez and Juan Linares Melendez, of Crete, at 12 a.m. on the dot, leading to a long day of family and friends arriving to visit the baby girl. The proud parents won’t remember the late night for the wind gusts and street plows during the third major snow storm of the season and first of the year, but for the night a second beautiful daughter was welcomed into their family.

Laura said it was a long night for the family and the couple’s 21-month-old daughter, Maria, named after her grandmothers. Maria, now a big sister,  looked somewhat confused, Laura said, when Juan held the baby in his arms during the day. But she appeared content as she napped in her daddy’s arms in the corner of the hospital room Thursday afternoon.

The couple, both Crete High graduates, were enjoying some quiet time as baby Meleni napped along with her sister. Myriad hues of pink adorned clothing and items around the room. A full birth announcement can be found on the Special Events page of this issue.

The 2010 New Year’s baby born at CAMC will receive a collection of gifts from 11 local merchants in the 62nd year of the First Baby Contest tradition. 

Businesses donating items are: City Bank & Trust Company, Crete Foodmart, The Crete News, Davidson Insurance Agency, Inc., ISIS Theatre, Jay’s Oil & Propane, Jean’s Creative Sewing, Ken’s Pharmacy, Meyer Automotive, Runza and Tami’s Hallmark.

The tally now records 38 girls and 24 boys. The new year's babies since 1999 are:

2009 – Anjelica Jacinto Tercero, daughter of Gaspar Jacinto and Maria A. 

Tercero Reynoso, Crete;

2008 - Karley Jae Adams, daughter of Frosty and Tara Adams, Milford;

2007 — Melony Erin Pollack, daughter of Josh and Patricia Pollack;

2006 — Miguel Angel Guerra, son of Jennifer Mendoza and Ruby Guerra;

2005 — Benjamin Edward-Allen Wanek, son of Donald and Loretta Wanek;

2004 — Diana Flores Domínguez, daughter of Alain Flores Martínez and Marisol Domínguez Bautista;

2003 — Daniel Shane Dunham, son of David Dunham and Melissa Williams;

2002 — Keifer Carranza Mejia son of Edwin Carranza and Yasmin Mejia;

2001 — Gage Michael Sadterly, son of Joshua and Kathy Sadterley;

2000 — Ricky John Ly, son of Trung and Thao Chong Ly, Crete;

1999 — Elizabeth Amber Storm Jones, daughter of Rodney Jones and Susan Schaffer, Crete;

For a complete list of Crete area New Year's babies since 1949, see the print or e-edition of The Crete News.