On Dec. 9, 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins’ home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.

“It’s just something about these people,” Jenkins said. “Talking about health, talking about wealth, talking about friendship and everything.”

A long-time Staples, Minnesota, businessman, Jenkins didn’t have any woodworking skills when he retired. 

But in 2017, at the age of 74, he decided to pick up a jigsaw and build something that made him happy. Snoopy came to mind, and after he created Charlie Brown’s beloved beagle, he realized he was hooked. 

“It just evolved from that to more characters every year until this year,” Jenkins said. “There are 18 in the main gang and Marcie is number 11.”

Each of his creations is made out of particleboard. Jenkins first sketches an image and then goes to work. 

“I’m not an artist, this is all freehand out of here,” Jenkins said. 

From the sketching to the cutting to the sanding to the painting, it takes anywhere from 10 to 20 hours for Jenkins to build one character.

“Probably the hardest one I had to make was Pig-Pen,” Jenkins said. 

He now has enough for an entire holiday scene, complete with Charlie Brown’s scrawny tree just like in the show. 

There’s Linus with his blanket, Schroeder with his piano and Charlie right in the middle of it all. 

“His famous saying was ‘Good Grief,’” said Jenkins. “And it is fun. It really is neat for the family, and that’s what I’ve got here is a family.”

Jennifer Krippner was as surprised as anyone when her dad began this holiday hobby in his mid-70s, but she believes this isn’t just a tribute to Peanuts creator and St. Paul native Charles Schulz. 

“I think what it says to a lot of us is passion, creativity, doesn’t retire,” Krippner said.

She believes her dad is honoring a more innocent time. Back when a phrase like “good grief” meant good things. 

“It’s a classic show and the Peanuts, I don’t think, are just characters. They are memories for us, and I think that brings back a lot of nostalgia,” Krippner said.

Each of Jenkins’ Peanuts creations is about 3 feet high and they are on display in front of his house, four miles north of Staples. He typically builds one or two each holiday season. 

State officials sent a formal warning to the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday in response to reports of federal agents illegally meddling with Minnesota-issued license plates on unmarked vehicles.

The cease-and-desist letter from Driver and Vehicle Services Director Pong Xiong describes allegations of DHS agents swapping license plates between vehicles and placing identical license plates on two separate vehicles.

Video: ICE agents in Twin Cities stop US citizen, demand proof of citizenship

“The above-described conduct violates Minnesota law and will not be tolerated,” Xiong wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “To be clear, Minnesota law prohibits anyone, including the driver of an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, from displaying a Minnesota license plate other than the license plate assigned to that vehicle by DVS.”

If federal agents don’t abide by Minnesota law, DVS could reconsider federal agents’ access to Minnesota’s undercover license plate program.

“Historically, DHS has used this program to protect the anonymity of law enforcement personnel
performing sensitive work in Minnesota while adhering to state law and providing a mechanism for
accountability in the event an unmarked vehicle is misused,” Xiong wrote.

Further violations could result in DVS revoking their vehicle registrations and seizing their license plates, the DVS director warned.

Read the full letter from DVS below.

Gov. Tim Walz also addressed the alleged conduct by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a news conference on Tuesday.

“These guys are doing what criminals do: They’re putting license plates on vehicles they’re not registered to. They’re renting vehicles and putting on fake plates,” Walz said, adding that such a practice makes it more difficult for local and state law enforcement to know whether a vehicle is involved in official duties.

‘It’s putting people at risk’: Walz, Twin Cities leaders denounce ICE immigration operations

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to DHS and ICE for comment and is awaiting a response.

This isn’t the first time federal immigration agents have gotten in hot water with state officials over alleged license plate violations.

Earlier this month, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that his office had revoked a rental car’s license plate when investigators found ICE agents swapped its plates. He also issued a warning to all rental car companies that they can be held liable if federal agents are caught tampering with the license plates assigned to their vehicles.

MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards scored 38 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns for the first time and hold off the New York Knicks 115-104 on Tuesday night.

Julius Randle had 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Rudy Gobert contributed 11 points, 16 rebounds and his reliably fierce rim protection for the Wolves (20-10), who have won 10 of 12.

Towns scored a season-high 40 points before fouling out in the final minute for the Knicks (20-9) in the absence of fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson, who rested his previously injured ankle.

Knicks coach Mike Brown pointed to Towns’ foul trouble as a factor in Tuesday’s loss.

“Oh, you know, KAT — obviously he can score. He had 40 tonight,” Brown said. “I said it before, he’s a walking double-double. He just has to continue to try not to pick up cheap fouls. He had a couple of cheap fouls where he led with his hand or hooked the guy, and now we have to sit him for X amount of minutes when he needs to be on the floor.”

Tyler Kolekstarted for Brunson and had 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Brunson, who had 47 points in a win overMiamion Sunday, joinedOG Anunoby(ankle),Miles McBride(ankle) andLandry Shamet(shoulder) on the shelf to leave the backcourt thin — and make Towns the go-to scorer in his homecoming game against his original team.

Towns had 32 points and 20 rebounds in his first game back at Target Center a year ago, when the Knicks won 133-107. He didn’t play in the rematch in New York the next month, a 116-99 win for the Wolves. Earlier this season, Towns had 15 points toward a 137-114 victory over Minnesota at Madison Square Garden.

These matchups are emotional for Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, too, whom the Wolves acquired in the stunning trade before last season that sent their cornerstone East. Randle came alive down the stretch, flexing to the crowd after a couple of tough shots to help the Wolves recover from a 16-point lead they squandered earlier and build their advantage back to 17 late in the fourth quarter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.br/]