Category: random

Where Debbie Clayton’s father got the alligator, I don’t recall. What I do remember is the white Styrofoam ice chest that was carried into the room and place on a chair at the front of the class.

Whether Mrs. Damm said, “Don’t touch,” or if I ignored her – I don’t know. But my curiosity was such that I jus’ couldn’t help myself.

Maybe because the gator was only a foot-long – or perhaps it’s hiss wasn’t a deterrent enough, I reached right in the chest and touched the little reptile on the nose.

That was all it took! In an instant it had collapsed its toothy jaws around my right pointer finger and moved into what I would later learn was a “death roll,” designed to kill its prey. I felt a wave of searing pain wash over and through me.

I didn’t scream though as I was more afraid of Mrs. Damm than the gator.

After flopping about the chest for what felt an eternity, the beast let go of my finger. It was ripped up and bleeding badly.

Mrs. Damm grabbed my arm and raised it over my head. I actually thought I was about to get another paddling in front of the class at this moment.

However, she had mercy on me and rushed me to the sink to rinse the bite in cold water and wrap it as tightly as possible in a bunch of paper towels. Then she sent me to the office, where Mrs. Eunice Zwierlein had to tend to my wound.

Within in minutes she had called Mom, who called someone else to come get me and take me up to the base infirmary. There, the medic-on-duty bandaged me up and gave me a tetanus shot for good measure then sent me home.

So yeah, I can say I was bit — or even stretch the truth a bit and claim I was attacked — by an alligator. But either way the finger nail on my right pointer finger has never grown the same since.

As I worked the newsroom throughout the evening, there was one story glaringly absent from the national broadcast. In fact, I only saw it posted three or four times on the wire service.

On Wednesday, either part of a roof or large scaffolding – maybe both – collapsed at one of the most volatile border crossings between the Mexico and the U.S. Yet it was treated as a non-news story.

The cause of the structural failure is under investigation.

At least 11 people were injured, one seriously, as a 50- by 50-foot section of wooden platform collapsed onto northbound traffic entering the U.S through a construction zone at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department says debris, including support beams and pieces of concrete, fell onto 15 vehicles.

Eight of the victims were able to free themselves from their autos and the structural wreckage, but emergency crews had to extricate the remainder. Paramedics took the patients to four hospitals in San Diego and the South Bay, including a pregnant woman and four construction workers.

Two dozen other motorists and renovation workers were evaluated for possible minor injuries, including respiratory irritation from breathing in dust kicked up by the collapse. Federal engineers were called in to assess remaining hazards at the site and develop a cleanup plan.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say the border-crossing facility was closed to northbound travelers after the scaffolding gave way just north of the primary inspection. Near 13 hours later agents began allowing vehicular traffic to cross into the states.

Meanwhile, jus’ across the border from Laredo, Texas, Mexican gangs hung another two bodies from an overpass in Nuevo Laredo as a threat to those using the Internet to report on the drug war. Messages found near the bodies were specifically directed at two websites: Blog del Narco, which publishes gruesome accounts and video of drug war casualties and Al Rojo Vivo, a forum set up by the Monterrey newspaper El Norte, Mexico.

In late July, Mexican federal police arrested Jose Antonio “El Diego” Acosta Hernandez, leader of the Juarez cartel enforcement group, “La Linea.” Officals sat the recent void appears to have allowed the drug organization Los Zetas to step up its fight for control of the drug trafficking across most southern border points.

Then Tuesday, Border Patrol agents found a rocket launcher, assault rifles and explosives in a bag near the Rio Grande River in Texas. Inside that bag were six assault rifles, a grenade launcher, a rocket launcher, 20 ammunition magazines for various-sized weapons and three packages of what appeared to be C-4 plastic explosives.

Is there something we’re not supposed to know about or that were not supposed to be paying attention too, here?

I think it’s a question worth asking.

Kyle, my 19-year-old son, was sitting on the edge of his bed when he announced, “Ah-ha! I found my marbles.”

Unable to resist, I turned and looked, “I didn’t know you had lost your marbles.”

Without missing a beat he held up his hand, displaying the little glass globes and responded, “Ha-ha – I meant these marbles, smart ass!”

Kyle knows me too well.

It was a history making day for me – and anyone else who vote in Nevada’s Congressional District 2’s special election. History making because Nevada had never held a special election for a congressional seat since it was accepted into the Union, until now.

I waited to vote on election day, instead of voting early as many did, at my local precinct — Shaw Middle School on Eagle Canyon.

The seat opened up after Dean Heller was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill-out the term of John Ensign who resigned amid a series of scandals.  Heller had been the CD-2 House Representative since first being elected in 2006.

There were jus’ four candidates in this election: Kate Marshall, Democrat and the current state treasurer; Mark Amodei, Republican; Timothy Fasano, Independent American Party; and Helmuth Lehmann, Moderate Independent.

Regardless of the winner, I’m using the event to point out – we all participate in history. We should record these things for our families and the future.

I also take voting seriously and I hope you do too.

Happily, the four hardest days of September for me have come and passed. But they’ll return next year.

At one point, September 8th was a fun date. It was the day my step-dad, Del Middleton, was born in 1938. However he passed away September 9th, 1997.

To make things harder is the fact that Mom was born in 1940 on September 10th. It became hard to celebrate her birth after Del’s death and I hate to even think of it now that she’s been gone since 2002.

Then of course there’s September 11th — the anniversary date of the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. It’s still hard to mourn the day without holding one’s breath waiting for another attack.

But then again — it could be worse — I have a friend and co-worker whose birthday is September 11. Talk about a real party-pooper.

As the nation mourns the loss that occurred a decade ago this date — I’ll head home from my post at the radio station and mourn my own personal loss. You see, today a friend is to be buried in services to be held in private.

I wasn’t invited — but that’s okay.

Instead I’ll go out into my backyard, pull up a chair and drink an ice-tea (or maybe something stronger) to my friend. I’ll say a small prayer for her soul, thanking God for letting me know her friendship and I’ll shed a few tears along the way.

In my head I keep saying, “Your smile, your silly grin, your laughter and your friendship will be sorely missed. And I’ll never look at another cupcake in the same way.”

I’ll see you on the other side of the hill,  Miranda.

The world grew smaller some how as I slept the day away, resting for my overnight shift at the radio station. I didn’t find this out until I got up to get ready for work.

My bride told me she received a telephone call from her sister, Sarah, who lives in Ramona, California. The two ended up talking about the shootings that happened in Carson City at the local IHOP.

That’s when Sarah informed my bride that she knows the brother-in-law of Florrie Donovan-Gunderson. Her next-door neighbor is the brother of Wally Gunderson, Florrie’s husband, who was also shot in the attack.

I understand from various media reports, Wally is continuing to recover.

Evidently Sarah spent part of her day with her neighbor, Randy, as people dropped by his home to offer their condolences. Sarah and her husband have known Randy for over six years.

I couldn’t make this stuff up — even if I tried!

Meanwhile,  the Nevada Army Guard has announced Major Heath Kelly, who was gunned down while eating breakfast, has been elevated to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  On the day of the shooting, another soldier shot and killed, Sgt 1st Class Christian Riege was promoted to Master Sergeant.

Spanish Springs 2011 — Since returning from Afghanistan in April 2010, Christian Riege had settled into his full-time position with the Joint Forces Unit of the Nevada Army National Guard in Carson City. The Nebraska native was one of four people killed when a gunman opened fire at a IHOP in the same city.

After a deployment to Fort Irwin, California in 2004, Christian, 38, thought about voluntarily deploying to Iraq. But at the last-minute decided his four children needed him more at home.

He had already spent 19 years in the military, including two years with the Navy. While Christian was described by friends and fellow Guard members as quiet, he also had a big smile and someone, who while training for combat, could do 2,000 push ups in one day.

Christian was promoted to master sergeant effective September 6, the day the shooting occurred. His body has been flown back to Nebraska at the family’s request.

A note attached to a stuffed bear was left for Christian from his fiancée at a memorial in the parking lot where the unprovoked attack took place reads: “I’m grateful everyday that you are the one who has the key to my heart.”

Got up early yesterday morning so I could take some pictures of the 30th Annual Great Reno Balloon Races. I have often wished there was a way the races could be held later in the day — I’m so not the early morning guy I used to be.

Afterwards, I had an eye-appointment. After more than three-years between visits, I paid over $120 to learn what I already knew — I need new glasses.

Fortunately I went and played photographer before the exam, since  Doctor Tom dilated my eyes. I couldn’t see much of anything once I got outside the building  and into the sunshine.

My friend Kay, told me my pupils were so “blown” I could have been a model for a Precious Moments figurine. But instead of applying for the modeling gig — I went to bed in order to get enough sleep for my midnight shift at the radio station.

Spanish Springs 2011 — Major Heath Kelly, 35, survived the battlegrounds of Iraq – but was one of four killed in the Carson City IHOP by a man on rampage who then took his own life in the parking lot. The highly decorated Nevada Army Guard soldier was married and had two young children.

Between 2004 and 2005, he was in Iraq on active duty with the U.S. Army. While there he served as a border enforcement officer, battalion fire support officer and a 1st Cavalry Division lieutenant.

He then joined the Nevada Guard, becoming Commander of the Joint Force Headquarters in Carson City in August 2010. Heath earned numerous decorations including the Global War on Terrorism Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Kuwait Defense Service Medal and Iraq Campaign medal.

The Louisiana native leaves behind his wife, Tracie, four-year-old daughter Cassidy and a nine week old son, Triston.  Heath’s family said those who want to honor him can help by supporting the troops through the non-profit, “Soldiers’ Angels.”

Heath’s grandmother Janet Scaruffi adds, “For this kind of pain — there’s no medicine.”