It seems hard to believe another summer is almost over.
Oh, this isn’t to say the last week of August won’t bring nice weather, or the month of September for that matter. But the telltale signs of fall are here once again.
Another Emo fair is history, the fastball, soccer and slo-pitch leagues are in the midst of playoffs, the Muskie football team is on the gridiron, and, yes, the kids return to school next Wednesday morning (awwww).
Heck, even the trees have started to lose their leaves although that’s because of drought-like conditions here this summer as much as anything else.
Here at the Times, the end of August means saying farewell to our summer students who have lent a helping hand over the past few months. Genevieve van Zyl of Barwick, who split her time as summer reporter between us and the Rainy River Record, is heading off to Lethbridge, Alta. on Friday, where she’s enrolled in a two-year print journalism program.
As editor, it’s always comforting to see summer students actually want to continue on in the field rather than go running off screaming from here. Maybe I’m doing something right.
Gen, who wrapped up her work here by walking the 18-mile “trek” between Sleeman and Bergman to trace the route of Mormon pioneers 90 years ago, did some good feature stories for us over the summer. Hopefully everyone enjoyed her series on summer jobs by area students, which wraps up today with a look at Melissa Bond at the mill here.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Harvie, niece of Larry Lamb of Emo, is wrapping up her stint at the Times as an ad compositor. I trust the three special editions we published this summer, on top of the regular editions of the Times and Daily Bulletin, were enough to keep her busy.
She is returning to Sheridan College in Oakville for her final year in an advertising program. Best of luck to both Gen and Jen.
Christine Siemiernik, our summer student who’s been overseeing the effort to create a Web page on the Internet of the district’s top 100 stories with Lauren McCoy and Chris Cooper, is staying on a bit longer to wrap up her work upstairs at the Northern Lights Credit Union.
But the journalism graduate from Humber College in Toronto, shivering in the recent cool spell here, vows to head back to warmer climes before the snow flies.
Don’t worry, everyone here already has warned her that could happen anytime after Labour Day.
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Speaking of leaving, Kate Woods, who was the mill tour guide at Abitibi-Consolidated again this year, called this week to say she also is returning to school.
As such, her weekly “Glued to the Tube” video reviews has gone on hiatus but Kate indicated she’s like to do it again next summer.
Thanks for your efforts, Kate.
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In late-breaking news, the Times has learned veteran Muskie hockey head coach Terry Ogden resigned his post last night, handing over the reins to long-time assistant coach Glen Edwards.
Terry led the Muskies to all-Ontario gold twice (1986 and 1989), as well as several silver and bronze-medal showings, in a dozen trips to the provincial showdown during his 18 years behind the bench.
Sports reporter Brian Bowman couldn’t reach Terry for comment this morning but look for more on this story in tomorrow’s Daily Bulletin and next week’s Times.
