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As one reaches retirement age after having lived in the same small community for 65 years, he comes to know lots of people, and become familiar with lots of places.
And if one’s employment has been at the News-Banner, doing what I’ve been doing, one comes in contact with a large segment of the community at one time or another. However, after a recent visit to Elm Grove and Fairview cemeteries on an assignment, it has dawned on me that I’m at the stage of life where I know more people at the burial grounds than I do across the Wabash River in my hometown!
Hopefully, it will be a long and happy retirement with a chance to make new acquaintances and do some different things before joining friends at the boneyard.
Looking back on my years at the News-Banner, it’s been quite a ride, and over 45 years there’s been lots of changes in the Bluffton and Wells County scenery . . . some good and some that I really don’t like.
What an asset the Rivergreenway has been to our community . . . a tip of this hat to all those who made it happen, as well as so many other projects over the years instigated by those with visions which have revitalized the community.
How nice it is to attend a Kehoe Park concert on a lazy Sunday evening, but I still miss going to the movies at the Grand Theatre.
What a great facility the new Bluffton High School is . . . but I still miss going to games at the Oak Street Tiger Den.
What a wonderful man-made swimming pool we have out on Spring Street . . . but I still long for a dip in the old Psi Ote Pool.
What an outstanding parks department we have . . . just think how much more these facilities would be used today if not for the emergence of the electronic era to the point where it keeps too many of our children indoors and not out playing “Cowboys and Indians,” “Kick the Can,” and pick-up ball games like we, and our kids did.
We still have our majestic courthouse . . . but must admit that I don’t like being limited to one entrance into what is our building and then being frisked, and I absolutely do not like the idea of having the outside steps to the second floor chained off. For this native, part of the ritual of entering our courthouse over the years was to climb the steps on the north side of the building and soak up a good glimpse of the downtown area before and after entering the building. And what a great observation/meeting place those steps are during the beloved Bluffton Free Street Fair.
Perhaps the first floor security measures are necessary. . . perhaps, but as for blocking off the outdoor steps, Mr. Commissioners . . . tear down those chains!!
Many other places and times have changed over the years, but the people of Wells County remain the same.
Fond memories of News-Banner old days with Roger Swaim, Jim Barbieri, and Mac McCord go with this corner into retirement. And in more recent years, under Mark Miller’s fine leadership, I’ve been blessed to serve daily with outstanding co-workers who are all like family to me and will be missed.
And speaking of family, this long journey couldn’t have been completed without the support of a great wife, who is also my best friend, plus our wonderful kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.
Looking back on this last day of employment, so many of my duties at the News-Banner over the years did not really seem like work, but instead were deemed as fun, an honor or as a privilege to do on behalf of the newspaper.
Granted, covering a school board meeting or going to a City Council meeting (even with the nation’s best mayor presiding) was work, and does not match up to writing a story about Bummie’s Root Beet Stand and how many hot dogs they sell every day, or writing a series of stories about the old Tiger Den.
Although I dearly wish they were still with us, writing tributes to Jim Barbieri and Ron DeWitt and Gary Books, among others, was a great privilege.
As mentioned earlier, the full-time sports years ranked as the best of the 45, covering high school athletics, spouting off in my regular “Between Games” column, having fun with predictions in the “Guessing Between Games” and so many other activities. But even in the past 22 years as managing editor, its been a rewarding task, and even when it was just over the phone, there were many opportunities to connect with many fine people in and around Wells County.
As managing editor, my goal has been to load the News-Banner every day with as much local news as possible, and then to fill the gaps with state, national and world news that I thought would be of the most interest to the folks of Wells County.
Sportswriter Grantland Rice was famous for coming up with some great lines and my favorite is “For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks — not that you won or lost — But how you played the game.”
Here at the News-Banner, it was always my intent to report and write fair and square and I hope I’ve done so.
For all the experiences and memories garnered from so many fine people along the way, my sincere thanks.
And now, I’m off to smell more roses.
—30—
jsmek@adamswells.com
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