Staying alive
Mrs. Ronal Martin, who spoke the other day on oxygen and pollution, made a number of interesting points about survival.
If we want to live, we've got to do something about pollution which is killing streams, overflowing into the oceans and poisoning the skies.
"If you love your children and your country . . . get busy on fighting pollution."
Grandparents
We doubt there are any more proud grandparents in town than the Dean Gillespies and the Roy Kinnisons. Mr. and Mrs. Garry (Debra Kinnison) Gillespie are the parents of twins, a son and a daughter.
The picture of the mother and pair appeared on page 1 of the News-Press the other day.
The election
We covered the school board meetings for a number of years and few people ever attended a session, unless of course someone had a gripe.
When the filing deadline closed this election, 14 people filed for the five vacancies. There must have been something about the school board job we missed.
It's a compliment to Nebraska City that so many people are interested in the school and its programs. It bears out once again the necessity of a primary.
Four were omitted from the list on election night and 10 names will be on the November ballot. We'll still vote for five and the top vote getters will get the jobs.
The banquet
The Pioneer athletic banquet was one of the highlights of the year for many families and we sure appreciated the organization of the event.
The Pioneer Booster club set up the whole thing and master of ceremonies Bill Dawson ran it in good form. He had to because there were so many coaches who had award assignments that the evening could have lagged easily.
Glen Cohn, who gets a little fidgety after two or three hours in a chair, timed the coaches as they approached the podium.
All of the athletes accepted the recognition and awards with the same glow they demonstrated during their athletic years. Congratulations to all.
And especially, congratulations to the Pioneer Booster club for its fine judgment. The club eliminated an after dinner speaker and instead used the money to buy a whirlpool for the girls athletic department. You made a lot of points.
And speaking . . .
of points . . . the other day someone at the Optimist meeting asked whether the slogan on the club's banner should be changed. It read, "Friend of the boy."
The hair stands up on the neck of Wayne Brown (he has four daughters) when he sees that banner. The club officially changed its slogan to "Friend of youth" a number of years ago, but the old banners exist.
It was pointed out (probably by a father-of-a-daughter) that the club can purchase the appropriate lettering to change the banner.
The Toastmssters
Know what an "uh" counter is? That's the fellow who puts a mark down evertime the speaker says "uh."
And . . . uh . . . if . . . you . . . uh . . . think that is a waste of time, see how long you can speak on any given subject without saying "uh."
Toastmasters train against the "uh" to improve their speech. It's good training. At one time they fined speakers a nickel for each "uh" but we understand they don't do that anymore . . . that's . . . uh . . . understandable . . . they . . . uh . . . probably collected enough money off'n me to last a lotta years.