Death of a Great Newspaper--the Rocky Mountain News

I have to say that I had a great feeling of sadness and nostalgia when I learned today that the 150 year old paper in Denver, Colorado, the Rocky Mountain News, was closing its doors. No, I don't have any personal ties to the paper, I do not know anyone who works there, and as a paper I will not miss it, especially since I live in eastern Kansas and we have the fabulous Kansas City Star and the Manhattan Mercury. I have other reasons to regret the passing of this paper. 

I was the 6th grade in Leadville, Colorado when I started working for the  Rocky Mountain News. My local employer was Mrs. McCaulliffe, who was married to the only Colorado Highway patrolman we had in the area. My father had met Patrolman McCaulliffe a few times for violations on the open road, but of course we were convinced that the Patrolman had it in for our father whom we believed could do no wrong. But Highway Patrolmen were not paid the fabulous salaries they get today along with many other public servants and since the McCaulliffes had a big family, Mrs. McCaulliffe became the distributor for the Rocky Mountain News. 

The paper route, delivered by sled in the winter or packed on my back, and on my old bicycle in summer, provided me with a little spending money that bought a few things that I thought I needed. I would deliver papers for three years on a 20 block route and faithfully collect from my customers. 

The Rocky Mountain News covered the losses that occurred when people didn't pay their bills, sometimes as much as $3.00. Likewise they would good to their carriers. Every month they provided us with a little party and if we got a few "starts" (new customers), we could win all sorts of prizes. Sometimes Mrs. McCaulliffe just gave us the prizes whether we had starts or not because she appreciated the work that we were doing for her. 

We didn't use rubber bands or plastic bags, but we learned how to fold the papers so that you could throw one 30-40 feet and it would not come open. Papers had to be delivered before we went to school, so that meant being up early and out on the street regardless of the weather. Wow, could we have used snow days!  

So to the Rocky Mountain News, I say "thanks for the memories." You were good to me in the 1950s. I am sad to see you go. 

New stage for our socialist government

The news reported tonight that the government is going to take over one of the banks that failed. It will keep as the head of the bank the person responsible for the failure which makes good sense. It will pour more taxpayer money into the bank so that bonuses, personal jets, and posh offices might continue to be maintained. I have confidence this will be a great deal when you think of the great job our government did with Amtrak. 

Former student/good friend

Friday morning brought a welcome visitor who brought a blast from the past. Dave Sloan attended Intermountain Bible College from 1968-1974. He would come in as a monotone and leave an excellent baritone singer. Dave would spend a few years in the "professional" ministry and then become an outstanding "lay" worker. Dave works for City Market,  a supermarket chain in Fruita, Colorado connected with Krogers, King's Soopers, and Dillons stores in Kansas. He has worked there for a long time while raising his family and caring for music in local churches. 

Dave came to IBC with a group of special guys, most of whom are still active in the ministry--Dennis Whisler (Roy, Utah), Rick Bender (Cortez, CO), Carroll Moore (Deceased), Vernon Ely (forest department in Arizona). We had a lot of fun with these guys as most of them lived with us for a time in the boys' dorm. 

Dave and the gang invited my wife over one night for supper. They also invited several girls to the dinner. When dinner was over Dave gathered up all the dishes and marched to the toilet. Soon we heard the toilet being flushed. Dave came out with the wet plates, as serious and a judge, and announced, "Dish washer." My wife and I knew it was a joke, but the girls didn't. Some of them turned green and were ready to lose their suppers. That legend will live with Dave forever. I hope someone brings it up at his funeral. 

Several years later I visited Dave at El Paso where he was working with El Paso Christian College. Dave wanted to take me to a meal at a Mexican restaurant across the border in Juarez. We ordered our meals and while we were waiting a cat strolled out of the kitchen. I thought I was going to lose Dave. We stayed and finished our meals, but Dave was very nervous about the whole situation. Dave had one other thing to share with me in regards to a waitress with a deep voice at Denny's. But in light of our present culture I'll just have to let you guess what that was about. 

We had a great visit. I was honored by the visit and the memories. The years of college that I spent with Dave will not be forgotten. 

Logos/Libronix Library System

About a year I became intimately acquainted with a great library system for computers. I believe it is the finest Bible reference system on the market. I recommend it to students and hope to see it use for all our classes at MCC in the future.  You can do exegetical studies, review commentaries, prepare Bible studies and sermons all from the convenience of your computer. Take time to go to Logos.com to find out more about the program. 

The program now has available 10,000 volumes with more being added daily. Logos keeps you updated constantly on new products. 

Bankers Grilled by Chef Congress

Last week we saw the big bankers apparently eat crow over the mistakes they made in handling the first bailout. It was a good show. It happens all the time. Congress calls for hearings, the villains are brought in and grilled, and promises of change are made. But nothing changes. The bankers went back to planning on how they were take advantage of the next trillion dollar bailout and the committee looked good for taking on the bankers. Nothing changes. Too many hands are in the pockets of the bankers. An old proverb "You don't bite the hand that feeds you." So don't expect any change and very little help for the common person from the multi-trillion dollar bailout plan.