Dispatches from Douglas County: You are what you Instagram

May 25—DOUGLAS COUNTY — I was checking my Instagram feed before sitting down to write this newsletter and I suddenly realized that my search choices have created an interesting — and somewhat chaotic — feed.

I'm not talking about what my Instagram friends are posting or celebrities that I follow. Rather, it's the stream of content coming from all corners of the Instagram world — the feed derived from my searches or random items I click on.

If I handed my cellphone to a visiting alien, it would think our planet is overrun with cats, tornadoes, people who play Gibson Les Paul guitars and women from the 1960s who cast spells. I click on one video of a tornado and suddenly my feed is overrun with photos and videos from every twister that's touched down in the past 40 years. Talk about Tornado Alley!

Sure, there's a little baseball, football and Formula 1 represented in my feed, but it's mostly felines, twisters, guitar heroes and "bewitching" actresses.

Those would make great "Jeopardy" categories! "I'll take Rick's Instagram obsessions for $1,000, Ken."

I suppose I should find more high-brow entertainment when I log off from the wide world of journalism, but I can change that feed with a few simple searches.

Get ready for old Rick Astley videos, daily affirmations from Matthew McConaughey, the comedy of Nate Bargatze, adventurous beagles and more cats.

I hope you all have a great holiday weekend, but be careful what you Instagram.

Perhaps the most famous, celebrated World War II fighter plane has been found after being missing since the war — Richard I. Bong's downed P-38 "Marge" plane.

That big breaking news was revealed in a news conference Thursday afternoon. Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood, who has been following the search for the plane, was at the "presser" and

filed this report with all the details on where it was found and reaction from historians and Bong's loved ones.

It truly is remarkable to know the plane that helped make the Poplar native — and his wife — famous has been found after all these years.

I graduated from high school in 1988, so it's been a minute. But I can still recollect those conflicting, anxious and exciting thoughts about leaping into an adult future, and at the same time also looking back at the memories and accomplishments of 18 young years.

Today's high school seniors, I suspect, are feeling much the same as they approach their graduations and the blessed summers that lead directly to wide-open, exciting futures.

Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood talked to seniors at Solon Springs and Northwestern to learn how they are feeling about the last days of their high school careers, what they have planned for the future and what advice they would impart on underclassmen. You can read about

the Northwestern seniors here,

and

the Solon Springs seniors here.

Sports create competitive rivals — fiery relationships that often last a lifetime. They can also create wonderful friendships forged in the fire of competition.

Superior Spartan juniors Ari Robillard and Paige "Peeps" Johnson are a potent pitcher-catcher combo for the softball team, but they're also close friends off the diamond and out of the dugout. Their friendship began as a competitive rivalry, too.

Sports reporter Reagan Hoverman and photographer Jed Carlson beautifully captured that friendship for readers with their images and words.

(Subscriber-only story)

* Bridge work:

Fieldwork to begin for Blatnik Bridge replacement design

* The Vault:

In 1976, cross-country killing spree began in Blueberry, Wisconsin

(subscriber-only story)

* Redrawn boundaries:

New legislative districts in NW Wisconsin give Dems a better chance in 2024, experts say

* Douglas County Past:

Youngsters save Person Lake cottage from fire; Freighters crash in harbor

* Master thief:

Stealin' Teal sets the tone for Northwestern baseball

(subscriber-only story)

Editor's note: Dispatches from Douglas County is a newsletter I publish every Friday morning. Please consider subscribing — it's free — and hits your inbox just once a week.

You can sign up here.