By Adam Stewart
From the Newsroom
This week, The Hutchinson Tribune is saying goodbye to reporters Michael Glenn and Ben Godina, who joined us for the summer and are now returning to college at the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, respectively.
I am going to miss them in the newsroom, both professionally and personally. They really contributed to the paper over the summer, and they were fun to work with.
Reno County is gearing up for the start of the school year, as well. By the time you likely read this, Hutchinson and Buhler schools will be back in session, as will Central Christian School.
Yes, it’s the end of summer. So why is it so dang hot still?
When I looked at the temperature on Sunday afternoon, it was 108 degrees out. That’s too hot to do much of anything. Even going grocery shopping in a properly climate-controlled store wears me out when it’s that hot, with multiple short trips between the house, car and store.
As I write this, the National Weather Service forecasts highs above 100 degrees every day until Sunday the 16th. And even when we do get a relief from triple-digit temperatures, it’s forecast to remain in the mid to upper 90s.
Part of my frustration with the end of summer is that there are too many ends of summer. Back-to-school is one end of summer—and the earliest in most places. Then comes Labor Day to mark the end of summer again, followed by the Kansas State Fair ringing in the start of fall and the end of summer. Last of all is the official, astronomical end of summer on the autumnal equinox, on Sept. 22 this year.
No other season has quite so many unofficial end dates quite so far apart.
I eagerly await the return of long-sleeve weather. In the meantime, Michelle and I have temporarily moved our outdoor cat, Pumpkin, into the house and out of the summer heat. She and our indoor cat, Minnie, still do not get along, so Pumpkin is quarantined in Michelle’s office, which we have furnished with several climbing structures.
We also have put baby gates in one of the doorways to the office, allowing Pumpkin to see and interact with us without being able to get in fights with Minnie. Pumpkin was a little grouchy the first few days inside, but now she has adjusted well to the daily routine.
We will let her back outside when the weather cools down enough, but for now, we’re relieved to know that she is safely out of the dangerous heat. Despite it being the end of summer, now isn’t the right time. Maybe by the second end of summer, although I would guess the third end of summer is more likely.
Adam Stewart is the assistant news editor of The Hutchinson Tribune. He can be reached at adam@hutchtribune.com.