Friday Night Lights, Here Again

I'm not a great sports shooter, but there are a few games I love, and football is at the top of the list. Forest Park had its first game ever on Friday night-- this is the first year of their varsity team-- so my heart was with the Rangers as they played their inaugural. Above, Rangers Dustin Allbright, left, Justin Buechler and Casey Abell grimaced after one of Forest Park's five fumbles. Ouch. But it was a close game (28-25) and I expect more to come from this new team. How exciting.

For Katie

I was home in Seattle this weekend, and enjoyed a perfect time with Moses and Wylie. Here, Moses enjoys some sun on his face as we drive around town. Maybe someday Moses and Hank will have a chance to hang out.

Feature Miracle

And sometimes kids ride their horses in the middle of town. Holland, Indiana. I'm going home to Seattle for five days. See you in a few.

Mug Shots

The littlest things make me happy. Like an afternoon of mug shots of Fall athletes. No reason in the world I should get pleasure out of it, except for pretty light in the shade and nice kids. Here are four.

Falling in Love Again

It's not that complicated, falling in love with subjects. I do it all the time. I'm working on a five-part series for the Herald about election issues. Essentially, we're looking at five national issues and how they are manifest in the lives of Dubois County residents. For the economy, we're looking at an average family, and the choices they make with the budget now that their purchasing power is down and most household expenses are up. Here, Charity sings her baby Henry to sleep. It's not a dramatic story, but a look into the lives of some truly wonderful people. That's story enough. Our other topics are energy, health care, the war, and immigration. Expect some multimedia at the end of it all. It's gonna be a busy couple of months.

Sweet Good Morning

From an outdoor movie night in Ferdinand. I just love blankets.

Reds

A game of "two-ball" is routine for Reds players before each game. Here, from left, Bryce Labhart, Broc Litherland, Derek Katter, Jon Sylar and Ryan Monar pass the time before the start of play.


A love of the game draws players like Broc Litherland, left, and Steve Casper, right, to play for the Reds. With one clean red sock in his bag, and only one striped one, Casper was forced to don a mismatched pair.


In the dugout the Alles brothers Bob, right, and Bill, center, divide the duties of managing the team, with Bill serving as field manager and Bob recording scores and managing the business of the Reds. Jiggs Ruxer, left, who played for the Reds in the late 1930s and 40s, is officially the bench coach and unofficially a jack of all trades, taking on jobs as varied as setting the helmets on their shelves to sweeping the dugout at the end of the game. "Jiggs is here because he just loves baseball," says Bob.

These are from a Saturday Feature about the Jasper Reds, a team with over 100 years of history and a lot of heart for the game. Not a baseball fan myself, I had a blast shooting their games.

Moments R' Us (but I like it that way)

It was hot work marching with the St. John Bosco Youth Group in the Strassenfest parade, but Ross Gentry took advantage of opportunities to cool off. "Luckily, there are people who happen to have water," said Gentry, "and they're nice enough to share it." Sarah Bartley, who manned the hose from the sidelines of Main Street in Jasper has been cooling marchers for many years. "I don't know who enjoys it more," she said.

Zoar and More

With great care Grant Maxey, 9, of Lawrenceburg, caught an egg thrown by his teammate Jayce Harter, 8, of Huntingburg at the Egg Toss during the Zoar Mosquito Fest on Saturday.


Corey Goeppner, 3, of Stendal peeked out from under the curtain at the Zoar Mosquito Fest Skinny Legs contest on Saturday.

I do promise it's not only kids and cuteness all the time. I've been working on and researching some stories, and they'll come out right before the election. Until then, I genuinely take joy in assignments in small towns, like this one in Zoar, for their Mosquito Fest. Best chicken dinner yet, and homemade ice cream.

Prost!

After delivering the opening prayer at the Strassenfest on Thursday night, Father Ray Brenner of St. Joseph's followed the ceremonial keg and this year's new tradition, the ceremonial bratwurst to the Bier Garten, where he helped the German Club make the first toast. Strassenfest lasts all weekend, so if anyone wants to pay me a visit . . .