I've been accused of being in the dark many times, probably rightfully so. That was literally the case Thursday night after covering a boys' basketball game between New Underwood and Oelrichs in the New Underwood gymnasium.
After my post game interviews, I asked and received permission to write my story in head coach Stacy Finkbeiner’s classroom (at least I think it was his classroom as that’s where we went for the interview). I needed about a half hour and I told Finkbeiner to make sure no one locks me in.
The half hour came and went and just as I had trouble this fall sending a football story online from New Underwood with the Journal’s I Phone connection, it happened again Thursday night. Another 15 minutes later – which passed our copy deadline – I decided to just book it back to Rapid City.
As I left the classroom, I found the rest of the school about as dark as dark can be. I somehow found my way through the gym and to a door and exited the building, only to be met outside by a gentleman who was very suspicious of why I just left an empty, dark school. I don’t blame him a bit, I would be suspicious too. It took a little convincing and proof by my Journal press pass that I was who I said I was and I was just doing my job.
I hurried my way back to the Journal with my story. I won’t say if I fractured the speed limit on my return, but I won’t say that I didn’t. On second thought, I drove the speed limit at all times.
This was the second time that a school janitorial staff had shut the lights off on me before I could file my story. The first time was in Spearfish last fall for a high school football game at Lyle Hare Stadium. At least I had the moonlight to guide me out of the stadium.
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