This week's blog is more of the public service announcement type, rather than making a comment or just rambling about this or that as has been the trend. It has to do with a continuing development that may affect my regular Wednesday postings...

My morning got off to what is not normally a "bad" start. As today (Wednesday) is considered to be a day off because we don't print a paper Thursday, I thought I would get up a little earlier and actually make myself some breakfast at the apartment...

As I sit here drinking my coffee, I'm anxiously awaiting trying to figure out my schedule for the next week or so. I'm also still in a kind of recovery mode from the holidays. My scale at home says that I have gained at least eight more pounds than I weighed at the beginning of December (either I have built muscle from the new exercises I've been doing at night, or I have fallen into the snacking trap)...

First off, I would like to wish all of you a Merry Belated Christmas. When I wrote last week's blog, it completely went over my head that Dec. 25 was right around the corner. I was focused on compiling stories for the year-end recap and going towards the end of what was a busy couple of weeks (I logged almost 200 miles between Cloverdale and Russellville this last pay round)...

As we wrap up remaining business and prepare for Christmas and the new year, I've been given what may sound like a monumental task. I have been put in charge of compiling the biggest stories that the Banner Graphic reported on in the past year. That means I am going through our archives day by day and determining what I think got everyone's attention or had an impact...

I think there are a lot of things that I could talk about in this week's post. I could talk about how I have not heard of any kids being abducted by the Christmas demon Krampus (see last week's post). I could expand on how life in Greencastle in general has gotten rather tame and quiet with the approach of the Christmas holiday...

My Germanness is going to come out full blast for this week's blog post. Additionally, I am going to be addressing aspects of folklore and superstition, things which I am not obligated to take stock in as a reporter. However, such stories can and do have simple morals behind them...

After Thanksgiving and the chaos of Black Friday(?) shopping, we are now officially into the holiday season. That means that Christmas music has made a "joyful and triumphant" return, to the whole-hearted delight of some and loathing to others...

To put it simply, I do not normally write these blog posts to be sentimental. This post will sort of be an exception to that pattern. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a time when Americans come together with family, in both religious and secular contexts, to reflect on the good things that have happened. It is also a time of looking forward to the coming of winter and the holiday season (though I am nominally judging you folks who have already started playing Christmas music...)...

Before I delve into this week's blog post, I would first like to acknowledge what a great game this year's Monon Bell contest was. Though I have been saying that the game was won in the first five minutes when Wabash took the lead, I think it also saw the DePauw Tigers give the Little Giants a nerve-racking battle...

Before I delve into this week’s blog post, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge what took place in yesterday’s midterm elections...

Ghosts have been interwoven into popular culture across societies for centuries. The Ancient Roman magistrate Pliny the Younger detailed the story of Athenodorus, a Greek philosopher who was haunted by the spirit of a restless man whose body was unceremoniously buried. They have also been featured in some of the greatest English literature, especially the works of Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. In an older example, King Saul summons the ghost of the prophet Samuel in the Hebrew Bible...

As I was writing another story for the paper Monday afternoon, I was surprised to find out that Tuesday was the 85th anniversary of John Dillinger's locally famous downtown heist. I was also a little bit disappointed that I was not able to write the story commemorating Greencastle's place in Dillinger's escapades. That's a story that I would've wanted to be all over as a history buff in the pursuit of #smalltownpr...

I have found that, sometimes, one of the most rigorous aspects of being a reporter is trying to find "that" story to write about. To me, "that" story would one that is just different than objectively reporting on what is done and said at the town councils and school boards I regularly attend...

Here and beyond, a lot is going on at the moment. We have been particularly busy here at the Banner Graphic so far this week. Along with two photo-ops, I will be covering my third evening meeting in a row, with a little bit of stress trying to keep up with the timeline and still write a decent story...

Last Thursday, the newspaper had a rather exciting day. For me personally, it was one of the busiest I've had yet as far as time goes. For starters, our Internet and phone service was out throughout the morning and into the early afternoon...

On this bluish-gray Wednesday, I am in the middle of what is a busy week for all of here at the Banner. I have just finished covering an interesting story about the deconstruction of the old "Jones Property" near the Prindle Institute. As a reporter and local resident first and a Wabash graduate second in my everyday work, I am extremely impressed with the collaborative work that has been going on there. ...

Sometimes, my job allows me to get to know some important people in our community. A lot of the time, I come away from talking with them with more appreciation for what they do on a daily basis. That's really one of the great perks of being a local reporter...

The fall season is coming ever closer as I continue to find the next interesting story to write. The leaves are starting to turn from their summer green to their autumn hues of yellow and brown. The weather still retains a summer warmth during the day, but it has gotten chillier at night. It will not be long before we will have to start wearing jackets...

After what has been a rather hectic week, I am happy that I have finally been able to sit down and write this week's blog post. It's always better late than never, especially with the Labor Day holiday and just having more stuff to do in general. In this job, you are always behind in some fashion...