Mystery at the Christmas House

Read Kruse's story: The lights were off, the music was stopped, the doors were locked. There was a U-Haul truck backed up to the side of the main building at the Rogers' Christmas House complex. And upstairs were Ann Chapman, who was in charge of marketing, and Bill Chapman, who was in charge of the day-to-day finances and operations, and they said in a quiet room they were closing the business for two weeks to figure out how or even if they would reopen.

That was Jan. 10.

Three days later, the iconic Hernando County business was back open, 9:30 to 5, as always. Only there were fewer employees. And the Chapmans were gone.

Folks around town started to talk.