Following the local media’s coverage of the swearing in ceremony of my assistant, Molly Ridgeway, on January 2, to Deputy Clerk of the District Court, I have had a few people inquire if this means I am ready to retire.
I assure you, it does not.
Molly has been my assistant since July 1, 2019. This sweet young lady, who has the demeanor of everyone’s favorite girl-next-door, has worked very hard over the past four-plus years and she deserved a promotion.
Molly’s promotion from Records Clerk to Deputy Clerk allows her to now sign certain legal documents. Beforehand, only I could do so. There’s a bunch of legal jargon that I could use, but it would bore you senseless.
Suffice it to say, I am here to stay. At least until December 31, 2026. That is when my current term expires. But, if things go well, I may try to hang around until December 31, 2030.
That will be up to God and you, of course.
Speaking of retirement, it appears that the walls and ceiling of KCOW Radio did not collapse following the Dec. 31 retirement of 37-year radio pro Mike Glesinger. I think Mike did make an appearance at the station once or twice for follow-up work, but that was all.
When I drove by KCOW on the morning of January 3, his vehicle was nowhere in sight.
Mike was able to attend the emotionally packed ceremony of Alliance native Jordan Hoopers jersey retirement at UNL’s Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. A fitting way to start retirement for the guy that described 87 of Jordan’s 100 AHS games.
I try to keep this column positive, but I must lash out a bit at Mike’s former employer.
Eagle Communications is headquartered in Hays, Kansas and pretty much calls the shots on the type of equipment that the Alliance and Chadron broadcasters use.
Lately, the quality of the audio, NOT the announcer, has been atrocious.
I tried to listen to the Alliance at Bridgeport girls and basketball games on Saturday afternoon.
Tried is the key word.
The following is a copy of a message I sent to Mike’s successor, Alex Benzegala. I believe it speaks for all Alliance sports fans who rely on the radio to follow the Bulldogs.
“Hi, Alex:
I must ask. Are the Eagle Communications tech people offering you ANY kind of assistance with your equipment for basketball broadcasts?
I tried to listen to both of your games Saturday at Bridgeport, and it was nearly impossible.
In the girl’s game, your voice audio was so low that I had to crank up my radio to nearly full blast. That would have been okay, but then when the commercials were played the audio nearly broke my eardrums.
In the second half, when Bridgeport was ahead by several points, I switched to Dave Collins to catch the end of his Chadron State College men’s game in Denver. His audio was very clear.
Then when I switched back to KCOW to listen to the boy’s game, your play-by-play audio had improved, but it sounded like a second microphone was turned way up and the crowd noise and PA announcer was drowning you out big time.
Alex, I have no problem labeling Eagle Communications Administration – whether in Hays, KS, St. Joseph, MO or in North Platte, NE – corporate clowns. The fact that they have shoved the new type of remote broadcast system down Alliance’s throat simply adds credence to my statement. The former equipment offered very clear audio whether Mike was in the Alliance High gym or broadcasting from Omaha.
Alex, KCOW and its listeners deserve better, and YOU deserve better.
Kevin Horn”
I’m glad I retired from the radio industry nine years ago.
My strong opinions probably would have gotten me fired.
End of Rant.