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Life with Levi… Lambie’s bad luck, By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson, Assistant Editor
It happened. The one thing that Mommy and Daddy had been dreading. Levi puked on Lambie. The most depressing thing was that Mommy was just getting ready to put Lambie into the Lamb Protection Program and relocate him/her/it to a safer location (like Mommy and Daddy’s closet). But alas, Mommy was not quick enough. It all started Friday evening when Mommy and Levi both started to show symptoms of a cold. And when I say cold… read more.
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Commissioners Corner… Budget time again, courthouse remodeling almost complete
April has certainly lived up to the phrase, “April showers” this year.  April has continued to hold onto wintery weather, along with ample amounts of rain for the month. Although, the rain has been appreciated, it has delayed our farmers from doing work in the fields.  We need a good week for things to dry out, along with warmer temperatures, for our agri- business people to start their heavy work for the year… read more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge…The “Cry Baby”-in-Chief, By Joe Facinoli
So,….he finally lost one. But I guess that 158 to one, just ain’t quite good enough for our President, now is it? Of the people, by the people, and for the people,….eh??   Not so fast there  “Constitution Lips”, that’s only if it’s HIS way, thank you very much. Yeah, the Prez lost a big one last week, and man, is he ever a poor loser!! You’d have thought that someone had gone and cut up all his favorite blue ties, bent all his Calloway golf clubs in half, and made… read more.
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GAO says ‘Thumbs Up’… The F-35 fighter jet – Protecting American freedom and Ohio jobs
By Harry Prestanski - A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, non-partisan arm of Congress, held good news for the American servicemen and women tasked with protecting our freedom in hostile skies.  The new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the most advanced jet fighter the world has ever seen, is on track and making exceptional progress toward the day when all branches of the U.S. military can feature this cutting-edge… read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown…Equal Pay for Equal Work
As parents, we all want our daughters to have the same opportunities as our sons. As a father of two girls, I'm tired of seeing Ohio women lose $16 billion in income each year because they still don't earn equal pay for an equal day's work. Ohioans work hard and hard work deserves fair pay, regardless of gender. Yet, according to a new report from the National Partnership for Women & Families, Ohio women who are employed full time are paid just 77… read more.
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Commentary…An Amazing Night, By Sharon Hopper
April 23, 2013–I went to a concert last night presented by the Tabernacle Christian Center featuring Brad Lazadda. I happened to read in the paper that this man was going to do a concert and normally I do not really pay much attention to most of the gospel concerts at churches. But this one got my attention when the article said that he had sung in 28 countries, and performed in all 50 states. So I marked my calendar and told my husband we were going… read more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Spring Cleaning for Lazy Dummies, By Aprill Brandon
Guys. Guys. GUYS. Spring officially arrived this week. And not that manic-depressive spring we've been having that's been passive-aggressively toying with our emotions because it wasn't hugged enough as a child by Father Winter. No, I'm talking about happily hopped up on pills and booze spring. Or at least it has in my neck of the woods. Sunny, breezy, mid-60's perfect spring. For the first time in SIX MONTHS I was able to open… read more.
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Life with Levi… Stay little, By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson, Assistant Editor
To most, last Tuesday, April 16th was just another day.  And to me, it really didn’t hold much significance at first glance.  But once I stopped for a minute and thought about it, it finally hit me. Last Tuesday, April 16th was exactly one month before Levi’s second birthday. I know, I’m probably being overly dramatic. But for a new (or newer) Mommy like me, it was a big deal! Levi has only celebrated one birthday so far, so it’s not exactly a… read more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy… Cutting Taxes for Ohioans—Long Overdue
In 1983, shortly after I started my first term in the Ohio House of Representatives, Governor Dick Celeste proposed a biennial budget that made an income tax hike permanent and increased government spending.  At that time the legislature was made up of a majority of Democrats in the House and in the Senate who went along with Governor Celeste’s tax increase.  As a result Ohio’s economy has struggled since and many young people have followed a trail… read more.
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Apparently, big government isn’t always bad, By Jim Surber
When some things leave you scratching your head, you can usually learn from them. One of our nation’s largest continuing debates has been whether government involvement in business is good or bad. At the risk of oversimplification, one side professes to limit government’s role for the benefit of the people, while the other side maintains that the same objective is accomplished with more government involvement. An event of the… read more.
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U.S. Congressman John Boehner...Carrying on in the American Spirit
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column: “With the tragedies in Boston and West, Texas, that took the lives of a number of our fellow Americans, the week of April 14th was a difficult time for the country.  My heart goes out to the victims. Thankfully, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that no runners or spectators from the Tri-State area were harmed in Boston. “Meanwhile, in the nation’s capital… read more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge…The End of Innocence, By Joe Facinoli
When did the Innocence end? Was it at the finish line in Boston? September 11, 2001? Earlier? When??? Was there one, single event or time, when the innocence of this country simply disappeared? Or did it gradually drift away from us, under the weight of too many gut wrenching shocks, and mind numbing tragedies, for us to endure? Did it happen on November 22, 1963? On that sunswept street in Dallas, when the cheering stopped, ….so suddenly? Or… read more.
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The President's Remarks...Preventing Gun Violence
A few months ago, in response to too many tragedies -- including the shootings of a United States Congresswoman, Gabby Giffords, who's here today, and the murder of 20 innocent schoolchildren and their teachers -- this country took up the cause of protecting more of our people from gun violence. Families that know unspeakable grief summoned the courage to petition their elected leaders -- not just to honor the memory of their children, but to protect… read more.
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U.S. Congressman John Boehner… A Fairer, Simpler Tax Code will Create Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column discussing comprehensive tax reform: “Every morning, one of the first things I do is check Facebook on my iPad to see what people are posting. One graphic I noticed recently shows a woman sitting at a computer asking ‘I wonder if I can claim Uncle Sam as a dependent on my tax return this year?’ “There’s no question that Americans continue… read more.
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Life with Levi… He said yes! By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson, Assistant Editor
The wait is finally over. Levi said yes! He says it quite often, too.  And not always when he means it. It all started a couple weeks ago. Everything was no, no, no, no, no. Then, one morning, he woke up and just started saying yes. No rhyme or reason, just yes.  So finally, when I ask him if he’s hungry, he says yes. If I ask him if he wants water or a snack, he says yes. And if I ask him if he’s ready to go night-night, he still says no. But it’s a step in… read more.
Ohio Republican Party...Greetings!
 I want to give you a special update about an initiative underway at the Ohio Republican Party to expand our grassroots organization through a new Coalitions Program.From elections for the White House to Courthouse voters share their specific interests about important issues that unite us. These key issues drive support for our Republican candidates. And every election cycle both national and state campaigns spend precious time and resources hastily recreating grassroots outreach programs that... read more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy...How the Proposed Budget Changes in the Legislative Process
In my time as a legislator, I have never voted for a budget identical to the introduced version In the legislature, it is our job to scrutinize bills and make considerations on the impact they will have on the lives of Ohioans. Changing those bills is a normal process that generally is guided by an attempt to gain broad support for legislation. This is no different for the biennial budget, which can change as many as six times from the introduced version before becoming law.… read more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge….It’s John Kennedy’s Fault, By Joe Facinoli
"......Don't let it be forgot,  that once there was a spot,  for one brief shining moment,   known as............Camelot."  Who could ever forget it,.....or him? If you were alive then,......you will remember.   Always. Camelot. That smile. That charisma and persona. That accent. That hair. The sense of humor. Those bright and twinkling eyes. That wit, so quick, so direct, so on point. Hyannis Port. The "Compound". Touch football by the Cape. The endless family of… read more.
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Did God make you? By Bob Robinson
It is a little after 2:30 and I’m leaving Greenville Junior High or South, or 15 minutes later and I’m carefully leaving the high school amongst what seems like hundreds of cars trying to fit through two exits from the high school parking lot. Or it could be an hour later and I’m getting ready to leave Woodland or East. I head to my next “job” as Secretary for Greenville Eagles 2177. On a full sub day, it is usually just a quick stop to drop off mail, get… read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown…Providing Ohio Workers with a Fair Wage
With too many Ohioans working harder than ever and barely getting by, it’s well past time to raise the minimum wage in our country. Recently, I visited four Ohio businesses that are supportive of an increase in the federal minimum wage. These businesses and their owners know that treating their employees right isn’t just good for them, it’s good for business. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act into law 75 years ago. This read more.
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Darke County Commissioner Mike Stegall… Hometown Opportunity
On Sunday April 7th, I was invited to the Marion Community Development Organizations annual meeting held in Maria Stein at the American Legion.  This event was well attended, and two of the Mercer County Commissioners attended as well.   After the meal was served, the guest speaker was Jared Ebbing, the Mercer County Economic Development Director. As a quick aside, I think that Darke and Mercer County have two of the best Economic… read more.
Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett Update
Greetings! While Democrats in Washington are pushing for a $1-Trillion tax increase and an unbalanced budget, the March jobs report was another reminder that the Democrats have no plan for jobs. An analysis by the Dayton Daily News found that Ohio's personal income rose at one of the fastest rates in the nation last year. Perhaps this should be another lesson for Ohio Democrats to stop opposing the Republican reforms and growth friendly policies that are making Ohio a better place for families to... read more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… If you give a wife a mouse... By Aprill Brandon
For the past nine years, ever since I rescued my dog Buffy, I've been in engaged in a never-ending battle with his fur. In fact, I have suspicions that the fur is now asexually reproducing and has become self-aware, which has lead to rogue hair armies that are slowly taking over my house in an Alexander-the-Great-esque manner. But now, the battle has just been taken to the next level. I'm not quite sure how it managed it, but somehow… read more.
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U.S. Senator Rob Portman… Weekly Column: Our Right to Bear Arms
The United States Senate is likely to take up gun control legislation later this month in response to the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  Unfortunately, the majority of the proposals that have surfaced would do nothing to prevent these types of horrific acts of violence from happening in the future.  They would, however, infringe on Second Amendment rights guaranteed by the Constitution. I am a gun owner and avid hunter. Whether for… read more.
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U.S. Representative John Boehner...Policies Making it Harder for Americans to Find Work
WASHINGTON, D.C. – "After a long delay, the White House has announced that President Obama will finally release his budget on April 10. So far the preview we’re getting is not good. "With millions of American families struggling in this weak economy, I had hoped that President Obama would use this opportunity -- like President Clinton did -- to work across the aisle and balance the budget. Sadly, media reports indicate the president’s budget will notread more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge…A Tale of Two Immigrants, By Joe Facinoli
My Grandfather Francesco came through Ellis Island in 1892, with his three younger brothers, on his way to the “New World” from his beloved Italy. He never went back, nor ever had a reason to. Having endured the long and arduous Atlantic crossing, on a less than palatial vessel, he was then faced with the interminably long lines and endless inspection stations at this famous Port of Entry.   Passing all the medical and physical tests, and having all hisread more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy...Turnpike Bonding Promises a Bright Future in Ohio
In a state like Ohio, where snow, ice and salt over time cause damage to roadways, it is especially important that we try to stay on top of our infrastructure needs. Governor Kasich recently signed into law a bill that puts in place a plan to fund road projects in Ohio.House Bill 51 lays out Ohio’s transportation budget for the coming two years. A big part of the bill involves using toll revenues collected from the Ohio Turnpike to fund future infrastructure projects. The state will use… read more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… A writer by any other name, By Aprill Brandon
When I was in college, I once got into a fight with a boyfriend because I said if we ever got married, I was keeping my maiden name. To him, apparently this statement meant I was some sort of scary nutjob closeted hippie feminist that ate pieces of the Constitution for breakfast. But my reasoning was much more simple. My decision was merely motivated by the fact that I'm the last one in my large extended family that still has my biological… read more.
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Life with Levi… A not-so-hoppy Easter, By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson, Assistant Editor
All of last week, I was envisioning an Easter day filled with family, laughter and lots of memories to hold on to until next year. But unfortunately, all I got was a sick husband, a sick baby and a migraine that just wouldn’t quit. So instead of heading to my Aunt Carolyn’s for lunch, then my mother-in-law’s for an awesome Easter egg hunt, we all stayed home in our sick little bubble so as not to infect all of the healthy people that we love… read more.
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Commissioners Corner… Economy Kicking Along at Good Pace
As this is written, Darke County has been officially in Spring for 5 days.  Right now, there is 7 inches of snow on the ground, and still falling!  Hopefully, this is old man winter’s last gasp, and soon it will warm up and we can all enjoy the outdoors again.  This has not been a particularly hard winter in the County, but I am sure all of us are ready for a steady dose of sunshine. This month has been a mix once… read more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy...Freedom to Make Our Own Healthcare Decisions
When President Obama forced government run healthcare through Congress he started a multiple year process of steadily increasing the size of government and increasing government spending. In west central Ohio, there is a consensus that Obamacare is bad for our households and bad for this country. Over the course of the past two years, I have joined the fight a number of times to put a fork in President Obama’s plan. Every step of the way I have maintained… read more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge...Arrogance and Ignorance, Both Make Bad Law, By Joe Facinoli
Marriage does not need to be defended. It is ingrained within the human spirit, in our hearts, and deep inside our souls. 
Marriage doesn’t need to be justified by law, although every state in the U.S. has claimed that authority. It doesn’t need religion, either, even though every organized church will claim it as their God given “right” to bestow. And every high book of scripture, in every major faith, carefully lists detailed instructions, requirements, and rubrics, as to howread more.
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