Took a drive near Whitewood on Tuesday on the way back from an assignment in Belle Fourche that was canceled. It was rainy and gray.

by Kristina Barker

If you are a fan of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” you know what I mean.

This is it. I’m out of here for the proverbial life of leisure, or whatever retirement might have in store for me.

Attached is virtually the last shot of my 21 years here at the Journal, a TD reception, virtually on top of me (I was cranking my 80-200 zoom as fast as I could) from this afternoon’s lopsided homecoming victory by BHSU over Mines.

I hope you all have enjoyed seeing my photos in the pages of the RCJ as much as I have making them.
- Steve McEnroe

Well, it’s Friday afternoon, and my retirement from the Journal is just one day away. I have to go shoot two football games tonight, and the BHSU game is on my schedule tomorrow - and that’s about it. It is on to retirement, getting up when ever I want, doing what I want, and no more deadlines.

With a little luck, I won’t be a greeter at Sam’s Club three months from now. I am planning on doing a little photography, and some painting and wildfowl carving, and gardening and cooking, and maybe some fishing.

I gave the ol’ fly rod a try on an assignment earlier this week. It’s going to take a little practice before I am not hooking myself in the ear or scaring every fish within a quarter mile. But I think it might be worth the effort. The assignment was about a private fishing hole being created at a new home development along Nemo Rd. in the Black Hills. Keith Wintersteen of SDGF&P was on the site helping the developers and offered the fly rod for a few practice casts. The developers have turned an old draw into a beautiful little fishing hole. They plan on stocking it with a few trout in the near future to serve the residents at the area. The cantilevered rock in the background will make an excellet fishing platform - or a great place for the kids in the development to have a swimming hole as the pond is 10-15 feet deep.
- Steve McEnroe

I’ve been met by dogs at virtually every farm or ranch that I have ever visited, and nearly all are friendly and just checking out the new visitor, but I have never been met by the resident cat before - until today.

This afternoon I was visiting the Snyder Ranch near Piedmont for a story on the upcoming Western Junior Livestock Show with reporter Steve Miller. And the family collie and cattle dog both immediately loped out to greet me, but I was a bit amused to see four kittens streak towards me as well, from the front yard of the ranch house.

The kittens, new additions to a family menagerie of dogs, cats, peafowl and livestock, followed the Snyders and us all over the yard. They were as friendly as could be, climbing up on us, and wandering into most of my photos. One seemed to perch virtually all the time on the shoulder of middle son Daniel and another seemed intent on greeting the kid’s Angus cross bull, who outweighed him by a ration of about 1000 to 1.

I’ve attached a couple of those pix here, cause they probably won’t make the story which is about the Snyder boys’ preparations for the annual Western Junior Livestock Show.

- Steve McEnroe

Don’t know what it is about tennis, but it just doesn’t lend itself to pretty portraits. The players either have their tongues out on every shot (it’s a wonder they don’t bite it off) or they grimace and grunt when they hit the ball.

It’s not a pretty sight. These are crops from some of the better action photos I caught this week at the GDC tournament here in town. The swings and arm make the photos, but these are just the faces.

Is it just me, or is the big scoreboard at O’Harra Stadium - new last year along with the artificial turf - a BIG disappointment? When I saw the size of the thing, I was thinking huge, easily read numbers and maybe even room for other game scores. Instead the numbers are small - maybe even smaller than the old scoreboard, and half of the space is taken up by the stupid, uninspiring graphics. Ugh!

- McEnroe

It is one of the oldest and most basic rules of air combat - If at all possible, attack your enemy out of the sun. It is one reason old fighter pilots get old. With the sun at your back, the enemy won’t see you coming till its too late.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Air Force seems to live by this rule in all things - including assumption of command ceremonies. With Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne on hand today along with assorted Congresswomen, Senators and other dignitaries, Ellsworth Air Force Base had its grand opening and assumption of command ceremony for the new Air Force Financial Services Center. and the podium was set up - even angled just perfect - to be directly beneath the 9:30 a.m. sun rising on the eastern horizon. The dark blue uniforms and dark dignitary suits were like black blobs. The backlighting did wonders for the blue Air Force flags and banners though. It was definately a day for fill flash. The attached photo was a quick test shot before the ceremony, without flash.

I had to feel a little sorry for the tv crews, who were set up at the back with their telephoto lenses and NO lighting to aid them.

- Steve McEnroe

This was a shot I picked up Monday, but it didn’t make the paper. As I let my golden retriever outside, I saw this and grabbed my camera. Following the long rain Sunday night, as the morning sun beat down on the damp railing of my back deck, the thing was steaming. Against the dark backdrop of my grape arbor, it almost appeared to be on fire there was so much steam swirling off the 2×4 railing. The whole thing lasted for just a few minutes.

- Steve McEnroe

Tim Appel, a multi-media producer, has joined the Journal staff as the paper looks to add more - and better - video content to our online presence.

The attached photo shows Tim and reporter Andrea Cook interviewing Douglas school students Tuesday at the district’s 9-11 memorial “Freedom Walk” around the school campus and Patriot Stadium.

So check out the multi-media area of rapidcityjournal.com for video features or breaking news as the Journal enters the 21st century full speed ahead.

But don’t forget to check out the weekly photo galleries by the Journal staff photographers at the same site.

- Steve McEnroe

I have to admit, I was a little amazed this morning when the Patriot Guard Riders came through town on their 9-11 anniversary ride in memory of the 343 FDNY firefighters who died in the twin towers six years ago.

I spent 45 minutes sitting on the median island at Mt. Rushmore Rd. and Omaha Street. We had been told they could roll through anytime between 10-10:45, and of course, it was almost exactly 10:45 when they came down Omaha St. from a run out to Nemo and back, but the amazing thing was - six years after that long, horrible day - there had to be as many as 1,000 motorcycles in the group, led by several bikes sporting Old Glory. Police had traffic stopped at the intersection for at least five minutes as they rolled through towards Memorial Park.

- Steve McEnroe