JD 110's power fuels Father's Day dream
Last week, I offered up this space to any of the SHS graduates or their parents who wanted to apologize for "flipping off" school photographer Rebecca Holland in the official graduation photo that ran in the Bee on graduation day.
No one came forward, although a longtime SHS teacher suggested that we name the pranksters.
Holland cleaned up a digital image that she submitted to the Bee and Bee managing editor Caroline Lobsinger also spent time scouring the photo knowing full well that if we didn't find a flying bird, one of our readers surely would.
Holland was not pleased when the Bee mentioned the problem with her photo in text accompanying it last Saturday. So, I promised her I would give her a chance to comment.
"I have received numerous comments from the community regarding the editorialized remarks that ran with my image of the SHS graduates and the follow-up story in David Keyes' column.
"My response is that I am extremely unhappy that anyone had to read of this. The one and only reason I disclosed the situation to Mr. Keyes was to avoid any mistake of an unaltered image running in the paper. I certainly never believed this information would be made public knowledge.
"After 18 years of school and sport photography in our town, I am no stranger to pranks. I certainly never take these personally, but understand them to be a child's immature lapse of good judgment. If the gesture is completely inappropriate, I've handled the situation in a discreet manner with the youngster.
"It is true that several SHS students made a foolish mistake. I then made the necessary alterations at my studio before delivering the file to David Keyes.
Because there has occasionally been issues using an altered file, I also gave the Bee an unaltered file with specific instructions as to what had to be fixed. Now that all this has been sensationalized in the paper, the unfortunate result is every student in that image is now a suspect in the public's eye. That's really unfortunate when most all of the graduates were well behaved and deserving of our congratulations,
"I did not appreciate, nor did Principal Jim Soper, seeing our names in print with this type of story. This was not newsworthy information for the public and the Daily Bee going to press with it was a far greater lapse of good judgment by the adults of the editorial staff."
What a Fathers' Day! My present was a dream come true. It was a brand new, out-of-the-box John Deere 110 backhoe with a front-end loader. Yellow iron. Wherever Tim "The Toolman" Taylor was on Sunday, he was jealous of me.
OK, the kids and Marlisa didn't actually take out a second mortgage on our house to buy this bad boy for me, we rented in from Bill and Co. at Sun Rental. It was awesome.
There is nothing like the feeling of raw horsepower rumbling beneath your feet. This machine was designed to move dirt and was more than anxious to do so.
My goals for renting the JD 110 were simple:
? Dig out an area for a deck and another one for a shed.
? To not destroy the house by accidentally driving through the living room.
? Give the kids a ride.
? To stay away from anything that resembled a gas or power line.
Mission accomplished. For a few hours I got to push dirt with my father-in-law acting a "human shield" between me and the house.
It also gave me a chance to remember growing up in Montana with my stepfather, John, who moved dirt for a living.
The funny thing was, John actually "bumped" into our house with a D7 Cat when I was a kid. The bump cost us a few thousand dollars. A few summers later he put me on his Caterpillars and scrapers to teach me intricacies of cutting, filling and pushing, etc.
After a particularly hot day of driving a scraper, he called me over for a memorable talk.
"David," he said with his extremely low voice. "I hope you are planning on going to college because I don't think you are cut out for this line of work."
I was stunned … and relieved. He was right.
That same feeling came back Sunday after I was done pushing dirt and my friend, Brad Mitton, came to the rescue to finish off what will be the foundation of the shed.
I glanced over at my father-in-law, Blaine, as I got off the JD 110 and he gave me a look that told me he was glad I wasn't trying to support his daughter and grandkids with my dirt moving skills.
At least I didn't knock the house down.
I am so sorry to hear that Ray Kincaid's Jewelers is closing. The venerable, local business has been a fixture here for more than 50 years.
It is tough to compete in jewelry these days when Target and Wal-Mart have bridal registries and charge less for jewelry that stores like Kincaids pays wholesale.
Good luck, Karen, on your future endeavours. Ray Kincaid's will be missed.
It was nearly 14 years ago that Karen helped me pick out a wedding ring. I am glad I spent a little more to get the lifetime guarantee.
Sandpoint Lions Club is looking for a few good men or women.
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, the Lions are putting in extra time preparing for a great parade and fireworks show.
See KEYES, Page 3
Incoming Sandpoint Lions President Art Long is offering a personal invitation to join the Lions and to wear the cool, red vests. Call him at 264-5344 for more information. If you enjoy working hard to provide Christmas for families who can't afford food or presents, like to hide Easter eggs and sell raffle tickets and much more, this club is for you.
"Rotary owns the town, Kiwanis runs the town and the Lions do all the work," he quipped.
Speaking of Rotary … The clock tower in Farmin Park will soon have its timepiece, according to President Ryan Luttmann. In the meantime, someone has taped a wristwatch to the frame of the tower to get people used to checking there for the time.
Mark this Saturday on your calendar to make sure you attend the open house celebration of the second Habitat for Humanity house in Schissler Meadows. The celebration is from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 50 Kootenai Meadows Road in Kootenai.
If you happen to see Serena Eastin and her children, Brittany and Treavor, congratulate them.
Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful organization and is the epitome of the old saying "A hand up not a handout."
Great job Habitat and congratulations Serena and kids.
E-mail of the week:
TO REALIZE
To realize
The value of a sister or brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
To realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.
Time waits For no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.
Thanks for taking the time to read this column.
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly.