Dead Reckoning NEWS DEPT
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Friday, 6.19.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4A PRESS&DAKOTAN The Press Dakotan THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUndED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 CONTACT US We Say PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 Financial Awards NEWS FAX: (605) 665-1721 THUMBS UP to Yankton Finance Officer Al Viereck for being recognized with the 2015 South Dakota Munici- ADVERTISING FAX: pal League Finance Officer of the Year Award last week. (605) 665-0288 Viereck has been in city government for more than 17 WEBSITE: years and an award like this goes to show the kind of www.yankton.net work the city staff in Yankton does for the community. ––––– However, it’s also a reflection not only of the dedica- SUBSCRIPTIONS/ tion and hard work he has put into the job, but his talent at guidance. CIRCULATION He has served as basically the interim city manager when that slot has Kelly Hertz Extension 104 been open, and he has worked diligently to train the new people who CLASSIFIED ADS have stepped into that slot. Viereck is a man of many talents, and he is Extension 108 most deserving of this honor. Congratulations! [email protected] Dead Reckoning NEWS DEPT. Education Work Extension 114 BY KELLY HERTZ The situations are always different — the [email protected] THUMBS UP to the strong showing of interest that [email protected] circumstances, the time of day, the myriad other SPORTS DEPT. was shown Wednesday when the Governor’s Blue Rib- details that comprise what is logged as an “inci- Extension 106 bon Panel on Education convened at the Yankton High There are many great experiences that can dent” — and yet, they always seem the same. [email protected] School Commons for three sessions. The session for come with being a journalist. The list includes There is something virally wordless about ADVERTISING DEPT. educators attracted nearly 150 people and produced meeting newsmakers such as politicians and these moments. On Tuesday night, there had Extension 122 a lot of discussion on what can be done to best ad- candidates (which is, contrary to the reflexive probably been a lot of talking — the issuing of [email protected] dress education funding in the state. Of course, it was disdain some people feel toward such souls, kind orders, the coordination of divers, random chat- quite apparent that there are more questions than answers and many BUSINESS OFFICE of a rush), getting access to a lot of special events ter — but then it all fell mostly silent as the final problems seeking solutions. Hopefully, these meetings across the state like the World Archery Youth Championships and consequence was presented. Nothing needed to Extension 119 produce a momentum to address these matters on the legislative level. [email protected] never knowing what new challenge or drama each be said, I suppose. NEW MEDIA: day may bring. For me, my instinct is to believe that what I’m But there is another aspect to this profession seeing ISN’T happening until I’m told otherwise, Extension 136 Passing The Tests that’s hard to handle, even though it’s inescapable usually by law enforcement or emergency person- [email protected] and, out of necessity, grimly irresistible. nel. Then my denial turns into a chilly realization, COMPOSING DEPT. THUMBS UP to the news Thursday that a Knox County chicken egg facility is having its quarantine Through many years, I’ve seen a few dead a numb feeling that burrows down into my soul. Extension 129 lifted after testing negative for the presence of avian bodies. These have been admittedly rare events, I usually lose track of everything else going on [email protected] flu. The facility had been under quarantine since late but the memories of these instances stay with me. at this point, as the world briefly dims into a blur last month after suspicions of the disease’s presence It’s a part of this job that I never bargained on or of inconsequence. Whatever I’d been working on at the office or mulling over while driving out to * * * arose. The flock of 3 million birds was tested daily and wanted to experience. You can’t prepare for it in came back clean. The rigorous regimen that aims to journalism school or in a reporting class. What the incident suddenly seems a thousand miles MANAGERS contain the spread of this disease may be working, as it appears the you see on TV or in movies is a pale imitation of away. Gary L. Wood spread of the disease is slowing greatly. (A fifth confirmed case was the real thing. The situations just happen, and That’s because I keep thinking about it. I think Publisher reported Tuesday in Dixon County among birds that were already being you alone must deal with them in whatever way about it as I drive back to the office. I think about you can. it while I’m sorting through photos or editing Michele Schievelbein destroyed as a precautionary measure.) Hopefully, there will be more victories like the Knox County case to come as ag officials and produc- I’ve seen the dead lying in ditches and trapped stories. I think about it when I’m lying in bed later Advertising Director ers work to get a handle on this situation. in cars. that night. Tonya Schild I’ve seen them pulled from burning buildings That’s part of my job, too. Business Manager and from cold river waters. (I often wonder about how emergency person- The Toll I’ve even seen one on a football field, which nel and law enforcement deal with these things. Tera Schmidt I’ve written about before. That incident occurred Yes, they may expect it, as per their training, but it Classified Manager THUMBS DOWN, however, to those still feeling the back in the 1980s when a referee died during a still must take a toll. If they could casually shut it impact of the avian flu outbreak, which as a broader state championship football game in Vermillion. out or easily dismiss what they see, they probably Kelly Hertz reach than one may think. There have been reports Editor But it still feels like last week to me sometimes. wouldn’t be in such lines of public service in the about what it is doing to egg prices and poultry prices. I ran into such a scenario again this week out first place.) James D. Cimburek (The Associated Press reported this week that chicken at the lake. Listening to the emergency scanner at These sights that I sometimes encounter don’t Sports Editor prices are actually falling here because other coun- our office, I heard that someone had gone missing plant happy or comfortable thoughts in my head, tries are banning their importation.) It is also created but they do serve a purpose. They remind me of Beth Rye in the river at the marina. When the newspaper an economic impact on the producers hit by this. And there are the was finally wrapped up for the night, I drove the paper-thin fragility of life and the occasional, Digital Media Director employees impacted: This week Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad estimated out there expecting to find a search operation unexpected suddenness of the end. They show Kathy Larson that more than 1,500 workers in the Hawkeye State may lose their jobs mobilizing. But when I arrived, I saw a group of me how fate can turn in a moment you never see Composing Manager because of the outbreak, and he is asking President Barack Obama to emergency personnel bringing something up from coming. They make me want to hold tighter not declare a major disaster. While the spread of the disease is slowing, the one of the docks. The something, it turned out, just to life but also to living, which are two differ- Sarah Lynde fallout may continue for some time to come. was someone ... ent things. Circulation District Manager I still recall the first time I saw a corpse in Each experience like this passes eventually. ONLINE OPINION this line of work. It was at a traffic accident many The image is mentally filed away as the next day years ago, and I watched as paramedics worked dawns and new missions arise. That’s another for- The results of the most recent Internet poll on the Press & Dakotan’s Web site are frantically but futilely to bring this person back tunate thing about my job, I suppose: The disease * * * as follows: from whatever brink the victim had already can also be the cure. DAILY STAFF LATEST RESULTS: passed. But it never prepares you for the next time. Reilly Biel Do you think the U.S. and its allies are losing the fight against the Islamic I can’t tell you exactly, or even inexactly, how And honestly, there is no getting used to that part Cassandra Brockmoller State (ISIS)? many others I’ve seen in the decades since. I lost of this profession. Ever. Brandi Bue Ye s ............................................................................................................................66% count after the first one. Rob Buckingham No .............................................................................................................................20% Follow @kelly_hertz on Twitter. Caryn Chappelear Not sure ....................................................................................................................14% Randy Dockendorf TOTAL VOTES CAST ...............................................................................................258 Point Of View Jeannine Economy The Press & Dakotan Internet poll is not a scientific survey and reflects the opinions Rachel Frederick only of those who choose to participate. The results should not be construed as an ac- Jeremy Hoeck curate representation or scientific measurement of public opinion.