Hill-Topics: Rain, reads, and (an alleged) misdeed
Local farmer Lyle Suderman came in to the office Monday. We talked about the weather, which, to a farmer is not an insignificant thing.
Suderman and his brother, Don, were a big help to me in early June when I was working on a story about the wheat harvest. You might remember the Suderman brothers on the front page of this newspaper. I took their picture because they were outstanding in their field.
Lyle just got back from spending time in Kansas City. I asked him if farmers worried about their crops while they were away, and he looked at me funny. I said, "They probably grow by themselves, don't they?"
Here or there, it doesn't matter. They'd grow a lot better if it rained, he said. On Monday he said there was a forecast for rain later this week. That would be right now, so if it hasn't been raining, they're still in the same fix.
Soybeans need water and the hay needs lots of soaking, he said.
I've asked Lyle to keep me posted on happenings in Liberty Township and promised to write more about our readers who live in rural areas.
Lyle has helped me understand more about the world of modern agriculture, which I happen to approve of because I like to eat.
*****
Frank Williams came in to our news room to check a fact in a back issue. We wound up having a lot in common to talk about, so he stayed awhile.
He still has printer's ink running through his 82-year-old veins, and can't get it out, he said. He used to run a Line-O-Type, owned print shops and owned newspapers. You might remember that Williams submitted a Letter to the Editor a few weeks ago about the late Lord Scully, aka the land baron of Marion County.
We checked the detailed county map on the wall of the news room and saw that Scully Partners, LP owns lots of land, especially in the northwest corner of the county.
Williams said he heard that Scully owned half of Nebraska, too. He's going to keep digging. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.
Speaking of stories, Williams was on his way to the library. He had a list of authors and titles he's read, and those he wants to read. The list included Saul Bellow, Pearle Buck, William Buckley, and so on, so I asked for a photocopy for myself.
Williams told me that he's read well over 200 books, but at his age he can't remember any of them unless he writes them down.
He's a funny guy.
*****
I can't wait for the county fair to get into full swing. Jillian, my sheep-showing daughter might be coming to town and, if she's willing, we hope to deputize her as a Special Fair Correspondent and have her write a few stories while she's here.
Jillian and my wife, Claire, have been visiting her brother in Corvallis, Ore., this past week. He works as a city attorney and his wife is the director of finance.
They adopted a little girl from China. After several years of rigmarole, they flew over to get her out of the orphanage.
They named her Theodora, which will look good on her future law or finance degree. But everyone calls her Teddy.
She's growing up strong and smart and quickly. Over the past year she's gotten on the phone to sing happy birthday to my wife and I and our three children.
She's a blessing.
*****
Finally, in the interest of honest and fair newspaper reporting, I must divulge the truth about my (alleged) transgression after Friday's Hillsboro City Council meeting.
After passing a proposed city budget that included no property tax increase, the council and city officials were having refreshments, eating from a deli tray of cookies.
Caught up in the moment, I accepted one. And I ate it. It was peanut butter. It was good. So I had another one. Chocolate chip.
I needed to ask city administrator Steve Garrett a few more questions, so we stayed awhile longer. As I was walking out the door, I took two more. (Sugar, chocolate frosting).
Ethically, it's OK for journalists to accept refreshments. But I need to get the story out before the rumors start:
"Did you hear the latest? They caught the editor down at City Hall with his hand in the cookie jar
— GRANT OVERSTAKE
