Quick Takes: Youth sports parade nice event for candy hunters
Kids in Troy did not see a shortage of candy on Saturday morning.
During the Troy Parks and Recreation Department’s youth softball and baseball parade through town, plenty of candy came flying out of participants’ hands onto the roadside and sidewalks.
A good crowd was in attendance and a lot of children were standing by with their plastic bags in hand. What a grand morning for those with a sweet tooth.
After posting breaking news last week about the outcome of the W.R. Grace trial, a lot of chatter through e-mail and Twitter quickly followed.
Although some media characterized Libby as being shocked about the jury’s decision, I think that many who followed the trial closely were really not all that surprised. Rulings from the bench along with limitations regarding testimony just seemed to be going the way of the defense over and over.
The one aspect of the proceedings that did surprise me a little was how long the jury deliberated. I thought maybe those discussions would continue on into the following week just because of the case’s complexity.
Oh, and here’s an interesting number. According to Bloomberg, the cost of the Grace trial is $146 million (through March 31) – and counting.
Did you all catch what Nicky Lapka did in the Butte Central Tournament? I didn’t look ahead at the results before I started writing the story on Monday morning – proceeding one game at a time while going over the scoresheets that had been faxed in to me.
Amazed at Lapka’s home run pace, the last scoresheet I went over had two dingers by the Libby shortstop. She hit five for the tournament. I think it’s probably safe to say that Lapka is one of the most powerful leadoff hitters in Class A.
It seemed fitting that on the morning of the Grace trial decision, the Community Asbestos Memory Project was out at Riverfront Park in Libby watching a sign go up on a pavilion.
Members of the group watched as the sign went up during a beautiful morning by the Kootenai River. It’s part of an effort that has been ongoing since 2002 and I know the group is thankful to all of those that helped them reach the milestone.
For those who have gotten to know me, you’ve probably heard me talk about my wife down in Arizona. And just in case you’ve noticed me around town on a cell phone waving like a madman, let me explain.
You see, there’s a webcam mounted on the side of a mountain that looks down into our community. She often goes to that website to take a look at Libby. With the camera, users are able to zoom in on specific spots around town.
It seems as though the best spot where my wife can see me is on the corner of Fourth Street and California Avenue – in front of the American Legion. So while she’s watching on a computer screen 1,500 miles away, I’m on a corner in the middle of town waving to a mountain. Amazing technology.
By the way, she will finally be joining me in a couple of weeks. No more waving.
(Brad Fuqua is managing editor of The Western News. He can be reached at thewesternnews@gmail.com )