Columns

Three-point shots in basketball can certainly be a huge game changer, and while I didn’t play high school basketball in the era of the three-point shot, I can only share what I see and think about what it does and doesn’t do...from my perspective.

There is no doubt that the shot has had a big impact on the game, and IF a team has players that can shoot it with reasonable accuracy, it truly is a huge weapon, if you will. Saturday, as I was watching some youth basketball in Lincoln, namely watching my nephew Rowen, it occurred to me with some kids how the three-point shot is ruining the game, or more specifically, how it is impacting individual kids in a negative way and ruining their form because of the way so many kids have to shoot it from nearly 20 feet away from the hoop.

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Our country’s current partial government shutdown is on its way to becoming the longest in history. As of Jan. 8, the shutdown was on day 18, tied with the second longest shutdown in government history in 1978.

The longest shutdown was in 1995, which lasted 21 days. By Saturday, we’ll have exceeded that.

A wall in the amount of more than $5 billion started the shutdown. After the president was not granted his billions of dollars to construct a wall on the southern border, and no compromise could be found, the government went into partial shutdown, as, thankfully, several areas of the government’s funding had already been passed.

However, some areas had not, such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the Department of Agriculture, to name a few.

RAMBLES

Typically, New Year’s resolutions fall under the following three categories: eat healthier, get more exercise, and save money.

I’m guilty of making all three of those resolutions, and I always fall back into my usual routine of eating unhealthy food, lazying on my couch when possible, and not having the option of saving money.

Going into the new year I wanted good resolutions that I know I would stick to, and ones that I knew were obtainable. Simply saying I want to eat healthier is too broad a resolution. That could mean drinking more water and no soda, or reaching for some fruit instead of that candy bar. However, I never focused in on exactly what goal I was trying to accomplish by stating, “I want to eat healthier in [insert year here].”

In searching through Google, I found some resolutions I believe I can stick to and have fun with; maybe some of these will fancy your interest too.

By the time you read this I will have been in Clay County for four years, and tonight (Wednesday) I will be heading to my first-ever event covered in the county, that being the Giving Tree (my favorite event of the year).

My first Giving Tree will always stick out in my mind. Tory took me with him to cover the event, and I was scared out of my mind. Suddenly I was being introduced to Robyn VonSpreckelsen and interviewing her on what the event was all about. I was truly amazed at all the work and volunteers it took to make this wonderful event happen each and every year, and it’s an event I’m incredibly happy to be a part of now.

Four years isn’t a long time, especially compared to everyone else here at the office; however, my four years has granted me too many adventures to count. They have granted me several wonderful people I call friends, and just as many people I enjoy visiting with.

After nearly 10 years of writing the Bull, I can never remember (because of age no less) what Christmas stories I’ve shared from my growing years in the Duncan household, but here goes nothing.

And yes, after last week and my “Ho Hummmm” thoughts, I’m getting a little more into the Christmas spirit, but I’m not quite there.

Nonetheless, I think back to when my baby sister Tara was a teeny youngster, maybe in kindergarten?

It was a tradition that on Christmas Eve, all the Duncan’s trekked to Minden to Grandpa and Grandma Duncan’s home for soup and all the Christmas goodies, especially Grandma Duncan’s one-of-a-kind, amazing popcorn balls. But it was one year that the Duncan kids, my sisters and I, “hounded” mom and dad all the way from Minden back to Shelton to open gifts on Christmas Eve night.

RAMBLES

It’s difficult to imagine one act season being over. Usually, when the season ends, it’s simply me moving to the next season knowing that there are basketball games and wrestling meets to cover and then eventually speech begins.

This year, however, is different because I served as one of the Sutton One Act directors. What started out as having rehearsals each week, figuring out blocking, props, conferring about costumes, keeping track of 30 students, and knowing where competitions were suddenly stopped.

We no longer have that responsibility...at least for another year.

As first-year coaches, Ahlona Landauer and I experienced several challenges this one act season. No bad challenges, but we certainly learned some things.

There are times in life when you come upon a person that just stands out, a person who is quiet in his or her way of leadership, but who is a quality person to the core.

This past Saturday, 2016 Sandy Creek graduate, Corbin Hansen, the son of Hooter and Chris Hansen of Deweese, reminded me of the quality “kid” that this young man has always been!

Not because he earned All-American honors in the NCAA Division II national cross country meet in Pittsburgh, PA. Nope, that honor came about with sheer grit, hard work and a deep desire within this young man.

Corbin, since I had the luxury of getting to know this young man, wasn’t always a quiet leader; his demeanor oozes leadership, because of his drive, his heart and his work ethic.

He’ll be the last “kid” that would ever bring focus to himself and his successes no matter what this young man does. That’s not his style!