For those of you who went to the Creston basketball game Thursday at Bondurant-Farrar and remembered the moment the game stopped in the first half because of the clock, that was because of me.
I was standing in the corner watching the game doing my usual of writing who scored, how and when. After I wrote that information I looked back at the clock and noticed the clock had stopped while the kids were still playing. A man standing beside me shooting pictures of Bondurant-Farrar players also noticed the game clock stopped. (It’s nice to have a witness.) We both started yelling at the official who was in maybe 5 yards from us. But the fans were still louder than us, so I walked closer to the official and he heard me. He stopped the game.
After a couple of moments the proverbial clock reset button was hit and the game resumed. Later on in the game during a timeout, I approached the one referee who stopped the game because of the clock and told him I hope I was following protocol. He was genuine and grateful for somebody saying something.
“Just shows you we don’t see everything,” the referee said with a laugh. I thought that was a clever and classy way to explain it. “Thank you for speaking up.”
Maybe that moment was supposed to happen or have a bigger meaning.
About 12 hours later, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst continued that sentiment when she met with East Union FFA students Friday morning.
One student asked her why she got involved in government. She said it was a desire to get involved and hopefully improve the life in Southwest Iowa and the country as a whole. (I’m not writing to debate her political stance or actions since she has had the job.) Maybe cliche, but she did remind those students they are next generation of leaders at the local, state and national level. It’s true. If they are unsure about something, then say something.
Who knows, maybe we will see another one from around here run for Senate in the future?
I met Ernst when she announced her campaign for Senator in 2014. From Montgomery County, she made her announcement outside the county courthouse in Red Oak. I was working Clarinda at the time and wanted to be there since someone from Southwest Iowa was taking on a national level position. That doesn’t happen very often.
Since then I have spoken with her at her visits in the area. I like to think Senators will know who is from the press in their district. In this case, it would be the entire state for Ernst. That’s a lot of people.
It is nice to be acknowledged. It was good to hear her explain the people she remembered from her younger years in Montgomery County as she told her story to those East Union students. She also referred to Russ Clayton in Creston who she is related. Ernst was re-elected in 2020.
If you saw our story Friday, the formal candidate nomination for state and federal offices has begun. Rep. Zach Nunn, who has an office in Creston, is one of them. State Rep. Devon Wood, from New Market, is another and she has attended various events in her district that includes a portion of Union County. We are aware of Democrat candidates running against Nunn for the seat. I have not heard if there is anyone running against Wood.
As noted in that story, the formal candidate nomination procedure for county seats begins Monday. And there is already plenty of talk about those seats. That is one of the good things about the Iowa Caucus, held Jan. 15. At the Creston High School location, county sheriff Mark Shepherd announced his plans to not run for another term. Brian Bolton was there to announce his candidacy for the seat.
In Afton the same night, incumbent county supervisors Rick Friday and Dennis Brown announced their plans to run again.
Getting involved in politics these days is tough, no matter what level. Each level has its own pros and cons. But those jobs still need to be done. It would be great to have a day in the future if one of those East Union kids decides to run for an office and said they remembered and were influenced when Senator Ernst visited the school.
And those kids were not afraid to say something.