Whitewater News & Opinion for February 12, 2020

2-5. Since it is basketball season, I am going to make some comments to coaches, administrators, players, and fans. Here’s a big question:

If there is a lopsided score, with one team losing badly, why don’t coaches put their second team in and let them play? When did the game of basketball become a business which is simply about ratings, scores, and high points? When did it stop being fun and an outlet for all players, not just a “serious business?” Maybe they should return to the “good old days” of games that were fun for all? (I believe in being fair.)

Happy birthday to all February birthdays and anniversaries. Some of those February birthdays are Ree Simonson, Christina Nielson, and son Michael (they share their birthdays on the same day!) Also, special happy birthday wishes to my granddaughter Rhonda who lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.

Last weekend I went to see the movie Little Women at the Villa Theatre in Malta, a classic. It was wonderful. I read the book years ago.

It is great that the Villa Theatre is reopened. The inside of the building has been remodeled and looks wonderful. They show matinees on Saturday and Sunday …so great. Does anyone remember the Palace Theatre? I do.

Pastor Cindy Clark of Loring Lutheran Church was the preacher at Whitewater Lutheran Church last Sunday. It is nice to have guest preachers.

Lyn Hill holds prayer service at Whitewater Lutheran Church on Monday evenings. Give Lyn a call for times and more information.

Whitewater weather is warm for the last of January and it hit 36 above zero. The snow is melting, and then freezes again and the ground becomes a sheet of sheer ice. Be careful walking and driving out there.

Enjoy the warm weather as always. 2-12. Thanks to Pat Dunbar for thawing my sewer, it is appreciated.

Sympathy to the family of Betty Flom, who was the aunt of Gale Young, my daughter. Betty had lived at the Hi-Line Retirement Center for years.

“Glad you are better” to Beau Simonson, a Whitewater Penguin, who was injured in a basketball game recently.

Since it is basketball season, I will pay tribute to past Whitewater basketball stars. Going way back, my brother Harry Austin, deceased Whitewater and Malta farmer, and Howard Berg were great basketball players in their time.

Fast forward to about 1950 to 1958-ish, Penguins players included Norrie Berg, Morris Mavencamp, Max Hansonal, and Frannie Berg. They have all since passed on but were great ballplayers. (If you know of others, call me.)

Some of the great Penguin basketballers still with us include Bill Henderson and Ray McMullen. Sometime around there, Whitewater finished in third at state…1957 maybe? Wow, what excitement! What made it so exciting is we didn’t win many games around that time. Since then, which was my time in high school, we have won many games.

Back in 2020, Lu Bessel went to Colorado to figure out income taxes for customers. Good luck, Lu.

Recently, I received a letter and question survey from the University of Clemson. Some of their students were working for years here in Whitewater, mostly with wildlife, the Swift Fox and other species.

If you have opinions on these studies, call or write me or the PC News.

Again, happy birthday to all February birthdays…and give someone a valentine, even if they maybe don’t deserve it. Nothing wrong with making people smile.

Phil the Groundhog said it will be an early spring, and I sure hope he is right. In the meantime, the ice is here so walk and drive carefully.