The Things I’ll do For a Story

Four words come to mind: Get me outa here.

I fell through the ice at Holmes Lake yesterday. Actually, I jumped through it. All in the name of journalism.

Anyone can write about anything. I was once an ag reporter for the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. My experience: I grew up in farm country and worked on a ranch for a year. I asked the right questions and did an okay job, but there were times when experience would’ve helped.

I’ve been in cold water (when young and stupid I found Lake McConaughy is 34 degrees after ice-out in February). But I haven’t had to pull my butt out of a hole in the ice. Now I have.

Here’s what I learned: It’s cold. And thankfully, it wasn’t that hard to get out. So I did, and fast.

You’ll be able to read more about it in NEBRASKAland next fall. But to get a sneak peek of my masochistic idea, check out the piece Ralph Wall put together on Ice Safety for 10-11 News this morning.

See you out there … just not on the ice. It’s toast.