Skip to main content
  • A day at the races

    This past Saturday, on Mother's Day weekend no less, Pam, Colin and I spent a fun day at River Downs. It was my first trip back to the place where I had so many good memories of my youth in at least 20 years.
  • Hillsboro needs more lawyers, fewer firefighters (NOT!)
    If the city of Hillsboro continues to seek more outside legal representation, it does have the appearance of a lack of trust in its law director and deputy law director. When any administration argument is to add lawyers and reduce firefighters, most reasonable minds would prefer firefighters.
  • Bob and Cliff get it
    It's good to see that Highland County's two state lawmakers understand that they cannot legislate against stupidity. Thank you, Senator Peterson and Representative Rosenberger for being voices of reason in an otherwise din of inequity.
  • Goober is dead and I don't feel so good myself
    Goober died today. Rafe Hollister, Otis Campbell and Ernest T. Bass miss him. So do I. He was a good man.
  • A word or two of local support
    I don't pretend to know what all the current uproar is about. But unless I have factual information to the contrary, I'll maintain my support for the local school superintendent who has served local students, their families, and the overall community with honor and integrity for the past quarter-century. I do know that much. Because I have witnessed it, firsthand, for the last 22 years.
  • Seven deliberate questions
    About that corn diet, by the way. Shin says the corn was often first digested by the livestock. ... A society that is not built on a foundation of fairness and equality, but instead relies on bullying and violence, cannot possibly maintain lasting stability. Is there anyone among us who wants to make fun of those with disabilities – at taxpayers' expense, no less? Sadly, there probably is.
  • Where's the line between public service and poor attempts at humor?
    Sometime in the ensuing four years, the citizens and taxpayers of Hillsboro must decide if it is acceptable for their mayor to represent the city in such a fashion. At some point, Hillsboro must decide whether to condone and applaud the outrageous comments, or voice a reasonable objection to them.
  • Life moves pretty fast
    As Ferris Bueller says, Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. The weekend before last, Pam and I decided to stop and look around lest we miss something close to home.
  • This one's for you
    The city's general fund is a serious concern for some in public office. Others seem about as ambivalent as I am about beer drinking at the Colony. That's too bad. (Of course, my ambivalence will not bankrupt the city.)
  • Is there a party at the end of the world?
    The bad news is the world is ending. The good news is there's a party, but you better get here quick.
    – Jimmy Buffett
  • A stolen car, a home invasion, and an iced tea in the face
    Brian, Bill and James do not have attitudes, even though they are all young, intelligent business professionals. They do have, to their credit, wonderful senses of humor. I would pay cash money to listen to their respective stories on the stolen car, the home invasion and the iced tea in the face.
  • Why should the politicians care when their constituents don't care?
    After more than enough time to examine government and politics, one thing is clear: The vast majority of politicians on the Left, the Right and somewhere in the Middle know what's right. But the majority long ago determined that doing what's right is just too damned hard.
  • Bubba: A pink driver and a green jacket

    If a Rory (McIlroy) couldn't win the Masters this year, I suppose a Bubba will suffice. (Not that you could live on the difference between a Rory and a Bubba, which happens to be one of my son's nicknames.) Keep 'em in the fairways, Bubba.

     
  • Fiscal pickles and free passes
    Unless the city budgets with past history in mind, the administration may find itself in a bit of a fiscal pickle. (Can you say "fiscal pickle" three times, fast?) Mr. Giroux said if the city were to reduce staff at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, they would most likely cut part-time and volunteer positions. "Common sense would dictate we'd have to take a look at (reducing) the part-time and volunteers, which are on a supplemental basis," Mr. Giroux said. Of course, there's common sense and then there's reality.
  • Is there sufficient oversight for Highland County Children Services?
    It's been more than a year since the Highland County Board of Commissioners took action to eliminate the local Board of Directors for Highland County Children Services and combine the public agency with the Department of Job and Family Services. Without revisiting all the budgetary and fiscal oversight concerns expressed by the commissioners over the 2010 Christmas holiday decision, suffice it to say that they did, indeed, have somewhat understandable concerns with the public agency and its finances. Likewise, the public agency's former board had understandable concerns with the commissioners' takeover of the Children Services administrative oversight.
  • Politics, statesmanship and an empty suit
    Congressman Mike Turner is right to question an administration that would imply or suggest foreign collaboration and/or information sharing on U.S. missile defenses.
Subscribe to Rory Ryan