Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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Pool, or billiards, began with … I know that because I made up a funny bit about how darts began, you are waiting for me to give you a completely fabricated, cock-and-bull story about how this sport arose. I, being a semi-sadist, refuse to do it. … plus I couldn’t think of anything outlandish enough. The Name of the Game Billiards got its name from France. It either came from the word “billart, “ one of the wooden sticks originally used or “bille,” meaning a ball. In the...
On Feb. 14, 2018, 17 people walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSDHS) in Parkland, Florida expecting just another day. These people, 14 of them students and three faculty, would not live to see the end of the day. Since then, the news has been dominated by the survivors of the Parkland Shooting. A deputy sheriff, tasked with protecting the school, stayed outside of the building as the shooting took place. Students dialed 911 so much they were told to stop...
I had a tradition when I visited a new country back when I lived in Taiwan. I should point out, during this time, the countries I visited were warm and most had beaches that were often remote. I made a point of skinny dipping in each country I had never been in before. Nothing I can really explain, but I loved to find some deserted area and take a swim without clothes. I think of skinny dipping is an art, because the idea is to do it without offending anyone. Don’t do it a...
Darts were invented by two Scottish physicians and brothers by the name of Dartmouth. In 1844, the pair became inebriated one evening (a Tuesday around teatime) in their office and started throwing hypodermic needles at each other. Eventually the by-then-“holy” brothers began to aim their throws at other targets and as time went by the pair decided to call their new game “Darts.” … What? … You’re not buying that? Okay. I made all that up. You got me. Throwing a 180 The origi...
“You know what’s wrong with your generation?” If I had a penny for every time I had someone pose this rhetorical question to me, I would finally be able to afford a house of my own. I was born in 1986, which puts me on the older end of the spectrum for the Millennial generation. You know, the generation that has been accused of ruining Applebee’s, department stores, beer, marriage and a number of other classic American institutions. While commonly agreed to be the generat...
Title 18, the municipal code that dictates zoning, is a bit of a mess. Much of it hasn’t been updated since it was adopted nearly 40 years ago. Along with the outdated language and standards, one also has to deal with definitions that vary from section to section. Anyone who has taken the time to read Title 18 knows it is complicated. One of the primary reasons for these complications can be found in the varying definitions of the same structure. Manufactured home and mobile home are often used interchangeably for the same t...
I love Valentine’s Day. I always have. I can remember as a wee tyke, Valentine’s Day was exciting because of how many little Valentine’s cards and candies I would get. Valentine’s Day was great for another reason. Every since I can remember, my stepfather, Stuart, would buy my mother a box of Russell Stover Turtles (chocolate covered caramel and pecan yumminess) that she would share with my sister and me. My father also got chocolates for my stepmother on Valenti...
In a small western town (or just small towns in general probably), the bulk of general socialization goes on in establishments that serve alcohol. In the summer our towns boast activities and events aplenty—and folks can get out and get together with friends at leisure. But in winter there are only so many things one can do to get out of the house and socialize. That’s where winter indoor (or Windoor) sports come in. Racking up friends Saratoga has a pool league, a dart league...
You may notice the Saratoga Sun recently won a few awards for last year’s work. As a matter of fact, we picked up 20 Pacemaker awards which garnered us the Sweepstakes Trophy for most Pacemakers earned. We could not have done this without you. Several of the stories which won awards would not have been printed without someone letting us know that an event was happening. We picked up a first place Outdoor/Environmental Reporting award because the Elk Mountain Senior Game Warden alerted us to the fact he was on the lookout f...
A small human is standing at the side of my bed calling me names. “Daddy. Daddy ... Daddy!” My eyelids, still heavy with sleep, struggle to open. “What is it?” I ask. “I pooped,” he says. The odor that assaults my nose confirms his confession. “Change my butt,” the tiny being demands. Checking my phone I see that it’s 3 a.m. I let out a sigh as I sit up and get out of bed. My son, Jareth, will be turning 4 years old this weekend. I am amazed that I, a person who can barely kee...
For this column, I am introducing another of my sayings I find myself telling people all the time: “It is a historical fact, nobody has beaten death.” Whether the words are original from my mind or not, the meaning of it is pretty accurate. Writing a column on death is intimidating and all week long, I agonized on how to approach the subject. The reason I decided to attempt even trying was that the beginning of the year had me reading obituaries of about a half dozen peo...
I have been told by semi-reliable sources (yes, you Carrie) that green is neutral for our school district. I will explain further because that statement is probably a bit confusing. The Encampment Tiger’s colors are red and black; the Saratoga Panthers are zinc and amethyst … oops … purple and yellow (wasn’t that the same somehow?); and the Hanna Miners are blue and orange. When fans here go to a game they may well be rooting for both teams. Around here it is entirely possible...
“No matter what you do, someone always knew you would.” ~ Ami McKay The first column of the new reporter for the Saratoga Sun has often been one in which they introduce themselves to readers, but what happens when the new reporter is a familiar face or was a semi-regular subject of the former editor’s columns? When a new reporter would join the newspaper and introduce themselves in their first column, I would wonder what I would write if ever given the chance. Now I have... Full story
My folks just celebrated 53 years of marriage in the beginning of December. Wow. Over 50 years with one person. Staggering. I am proud of them for being able to take the words, “For better or worse,” to the heart. Marriage isn’t easy from my experience, which wasn’t really very long, especially compared to my parents. I can say, I found being married gave me a bond to someone that really wasn’t there when we were dating or even engaged. Marriage was a shelter for me to come to... Full story
Amid the week after Christmas, piles of wrapping in bags, shiny paper and boxes in trash with the tags. Sad little scissors sit broken and bent, from clamshell packaging--they don’t make a dent. The lights are still sparkly, still light up the town, but pretty soon work begins in taking them down. Kids run around ‘cause they’re still out of schools, having a good old time while acting the fools. But the tots are forlorn from here to Hoboken, Christmas is gone and their new toys are broken. Uncles and Aunts and those other... Full story