A Summer Well-Spent

Reid Thompson, Gazette Reporter | Aug 25, 20220

They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but in my book, the city of Colfax has been an exception to that rule.

My first impression of the city was formed over a decade ago on a snowy Saturday spent at the Colfax High School Gymnasium.

On that fateful morning, my elementary basketball team tipped off against the Bulldogs, expecting an easy win to add to our undefeated record.

In the months leading up to that weekend, the dominating performance of the 2011-12 Potlatch Loggers’ fourth grade squad was easily comparable with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’.

As a veteran benchwarmer, I didn’t have much sway in the results of the game outside of providing morale support, but I was wholeheartedly invested nonetheless.

So, naturally, I was more than a little horrified as I watched our blue-jerseyed opponents outmaneuver and outscore us.

In my memory, we suffered a crushing defeat, and in the years that followed I never could forgive Colfax for ruining that golden season.

So, when I saw that the Gazette was hiring this past spring, I was forced to deliberate over whether or not my grade school grudge was worth putting aside.

I decided to give Colfax another chance, and I am sure glad I did.

At the Gazette, I’ve had the chance to explore and meet the community of Colfax and the rest of Whitman County beyond the hardwood confines of the Gymnasium, and I have found a lot to love.

In the countless interviews I’ve had the opportunity to conduct this summer, I’ve been met with kindness and enthusiasm from community members that I won’t soon forget.

I now can see why so many people are proud to call Colfax their home.

Though will I ever fully let go of that infamous Logger-Bulldog game?

Probably not, but I think now that I’ve met the friendly faces of Colfax, it might sting a bit little less.

Author Bio

Reid Thompson is an intern reporter at the Whitman County Gazette. Reid is enrolled at Syracuse University, where he studies journalism and international relations.