Until this past Sunday night, I’d never heard of actor Michael C. Hall. That’s not altogether surprising. There were lots of people on the Golden Globe awards television show I’ve never heard of.

Believe it or not, I like judges. Really. Granted, I’ve made more than my share of lawyer jokes over the years. But I cannot think of a judge I haven’t liked – including the one who once (and only once!) locked me out of a public courtroom more than a decade ago.

“The debate is over,” Little Al Gore told us a few years ago. Global warming is here. Never mind that Al Junior and his moneychangers refused to debate the matter and never mind that this little old third rock from the sun is actually cooling. Minor details.

We tried to talk him out of this column, but we were too cold to argue with him

In putting together the pages of the first 2010 edition of Highland County’s only locally owned and locally operated newspaper, one thing occurred to me right from the get-go: It is far easier for a one-digit typist to type 2009 than it is for him to type 2010.

Before 2009 slips away, it seems only appropriate to offer a few thoughts on some end-of-year media reporting.

“What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?” was the seasonal
question at a recent gathering. It was a good question, too. Very timely, in fact. (And, please, feel free to share your own Christmas memories, as contributing writer Jim Moore has, by joining the online discussion.)

Many power brokers in the newspaper industry are keeping an eye on Ohio House Bill 345. This recently introduced legislation by five Ohio Democrats is worth consideration. In fact, even though it is a somewhat watered-down version of an earlier proposal, it is something Ohio lawmakers ought to pass and Gov. Ted Strickland ought to sign into law.

The youngster sitting with his mother at the northwest corner of the uptown Hillsboro intersection Saturday afternoon was probably no more than 2 years old. He was there for the holiday parade. But he was fading as fast as the late November sunset. When a nice gentleman, perhaps a grandfather or other relative, returned with a blanket and placed it around the young boy at around 3:55 p.m., it was as good as over.

How soon we forget.
    Americans seem to enjoy, again and again, proving George Santayana’s maxim that “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

New McClain Tigers coach Brent Eaton can’t be all bad. I can’t profess to know the Coach Who Follows The Legend, but I will say this: I already like the guy. You know why? Because anyone who has the theme song of “The Dukes of Hazzard” on his ring tone can’t be all bad.

First off, this week, let’s all give a heartfelt congratulations to Rosalind Newman. Mrs. Newman retires this week after 30 years of public service to Highland County.

This has been one of those weeks. It’s been a week in which I lost an hour, or 10, instead of picking up an extra one as Daylight Saving Time came to its seasonal conclusion.

There is an editorial topic before us and published online at www.highlandcountypress.com which asks: What government services are most important to you? We felt the timing of the question was appropriate, given the economy  of the times. A fair number of government agencies, offices and departments have been, for the past year or so, forced to reduce their respective budgets. As these cuts continue or level off, we are left with a few questions.