Keeping with its annual tradition, the Public Defender Office hosted a Christmas party for its staff last week. Public Defender Lou Frost presented Morocco Shrine potentate Dave Newton two checks, one from the building’s landlord for $500, and another for $640 from the office employees for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital patient transportation fund. The Shriners budget $1.6 million a day nationally to help crippled children and burn victims.