Governor Strickland appointed Kenneth Zuk to fill the vacancy on the Clermont County Municipal Court created by the election of Judge Thomas R. Herman to the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas. Zuk, a current Common Pleas Court judge and a former solo practitioner and assistant public defender, will take the bench effective Jan. 7, 2011.

Longtime Ohio newspaperman Tom Niehaus of New Richmond was sworn in Monday, Jan. 3 as president of the Ohio Senate. Senator Niehaus represents the 14th Senate District of Ohio, including Adams, Brown, Clermont, Scioto and a portion of Lawrence County.

Longtime Ohio newspaperman Tom Niehaus of New Richmond was sworn in Monday, Jan. 3 as president of the Ohio Senate. Senator Niehaus represents the 14th Senate District of Ohio, including Adams, Brown, Clermont, Scioto and a portion of Lawrence County.

'People need to start paying attention and realizing that their children, their nieces and nephews, their grandchildren are being exposed. It’s never happened to previous generations like it has in the last five years. All these people are getting exposed to it. If we can get hundreds of eyes out there, maybe we can make it a little harder to spread.'

“Some departments met their bottom line, but when their budgets came back, there were changes in salaries and wages. We, as a board, are not endorsing increases in salaries and wages. If you decide to increase salaries, it will not be endorsed by this board."

COLUMBUS -The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has awarded Highland County, and the village of Lynchburg, funds to help improve their environment through litter prevention and beautification volunteer efforts.

I will be moving on from this office. I will be taking some time off to attempt to make up for time missed with my family; so much happens in time that slips by much too fast. I will stay involved. I will never forget the experience. As Gus said to Call in "Lonesome Dove:" "It's been one heck of a ride."

The Greenfield City Council voted 5-0 to pass its 2011 permanent appropriations ordinance Tuesday evening during a special session that lasted less than four minutes.
 The meeting was necessary after council failed to receive enough votes to waive the three-reading rule during its regular meeting Dec. 21. Council member Harvey Everhart voted against the measure, saying that there were too many "glaring errors" in the ordinance.

Holiday travelers have more to contend with than just cold and icy weather, as gas prices have soared past $3 a gallon.
 In Hillsboro Tuesday afternoon, gas prices averaged $3.19, and according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nationally prices are at their highest rate since 2008.

It is with mixed emotions that I write this column this week. Beginning January 3, 2011, I will change job responsibilities with Ohio State University (OSU) Extension and assume the role of OSU Extension Beef Coordinator. This position will be based out of the OSU Extension Center at Piketon.

Highland County and the Fraternal Order of Police representing the deputies of the Highland County Sheriff's Office have extended negations to March so that both sides could collect and present "fact finding."
 Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward told The Highland County Press that the only matter left to reach an agreement on is wages.