Meneley first-graders talk about the news

I had the opportunity to speak to about 80 first-graders at Meneley Elementary School last week.

I had visions of Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop," but it turned out very nicely. The teachers kept a tight rein on the children, who were very well behaved.

So what does a guy who works in a medium that is unlikely to exist in its current form when the Douglas High Class of 2020 graduates talk to 6-year-olds about.

I was lucky, the children were learning about community and the role the newspaper plays in it.

I talked about what was news when I was their age, and I talked to them about news around our town.

The big favorite in the first-grade set was the Fishing Derby and I used fish as the analogy for newsworthiness. One girl said she caught a little fish, but then caught a big fish.

"The little fish would be a small story, but the big fish would be a big story," I said, omitting that a two-headed fish would be an even bigger story.

From my brief experience with first-graders they are very visual.

When teacher Sharon Yurtinus asked if they would like to work at a newspaper as a photographer all the hands shot up.

So I gave them the basic photographer test.

"If you're taking a photo of a ball game, what needs to be in the picture?" I asked.

Some said the bat, but most said the ball.

To quote Sharon, "First-graders are terrific."

Faye Gansberg brought in a photo of her granddaughter Ellie Mae, 2, who was enjoying a slice of watermelon bigger than her head during the family's Fourth of July picnic down in south Valley.

I made the rounds last week, visiting with Sheila Byington and Barbara Griffin at their farewell parties.

I reminded Sheila of the time I quoted her while doing a story on how Minden handles street clearing when it snows.

At the time, she said by throwing salt off the trucks, which got her into a little bit of trouble. That incident taught me that sometimes quoting someone accurately isn't enough.

We're working on the Trick or Treat Safety Street for this Halloween, which will be undergoing a big change, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Youth Services Officer Chris Griffith.

The street will be crossing the street from the spooky CVIC Hall to the old haunted Minden fire station.

They're using the CVIC Hall for early voting this year. The way this election season is shaping up, that's going to be no place for a little ghoul looking for candy.

Chris said there will be some changes in the event founded by Record-Courier Publisher Tim Huether back in 1993.

Another former Record-Courier publisher is taking the reins of the at the Tahoe Daily Tribune newsroom in South Lake.

Saratoga resident Peter Kostes, who is regional editor of Sierra Nevada Media Group, has been named interim editor of the Tribune.

Peter served as publisher of The R-C from 1999 to 2003, coming here from Truckee. We were both up for the job of editor at the Sierra Sun back in 1990. Peter got the job and I got married.

n Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.