Thumbs down

To the loss of an award-winning journalist who gave the world a better idea of what is going on the in the Middle East.

Anthony Shadid, who won the Pulitzer Prize twice, died of an apparent asthma attack in Syria while reporting on the uprising against its president. Shadid, 43, who survived a gunshot wound in the West Bank in 2002 and was captured for six days in Libya last year, was returning with smugglers from Syria to Turkey when he collapsed.

Shadid, an American of Lebanese descent, was a native of Oklahoma City,  and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The New York Times publisher said Shadid brought to his readers an up-close look at the globe’s many war-torn regions, often at great personal risk. He had been reporting in Syria for a week, gathering information on the resistance to the Syrian government and calls for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down, the Times said.

As we scan over newspapers every day to see what else has happened in the world, it’s easy to forget that people put themselves at risk to bring us information and context to the headlines. And in Shadid’s case, he told stories of the real people affected by war and strife in far-away places.

His experience, compassion and knowledge, including fluency in Arabic,  will make it difficult to fill the void that his death has left.

NBA guard is a Linspiration

Thumbs up

To New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, who virtually came out of nowhere to lift his NBA team to unexpected success and is now the biggest thing in sports since Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

No one could have expected Lin, an undrafted player out of Harvard, who was cut by two other NBA teams, to be an unflappable team leader and high scorer after being inserted into the starting lineup after the team’s poor start. Since Lin got his unlikely chance, the Knicks have experienced an immediate and dramatic turnaround. He is literally taking the league, and America, by storm.

Lin’s story, like Tebow’s before him, is a feel-good story not just for what he’s done on the court, but what he represents off it. Humility is a rare commodity in professional sports, but Lin and Tebow both appear to have their hearts on straight. Said Lin this week, explaining himself: “... I believe in an all-powerful and all-knowing God who does miracles.”



Hitting it big

Thumbs up

To lady luck hitting Benjamin Ramos Sr. of Wells.

The 64-year-old hit it big in the Gopher 5 lottery drawing last week.

Ramos is the kind of guy people like to see win big. A disabled Vietnam vet who seems like a nice, sensible and humble guy.

The disabled Vietnam veteran won $1.3 million in the drawing. He bought the ticket after his ex-wife told him about the huge prize.

A smiling Ramos has no outlandish plans for his new found fortune. “I’m gonna pay off my bills, buy a house in Arizona and education for my grandchildren.

“Then I’m saving some for a rainy day.”



Thumbs up

Flame goers keep movies burning bright

To the town of Wells and the volunteers and workers that keep the Flame Theatre up and running in the town of 2,500 in Faribault County.

The Flame is one of the few city-owned theaters in the state and is run just to provide nearby residents some movies at price, $3, that allows the operation to just break even.

The theater draws about 21,000 movie goers annually for mostly weekend and Monday shows. The theater opened in 1912 when ticket prices were a nickel and burned down in 1960, but was later rebuilt and renamed from the State theater to the Flame.

It’s good to see small towns rally around a simple amenity like going out for a movie. Hopefully, the Flame will keep its marquee burning bright for years to come.

Editorial board



Thumbs up

Young activist renews hope

I was becoming a crabby old lady, wondering what has happened to our country, our city. Where is the respect?

No one seems to care about the things that used to be important when I was a kid.

Then I see a photo and article in Sunday’s Free Press about the 10-year-old activist. What a difference that made in my thinking and my attitude about future generations.

I am sure Serenity Zwaschka’s parents and teachers are very proud of her. I’m guessing many readers are feeling that same pride and renewed hope for our future. I know I am — and I am especially proud, I am her grandma.

Ann Chantler, Mankato