Hill-Topics: My SWAT down, touchdowns, seeing you at the fairgrounds
It was bound to happen sooner or later, me getting too close with my camera. I'm just grateful that there wasn't a photographer taking my picture at the time, and that I'm still alive to tell the tale about how I was knocked on my keaster by a SWAT team stun grenade.
I thought 25 feet was far enough away from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member as he dropped a "flash-bang" into an open window at Tabor College. (See story Pg. 1).
My objective was to bring to our readers the excitement of a real SWAT team training exercise! (As for me, perhaps a Pulitzer Prize!).
So I knelt down on one knee, focused my camera on the window and waited for the flash and bang.
KABOOM!
The force of the blast knocked me over backward. But, I got the picture!
Depending on which version you choose to believe, I imagine my introduction after winning the Pulitzer will sound something like this:
"With no regard for his personal safety (The dummy got too close!), he proved his photo skills by taking the shot at precisely the right moment (The shutter went off when the blast knocked him down!), to produce a stunning visual image (All he got was a blurry blob!)."
The SWAT guys got their guffaws. And I'm all right. I only wish they'd have told me to back up a little!
*****
My wife, Claire, and daughter, Jillian, had a great vacation to Oregon. They sent me a postcard, addressed to Editor, Hillsboro Star-Journal.
"Dear Editor, There is a Hillsboro Oregon and we (your wife and youngest child) felt compelled to tell you this. Oregon is beautiful."
Hillsboro, Oregon, what do you know. I wonder how many Hillsboros there are.
*****
Verna Ensz made the right decision Saturday when her oven caught fire.
She dialed 911.
As quickly as the Hillsboro firefighters and emergency medical crew responded, I had to remind myself that our volunteers were all over town when the call went out, instead of playing checkers at the station house.
As it is, I'm not sure there's enough room in our fire station to set up a checkerboard.
I went to the station to watch the firefighters back their big trucks into the tiny parking stalls, and there just isn't any extra room at all.
And another thing, the firefighters have to pull off their boots and hang up their coats in an area about as narrow as a shower stall.
Even so, they conduct themselves as if they're all professionals.
*****
Don't forget:
Marcella Bruce's 90th birthday celebration, from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday at Park Village Congregate, 1 Park Avenue, Lower Commons.
(I hope I can find it!).
All of her friends are invited; it's a come and go thing. Don't bring any gifts; just your good wishes and memories to share with her.
*****
Be sure to stop by and visit us at our booth at the Marion County Fair. I'd like to meet as many of you as possible.
If I'm not in the booth, look for me out on fairgrounds. I'll be the guy with grass stains on the seat of his pants.
— GRANT OVERSTAKE
