From the Editor's Desk

By David H. Waller

There’s a lot bouncing around in my head this week, so let’s dive right in.

The Great Rick Davis

Graduation is tomorrow, and as the school year comes to a close, there’s one name that keeps coming to mind: Rick Davis. After 30 years of teaching in Albany, Mr. Davis is retiring, and what a loss that is for our school.

I had Mr. Davis for some version of math every year from 7th through 12th grade. Now, I’ve always been more of a right-brain guy—art, creativity, imagination. Math? Not exactly my comfort zone. But that never mattered in his classroom. Rick Davis was hands-down my favorite teacher while at Albany, and it had nothing to do with equations or formulas. It was about who he was.

He cared—deeply. He wanted every student to succeed, whether they were math whizzes or not. He made learning feel possible, even enjoyable, for kids like me who didn’t naturally click with numbers.

My grandmother, Winifred Waller, also taught at Albany—English, not math—and after she passed away, I heard so many people say how tough she was, but how much they appreciated her years later. I never had the chance to be her student, but I’d put Rick Davis in that same rare category: a teacher who cared enough to challenge you, support you, and make a lasting impact.

Today, Albany says goodbye to a legend in the classroom. Mr. Davis, thank you for everything. You made a difference in the lives of so many students, including mine. Enjoy your retirement—you’ve earned it.

Kids in Golf Carts

Now shifting gears a bit—literally. For several weeks, the city has run a notice in this paper reminding folks that kids under 16 aren’t supposed to be driving golf carts around town. And yet, here we are.

Since my family moved back in 2022, I’ve been shocked at how common it is to see elementary-age kids buzzing through intersections in golf carts. That didn’t happen when I was growing up—we had bikes.

Recently, I had to slam on my brakes to avoid a group of kids who treated a stop sign like a suggestion. It’s frustrating, sure—but more than that, it’s dangerous. What’s it going to take for parents to take this seriously?

Please don’t wait until something tragic happens. We can prevent that. Parents, talk to your kids. Stop handing over the keys. The city can post all the reminders it wants, but real change starts at home.

KTAB—What Are You Doing?!

Finally, let me vent for a moment. As many of you know, I’m a golf guy. I love playing it, talking about it, watching it—especially the majors.

So this past weekend, I was glued to the TV watching Scottie Scheffler dominate the final round of the PGA Championship. He had a six-stroke lead walking up the 18th—his third major all but secured. He reached the green, lined up a 10-footer to close it out… and right then, KTAB cuts away for a weather update.

Now, I get it. Weather matters. There were storms nearby. But this wasn’t breaking coverage of a tornado—this was a 30-second “just so you know” cut-in. When they returned, the putt was over, and Scottie was already hugging his caddie.

Did he make the putt? What did Jim Nantz say in that moment? Who knows! Some program director must’ve decided that was the perfect moment to interrupt fans like me.

KTAB, I know your job isn’t easy—but come on. Let the man putt.