Friday, March 29, 2024

Tidbits, Jan. 24: On senior news and contributing

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Cold enough for ya?

Yes, I went there.

While it seems chilly enough to freeze you in one spot if you stand still for too long, have you noticed the trees?

In Mansfield and in Chelan, where I lay out the pages of the newspaper every Tuesday, persistent frost has turned the bare trees into crystalline, sparkling statues. It's particularly pretty at night, when they're illuminated only by the moon or street lights. Pateros still has colorful mini lights draping the branches of their trees on the Mall and in Memorial Park.

Cities are doing a fine job of keeping walkways clear, particularly in Brewster. The sidewalks are cleared early in the morning with a new piece of equipment that also doubles as a lawn mower. That purchase, a request from Public Works Director J.D. Smith, was built into the 2013 budget.

There was some debate in Bridgeport at its last council meeting over whether the city should take a larger role in clearing its sidewalks. Until the Jan. 9 meeting, property owners adjacent to the sidewalks were required to keep them clean.

Ultimately, the council determined the city is liable for any accidents that happen on its sidewalks regardless of whether they're clear or not, so the public works crew will assume the responsibility from now on.

Senior news

The Brewster-Bridgeport-Pateros Senior Center didn't forget their bus driver, Darin Smith, on his birthday last week. The seniors presented him with a camping-themed cake and a card on Thursday, though his birthday was Sunday, said center manager Dot Jess.

Smith has been working for Okanogan County Transportation and Nutrition for just over a year. He picks up senior citizens at their homes and takes them to the center for lunch Monday through Thursday. The bus also goes to Omak and Wenatchee once a month, at a cost of $6 for seniors.

Jess said the seniors are preparing to celebrate Valentine's Day all month long by wearing lots of red and pink, colors reminiscent of the holiday.

Participate in your community newspaper

Is there anything you'd like to see that we're not getting?

Because we can't be everywhere all the time, the Herald always welcomes submissions of stories and photos in any area we cover - community news and events, sports, opinions, regular columns and schools. If you're already taking pictures while out and about, such as at an away game, we'd be happy to print what you send us and attribute it to you.

This is also an open call to any student reporters for clubs, or budding writers and photographers who would like to build up their portfolios for college and internships.

Wondering what reporting has to do with your dreams of being an author or photographer? Some world-renowned writers have worked as journalists, Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway being the most notable. Others are Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, Langston Hughes, Gloria Steinem and John Steinbeck.

Please direct any questions or submissions to reporter2@qcherald.com. Our deadline is noon every Monday.

This day in history

41: Roman emperor Gaius Caesar, better known as Caligula, was murdered.

1848: Gold was first discovered in California, in Sutter's mill. When President Polk announced the news, the gold rush began.

1908: The first Boy Scout troop was organized in England.

1935: Krueger Brewing Company placed the first canned beer on sale in Richmond, Va.

1986: The Voyager Two space probe passes within 51,000 miles of Uranus.

1989: Serial killer Ted Bundy was put to death in Florida's electric chair for the 1978 kidnap-murder of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach.
Opinion / Columnists

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