Rod Cushing . . . Husker football cameraman.
Those Nebraska football pictures you've seen in the News-Press are being taken by the man with the hat and camera, Rod Cushing, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Cushing, 1612 Central Avenue.
Rod is a senior at the University majoring in industrial engineering, but one of his hobbies is photography. And when you own a Leica 35mm 3F, you've got a head start. The picture, by the way, was taken by (Rod's roommate) another Nebraska City student, Steve Boerner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Boerner, 501 Fourth Corso. Steve is on the Daily Nebraskan staff. I think he's a Nikon man.
Rod attends all the University home games as a free lance photographer and sends pictures to the News-Press for use in our Monday paper. He also uses a Yashica 120 and his dad's 25mm Bolsey. (In exchange I think dad rides his son's Hodaka 100cc.)
Rod graduated from NCHS, played the trombone in school here and was a trombonist for two years with the NU lab jazz band.
He's an active young man. He holds the rank of sergeant in the ROTC and spent six weeks last summer in advanced training at Fort Lewis, Washington. An announcement will be made soon that he is a recipient of an ROTC scholarship.
We liked what George Bischof said in his Safety Valve about tree planting. We hope you agreed and give him a call if you can help.
Mr. Bischof said many people have more young trees in their yards than they want. He suggested those people call him and as he receives calls from others who want trees, he will get the two together.
He also suggested some labor from the "men of leisure" like Mel Conley, Bob McKissick and Earl Bray.
Dunno about you, George, but tell what we'll do we'll take the picture of them shoveling dirt.
My disease free hybrid Elms didn't do so hot this summer. They're beginning to look like a lot of trees we wrote stories about when Dutch Elm first came to town. Sure hope we've escaped the hug, but things don't look to bright just now.
I was going to blame the wilted leaves on Dennis Kennell and his gas charcoal grill or solicit his help and accuse the other neighbor, Deputy County Attorney Randy Rehmeier of lawn pollution or sumpthin. Oh, well, mebbe I'll just stop being a good guy and start mowing my lawn at 7 a.m. on Sundays.
The assignment.
Warren Jensen, teacher at District 37, assigned a reading class to come up with something on free verse. This item by Lisa Kastens, 13, an eighth grader, caught his attention:
"George, do you remember him? No, not George who lives down the road and no, not George the mailman.
"George, your father. My Father, you say, No, you must have it all wrong, my father's name is Frank. No, George is not my father. Yes, oh yes, I say, George is your father.
"Have you forgotten that darling old man with a white pony tail, a white horse and a wife named Martha? You haven't forgotten your father, I hope, the maker of this country. How could you forget? Who else, but George Washington."
Lisa is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Kastens, Jr. who farm three miles west of Paul. A good student, Lisa also competed last year in the county spelling contest at which the News-Press awards prizes to the two top spellers. The grade on her paper? The best.
Didya know, Leonard, K . . .
That more women now buy their pantyhose in supermarkets that they shop two or more stores on every trip . . . and if they read "yesterday's" paper, they make up the large "average" that will shop at two or more places today.
The paper shortage threat.
Labor disputes threaten to shut down at least 75 per cent of the Canadian newsprint capacity that produces two-thirds of the U.S. annual supply.
The paper mills unions are demanding a 41 per cent wage increase and other terms in a one-year contract.
Newspapers over the country are in pretty good shape, according to word we received. Most have a supply of several months, a lesson learned from the crippling strike of a couple years ago. The News-Press has well over two months supply, but playing catch-up with strikes is a bit uneasy.
On the lighter side . . .
I got reamed by No. 2 daughter, Clarissa.
"Tell daddy," she wrote her mother, "that I'm not writing to him until he writes me."
Morningside College.
Sioux City, Iowa.
Dear Clarissa:
Hi kiddo. How's school? Everything is fine here. Had several renters for your room, but none stayed after they saw that gawdy paint job and women's lib junk you have on the walls.
John Neuhalfen came up to give us an estimate on repainting it, but dropped to his knees when he entered the doorway, backed off and said he wouldn't send his men in there to try to paint over that . . . that . . . other paint.
I know you enjoyed it and you don't believe me now . . . but remember that I always closed your door when we had company.
We were pleased that you were accepted into the Alpha Delta Phi sorority. Your sister, Denise, was an Alpha Omega Phi (hope I got that right). She probably would have liked you to have "rushed" for her sorority so she could pass her ring (from Cindy Sackles Wright) on to you. But then, you always were pretty independent. No matter. Enjoy the companionship of your new friends.
Yeah, how about that . . . a rinky dinky freshman getting a part in "Our Town." Too bad we're not closer so I could coach you . . . remember how I gave you that great, super great, talent and French accent for the high school play? Good ole' dad . . . always in there.
Was out to Kimmel's the other day. Talked with Mrs. Leonard Bebout. She asked about you. Bob is doing great at Peru State and runs home often to see the folks. She was surprised that you hadn't been home at least once yet (so is your mother).
I suggested to Father Tom Ozanne that to really be ecumenical he ought to visit a Methodist college.
He shut off the engine of his motorcylce, removed his helmet and said, "sure, let's go on our bikes . . . anyplace in mind?"
"Well, I . . . ah . . . ah . . . how about Morningside?"
Goodnight, honey.