REMARKS: TIME TO TUN THOSE TASSELS

Another school year has come and gone and now another summer has arrived. Hearty congratulations must go to the Class of 2000 graduates. This was the class all the experts were waiting on for the past decade or more. Somehow this year's graduates have been tagged since early grade school as representing the nation's future in some metaphysical sense.

And this year's class has been a great one in area schools. One has to look forward to seeing the big things these young people will achieve during the coming years. I'm certain the vast majority of them will represent Scott County very well.

Now the summer arrives and with it comes a news vacuum. Last year it was about the first or second week of June that the news disappeared. Not expecting it, I was certainly caught off guard. Hopefully this won't happen his year. I've been compiling a list of story ideas, called in by a number of people. Summer should give me the chance to work on most of them.

The spring was hectic for me, as it was for many people. Going to graduate school after being out of he classroom 15 years was a challenge; I seem to have survived, though. (I'm taking the summer off from school.)

I must apologize for missing the Scott County Mid-Summerfest queen photo. I got caught with three tires and a donut on my car and stupidly thought that Highway 61 went all the way into Scott City. I left in plenty of time for the photo, then was horrified to see that what I had always assumed was 61 branching away from I-55 (I'd never gone that way.) was actually 7r, going o Dutchtown and points beyond. By the time I limped back tot he office (There was no way I was going to put down I-55 at 45 MPH on a donut!) I was already 15 minutes late. I THINK the people I talked to at City Hall were able to catch the candidates and let them know I couldn't be there. In any case, I regret not being able to be where I said I would be. (Donations to the "Buy The Editor A 2000 Olds" fund may still be dropped off by the Signal office!)

June activities include the Lake Tywappity 5K Run June 3 and the Scott City Mid-Summerfest June 17. Last summer the weather was most cooperative for the bulk of the summer events. Hopefully that good fortune will continue in 2000.

The Signal is still interested in getting a columnist from the central or southern part of the county. Perhaps someone would like try it out for the summer and see if he/she likes it. Contact me at 335-6611 (171) or 1-800-879-1210 (171) or Tonya at 887-3636, if interested.

Memorial Day weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the birth of my full-time professional career. That Sunday in 1985 my mom and I loaded our vehicles to the gills and trekked from Bonne Terre (home) to Dexter, where I started work that Tuesday as sports editor of the Daily Statesman. And yes, it makes me feel old to thank that some of the youth Interview for the paper or see at church were not yet born then! It also makes me feel old to see the 1985 Junior Babe Ruth players from Dexter (whose coach insisted that they call me "Mr. Evans" and thank me for covering their games) who are now head coaches in high school!