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The town that kept a secret
, News reporter
06-03-2008
“Where’s Stet?” asked the Bass Pro salesman the first time individuals from Stet contacted the store. Since that visit, when the question is posed and a salesman hears the name of the town, the following comment is made, “Oh yeah! You’re the ones buying the boat for the retiring principal.” Indeed, the entire store seemed to know the special story, about how a small town was able to keep a secret.The community of Stet wanted to thank principal Steve Street for 31 years of service, so they quietly passed the word that they were collecting money to order him a fishing boat. The response was rapid and the entire amount collected in one month. The gift was concealed behind a red and white drape in the Cardinal gym. The program, held Sunday, June 1, started with a slide show of memories, then Scott Russell called Steve to the front. With his ‘cohorts in crime’ standing beside him (Stacie Russell, Artie and Connie Horn, and Mike and Jodie Hall), Scott gave an emotional thank you to a man that obviously means a great deal to so many. As Steve stood before the drape, Mike and Scott cut the top edge and dropped the curtain, as the crowd rose to their feet in spontaneous applause. The emotion in the room was thick. The expression on Steve’s face (in left corner photo above) was one of a man whose feelings were overflowing as he felt the love in that gymnasium. With the thunderous applause ongoing, and tears in many eyes, Scott and Mike motioned for Steve to take a closer look at the boat. Those precious first moments looking at the many features of the boat (the trolling motor, fish finder, live tank and aerator, cover and an ‘unbelievable’ fishing pole), allowed the three to regain their composure before continuing with the program (pictured above).
Many shared funny stories and there were lots of laughs. Steve’s wife, Sherry, said, “Let it be well-documented that I didn’t tell!” Scott summed it up, “Pretty cool guy. Pretty cool boat. Pretty cool town.” As a side note, the name of the boat is the Cardinal One Tracker. (Photos by Brenda Jensen)
