Wet Yellow

Saw this at an assignment today. It’s just yellow. Not sure why someone left the lid there, but I’m glad they did.

Making Waves

Just like this photo and the touch of gold mixed in with the black and white.

Duane Becker swims laps in the Grand Island YMCA pool Friday afternoon. “I’ve got a few miles in this pool,” joked Becker after he finished his workout. The YMCA’s America on the Move Week program begins Monday, Sept. 21, 2009,  at YMCAs across the country.

Not How it Looks

It looks like this gentleman is all alone out in the cornfields somewhere, but behind his back are thousands of people at Husker Harvest Days. Not only is it possible to be lonely in a crowd, but you can look like it too.

An older Husker Harvest Days visitor rides his scooter around on the north end of the site Thursday at Husker Harvest Days west of Grand Island.

One Handed Interception

A photo that didn’t make the paper.

Lawrence/Nelson’s Andy Peterson (left) intercepts a pass to Jacob Salter of Heartland Lutheran during the first quarter of the seasons opening game at Heartland Lutheran.

Running Home

Reminds me of running home from the bus when I was young.

Shoemaker Elementary student Alexis Mendoza, 10, runs toward her home in West Park Plaza after being dropped off by a school bus. Ridership on elementary routes in the Grand Island Public School bus system is way up this year.

Pool Lines

A photo that didn’t make the paper. When all else fails, be graphic.

Grand Island YMCA Pool Manager Kari Smith sweeps up dust left over from sand blasting in the deep end of the Y’s pool during a two-week makeover.

First Day Smile

Just a nice moment from the first day of school.

With the help of paraeducator Michele Henderson (top right), an excited Dylan Dzingle is ready to lead his fellow Barr Middle School sixth-graders into the school during a ceremonial “tunnel walk” during the first day of school for Grand Island city schools.

First Day Rain

A photo that didn’t make the paper from the first day of school.

As other students are dropped off behind them during a light rain, Mitch Powell (left) holds his palms up to feel the rain drops while talking to fellow Barr Middle School sixth-grader Marcus Gonifas before entering the school on the first day of classes.

Foot Work

A photo that didn’t make our Fall Sports preview section.

Heartland Lutheran football players prepare for the upcoming season during an afternoon practice session.

Techocolor Goat

The Best Dressed Goat contest started early and was over when I showed up. Felt lucky to walk away with a decent photo from the “victory lap” afterward.

Passing through the gray-colored world of sheep with other contestants, Mackenzie Ahlman, 12, (right) takes the goat of her sister, Hailey Ahlman, for a victory lap around the Big Red Barn at Fonner Park after the goat, Abby, was named the winner of the Best Dressed Goat Contest at the Hall County Fair in Grand Island.

Athlete of the Year

Some fun in Photoshop.

Grand Island Senior High’s Ariel Krolikowski is The Independent’s Area girls Athlete of the Year for 2009.

Watching and Waiting

Not sure why, but just like it.

As a spectator relaxes above them, members of the Prime Time Sports Patriots wait for their game while watching NP Dodge and Wells Fargo play during their Class A Junior Legion State Tournament opening-round game Friday in Kearney. The NP Dodge Wildcats won the game 10-0 as play was stopped in the sixth inning.

Trapped Arthur

Kids watch an Arthur video before breaking up into groups for the Grand Island Public Library’s “Special Reading Event.”

Summer Fun

Looks and feels like summer to me.

Beating the heat, Derek Zarate, 8, breaks through a stream of water from a hose as he jumps on a trampoline with family and friends near the corner of Ashton Avenue and South Locust Street in Grand Island. The face behind Zarate is a billboard featuring an old photograph of athlete Jim Thorpe.

Safe at Third

Just a nice baseball photo.

Wells Fargo’s Dylan Urias (right) is safe at third as James Daily of Millard North jumps out of the way during the second inning of their game at Ryder Park in Grand Island. Urias went on to score later in the inning.

Tornado Damage

The power of nature is most awesome. I walked about a mile to get to this point just as this was happening. A few moments later, a bulldozer cleared away the furniture in front of the house.

Volunteer Naomi Campbell (right) helps sort through what remains of a home rented by Jeff Juzyk and his family after a tornado struck the home along Highway 34 west of Aurora on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Campbell and about 30 other volunteers from Pleasant View Bible Church in Aurora, where the Juzyk family attends church, are on hand to help.

Batting Cage

This is a case of “you just never know.” A batting cage in an old warehouse…who knew it have these great windows to frame the batters.

Grand Island Riverdogs’ Lane Uhing, 12, takes some batting practice in the former Rinder Printing manufacturing plant at 720 W. Oklahoma. The indoor batting cage there cost about $20,000 to develop. Some ball field enthusiasts would like to see batting cages added to the new Veterans Home Athletic Complex when it is built.

Surf City

Grand Island becomes “Surf City” for a night.

The house is full as fans enjoy the Beach Boys play on stage at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Neb.

Lots of Chairs

It’s a big tent with lots of chairs. I tried to use the patterns of the tent and rows chairs with the volunteers to make something interesting out of people setting up chairs.

Inside the “T-tent,” volunteers Sue Obermieier (left) and Karen Hansen of Principal Financial help set up chairs for the annual Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska. The “T-tent,” which was custom made for the Cattlemen’s Ball, is the largest of the tents erected for the annual cancer charity event at nearly 60,000 square feet.

Better Look

I’ve spent many days at Stuhr Museum at various events, and continue to look for different angles. Saw a group of kids doing this, and it just seemed like one of those things kids would do.

Choo-Choo Pre-school Class participants get a better view of the inside of the shoe repair shop in Stuhr Museum’s Railroad Town during a tour Monday as summer classes begin at the museum.

State Track Tumble

In a photo that didn’t make the paper, Jessica Trejo takes a tumble at the end of the girls Class D 100 meter run, but she came back to win the girls Class D 200 meter run the same day.

Palmer’s Jessica Trejo takes a tumble after finishing in second place during the girls Class D 100 meter run Saturday at state track in Omaha.

Mader Lover

Just like this portrait of Fred with his work.

Inspired by the “Mader” character from the movie “Cars,” Grand Island Body Shop owner Fred Schritt has created “The Peppermint Kidd” tow truck that has since been placed on a 20-feet-high pole at his business.

Practice Fire

I know it’s only a practice fire, but is still looks cool…or hot if you’re one of the firemen.

Nebraska State Fire School participants practice using firefighting foam during a class at Fonner Park in Grand Island. In certain situations, such as a car or grass fire, using foam can be a quicker and safer method to extinguish a fire.

Garage Fire

Grand Island firefighter/paramedic Steve Tillemans sprays water on the smoldering remains of a one-car garage at 307 E. Hall on the same day hundreds of firefighters are in town for the Nebraska State Fire School. Firefighters from Fire Station No. 1 were dispatched to the fire at 11:20 a.m., and had the fire out by 11:32 a.m. Smoke from the fire was clearly visible to participants of the fire school being held at nearby Fonner Park.