It was a typical Monday morning, if there such a thing as a typical Monday morning, and I was going through my emails and thinking about some of the topics for this week’s article when there it was! U.S. Strategic Command Announces 2024 Omaha Trophy Winners!
Certainly worth opening and reviewing, right? When I read the press release I literally jumped out of my chair!
Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), recently announced these winners of the Strategic Command Consultation Committee’s (SCCC) 2024 Omaha Trophy:
• Intercontinental Ballistic Missile: 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota
How about those Roughriders? Bully!
SCCC Chair Dana Bradford noted that the Omaha Trophy is the highest distinction awarded to a nuclear-enterprise unit by a civilian organization. “We are deeply proud to recognize the hard work of these dedicated Americans and the selfless sacrifice of their loved ones at home. It is our honor to continue the Omaha Trophy tradition by celebrating the very best of the best.”
Back at USSSTRATCOM I am sure that Gen. Anthony Cotton, who was stationed in Minot, was proud of the 91st MW, and their accomplishments in bringing the Omaha Trophy back to Minot Air Force Base.
A little closer to home, I had a Magic City Lions club meeting on Tuesday morning and could hardly wait when it came my turn to share my name and business with the rest of the club. “I’m Rod Wilson and I work for the Northern Sentry” I started, and without hesitation continued “and I am proud to announce the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base will be the home of the Omaha Trophy next year, noting that they are the very best missile wing in STRATCOM.” Normally additional comments would garner me a fine, but today that was not the case. Instead, there was a well-earned round of applause from the over 30 members in attendance. However, I wasn’t quite quick enough on the trigger as I should have finished my statement with a resounding “Bulley”. 20/20 hindsight I guess.
The community of Minot certainly embraces Minot AFB and the many Airmen and their families who are stationed there, but even more they get it! They understand the many sacrifices that Airmen who serve their country at Minot Air Force Base, and the many other bases around the country, endure. It was a real joy to have them applaud the success of the 91st MW.
And The Question Is?
I make a trip to the Minot Air Force Base on Thursdays, and this week the most common questions was “Are we done with winter?” I know that to many of these young Airmen I look like a seasoned North Dakota native who know all about the weather. Well-seasoned, I am, North Dakota native, I am, but a weather expert I am not. Like any good North Dakota native, I rely heavily on the Farmer’s Almanac. I watch the news to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, and most important, I don’t take much stock in those long range forecasts that seem to always be wrong. Not that I sit and ponder and come up with my own forecast, but I just don’t believe that anyone can accurately predict one month, or even one week into the future.
However, there are some of those weather facts that I do use to predict the weather, and surprisingly they are fairly accurate. 1) 90 days after a heavy fog we will get precipitation. Who keeps track of weather 90 days from now. Ask around, you would be surprised. 2) An east wind blows up rain. I have been sailing a long time. If the wind is persistent from the east, you may as well pack it up and head home. 3) Monday, if it is not part of a long weekend, is the nicest day of the week. 4) This would only be for us sailing folks…if you need a northwest wind to get you back to the marina, it will come from the southeast 5) And finally, the most accurate of all weather predictions goes something like this “Red Sky At Night, Sailor’s Delight…Red Sky In The Morning, Sailor’s Take Warning.”
Tried and true weather facts that you can live with!
Back In School
This week is week #2 of my Junior Achievement teaching for this year. Once again assigned to Mrs. White’s first grade class at North Plains Elementary (by request). There are 20- 6 & 7 year olds for me to meet, and of course learn all of their names. For a grandparent who can’t goes down the list of grandkids until he finally gets to the right one (usually about 3 tries), learning 20 kids’ names is a challenge. Let me que you in. There are very few kids named Johnny or Sarah or even David this day and age. Yet, it seems every kid kind of grows into their name. Stay tuned and I will share what the kids say about this week’s lesson. “Do I Need, or Do I Just Want” something. Bad topic for a guy like me who has a shop full of tools. (LOL)
Best Kept Secrets
Farm eggs are the best! But where in the world do you get them now that the world seems to be in an egg production tailspin? Keep a watchful eye on the Northern Sentry classifieds. Every once in a while we get a small producer that advertises farm fresh eggs. I also have an article about a lady, Sharon, who sells whole chickens, pot pies and bacon brought to Minot from the Sundale Hutterite Colony. Watch for her ads, too.
And…Just a week away on the 30th of March is the final Brass Band of Minot Concert. Just giving my friend Curt Latendresse a heads up as he said to let him know. Consider yourself notified Curt. 4 PM at Ann Nicole Hall of the campus of Minot State University. The Brass Band of Minot share a bit of Mardi Graz.
Today’s Chuckle
Time waits for no one; it passes you by. And then it waits up ahead with a really big mirror.
