City Limits

Lake Travis advances to the Class 4A, Division I state championship game

Jay Janner — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:37:53 +0000

Lake Travis running back Andy Erickson (13) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter of the 57-12 win over Pearland Dawson in the state semifinal game at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday Dec. 12, 2009. At left is Conner Floyd. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Firefighter in flight

Jay Janner — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:49:33 +0000

Erik Coronado, a cadet at the Austin Community College Fire Training Academy, traverses a line at the top of a nine-story drill tower at the City of Austin Fire Academy on Wednesday Dec. 2, 2009. The ACC academy held a demonstration to dedicate its new home at the city's fire academy in Southeast Austin. The new location will give students access to the city's training equipment. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Lyle Lovett performs at Bass Concert Hall

Jay Janner — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:47:44 +0000

Lance Armstrong, left, with lyrics in hand, came out for a surprise duet with Lyle Lovett on Lovett's new song "It's Rock and Roll" at Bass Concert Hall on Monday Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Lyle Lovett performs at Bass Concert Hall on Monday Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Many faiths giving thanks

Jay Janner — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:45:22 +0000

Roger Paynter, left, a Baptist; Heide Harris, a Lutheran; Christ-Singh Khalsa, a Sikh; and Kerry Baker, a Jew, listen to George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' performed at the 25th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Celebration at First Baptist Church of Austin on Sunday Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The Thirteenth Man

Jay Janner — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:03:10 +0000

John Comstock was working on the Aggie Bonfire when it collapsed ten years ago on Nov. 18, 1999. He was the last person pulled out alive from the rubble, and very nearly died. He would have been the 13th fatality. Since then he has referred to himself as the Thirteenth Man. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Comstock’s condition was so serious that Texas A&M prepared this news release on Nov. 29, 1999, announcing his death. It was never released, and Comstock keeps it in a frame at his home in College Station. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Comstock displays the Bonfire helmet, or “pot,” that he lost as he fell 40 to 50 feet from the stack. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

In the early morning hours of Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009, on the 10th anniversary of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse, John Comstock lingers at the Aggie Bonfire Memorial after most have left the 2:42 a.m. candlelight remembrance. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

On the 10th anniversary of the collapse, John Comstock passes in front of the words of a poem engraved on the Bonfire memorial: ‘The Last Corps Trip,’ which was read each year at Bonfire’s burning. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Learn more about John Comstock and the Aggie Bonfire by reading Kevin Robbins’ story.

Getting the swine flu vaccine

Jay Janner — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:39:53 +0000

Dillon Miller, 7, gets an H1N1 vaccination from nurse Margie Silva at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center on Thursday Nov. 19, 2009. Young people from six months to 24 years old are encouraged to get the immunization. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Remembering the Aggie Bonfire tragedy

Jay Janner — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:38 +0000

The famous Aggie spirit was in full force early this morning. Hundreds of Aggies gathered at exactly 2:42 a.m, at the Bonfire Memorial on the Texas A&M campus to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 1999 Bonfire collapse that killed twelve students. Texas A&M student Aylen Lira, bottom photo, cries during the candlelight vigil. Photos by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The schools are tiny. The game is huge.

Jay Janner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:09:48 +0000

Strawn quarterback Parker Purvis rests after practice in August. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

The small Texas towns of Gordon and Strawn, midway between Fort Worth and Abilene, are only eight miles apart. Their schools are so tiny they play six-man football because they don’t have enough boys to field regular 11-man teams. The townsfolk are crazy about football. For decades the two teams have played each other in one of the greatest rivalries in Texas sports.

This was one of my favorite assignments of the year. It was so much fun to see all of the dedication and effort these boys put into the preparation for the annual Gordon-Strawn game. The action and emotions on game day were a photographer’s dream. It was Texas high school football at its purest.

Check out the audio slide show.

If you prefer to see the photos without audio go to this photo gallery.

Read Kevin Robbins’ wonderfully written story.

Mourners grieve for victim of Fort Hood shootings

Jay Janner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:59:22 +0000

The body of Michael Cahill is brought to St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, for his funeral on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Soldiers fold the flag to be presented to Joleen Cahill at the funeral for her husband Michael Cahill at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Kerry Cahill, right, and Lt. Veronica Pacheco of Fort Hood's 7214 Medical Support Unit console each other at the funeral for Michael Cahill at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Kerry's father Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Pacheco was a friend and co-worker who was at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center during the mass shootings. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Joleen Cahill, right, and her children, left to right, James Cahill, Keely Vanacker, holding her son Brody Vanacker, and Kerry Cahill at the funeral for Joleen's husband and their father Michael Cahill at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Statesman photographers recall their coverage of the Fort Hood shootings

Jay Janner — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:06:00 +0000

Statesman multimedia producer Jenni Jones made an audio slideshow of staff photographers Rudy Gonzalez, Ricardo Brazziell and me describing our experiences covering the Fort Hood shootings and aftermath. It’s very well done, and I invite you to check it out.