For those connected to my alma mater, yesterday marked the anniversaries of the deaths of two Wabash students on campus. One of those deaths occurred in 2016, in the fall semester of my senior year. It was a Saturday, and I planned on doing some research during the morning for a capstone I had fallen behind on. Before heading to the library, I read an email from then-Dean Mike Raters stating that Austin Weirich ’18 had unexpectedly died overnight...

I often drink three Yeti Rambler mugs of coffee every day during the week: one in the morning, one when I come back from lunch and one in the evening. According to what is normally considered an American "cup" (meaning 8 oz.), I drink about six cups of coffee during the day. Needless to say, that's a lot for anyone...

I recently watched a British film from 1968 called "if...." directed by English filmmaker Lindsay Anderson. It also stars Malcolm McDowell in his debut role. Some might recognize that name, because he played Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of "A Clockwork Orange." He also played the title role in 1979's iconic (but - due to its explicitly sexual and violent content - controversial) "Caligula."...

This is meant to be more of a life update, though I've included some reflections too. Though I certainly have thoughts about developments at the national level, I have no eagerness to discuss any of those topics this week. As is usual, events here at home continue to keep me and Jared busy and moving. Wednesdays are no exception...

I'm thankful that I now have time to sit down and work on this week's blog. Besides having four meetings to cover this week, yesterday was rather busy with us covering a fire which damaged a historic home on U.S. 231, as well as an early crash on U.S. 40...

School is officially back in session. Students in Putnam County began the 2019-20 school year this week, with Cloverdale Schools leading the charge on Tuesday. Of course, this means that DePauw will not be too far behind, and my alma mater will welcome its new freshman class a week from this coming Saturday. The time at Wabash between Ringing In and the first day of classes is an exciting, even if somewhat stressful, period of anticipation. For those returning, it's simply just that...

Last Saturday, a federal judge in Kentucky dismissed a $250 million lawsuit brought by the family of Nicholas Sandmann against The Washington Post. They claimed the paper, along with other outlets like CNN and NBC, engaged in defamation with regard to covering a confrontation between Sandmann and a Native American protester named Nathan Phillips during demonstrations in Washington D.C. last January...

It's been that interesting (or, in our case at the Banner Graphic, sometimes frustrating) time of the summer. Putnam County is now almost at the end of fair week. For some, the fair conjures up visions of scarfing down their fair share of Legionburgers. It then means getting on the tilt-a-whirl and nearly losing said Legionburgers. It means attending the tractor pulls or the cheerleading competitions. It also means going to see all the craft works inside the Community Building...

Many historians and gearheads would argue that Henry Ford's Model T was perhaps the most important design innovation in the development of the automobile. It was chosen in 1999 by a jury of automotive journalists as the most influential car of the 20th century. Other designs which were recognized included those of the Mini, Citroën DS, Porsche 911 and, maybe not too surprisingly, the Volkswagen Beetle...

We've had another hectic week so far in the newsroom - and out in the community. Jared and I both have been working with multiple meetings, in addition to working on other stories which have come up in our need (or want)-to-do list. I myself had four regular sessions scheduled, and am halfway through as of today (Wednesday)...

In trying to think about this blog post, I have found myself taking one route to reflect on how fast-paced this week has seemed up to now, though we're halfway through. This one was not intended to be very involved, given how busy we've been just trying to gather everything we can together and strategize what stories will run and when...

Even though Eric is still gone from the office, I think Jared and I, and the rest of the newsroom, have done our best to maintain a sense of regularity in his absence. It has helped that Joe Fields has been stringing for us with his feature stories. Design-wise, his contributions have indeed helped to fill space in the paper. However, I hope he feels he's been getting good experience interacting with others in the community...

This week's post is a little more involved, as it revolves around an important milestone I've reached. As such, in light of the busy week we've all had, and with everything I've tried to synthesize here, I'm perfectly fine with this one being put out on a Friday...

As I sit here writing this with my coffee mug, I'm a little frustrated, but not too surprised, that I don't have anything I'm inspired to really delve into this week. Little, except perhaps the pace, has changed here in the office from last week. ...

Though we are now halfway into the week and things seem pretty quiet, it feels like I'm still trying to come down from a whirlwind tour between work and play. I was out of the news loop in town Friday and during the weekend because I was at Wabash's alumni reunion event, which was an awesome experience. During Big Bash, I listened to a few lectures, ate my fill of wonderful meals and had some great conversations with alumni, administrators and mentors who I keep in touch with...

First, I want to quickly relate that when I was piecing my last blog post, it slipped my mind that Memorial Day was coming. I should've known since the Indianapolis 500 was on Sunday, but I didn't make that conscious connection while writing at the time...

Last week was an interesting one here on the newsroom side of the Banner Graphic. On my part, it was a somewhat unprecedented - but welcomed - challenge as a still-green reporter continuing to learn about layout and handling items such as obituaries...

As of writing this week's post, I feel like I have covered and followed more than a week's worth of news - and we're just getting ready to finish out Wednesday. Not that you'll see me complaining. I certainly won't do so given how relatively quiet things have been around here in the past week or so, save for a few bad crashes and other more "featurey" stories which Jared has written about...

Wabash College will have its Commencement for the Class of 2019 on Sunday - which, for a lot of lucky moms, is also Mother's Day. It's a great day for them, and I will make my way up to Crawfordsville to see a few very good friends get their sheepskins...

Okay, maybe you won't catch me singing (unless you saw me in my Beetle "syncing" with friends to "Play That Funky Music" or "Highway to Hell" while at Wabash...). This past weekend did give me a good reason to be excited, though, as I was treated to a wonderful concert by the Wabash College Glee Club Saturday evening. This week is devoted to the men's choir and two professors who have been instrumental leading it...