“I can’t claim to know the words to all the national anthems in the world, but I don’t know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we all must ask.” -Ronald Regan

AND SHE’S OFF!: Gothenburg Senior Center Director Susan Anderson was so excited to have been gifted a riding lawn mower on behalf of the center, she sped off to mow and no one could catch her! Raelynn Maxwell of Cottonwood Realty purchased the mower and Matt Farr of LandMark serviced the mighty machine so it was ready to go for the new users. Pictured above is some of the staff of the Senior Center along with Maxwell and her team, Farr and board member/volunteer Pam Slack. SHILOH SCHULTZ

Carlos Magdaleno didn’t allow a single run against Holdrege, throwing a complete game shutout and leading the Senior Melons to a 9-0 victory on Tuesday, June 23.

BY CHEYENNE MCVAY

Some of my favorite memories growing up were soaking up time spent with family members, especially my grandparents, and listening to the stories they told. As extreme as they were sometimes, the stories never failed to make me laugh or imagine what life was like in a time much simpler than now, and they made me thankful that my sister had a car she could drive me to school in so we weren’t forced to walk the entire route uphill both ways. The coffee crowds across our community have been doing this exact thing for years-meeting every morning or afternoon and talking about what I imagine as some of the most interesting and lively stories. In all reality, I’m sure they are just discussing the weather or events of the week, but I am positive it would still be fun to be a fly on the wall as the groups reminisce on the good ol’ days.

“IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK BABY”: Drake Walker was beyond thrilled to be back at the swimming pool when it opened Wednesday, June 17 for the first time this summer. He shouted his feelings of glee as he sprung into the air before making his inagural splash of the season. Pool-goers were lined up outside the doors anticipating the time splashing with friends and family members. Capacity was at 85 on opening day but was bumped to 225 on Monday when the Phase III Directed Health Measures came into effect. SHILOH SCHULTZ

HERE’S TO YOU: Maddox Rickertsen points to his teammate that made the hit he was able to run home on. The Melons were back on the field for the first time Friday night since last season. They were able to play their first game against Minden and won, but the second game was rained out after the 5th inning. KELLY NINAS/TRI CITY TRIB