Knocking the rust (and dust) off

Greetings one and all:

It has been nearly five years since I last posted to this blog.

It is long past time I changed that.

Much has happened since that time. Most of those events many of you are aware of. Those who are not, here is a cliff notes version:

Work-wise I moved from Macomb to Canton, where I became sports editor of the Canton Daily Ledger. I was there from August 1, 2016 until May 23, 2019 when the position was eliminated by GateHouse Media and I was terminated.

On a personal level, I lost both of my parents just over 2 years ago. The loss of my mother hit me especially hard. She was more than mom, she was my best friend.

From that point, my health went into a tailspin to the point that I ended up in the hospital - the first six days in ICU. I was weak to the point where I had a fall at home, busting up my tailbone. I had to have back surgery, which took place the day before Thanksgiving 2017.

At my low point, my weight was down to 140 pounds, I was having hallucinations and there was a question if I was going to pull through. But by the grace of God, I am still here. I remain a work in progress on a number of fronts, but I plan to keep moving forward.

As for my work situation going forward, I am looking at a number of options. I have had a number of people say I should start my own sports-oriented website focusing on area high schools. Seeing first-hand what is happening to daily papers in the area (mostly owned by GateHouse) is in all honesty extremely disappointing. I would love to stay in sports writing, but that simply may not be possible. Like everyone else, I have bills to pay.

I look forward to the future and see what it holds. I believe that when one door closes, another one opens. In the meantime, I am not going anywhere. I will still be on Facebook and Twitter and of course I can be reached by e-mail - shelby.burget@gmail.com. I also plan on using this blog on a much more frequent basis as well to keep one and all updated.

That's it for now. TTYL.

Shelby

So far, so good

Well, it's been nearly two weeks since I've rejoined the staff here at The McDonough County Voice.
In some ways, it's like I never left.
There are a lot of familiar faces in the office, as well as coaches still in the area from when I left nearly three years ago.
But there are a number of new faces, mainly the entire news staff with the exception of Lainie Steelman. My main goal with the current staff is no different than other staffs before. I just want to be a team player, help out where and when I can to help make The McDonough County Voice the best it can be.
I appreciate how they've welcomed me in as part of the staff. They are a very solid group of people and have my complete and utmost respect.
I'm working on getting reacquainted with the coaches, as well as meeting the new coaches and administrators. The Fall season will be here before you know it. High School golf will begin in just over 7 weeks - and the first WIU and H.S. football games are just nine weeks away.
I'm getting used to the drives from Astoria to Macomb again. When you've done it for 20-plus years, it's as easy as riding a bike - except for the painful gas prices...
From July 7-13, I'll be back in Canton for one more week, running the sports desk for my buddy Stephen Shank, so that he can get some vacation time in and get his batteries recharged for the upcoming year. Then, Scott Holland here at The Voice will take some well-earned time away at the end of July. Once August hits, it's go time.
In the meantime, if you have any story ideas, feel free to drop me a line. My e-mail is sburget@mcdonoughvoice.com I am also on facebook and Twitter.
Until then, keep reading, keep smiling and take care.

I'm back

When Michael Jordan returned following his first retirement from the Chicago Bulls on March 18, 1995, the announcement came in a two word press release that simply said "I'm back."
OK, so I'm not Michael Jordan. But as of Monday, I too could use those same two words as I rejoined the staff at The McDonough County Voice as a sports writer.
When I left The Voice some 1,030 days ago, back on August 6, 2011, I was in need of a change. Since that time, many things have happened in my life: a few good, but in all honesty, the majority not so much. All the same though, I do have to admit that it's been a great learning experience. That's what life is all about. It's not always sunshine and roses.
For a time after I left, I definitely did not miss the daily grind that the newspaper business is - and can be. I needed that time away - and it gave me a different perspective on things.
But that started changing this past fall, when I started doing some correspondent work for The Voice and the Canton Daily Ledger, mainly H.S. football games on Friday nights. Those Friday Night Lights ignited something in me that I hadn't felt in some time. That continued into basketball season and then into the spring. It made me realize how much I missed the writing aspect - talking to players, coaches, etc., the meeting of a deadline obligation, the challenge of it all.
When the chance came for me to get back into writing on a more permanent basis, I was excited for the opportunity - and extremely thankful and appreciative to the staff at The Voice in being so supportive. A lot of familiar faces remain from the time I left previously and they've welcomed me back with open arms. I can't thank them enough. A lot of new faces are there as well - including sports editor Scott Holland. I can't thank them - and him - enough for the opportunity to put my 20-plus years experience to work for the people of McDonough County an surrounding areas.
I look forward to seeing many familiar faces - and meeting a lot of new people - as I begin this journey anew. I hope everyone joins along for the ride.
I'm back.

Karaoke review (May 24)

It was a pretty quiet Saturday night at The Boomerang in Astoria. A great night for me to expand my karaoke horizons with some songs definitely out of my comfort zone.
The "set list" this go-round was as follows...

"Hey Bartender" - The Blues Brothers
"Centerfold" - J. Geils Band
"The Letter" - The Box Tops
"Vehicle" - Ides of March
"The Night Chicago Died" - Paper Lace
"I Hate Myself for Loving You" - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
"Money for Nothin'" - Dire Straits
"Ain't No Sunshine" - Bill Withers
"East Bound and Down" - Jerry Reed
"My first, my last, my everything" - Barry White

My voice was OK the next day, I'm just not sure about people's ears that heard me LOL ;)

Not sure when or where I will be warbling next... maybe Macomb? Lewistown? We'll just have to wait and see :)

It's about time

It's amazing what happens when you have a little time to think.
In my case, the thoughts turned to me starting up my blog that I began over almost four years ago.
A lot of things have happened since my last post nearly three years ago - some good, some not so much. And so many things have change technology-wise, it's hard for this country boy to keep up LOL ;)
Anyway I'm in the processing of knocking the dust off this blog and start anew.
Stay tuned.

END OF AN ERA – Moving on down the line

The answer is 4,003.
So what is the significance of this number?
In my column announcing my return to the Macomb Journal as sports editor on August 21, 2000, I posed the question about how long the “Shelby sequel” would last?
Well, after 4,003 days – 15 days short of 11 years – my run as sports editor at the Macomb Journal/The McDonough County Voice ends today. I’m stepping aside to join my friend Dewain Hulett as a writer/editor for the Tri-State Sports Report, an on-line publication that focuses on high school sports.
This was a tough decision to make – but then again these types of decisions are seldom easy.
Counting the time of my first run at the Journal (2,708 days), along with my time at the Danville Commercial-News (314 days), I’ve been in the newspaper business for 7,025 days. That’s a shade over 19 years.
But at this point of my life, I simply was ready – and in some ways needed – a change. Like many other professions, the newspaper business can take a toll on a person, not so much physically, but mentally. The 2010-11 school year was particularly tough on me on a myriad of levels. I believe it was a simply a signal that it was time to move on. The grind of working for a daily newspaper was getting the better of me and I’m not getting any younger (though I’m just 47).
It takes a special breed to work in the newspaper industry. To be honest, when I began my first run at the Journal back on May 11, 1992, I didn’t think I’d be in the business this long. It was just a passing phase. Yet here I am 19-plus years later. Some phase huh?
In changing jobs, I’m returning the favor that Dewain did for me years ago when I asked him to head across state to Danville with me. Family considerations eventually brought us both back to west central Illinois, but I’m a firm believer of things happening for a reason, though we may not always understand why at the time.
So much has changed in recent years, especially the technology at work and the situations of coops and consolidations involving area schools. But one constant has been the people I’ve been honored and blessed to work with.
That includes everyone at the area schools from administrators to coaches, athletes, parents and lest I forget, officials. And I can never say thank you enough to my co-workers at The Voice for everything they’ve done. In sports, as well as many other aspects of life, teamwork is so important. I appreciate their time and efforts in being great teammates to work with. I also need to give a shout out to other members of the media I’ve worked with through the years whether print, TV or radio. It’s been a privilege to work with each and every one of you – one I look to continue in my new endeavor.
I also need to thank two final groups of people. The first is my family and friends for supporting me through the years. They have been far more understanding with me more than I ever deserve. I can never say enough how much I love them and appreciate them.
The other is you, the readers. For the better part of two decades, I tried to give this region a sports page you could rely on for information and be proud of. It was a bumpy ride at times and not always perfect, and it was not always what people wanted to necessarily read, but it was not from a lack of effort. I was simply just trying to do my job objectively to the best of my abilities. That's what readers should expect from their newspaper every day.
Though my time is finished, The Voice will carry on, just like it has since 1855. I’m proud say that I played a small part in the publication’s history, but it is time for a new beginning for The Voice sports department and myself. Although part of me hates to leave, a bigger part of me is looking forward to that new beginning.
———
Shelby Burget completes his run Saturday, August 6 as the sports editor for The McDonough County Voice. He is a past Illinois Press Association Award winner in the sports section, sports photo, sports column, sports reporting and headline writing categories.

Time for a new perspective...

Greetings one and all... I hope things are going well for everyone...

By now I am sure you are aware that I have decided to leave my position as Sports Editor of The McDonough County Voice... my final day will be Saturday, August 6 - 15 days shy of 11 years since my return from the Danville Commercial-News in August 2000...

Many have asked of my future plans... while I am getting out of the newspaper business, I am NOT getting out of the reporting business...

I am joining long-time associate Dewain Hulett at the Tri-State Sports Report, an on-line publication focusing on area high school sports... in a sense, I'm getting back to my roots, covering and writing about H.S. sports - my first love...

the coverage area includes schools in west central Illinois, southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri...

after 19-plus years in the newspaper business (having first started at the old Macomb Journal in May of 1992) I simply felt it was time for me to move on to a different phase in my career...

While I am excited about making this move, I can't help but thank everyone at the paper past and present for their time, effort and cooperation during my time there... they will always hold a special place of appreciation in my heart...

I still have some vacation time remaining, but I am looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead and am anxious to see the possibilities that await... I hope you join in for the ride...

SB