In Focus

I’d like to give a shout-out to Dana, Kelly, Haley and Katie!

It’s hard to believe school is over. It feels like it just began and it’s over in the blink of an eye. I also can’t believe I graduated high school 18 years ago which makes me realize that many of this year’s grads were born when I graduated. Yikes!

I was thrilled to see schools could get back to normalcy after suffering through the pandemic. It felt like school again with kids back in classrooms, events back on the schedule and kids being able to be kids without all the restrictions.

With all the events and activities at the school, it leaves a lot for us newspaper reporters to cover. And I am only one person.

There are some very special people that I would like to recognize for going the extra mile...the mother-daughter duo of Kelly and Haley Youngbauer at the Verndale School, Dana Cantleberry at the Bertha-Hewitt School and Katie Peterschick at the Browerville School. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you guys!

Sometimes it’s difficult to coordinate everything and I can’t be in three places at the same time. We can’t always cover every event or classroom activity. Also, we don’t know when and where something is going to happen if we aren’t notified.

All of you have been so helpful. You sent pictures and information about events or put me in touch with those involved.

You guys helped to make my job easier and saved my sanity some days.

I hope the schools and the general public take notice of all the effort and hard work you put in. Whether it’s keeping the community updated on social media, taking pictures, putting together community education classes, etc., you are the “go to” people for many things in your respective schools.

Oh, and admins, please note this for their personnel files which I am sure they will receive a glowing review anyway.

Thank you all and I look forward to working with you again! We sincerely appreciate you guys and all of your hard work!