Below the Fold
Wednesday equals Chinook Observer Day equals the most memorable day of the week. First of all, nearly every page contains an article by or about someone we know. Sometimes those articles are even by me or about one of us. And, no matter what, there are bound to be items which tickle my fancy, annoy the heck out of me, or give me information I would otherwise not have known. Yesterday’s paper was no exception.
We get our paper in the mail. Yesterday it was our only piece of mail and so we didn’t have to sort through catalogs and bills to get to the good stuff. I was first to grab the second section, looking for my article on the Frederiksen murders. Editor Matt Winters had held it from last week’s paper at my request so that I could add some late breaking information to it. It was there, all right, but not where I expected it or the way I expected it. Another lesson re-learned: never second-guess the editor!
My overall emotion upon seeing the article – the article I already think will be the highlight of the series – was disappointment. First of all it was below the fold. Way below the fold. And it had a puny little headline. Those are two of the surest ways to divert the attention of the reader. Next, I was irritated – not about my article, but about the lead story on that same page.
Big headlines announced: “FIRST FORMAL: Ocean Park School sixth graders get first taste of big school dance.” I have no doubt that I am showing my age by thinking that such an event is right up there with a Kindergarten graduation – totally inappropriate for the age of the participants, totally unnecessary, and totally tasteless. Lordy, lordy! Why do we have to grow them up so fast, anyway? Is there no merit anymore in having something to look forward to?
I switched to the front page and immediately saw that Nat Dust had died in an automobile accident on that snowy, icy Wednesday a week ago. I’m so sorry. I remember him from his days at the Depot Restaurant – such a talented young man with so much to look forward to. Sorrow is what I felt reading that news.
Upon reading a related story by the Ocean Beach School District Superintendent concerning his justification for holding school here the very next day – a day when all other schools in the area were closed because of weather – I was simply incredulous. Agog. He wrote about providing students with “a safe, warm, supportive environment in their schools.” Excuse me, but is that the main concern of the schools? I thought it was to educate. My mistake. The “e” word wasn’t part of the article.
And then on Page A11 there was the further information about Sheriff Scott Johnson’s civil suit still being a ‘go.’ Amazement this time. I still don’t quite get how you can sue someone for three million dollars in damages, presumably based upon impairment of your faculties, when you’ve just run for and been elected sheriff.
Finally, I loved seeing Ben Suprunowski’s picture and reading about his fabulous progress following his horrendous accident. For me that was the happiest news this week. I loved seeing his bright smile and recalling that his orthodontist journeyed all the way to Portland to take off his braces while Ben was still in the hospital at OHSU.
Well, I could go on, but all this emotion and adrenaline coursing through my system has just about worn me out…
I always think “It’s Chinook Observer day!” Now sometimes I jump the gun by reading some of it online on Tuesday night, but it’s not the same as rustling the pages.