12-10-2009 DEWAR ARTICLE EPITOMIZES IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY JOURNALISM Why is a community newspaper important? Because publications such as the Sun Newspaper covers local stories that are often overlooked by major newspapers. A case in question is the superb story written by Sun Publications' veteran sportswriter Mark Dewar highlighting the status of Shawnee Mission Northwest basketball coach Ben Meseke, who is now rooting his team on as he awaits a heart transplant. Thanks to Dewar readers learn about Meseke's 35 years as a high school coach and his views on life: �One, be an ambassador of Northwest,� is Meseke�s unwavering mantra. �Represent your school in the best way you can. Do it with class. Be a great representative of your school, your family, yourself. �Have things in the proper order. Your God, your family, your education, your basketball." That's the value of a community newspaper...
12-11-2009 "MY LIFE IS BETTER..." "I had the privilege of getting to know Ben during my tenure as news director at KSNT in Topeka. What few people in the Kansas City area know that besides being a great hoops coach he was an outstanding cross country coach at Hayden as well. "I volunteered for Ben for two years and learned more about coaching in that time than I had in my then 20-plus years as a competitive runner. I remember all too well when I first met Ben to ask if I could volunteer and the big smile I received in return. He had just learned a few weeks before that he was having heart problems and he needed someone who could go out and run with his kids. "My prayers go out to Ben, his family, and his extended families at SMNW and Hayden. My life is so much better for having gotten a chance to learn from him. -----John Rinkenbaugh
MARK DEWAR RESPONDS: I was truly humbled by the kind recognition on your Web site today. Thank you so much. It is special to see Coach Meseke - the very last guy to shine any light upon himself - highlighted in our pages or on bottomlinecom.com or anyplace else, for that matter, as he is most deserving. Coach Meseke's is a long, respected and storied history as a top high school coach in Kansas. Meseke led Topeka's Hayden High to six state championships and 12 state appearances in 17 years at the helm there prior to his arrival and long, successful tenure at SM Northwest. Did you know, for instance, that he coached Mark "the Surgeon" Turgeon (current Texas A & M head men's coach and former KU point guard) during Turgeon's days as a prep at Hayden? Turgeon helped Hayden to back-to-back Class 4A state titles in 1982 and 1983. He was first-team all-state tournament both years and was first-team all-state as a senior. Indeed, students and athletes at SM Northwest are very blessed to have Coach Meseke in their presence as a teacher, coach, fan ... in whatever capacity he may lend his support to the school. Thank you, too, for shedding some light on The Sun's editorial staff. We have a talented staff here that puts in many long hours day and night to provide Johnson Countians with the very best in local news coverage, and it is nice to be recognized for those efforts. ----Mark Dewar
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