Thanks for sharing your opinions

Thanks for sharing your opinions

   If you build it... they will come.

   At this time one year ago, we had a grand total of zero page views on our newspaper website. That was, in part, by design.

   Twelve months ago, our online mastermind, Angie Matticks, who has a history of designing original, award-winning websites, wasn’t quite ready to open www.highlandcountypress.com to the world.

   After completely redesigning the site, she still had some tweaking to do, here and there. Finally, near the end of last September after a crucial piece of artwork was provided by Sports Editor Stephen Forsha, she turned the horses out of the corral.

   Now, in just one year, www.highlandcountypress.com has gone from zero page views to more than a quarter of a million in the past month alone.

   And as much as I’d like to take credit for someone else’s work, I won’t.

   The simple truth is that our website’s creation and development was Angie’s idea. Its subsequent success and popularity are due to many, many people. The HCP staff, obviously, places the stories, photos and videos online that bring you, our readers and advertisers, to the site.

     But this column ain’t about the HCP staff. They already know how much I appreciate them. (A lot!)

   This column is dedicated to that 21st century, high-tech individual known as the online blogger.

   We are fortunate to have many bloggers who are in possession of sufficient self confidence to use their own name.

   There’s Jim Moore – of course! I swear, Jim would comment on a hound dog jaywalking in front of the Parker House.

   And there’s future public servant (I hope) Terry Mikkelsen. Educators like Mark Faust and Sheila Hottinger are never afraid to offer their opinions. Greg Grant has plenty of nerve and sound judgment.

   Then, there are my old friends like Jim Surber, Bill Horne and Gary Lewis. Jim and Bill often agree that Gary’s wrong. Gary usually forgives them, I think.

   Former Hillsboro Safety and Service Director and Water Department Superintendent Mark Van Den Berg speaks out in his own name.

   Juliane Cartaino has some of the more humorous and insightful postings on our site. Tom Milbery always tells it like it is. John Hiestand tells it like he thinks it is.

   John Tallieu is often less political, but always more cynical.

   Pastor Shane Montgomery always speaks from the heart in his postings.

   On sports and entertainment, John Wend occasionally weighs in with words of wisdom, as does Janny Brizius. (And Rockin’ Steve-O, but we all know what he’s up to, don’t we?)

     Lately, Hillsboro City Council members Dave Shoemaker and Lee Koogler have had public input on a few issues that warranted clarification. That’s a good thing.    

     Then, there are the numerous online aliases that appear at www.highlandcountypress.com.

   For instance, we’ve got our regulars like Just Curious, Southside Johnny, Northside Jack and Westside Willie. (What? No one from the East Side going to weigh in? It’s about time for someone from the Rocky Fork or Paint Creek Lake areas to log in as East Side Erin, isn’t it?)

   Some of my personal favorites among the nom de guerre or nom de plume personalities include The Dark Knight and Spinning Wheel. For all I know, The Dark Night and Spinning Wheel could very well be one and the same person. I doesn’t know.

   He, she or they is or are pretty good at mixing it up, though. Please keep your comments coming. (Spinning wheel got to go ’round!)

   Stint Meister is a relative newcomer. But he/she (is “meister” masculine?) could be one of the aforementioned regulars for all I know.

   Nothing will convince me otherwise that Captain Obvious, John Q. Public and Edward Edward are either triplets separated at birth or the same

man/woman. He/she/they get about half of his/her/their comments posted, because he/she/they really get on what’s left of my nerves. But that’s OK.

   That’s why computers have a delete key. (Roger, that.)

   Cold Day has an opinion or two, as do Ima Beancounter, Google Graduate, Sgt. Slaughter. H.S. Thompson, Mr. Maverick, Left-Handed and Sports Dude. “Pat” likes to chime in on occasion, too. He/she usually has something “witty or wise” to say, as WLW’s Eric Deters often demands of his radio callers.

   Like Mr. Deters, that’s all we ask. Have something worthwhile to say, say it with respect. Avoid name-calling. Or be prepared for me to exercise the delete key. (We have a few standards on Main Street.)

   Remember, even the bouncers in Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott’s “Road House” were instructed to “Be nice.”

***

Stephen Kelley sees

latest book published

   Congrats and an HCP tip of the ball cap go out to our friend Stephen Kelley this week. In addition, we send our best to Steve for a full and speedy recovery from medical surgery this week in Cincinnati.

   As reported in today’s HCP, Steve’s latest book, “Adams County,” is an Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing (www.arcadiapublishing.com.)

   Steve, a Seaman resident, is the Adams County historian and has represented the county with distinction in print and on radio and television interviews over the years.

   And he’s a pretty good guy, too.

***

Portman garners key endorsements

   Speaking of pretty good guys, former southern Ohio Congressman Rob Portman has received two more important endorsements in his bid for the U.S. Senate. 

   The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation have endorsed the former Second District representative.

   “We’re endorsing Rob Portman because he will stand up for the people of Ohio in order to create jobs during these tough economic times,” said Bill Miller, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s senior vice president.

   “Rob is an invaluable leader who has a common-sense approach to job creation and getting Ohio back on the road to recovery.”

   Brent Porteus, president of the Ohio Farm Bureau, said: “Rob Portman has been a strong friend to Ohio’s farmers, and we’re proud to support him as Ohio’s next U.S. senator.

   “Rob has the right ideas to get Ohio’s economy moving again, and he will continue to support smart policies to help protect and strengthen Ohio’s

agriculture industry. We look forward to working with Rob Portman as our next U.S. senator.”

   Portman, who met with The Highland County Press last week outside the Clinton County Courthouse, has outlined several good ideas to help the struggling Ohio economy recover. He offers specific ideas for small business owners, including a one-year suspension of the payroll tax and an extension of the Small Business Investment Tax Incentive. These and other sound ideas are on his website at www.robportman.com or simply go to our website and click on the Rob Portman link.

   Those of us who got to know Rob while he represented southern Ohio in Congress are not surprised that the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau have faith in him. So should the rest of Ohio.

   Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.

If you build it... they will come.

   At this time one year ago, we had a grand total of zero page views on our newspaper website. That was, in part, by design.

   Twelve months ago, our online mastermind, Angie Matticks, who has a history of designing original, award-winning websites, wasn’t quite ready to open www.highlandcountypress.com to the world.

   After completely redesigning the site, she still had some tweaking to do, here and there. Finally, near the end of last September after a crucial piece of artwork was provided by Sports Editor Stephen Forsha, she turned the horses out of the corral.

   Now, in just one year, www.highlandcountypress.com has gone from zero page views to more than a quarter of a million in the past month alone.

   And as much as I’d like to take credit for someone else’s work, I won’t.

   The simple truth is that our website’s creation and development was Angie’s idea. Its subsequent success and popularity are due to many, many people. The HCP staff, obviously, places the stories, photos and videos online that bring you, our readers and advertisers, to the site.

     But this column ain’t about the HCP staff. They already know how much I appreciate them. (A lot!)

   This column is dedicated to that 21st century, high-tech individual known as the online blogger.

   We are fortunate to have many bloggers who are in possession of sufficient self confidence to use their own name.

   There’s Jim Moore – of course! I swear, Jim would comment on a hound dog jaywalking in front of the Parker House.

   And there’s future public servant (I hope) Terry Mikkelsen. Educators like Mark Faust and Sheila Hottinger are never afraid to offer their opinions. Greg Grant has plenty of nerve and sound judgment.

   Then, there are my old friends like Jim Surber, Bill Horne and Gary Lewis. Jim and Bill often agree that Gary’s wrong. Gary usually forgives them, I think.

   Former Hillsboro Safety and Service Director and Water Department Superintendent Mark Van Den Berg speaks out in his own name.

    Tom Milbery always tells it like it is. John Hiestand tells it like he thinks it is.

   John Tallieu is often less political, but always more cynical.

   Pastor Shane Montgomery always speaks from the heart in his postings.

   On sports and entertainment, John Wend occasionally weighs in with words of wisdom, as does Janny Brizius. (And Rockin’ Steve-O, but we all know what he’s up to, don’t we?)

     Lately, Hillsboro City Council members Dave Shoemaker and Lee Koogler have had public input on a few issues that warranted clarification. That’s a good thing.    

     Then, there are the numerous online aliases that appear at www.highlandcountypress.com.

   For instance, we’ve got our regulars like Just Curious, Southside Johnny, Northside Jack and Westside Willie. (What? No one from the East Side going to weigh in? It’s about time for someone from the Rocky Fork or Paint Creek Lake areas to log in as East Side Erin, isn’t it?)

   Some of my personal favorites among the nom de guerre or nom de plume personalities include The Dark Knight and Spinning Wheel. For all I know, The Dark Night and Spinning Wheel could very well be one and the same person. I doesn’t know.

   He, she or they is or are pretty good at mixing it up, though. Please keep your comments coming. (Spinning wheel got to go ’round!)

   Stint Meister is a relative newcomer. But he/she (is “meister” masculine?) could be one of the aforementioned regulars for all I know.

   Nothing will convince me otherwise that Captain Obvious, John Q. Public and Edward Edward are either triplets separated at birth or the same man/woman. He/she/they get about half of his/her/their comments posted, because he/she/they really get on what’s left of my nerves. But that’s OK.

   That’s why computers have a delete key. (Roger, that.)

   Cold Day has an opinion or two, as do Ima Beancounter, Google Graduate, Sgt. Slaughter. H.S. Thompson, Mr. Maverick, Left-Handed and Sports Dude. “Pat” likes to chime in on occasion, too. He/she usually has something “witty or wise” to say, as WLW’s Eric Deters often demands of his radio callers.

   Like Mr. Deters, that’s all we ask. Have something worthwhile to say, say it with respect. Avoid name-calling. Or be prepared for me to exercise the delete key. (We have a few standards on Main Street.)

   Remember, even the bouncers in Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott’s “Road House” were instructed to “Be nice.”

***

   Congrats and an HCP tip of the ball cap go out to our friend Stephen Kelley this week. In addition, we send our best to Steve for a full and speedy recovery from medical surgery this week in Cincinnati.

   As reported in today’s HCP, Steve’s latest book, “Adams County,” is an Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing (www.arcadiapublishing.com.)

   Steve, a Seaman resident, is the Adams County historian and has represented the county with distinction in print and on radio and television interviews over the years.

   And he’s a pretty good guy, too.

***

   Speaking of pretty good guys, former southern Ohio Congressman Rob Portman has received two more important endorsements in his bid for the U.S. Senate. 

   The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation have endorsed the former Second District representative.

   “We’re endorsing Rob Portman because he will stand up for the people of Ohio in order to create jobs during these tough economic times,” said Bill Miller, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s senior vice president.

   “Rob is an invaluable leader who has a common-sense approach to job creation and getting Ohio back on the road to recovery.”

   Brent Porteus, president of the Ohio Farm Bureau, said: “Rob Portman has been a strong friend to Ohio’s farmers, and we’re proud to support him as Ohio’s next U.S. senator.

   “Rob has the right ideas to get Ohio’s economy moving again, and he will continue to support smart policies to help protect and strengthen Ohio’s agriculture industry. We look forward to working with Rob Portman as our next U.S. senator.”

   Portman, who met with The Highland County Press last week outside the Clinton County Courthouse, has outlined several good ideas to help the struggling Ohio economy recover. He offers specific ideas for small business owners, including a one-year suspension of the payroll tax and an extension of the Small Business Investment Tax Incentive. These and other sound ideas are on his website at www.robportman.com or simply go to our website and click on the Rob Portman link.

   Those of us who got to know Rob while he represented southern Ohio in Congress are not surprised that the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau have faith in him. So should the rest of Ohio.

   Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.