Dave West in his column, It Takes All Kinds, in the Sidney, Ia., Argus-Herald, apologized last week for failing to report a hearing on a drainage district.
Dave said he got busy and forgot to flip over the calendar and when he did, the day had passed for the hearing.
Still, determined to report what happened, he thumbed through the secretary's books which said nothing that he didn't know — "The board approved."
So, just because he is so onery, Dave pored through the entire file of the district from the time it was proposed and still learned nothing.
"We can only say we are sorry we didn't do our job and we won't make the distinction the President is fond of making. We'll admit that both the responsibility and the blame are ours and the readers cannot learn here any more than we know ourself," Dave concluded.
"Mr. Chairman!"
"Yes, News-Press reporter."
"I move that Dave West be elected secretary of the outlet district."
The vote! Carried! So be it . . . last one to the pub has to buy.
The best idea in town.
The best idea in town this week comes from the PTA Council which wants to form a block parent organization.
The Council feels that the kids in school need some place of trust where they can go for help, whether it be for an accident and injuries, or child molesting.
It's not the first time that a block parent organization has been discussed. Mrs. Len Hoskins tried to promote the idea a year or so ago in the PTA and got favorable response. And we understand, according to a story elsewhere in today's paper, that such a program has been in existence at Sixth Street.
It seems to us that the Council has a good idea. We all love children and want to protect and look after them and we don't want them molested or frightened out of their wits by some dimwit.
The men's flag football has been a success, but it started off with a jolt last week when Tom Weathers got clobbered.
Tom was helping with the officiating and was on the receiving end of an extended fist, took it on the jaw and side of his head and was out like a light for about five minutes.
The game was called after the incident, but the flag program has not been dropped, Tom is back on the field and everyone seems to be having a great puff-puff time.
Terry Criger, the Peru State quarterback who has been troubled with a knee injury, is being checked by specialists for proper care.
Terry's injuries are a bit unusual. When he was in high school at Nebraska City he took many jolts, but escaped serious injury.
Terry is an exciting quarterback. When he runs the option he does it with the swivel-hipped and power movements of former Husker great, Jerry Tagge.
The injuries are quite a jolt to a young athlete, but hopefully he will be back with the squad soon. He's enjoying sitting in the stands with a girl named "P.J.," but we're sure she'd also like to see no injuries and a lot of football.
A. Lynn Monroe, manager of Omaha Public Power district, and a frequent visitor in Nebraska City, will retire October 1.
There are a number of things about Mr. Monroe that I didn't know. I have met his wife, Lillian, and know they have two daughters (and learned they have eight grandchildren).
He got his start in the power business while working as a caddy at the old Omaha Country club. He was good, and often earned a 25 cent tip from J. E. Davidson, president of Nebraska Power company. Mr. Davidson took an interest in the caddy and hired him while he was still going to school. The rest is casebook history in the climb to sucess. Congratulations and best wishes!
Fred Oetgen, the connoisseur.
Steinhart Lodge won't be the same when Fred Oetgen leaves after 18 years of service and business.
Operating the Lodge has been a family affair for Fred, his wife and daughter. They have worked hard and everyone who has enjoyed the meals and atmosphere of the Lodge, agrees that Fred has complimented the operation.
Fred said he doesn't know just when he will leave the Lodge. His lease with the city parks department is up in April. Meanwhile, the Lodge is a popular place and bookings for dinner parties are made a year in advance.
"I just don't know when. We've got a lot to do. I've done some advertising, including the San Francisco Chronicle, to sell equipment and we're waiting on that. So I really don't know when we'll leave."
Fred has added much to the Lodge in his years of management. It has been a show place for artworks, a choice place for dining and a party place for teenagers and oldtimers in the summer or in the winter in front of the huge fireplace.
We meet the nicest people.
Ed Buterbaugh said he had nothing to talk about after 45 years with Morton House, Garvin Conley said he just plain enjoyed the hospitality of the Quarter Century dinner party, Lola Chappell took a lot of kidding (and probably the best sport we know), Leon Wright said he owes all his training to Merritt Swinney and Ray Ott just plain loved the entire evening.
Alton Wurtele has passed me on the dance floor, and he's passed me on the ivories now with his ability at the organ. Alton and Russell Balfour, the banjo player, entertained the "oldtimers" at the party at Steinhart Lodge the other night.
The executives from the Lipton company were surely impressed with the downright friendliness of the Nebraska City "gang."
We met a lot of the nicest people and had a grand time and ate too much (I didn't say anything about drinky-drinky).