In this week’s adventures in ‘newsing,’ it was a lighter week. We had a snow storm, which kept me cooped up for the majority of last week. I would like to extend a giant thank you to whoever plowed snow in front of the Star Eagle. I came in Thursday evening and was very pleasantly surprised not to find five feet of snow in front of my office. I think I have the city to thank. It is much appreciated.

Friday night I was in Wells taking photos of the boys basketball squad. I thought it would be a closer game. It wasn’t, but the experience was fun.

I ran into one of my former bas- ketball coaches, Joe, who is the Ac- tivities Director at USC. We chatted for a bit.

I was also mistaken for a “basket- ball scout” by some of the USC stu- dents. They called me over and asked if I was from “Kings of the Court.” I was dressed in office attire, so I did look pretty official.

I’m not done. A very nice lady, I want to say her name was Bonnie, was doing the ticket sales at the game. After I went into the gym, she came in and tapped me on the shoulder. “Did you say you were from the Star Eagle, in New Rich- land?”

Yes.

She proceeded to say some very kind words about the paper. Thank you.

I read in the school board report that Wendy Schultz is retiring from softball at the end of the season. Watching her well coached teams

has been a joy.
I would be remiss if I also didn’t

mention that John Schultz is retiring from his role as assistant basketball coach this season too. I spoke with both of them last year, and, well, Sidney is a senior, so her last go around is also their last go around. I wonder what these last games will feel like for them? I’ve been a player whose played their last game and I’ ve talked with parents who have watched their kids play their final games. But I’ ve never watched a coach coach their final game, and it also be their kid’s final game.

Last year I saw Tom Peterson watch Perry play his final basketball game. It was the last time Tom got to see one of his kids play basketball. It was a very emotional moment. I can’t really imagine the emotions for the Schultz family this winter and spring. In sports, you have to put emotions aside while you play. I wonder, if it hasn’t happened al- ready, when it will hit them that this is the last time they’ll be coaching one of their own kids.

On a somber note, I have some difficult news to report this week.

Chris Schlaak had a second stroke. She’s recovering in Owatonna. Please say some prayers for her and the Schlaak family.

Chris has meant a lot to my family. She was at nearly all of my sporting events in high school, tak- ing pictures. Chris has been a rock for us at the newspaper, a very ded- icated mother and grandmother and photographer.