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The
Cass City Chronicle is published every
Wednesday.
John Haire, Publisher
Rawson
Memorial
District
Library
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Softball players' trip an absolute
success
by Coach Josh Stern
Cass City Softball Coach
During spring break the Cass City High School softball players went to
spring training in Orlando, Fla. This was the second trip for the
program, with the first coming in 2005. This year's trip say 12
players and 7 adult chaperones attend.
With an early flight Sunday morning , the team stayed near Detroit
Metro Airport Saturday night, and then began their week by waking up at 5:30
a.m. to catch their flight. At 5:30 a.m., the temperature in Detroit
was a chilly 34 degrees, but 5 hours later in Orlando, the temperature was
already in the 70s.
From the airport, the team boarded a bus that took them directly to
their hotel, Disney's All Star Sports Resort at Walt Disney World. As
the team began to prepare for practice, the sunny Florida skies turned to
gray and the skies opened as it began to rain and it would not stop raining
for well over 12 hours. With practice canceled by the Disney spring
training staff, the team headed off to Disney's Hollywood Studios in the
pouring rain. Tower of Terror and Rock-n-Roller Coaster were favorites
of the night.
The next morning, the team rose early to head to practice at 7:30
a.m. Disney's Wide World of Sports complex is a beautiful facility and even
with torrential rains all day and night, the next morning there were no
signs of rain on the fields. The girls worked hard for 3 hours in the
hot Florida sun and it was only the second practice the girls had even had
outside due to uncooperative weather this spring in Michigan. That
afternoon and evening would be spent at the Magic Kingdom. The girls
saw 2 parades, a fireworks show, and rode nearly all the rides in the park.
The Lady Hawks finally had the chance to sleep in and then headed off
for another 3-hour practice in which they accomplished a lot and had the
best practice of the season. The Michigan High School Athletic
Association prohibits teams from doing anything but practice when traveling
more than 400 miles round trip, outside of the state. Watching other
teams play games on gorgeous fields in beautiful weather was the hardest
thing for the players to deal with on their trip. The rest of the day
was spent at Disney's Blizzard Beach and in Downtown Disney for dinner and
shopping.
The team hit EPCOT on the last full day in Florida and rode Mission
Space, Test Track and Soaring. They also squeezed in a lunch with the
Disney Princesses. The final practice would be held under the lights
and all the parents and coaches would end up having a scrimmage against the
team near the end of practice. It was another fantastic practice field
with lots of learning and fun.
The last few hours before flying back home were spent at Disney's
Typhoon Lagoon water park where the team soaked up the sun for a few more
hours before returning home to rain and temperatures in the low 40s.
The trip was an absolute success with many great practices and
unmatched team bonding. Many of the freshmen and sophomores who went
were already planning the next trip tentatively scheduled for 2010.
There is no doubt in my mind that the trip is well worth it. We had
great weather to practice in and did things together as a team that most
teams just never get a chance to do. Each person who went on the trip
paid for their own trip and the team raised money to pay for meals each day.
We still live in a great nation
My Fellow Americans,
Gee! Only 6 more months until we elect a new president. Do you realize that "We" Americans are bombarded for 22 months of politics? We are all tired of it already. Perhaps we should all write letters to our senators asking them to "spare us" in 2012. Make a law limiting the candidates to 12 months - not 22 months.
Also, we are paying the 3 candidates as they fly around the country running for office. Just try that in the private sector. Even getting a "family leave" is sometimes difficult. My suggestion is this - "if they want to run for being president, then they take an unpaid leave of absence."
I need to interject that I am an independent. My next topic is regarding President Bush. Let us give credit where credit is due. On 9-11-2001, all hell broke loose in America when the Twin Towers came tumbling down.
Our president's rating is low and in many cases it is understandable. But we all should realize that under President Bush, his Intelligence Department, CIA, etc., we have not had another terrorist attack in our great United States of America. For that alone all Americans, no matter what our party affiliation, should be grateful.
A couple of years ago, I heard a Huron County man in his 70s make this statement: "In 40 years I believe history will prove President Bush was right to invade Iraq, but we won't be here to see it." Only time will tell.
The bottom line is this: In our great country, even with all the imperfections we still live in the greatest nation on earth.
Amen.
"Ginna" Gentner
Cass City
The Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor.
Letters must include the writer’s name, address and
telephone number. The latter is in case it is necessary to call for
verification, but won’t be used in the newspaper.
Names will be withheld from publication upon request,
for an adequate reason.
The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters for
length and clarity.
We will not publish thank you letters of a specific nature, for
instance, from a club thanking merchants who donated prizes for a raffle.
Submit your letter to the editor by mailing us at:
ATTN: Editor
Cass City Chronicle
P.O. Box 115
6550 Main St.
Cass City, MI 48726
or e-mail tom@ccchronicle.net
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