A Century of Stories

~ Brooks

If each of my Daily News bylines represented a year, that is.

Now that I’ve hit 100 stories (and counting), I find I’m introducing myself less and building an institutional knowledge that, with the departure of our last veteran reporter last month, is more important than ever.

Some of my most-praised writing so far came while I was in the woods celebrating the end of my first quarter-century. The story of a model airplane, a father and a daughter could have fallen flat, but I think I propped it up with What It’s Really About: Love.

But one of my most consistent hits has been covering the public utility, who didn’t have many nice things to say about The Daily News at a 7 a.m. meeting that didn’t go unnoticed.

Then again, the comments really flood in with even a mention of Longview’s new water supply.

When I’m not busy holding local governments accountable, I’m chasing down the newsy angles of 15-year-old baseball.

The Schereville, Ind., 13-15-year-old team came to Longview for the Babe Ruth World Series in August, but stayed on Mayfair Lake north of town thanks to a wealthy friend from Kitsap County. Photo by Brooks Johnson
The Schereville, Ind., 13-15-year-old team came to Longview for the Babe Ruth World Series in August, but stayed on Mayfair Lake north of town thanks to a wealthy friend from Kitsap County. Photo by Brooks Johnson

And this month I’m helping keep the Friday Night Lights on by helping the sports desk with football coverage.

In other news, the new J Mascis album is great, I’m terrible at fantasy football, and the Avett Brothers put on a great show on the eve of my one-year anniversary with my wife — though Seattle’s The Head and the Heart did one better the week prior.