To the editor: 

I believe we have a grand slam winner living amongst us. He didn’t win the four major golf tournaments, nor the tennis ones, nor a free breakfast at Denny’s.  In my opinion, this newspaper’s own John Arbter won it for his recent world-class reporting on local high school sporting events, and for a human-interest interview with a local sports legend.

The Feb. 26th edition of the newspaper contained John’s reviews of games that I had attended. They were an Alba-Golden boys’ basketball game, a Mineola soccer game, and two of the Mineola girls’ basketball games. John’s reporting on the A/G game began with its own human-interest byline that spoke to the surprise visit of senior player Blake Harris’ wheelchair-bound dad, Thomas, to the game. Following the heartfelt written tribute paid to them, John went on to report on the ebb and flow of the basketball game. I am amazed by his skill of putting into words what I had witnessed at watching the game. That same skill came shining through again and again in John’s reports (along with his action photos) on the soccer and basketball games.

With Mr. Arbter’s reporting on A/G basketball, Mineola soccer and Mineola basketball, which captured the first three trophies for him, there was but one more to complete his grand slam. The final trophy was earned through the in-depth interviews he conducted with Mineola High School volleyball coach TaShara Stephens-Ryder, daughter CeTara  and son Shaw.  Learning more about TaShara’s past athletic success, and what inspires her, was a joy to read.

In speaking for many Wood County Monitor readers, we appreciate John Arbter.

Bill Logan

Mineola