Commentary by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Five Cueball thoughts for Feb. 10, 2013…

1. Regent Theater…

It was a new beginning for the Wellington Regent Theater Friday night. A $60,000-plus digital projector was installed at the theater with the showing in “Lincoln.” Now unless you are wanting to see another movie or you are just wanting to get out of Wellington, there is no reason to watch a movie in Wichita. 

The new picture is better, crisper, more dynamic than any 2D movie you’ll see at The Warren. And you don’t have to wear those stupid glasses with a 3D movie.

If you have been reading my stories, and I’m sure you all have, this has been a three-year transitional process for the Regent. It was time worth spent. I personally found the picture of the old reel projector to be rather unwatchable. That changed Friday night.

The Regent has upped the ante on the cookie-cutting multiplex theaters across the area. It’s unique in that it is a stand-alone theater – a knockoff of how movies were presented from yesteryear, but with modern technology of today. The theater can really take off with the right kind of marketing.

2.Talking politics…

I have had several people ask me if the Wellington School Board will follow suit and the example of the Wellington City Council and elect its representatives “at-large” instead of representing a specific district. Wellington City Council switched to at-large meaning every candidate will be competing against the other.

District representation for school board makes no sense since everyone has the goal of providing a great education for their children. Are you saying school patrons south of Wellington have different needs than those north of town? What the bus route is too long in the south and they need representation to get it changed?

South Haven and Caldwell have at-large board positions. Wellington should follow suit.

3. Campaign signs…

It’s political season which means inevitably there will be political yard signs. With 15 Wellington City Council candidates and six school board candidates there’s potential for a lot of yard signs mucking up the landscape over the next couple of months.

Two years ago, Wellington got itself in a rather amusing controversy when a school administrator put up a yard sign in his front yard supporting a school board candidate.

While it is the God-given right of any red-blooded American to put up a political sign on their property supporting the candidate of their choice, when it comes to governmental administrators, it probably isn’t such a good idea.

For instance, what will happen if the candidate they are supporting loses the election? Essentially, they have created an adversary on the elected board who could fire their tail. On the other end of the spectrum, why would a candidate want people to think the school, city or county administrators have you in their hip pocket?

4. Scholars Bowl…

Wellington hosted the Class 4A Scholar’s Bowl Saturday and the host Crusader team finished 2-3, making the Crusaders the first team to win a state contest in a Kansas State High School Activities Association sanctioned event.

Before the KSHSAA got involved, Channel 10 KAKE-TV and Butler Community College sponsored a “High Q” Bowl contest.

Local investor advisor J.P. Buellesfeld sent me an e-mail that one Wellington team did particularly well. In 1983, the Wellington team placed second out of 218 high schools.

Those on the team that year included:

•Buellesfeld, who earned an MBA and achieved a record in the 1980s for obtaining a bachelor’s degree in one year.

•Howard Hyten, who earned an MBA and became the IT director at the University of Texas.

•Kurt Meaders, who is an attorney

•Elliot Rodda, who earned a masters degrees and is a physical therapist at Winfield’s William Newton Hospital.

•Donnie Stark, who earned a PHD and became a college professor.

Whew. That’s a lot of brain power in one room.

5. Shout out of the week…

Have to give it to J.C. Long, Colby Zeka, Jerry Fike and others who have kept the Regent Theater not only alive but a destination. When people complain about this community and how no one cares, use the Regent Theater as an example why they are wrong.