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Show by ROBIN E. SHIRLEY Eyes onthe Over the last 60 years, Osborn hat collected and recorded weather data as a volunteer observer for the National Weather Service (NWS). Each morning at 8 o'clock, he takes a temperature reading at his home and calls it in to the local radio station. At 6 pm, he steps into his back yard to record the day's precip27 inches in has itation and jots down the amount in his log n hailstones strip die bade off trees, and helped warn 24 houis, watched book, cariying on a tradition started by his his neighbon about approaching severe thunderstorms md funnel clouds. When lather in 1941. it comes to weather dot sweeps across the Great Plains, Osborn has about seen Originally trained as his father's backup, all there is to see. made his first weather observation and Osborn I've seen blizzards, droughts, tornadoes, and microbursts, says Osborn, 73, book record the retired postmaster and presiding mayor of Ainsworth, Neb. The unusual and entry when he was 13. "Every needs observer a backup, he says. Sometimes the usual, including a highly visible display of the aurora borealis on November wanted Dad to go fishing. That's howlgtx just 6th last year." ran jHTj UMn qubb nn sauted observing the weather:" Osborn is one of about 12,000 volunteers in die NWS's Cooperative Weather Observation program. Each year, the volunteers donate more than 1 million houn collecting weather data, which is used to help the NWS forecast weather, water, and climate conditions, issue severe weather and flood warnings, and record the climates of the United States. Osbom has reported his share of severe weather. He recalls one particular thunderstorm on Aug. 22, 1983, in which hailstones, h measuring an inch and a half in diameter and driven by from bark and leaves die trees in his yard. winds, stripped the A real curiosity of this stum was die trees were completely stripped of leaves, and it fooled Mother Nature, he says. They began to bud again and started to leafout as if it were spring. In September, I had apple trees that blossomed and pretended it was May. I had never seen this before or since. Qdbom also broadcasts daily weather reports, weather trivia, and a moodily weather recap on KBRB-Ain Ainsworth, helping formers make planting and harvesting decisions and helping ranchers anticipate range and forage conditions. Getty's been doing weather reports for us since we began broadcasting 34 yean ago, says station manager Larry Rice. He's a great statistics man, he laves facts and figures.' Osborn has been recognized by the NWS for his years of C&EBISP Workshops: Backyard Storage Small Business iStorage dedicated service to both the agency and his community. Among his numerous awards is the highest hoax a volunteer weather BBBtmstomBEdWBaJier observer can receive, the Thomas Jefferson award, bestowed on CALL NOW! Osbom in 1999. When someone is nominated for the award, we contact the CrBLyNnAndRBCBte6MontBFiBBSkxaoBl people in his community and ask diem to write letters summarizing how they fed about the individual," explains Dwe Wen, the NWSs SAVE THOUSANDS ON SELECT SIZES! head meteorologist in Notrfa Platte, Neb. When you get a ton of 25b34 letters back from members of the nominee's own community, Blue 100 Free Prints Usable great Factory Space 20 z 30 as in Osborn's case, you know you have a wiimen Construction 25 Yfear Warranty 30a60 Easy 50x150 Gerry Osborn is one of the best, he keeps superb records, Maximum Protection Easily Customized to SuitYbur Needs Wen adds. His data is invaluable." . From founding and coaching Little Irague baseball in Aiiswurcfa m his service oa numerous church and community boards, Otbom has dedicated his time and boundless energy for decades, all the while keeping a close eye on the eveKbaqgiqg Nebraska weather. He's definitely the kind of guy you want to have around," Rice says. He's always been willing to give time, effort, and energy for the people of the community" Weather Gerry Osborn seen it snow wind-drive- 60-np- M fT'p America's Largest Manufacturer! ll.S.BBildings. I Rtteu E. Shirley it efmLmct writer , . h Nath Plette, Nak |