Especially in August when the days are warm then the world seems turned to gold. Sunshine can transform green stalks of corn to yellow, grass is gold

brocade. The elm trees leafy branches grow tired of making shade....Helen Virden.
August is almost over and school will start here next week. The Gibson City Swimming Pool will be closing up for the season. Parents were busy registering their children for school last week. Now the hunt for new school clothing, shoes, and supplies will be on the agenda from here on until the big day. High School Football practice has begun and I hear the familiar whistles blowing in the early morning and late afternoon. The slow, lazy days of summer are slowly drawing to an end. From the posts from Friends on Facebook and in conversations here and there with people, I have heard the same thing over and over. Pretty much everyone is tired of the heat, humidity, and lack of rainfall this summer has brought us. I would have to agree with them. I would have to give this summer a three or four out of a possible ten. I really don't like seeing the yards and flowers all dried up and crispy. I have been looking at the fields when traveling here and there and it looks to me like it is going to be an early harvest this year, nothing like last years late harvest. I have heard some conflicting reports about what the yield is going to actually bring, depending where your farm is located. Here in Gibson City, we have been passed over many times by Mother Nature in the form of rain. Right now I am only looking forward to September and October for some cooler weather and some much needed rainfall.
This summer weather has been a tough one for the Radio Station too. Our studios were hit by lightening in June and our tower and transmitter were hit sometime in early August. Mother Nature has not been kind to us this summer. We have been experiencing a reduction in our power now for several weeks and it finally was determined that we took a hard hit out at the tower. We have spent the better part of the summer trying to get everything repaired. It has been frustrating for us and for you, the listeners. We have heard from listeners all over the USA who have been wondering what's going on with their favorite Radio Station. We are also trying to do everything possible to keep our studios and transmitter from taking future hits, but it's probably not going to be a guarantee. Mother Nature loves those high towers, they just beg to be hit. We appreciate all of the e-mails, phone calls that let us know that you are indeed listening and want your station back up to one hundred percent. I want to assure you that we are working hard to make that happen.
Our Family managed to take a couple of day trips this summer. One was to Indiana Beach for the day with Ashley, Jimmy, and Jack. We had a great time with Jack and the weather cooperated. It was a nice, cool day when we were there. Jack is still talking about it. We also ventured to Peoria for a Chiefs game. That was a little warmer evening, but we still enjoyed it. That is it for us this summer. It has been a busy one indeed and it has been hard for us to find time to get away.
Grandchildren Demi and Jack will soon be having one of their "firsts". That is, they will both be going to their first babysitter next week and I have to admit, it's making Grandma just a bit nervous. Mom Casey will start teaching soon and we all got together and thought it would be a good idea if Jack and Demi went together to the Sitters. Everyone needs a bit of a break from the schedules we have been trying to keep the last few months with the little ones. It's sort of like the first day of Kindergarten, First Grade, Junior High, High School. I call them "the firsts". It seems like yesterday that I was going through that with my children. You find yourself watching the clock all day, wondering what your children are doing and if they are getting along alright. Finally, they arrive home and with excitement, tell you about their day. Then you realize and breathe a huge sigh of relief, "yes, they are going to be o.k.". I am sure there will be more than a few parents going through this next week. Just breathe everyone and relax, your little ones will be fine. I keep telling myself that, but come next Tuesday I will be watching the clock till I pick them both up at noon.
Speaking of Sports will start again this Saturday and next Friday will be the first Falcon Football Game. WGCY has already began to broadcast "Da Bears" pre-season games. We are gearing up for the start of another School year, so now someone needs to tell Mother Nature to take it easy on us and give us some much needed cooler weather and to keep her lightening strikes to herself.