Hillsdale College's student newspaper, The Collegian, sends reporters and editors across America for the summer. Read their work here.
Lead stories:
Collegian Writers
Friday, October 16, 2009
I can write features
It's true! I remember how to do something besides sports! Here's an example now!
Cyclists invade Elbow biker bar
By Jack Hittinger
DEVILS ELBOW— On Wednesday night the Elbow Inn in Devil’s Elbow was a real biker bar. It was invaded by cyclists.
The Hostel International-Gateway Council, based in St. Louis, is sponsoring a “Cycle Route 66” bicycle ride, taking cyclists on Route 66 from Miami, Okla., to Eureka. And the Devil’s Elbow restaurant was one of their main stops.
“I’ve been involved with the Route 66 Association for four years,” Elbow Inn owner Terry Roberson said. “I’ve supported every event thats been down here including motorcycle rides and classic car runs.”
But this is the first bike tour that he’s seen in conjunction with Route 66. And on Wednesday night, the bar was hopping with cyclists eating bar-b-que, drinking beer and playing trivia games.
“This is a real biker bar now,” Roberson said, “‘cause we’ve got both bikers here.”
My business cards will read "city editor" next week, but for at least another month I'll be more of a player-coach than just a coach (editor). I moved to the city beat when our city reporter left, and I've turned a handful of strong stories recently that have given me real interest in digging further into that beat.
Of some significance, I've nailed some stories where the traditional sources can't say much on the record (the word 'mum' is always within reach for headline possibilities). Probably to the most fun (and highest readability for a non-Waynesborian) is a story about an unsightly wall that is plaguing the downtown landscape. Note from who and how the information was gathered.
Otherwise, here are a few recent quotes and exchanges I've taken pleasure in reporting:
Part of the walkway has been cordoned off by a chainlink fence ever since city public works officials — advised by an architecture firm — deemed The Wall unsafe because of a bulge and separation between brick and cinderblock. The Wall was to come down in April, but a work crew tore away some bricks and found something unexpected.
City officials won’t say what.
“We became concerned there was a structural relationship between the city-owned wall and privately owned building,” Hamp said.
About when the leaves will change color:
“There is some science behind it, but as we say, Mother Nature bats last.” -- UVA climatologist
From a contentious lawsuit hearing:
An energetic reassessment lawsuit hearing Thursday put Judge Victor V. Ludwig in a wrangler’s role, as he reined in attorney Francis Chester’s questioning and once asked Augusta County Attorney Patrick Morgan to quiet his voice. ...
Ludwig ruled on a number of objections by both attorneys, often appeared exasperated with his head in his hand and frequently interjected while Chester spoke for him to clarify his questioning.
Chester asked if he could put himself on the stand.
“I’m not going to tell you how to handle your case, Mr. Chester,” Ludwig said, prompting the attorney to quickly rise, hand held high, to be put under oath. ...
On cross-examination, Morgan repeatedly asked why Chester demanded documents from Shrewsbury that were not in her possession.
“What made you think she had the documents?” Morgan asked, his finger pounding on the desk as his voice rose to a boom: “Why did you file for the writ of mandamus?”
“What do you have to scream for?” Chester replied quietly before Ludwig asked Morgan to keep his voice down.
Rescue from a swamp:
Within moments, a group of motorists followed, on foot and some in dress slacks, into the water.
“We pushed the vehicle, kind of rolled it back to one side,” said Bryan Huber, one of two assistant principals at Stuarts Draft High School who came to the rescue of the trapped woman. “Myself and two other gentleman kind of took the door and started really, really yanking on it. I think it actually broke the hinges.”
From inside the unrecognizable, mucky interior came Helmick’s hand. Then another.
Doctor charged with sexual touching (etc.):
The victim was bent over, exposing her thong underwear, when Weisman ran his finger along the elastic band and asked: “Hmm, what’s this?” Then the woman giggled as the pair quickly bantered about a “wedgie” before the woman left the room.
“It wasn’t an enjoyment giggle,” Lantz testified. “It was a to-get-out-of-there kind of giggle.”
Chili cookoff:
Chili flowed freely Saturday into big ladles, tasters’ cups, judges’ mouths and even a few bristly beards during the Third Annual Chili Blues ’N Brews fest in downtown Waynesboro.
“I can save some for tomorrow,” Bobby Karnes said of his chest-length white beard. “It’s a flavor saver.”
Maybe some of our resident photographers can help me out a bit.
We just got a new office camera (a Canon Digital Rebel of some sort... an XS, I believe). It actually autofocuses, unlike our old crappy one. I think it's made my photos 1,000x better. Maybe not. They feel better, anyway.
But damnit, Jim, I'm a sportswriter, not a photojournalist. I know I need help. The autofocus is a start. But maybe some of you may be able to look through a few of these and help me:
I especially have trouble with night shots. I tried shooting a soccer game under the lights a few nights ago with the new camera and the different settings threw me off. Also, there was a problem with the new zoom lens. It has an image stabalizer that did some jank-ass-shit to me when I tried taking photos. Like, lots of weird clicks and hums. Sometimes I would click the photo and it would shut off.
I went back to using the old lens, but it's not as snazzy as the zoom lens.
Anyway, maybe some of you might be able to tell me:
1) How my daytime photos can be better.
2) The optimal settings for nighttime and indoor sports shooting (I have a few new night football shots with the old camera, here and here).
3) Why the Detroit Tigers are going to lose the AL Central Division.
Just kidding on number 3. I already know the answer to that one.
Finally: Any more job movement/ cool stories people have been covering?
Alcoholism defense gives no sway BY CHASE PURDY The News Virginian
A Waynesboro judge quashed alcoholism as a defense for Roy Scott Thompson in court Friday before sentencing him to 15 years in prison for abducting and soliciting sex from a teenage babysitter.
Thompson, 25, of Waynesboro, pleaded guilty in May to abduction and child pornography charges, just before a trial that would have put the 14-year-old girl on the stand.
During sentencing Friday, Thompson watched as his aunt, mother and best friend took the stand in his defense.
“He’s a great father.” “My son’s a good kid.” “He ran into some bad luck.”
The three described Thompson’s struggles with alcohol, a problem that began at age 14, they said.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Ajemian discarded alcohol as an excuse for Thompson’s crime.
For nine years Mark Fitzgerald lived two lives. Tonight, in a free-to-the-public wrestling event, he’ll reconcile the two.
He used to balance work as a Papa John’s employee and a professional wrestler, developing a loyal Shenandoah Valley fan base in the ring. Fitzgerald and several other organizers, many of whom also wrestle, dreamed up the free event to give back to their fans, he said.
“This year’s show’s cause is an economic relief show. Our stimulus plan,” he said. “You’ll have kids, babies, grandmas and grandpas there. Everybody knows who we are around here — it’s a thing — everyone expects us to be there.”
Remembering Ray Keech, former Bay City schools superintendent
I'm starting to enjoy writing news obits... this one crossed over into my education beat...
by Andrew Dodson | The Bay City Times
Friday September 18, 2009, 9:01 AM
When Ray Keech signed on as the superintendent of Bay City Public Schools in November 1983, his goal was educational excellence.
"Someone has to be No. 1," Keech said in a Bay City Times article when he became superintendent. "It might as well be us."
Keech died Sept. 11 after a battle with cancer. His 73 years of life were celebrated Wednesday at a funeral at Zion Lutheran Church, 510 Ivy.
"It was a celebration of his life," said Keech's wife, Sharon. "He's going to be remembered as a great leader, educator and family man."
Keech was Bay City's superintendent from 1984 to 1988.
People associated with Keech said he was a top educator whereever he went.
Ray Keech, former Bay City schools superintendent
"He was a people person," said Michael Shibler, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, "and you need to be, because education is a people business."
I have a few pretty good pictures of my first football game. My team lost to the Catholic school from Jefferson City (two weeks ago, but still). Look at them here. The story, not that strong (but decent, I guess), is here. The second game, in which I couldn't take decent pictures in the virtual monsoon, has a really long story here (no quotes, because I didn't have time on deadline to talk to coach right after the game).
Bear with me, because I'm unreasonably excited about this, but our Web producer finished editing my very first online video story! I did all the filming on the fly after a 10-minute crash course with him on the camera. Anyway, enjoy. ^_^
Remembering Horace Davis, former Bay City Country Club general manager
This was a very nice news obit that I had the opportunity to write...
by Andrew Dodson | The Bay City Times
Friday August 28, 2009, 8:29 AM
Times File PhotoHorace Davis was one of the first black general managers of an all-white member country club, when he managed the Bay City Country Club for 26 years. He died Aug. 13 after a two year battle with cancer.
Horace Davis worked his way up the ladder at the Bay City Country Club, eventually becoming the general manager -- even though at the time he wasn't allowed to play on the golf course he managed.
Davis became Michigan's first black general manager for an all-white member country club, and one of the first in the United States, when he was picked for the job in 1969.
Davis, 87, of Saginaw died Aug. 13 after a two-year battle with cancer.
"Horace was instrumental in getting young African-Americans interested in golf," said Bud Butler, a lifelong friend of Davis and fellow country club employee. "A lot of things opened up as Horace went higher up at the country club because so many people were into him."
When Davis moved from Memphis, Tenn., to Saginaw in 1947, golf was a white man's sport, with only two courses in the area open to black golfers, Butler said.
Thirteen months after beginning my first full-time newspaper job at The Daily Home, I have jumped up a division in the newspaper world and joined a media corporation you all might have heard of: The New York Times Company. I'm working in their NYTimes Regional Media Group for The Gadsden Times in Northeast Alabama.
Two weeks in, I'm serving as a general assignment reporter. We're working on restructuring beats, but so far I've done a lot of education and non-profit organization coverage, and have been put in charge of our weekly Saturday "On the Job" feature while our graphic designer is out on maternity leave.
This job is a dream come true for me right now. Pay increased substantially, I get all kinds of multi- and new media opportunities (filmed my first event last night -- fingers crossed about the editing process), my editors and the senior reporters actively assist me, and I'm working in a city that has a great deal of respect for its newspaper. And rightly so. This staff works hard, and the professionalism here is overwhelmingly refreshing.
We are looking for a copy editor to replace one soon leaving, so if any of you are looking for a job, hit me upon Facebook and I'll drop in a word for you.
