Columnists

Who invented the wheel? A Boomer kid might have said the caveman did. At least our cartoons told us that story. All we know is that it was prehistoric.<BR><BR>Whoever invented it made our lives much more enjoyable and easy. <BR><BR>I guess as a kid, who would give a heck of a thought to that. We just knew certain things came equipped with the rolling force.<BR><BR>Our first experience was probably a baby carriage or “buggy.” I would bet most of us don’t remember the experience, but our Boomer Moms do, and that’s the main thing. The buggy gave Ma the freedom to get out of the house while exposing junior to some fresh air. She could run a few errands, stop and chat plus still keep her eyeball on the kid. And if Ma was lucky, some “old timer” might peek into the carriage - congratulating Ma on such a healthy baby, who of course looks just like Dad or “your side of the family.” <BR><BR> During Boomer times, baby buggies lined the streets.

I recently read an article in a publication that referred to a rescue at Cherry Lake, For whatever reason, the article was not accurate or complete. In January of 1995 I began writing articles for The Ely Echo. The first one was published on February 6, 1995. The 26th article, titled Tragedy and Rescue at Cherry Lake was published on December 11, 1995.<BR><BR>This was a high risk rescue, Over the years, many rescuers have needed rescuing or a coroner. I used to refer to Pat Magie as my prize student because he was very sharp. What he did took a lot of courage and skill. As for Dr. Ciriacy, I believe he had a cast iron gut to sit there, in the dark, closing on a dead end at 117 feet a second.<BR><BR>As for me, my biggest hazard was probably the US Forest Service. In their eyes, my flight was completely illegal. I didn’t have authorization, and no radio contact. I had a passenger, Mr. Harristal, with me, and it was a night flight.

I’m lucky. I work at a job that I love with some of the nicest, brightest people I know. <BR><BR>It’s a pleasure to come to work and do work which is meaningful to me and to the community of readers and advertisers.<BR><BR>If there were more time in my week and more energy in my 68 year old body, I’d love to do more. Write more. Take more photos. Interview more people. Delve into more issues. <BR><BR>I’m lucky because I found the joy of newspaper work before my working life was over. It seems it was just beginning when I started at the Echo not quite 30 years ago.<BR><BR>The obituaries which are sent in the newsletter from our newspaper association indicate that newspaper people lead long lives. Most of them are writing almost to the end of their life at age 80 or 90.