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News Online
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Commissioners Corner… Darke
County is a great place to live
The end of another year is upon us. This has been a unique
December weather- wise; surprising warmth at times, followed by
freezing cold and blowing snow, followed by inches and inches of rain,
and back to cold temperatures! Although the weather has been
changeable this year, the County continued our success from the
previous 3 years. As we all look back on…
read
more.
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Ohio Senator Bill Beagle… Creating Equity in Ohio’s
Adoption System
On any given day, we’re asked to fill out forms that detail some of our
personal information. As a patient in a doctor’s office, you may be
asked to describe your family medical history, or as a student applying
for a scholarship, you may be asked to select a nationality. If you
were adopted between January 1964 and September 1996, chances are you
don’t know these answers and your original birth records that…
read
more.
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Everybody loves the Constitution,
By Jim Surber
If one bit of common ground exists today in this country’s polarized
political climate, it’s that everybody loves the Constitution.
“Conservative or Liberal, we are all constitutionalists,” wrote Pres.
Barack Obama. “The Founding Fathers fought and bled for freedom and
then crafted the most miraculous political document ever conceived, our
Constitution,” said Sen. Ted Cruz. We proudly state that the US is
governed by the world… read
more. |
Grumpy
Side of 60… What’s
Christmas
really about? By Bob Robinson
“Dear Santa. I love you. Will you take some of my stuff and give it to
all the other kids in the world?” “Can you bring a kindle for my dad so
he’ll have something to do?” Kids are awesome. They can say and do some
of the most fascinating and entertaining things. One of those times is
with their letters to Santa. Take, for example, the concern over being
naughty or nice… “Gove nottie kids toys too. They might not… read
more. |
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From
the Other Side of the Edge….. When
Purity, and “Perspective”,…..Cure Cynicism,
By Joe Facinoli - Moments matter. And so
do the
Little Things. What else is there? This
is a tough
time of year to write anything political, and have it make any kind of
sense, or be palatable in any sort of way. Nothing’s happening, of any
real note, and everything’s mostly on hold, until Congress, the
President, and all the state legislatures and governors get back from
their 7 to 9 week winter “vacations” (on guess who’s dime… read
more. |
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State
Representative Jim Buchy… Hydraulic
Fracturing—A Safe and Reliable Source of Energy Leading Ohio’s Comeback
- Hydraulic fracturing is the safest way to extract minerals from below
the earth’s surface. The opportunities provided by the exploration of
oil and natural gas in eastern Ohio will have a major impact on the
economic sector in that part of the state. The continued use
of
the hydraulic fracturing process in eastern Ohio also helps
western Ohio by providing more consumers for our agricultural products…
read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Close
to
Our Hearts
As 2013 comes to a close, Connie and I want to wish you and your family
a safe and blessed holiday season. For me, there’s no greater joy than
spending the winter holidays with loved ones. Earlier this month, I
visited Liberty at St. Clair, a facility in Cleveland serving veterans
who have struggled with homelessness. One of the many dedicated staff
members I met there wore a necklace with a ring and a… read
more. |
Broke
Wife, Big City… Let's
just table
the issue, shall we? By Aprill Brandon
For years, my husband and I have harbored a shameful secret. A secret
so hideous, so horrifying, so wholly conducive to alliteration, we have
hardly dared to even whisper it out loud. And the worst part is we have
carried this secret with us from state to state, apartment to
apartment, every time we move, from Ohio to Texas to now Boston. Each
time, with each new set of friends and… read
more. |
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State
Representative Jim Buchy… Generous
Charitable Giving Brightens the Christmas Season for Everyone
- It is hard to believe that another year is nearly in the books. This
is certainly a fun time of year for a lot of people—especially young
kids—as the anticipation of Christmas grows with each day. One of the
many special things about being an American, and about being from west
central Ohio in particular, is to witness just how charitable so many
people are. With the festivities, family functions… read
more. |
The
Grumpy Side of 60… Santa’s
Helper No. 31278664, By Bob Robinson
Some of you may remember the conversations I’ve had with Santa over the
years. He never gets my name right. It’s Joe, or Jake, or Ronald… Don’t
think he’s ever called me by my given name. Makes me wonder how he ever
gets the presents right. I forgot. He has something called Lightspeed
Sonar. It not only allows him to zip around from town to town at
lightning speed, it keeps track of all the kids in… read
more. |
From
the Other
Side of the Edge… “And
So This
is Christmas…..” By Joe Facinoli
So many Christmas songs are just schmaltzy commercial nonsense, even
though a few are actually quite good musically, and some even deliver a
real message. Still others are way too specifically directed, for me at
least, to be able to wrap my little brain around their somewhat forced
and contrived meanings. I have no problem with telling the story of
Christmas, but my preference is for celebrating the overall "spirit" of
this season. And for songs with… read
more. |
Don’t let extremists undermine
fracking boom,
by Jack Rafuse
States are taking the initiative to regulate hydraulic fracturing
operations to produce oil and natural gas — and environmentalists, as
well as industry, support them. Colorado just unveiled new rules to
limit methane emissions from fracking by using improved well-sealing
techniques and technologies, such as infrared cameras. This approach
meets the objectives of state officials who understand and regulate
industry operations, and it helps attain the… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Creating
Jobs by Investing in Ohio’s Clean Energy Economy
We are a nation of builders and innovators. Harnessing that creative
energy, manufacturing created a middle class that strengthened our
communities and provided opportunity for countless Americans.
Manufacturing helped make the middle class. In fact, manufacturing jobs
have a larger multiplier effect than any other industry. For every
$1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.48 is added to the economy.
Across Ohio, I meet with manufacturers who… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…Nesting,
By Aprill
Brandon
I'll be honest. I didn't think it was true. I thought it was just
another one of those pregnancy myths, like you only gain weight in your
stomach (you don't). Or that your husband will actually run out at 3
a.m. to get you a taco (he won't). Or that pregnancy is in any way
enjoyable (it's not...although it might be if "someone" would get me
tacos in the middle of the night...HINT, HINT, Ryan). But then a few
weeks ago I innocently went to… read
more. |
State
Representative Jim Buchy… Tackling
Ohio’s Drug Abuse Problem
Treating drug addiction costs Ohio taxpayers about $3.5 billion each
year. The effects that drugs have on families and communities are even
more devastating. Over the past few years, the Ohio House of
Representatives has increased its focus on finding ways to crack down
on this terrible problem so as to help individuals affected by drugs
and to reduce the burden on taxpayers who are on the hook to fund
rehabilitation programs… read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the Edge… Sorry
Ohio,….but Boehner’s Gotta Go !! By
Joe Facinoli
Yes Ohio, …there may indeed be a Santa Claus, …but your famous native
son, from the 8th Congressional district, is not
him. At
least not the one who can bring enough presents to save this day.
Sorry. Not this year, nor for the last three years. Not since John
Boehner was first elected to the high office of Speaker of the U.S.
House of Representatives. He, the possessor of that amazing in-ability
to work with, muchless lead, anyone, from either party, his, or his… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown…Protecting Ohio Children
with
Lifesaving Medicine for Allergic Reactions
Last week, I traveled to schools around the state to hear from
students, nurses, parents, and health professionals about what severe
allergic reactions can mean when they occur unexpectedly in a
classroom, playground, or sports field. These severe allergic reactions
– known as anaphylaxis – can occur within minutes of exposure to any… read
more. |
Making the right choices,
By Bob Robinson
Picture yourself in his shoes. He walked into the courtroom a free man.
A half hour later he was being handcuffed and led to a holding cell to
await a Sheriff’s Deputy to take him to the Darke County Jail. He’s 34.
He’s been in prison several times. He’s been on the Darke County Jail’s
guest list 11 times. This time he gets to enjoy their hospitality for
90 days… Then he has to go to the MonDay program; minimum three to four
months. Then… read
more. |
U.S. Representative John Boehner…The Senate
Must Act to
Help Create a Better Environment for Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester)
released the following column discussing House Republicans’ continued
action to spur job creation: “More than 200,000 Americans found work
last month, and that’s encouraging. But make no mistake, we’re not out
of the woods yet. “Years of one-size-fits… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Standing
with Walmart Workers on Black Friday
Last Friday, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and other Members of Congress
expressed support for Walmart workers who were calling for Walmart to
end illegal retaliation against its employees and to publicly commit to
improving working conditions by providing workers with more full-time
work and a living wage. Senators Sherrod Brown and Ed Markey (D-MA),
along with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA),
William Lacy Clay (D-MO)… read
more. |
Vice President Joe Biden…Twenty years ago,
President
Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law.
That law said that if you want to purchase a firearm from a federally
licensed dealer in this country, you have to get a background check
first. It was a historic piece of legislation -- one that's kept 1.5
million of the wrong people from getting their hands on a firearm in
the last 14 years. But in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown -- a year
ago this month -- we know we've got to keep working to build on that
progress. And so even after a minority of… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…The grown-up side of
Christmas,
By Aprill Brandon
Something very strange has been going on these past few weeks. The
month of December is finally upon us. Which means it's almost
Christmas. And I don't care. I haven't started decorating, I haven't
annoyed my husband by belting out my dirty version of "Carol of the
Bells" and I haven't even had a sip of eggnog yet. It's my favorite
holiday and I haven't even acknowledged it. But I think I know why.
See, depending on your age, the… read
more. |
State
Representative Jim Buchy… Adoption
Reform May Promote More Adoptions in Ohio
In Columbus, legislators are considering House Bill 307, a bill that I
introduced to streamline the adoption of children at birth and lower
the costs for adoptive parents. There are thousands of prospective
parents in Ohio that want to adopt children from this state but are
prevented due to costs and the time constraints of the adoption
process. House Bill 307 addresses the costs and time issue
which
may promote more adoptions in Ohio… read
more. |
U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Fighting
for a Fair Farm Bill
In Ohio, one out of every seven jobs is connected to growing,
processing, or distributing the food we eat and the products we use
every day. In fact, agriculture and food contribute more than $107
billion dollars to our state’s economy each year. That’s why, when I
talk to farmers around the state, I hear how important the farm bill is
and how the lack of a farm bill has led to uncertainty that makes it
tougher for farmers to do their jobs. In fact, the lack of a farm… read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the Edge… “Unity
of Purpose”…Mandela’s Ideal,…Obama’s Failure
By Joe Facinoli - When Nelson Mandela gave his only Inauguration
Address, on May 10, 1994, in Capetown, South Africa, he spoke
selflessly of the “…need for a ‘Unity of Purpose’ ”, with which his
racially divided, and strife torn nation could provide themselves a
hopeful and forgiving future. Almost fifteen years later, on
January 20, 2009, in his first Inauguration Address, in Washington,
D.C., USA, Barack Obama bragged that with his election, the… read
more. |
Grumpy Side of 60…Helping a child understand,
By Bob Robinson
I wonder if the horses were as cold as I was Saturday night. I had on
my flannel shirt, the heaviest overcoat I own… and it was still brutal.
I also discovered something in my coat pockets… a child’s broken
sunglasses and a weird orange rubber ball covered with tiny rubber
spikes. I’d only worn the coat a couple times this year and never had
to dig into the pockets for my gloves. This time I pulled out my gloves
and there they were. Broken sunglasses… read
more. |
Broke Wife, Big City…'Twas a month before
Christmas,
By Aprill Brandon
'Twas a month before Christmas, when all through the house Not a
creature was stirring, except for my husband (who was hunting a mouse).
The traps were all placed in the kitchen with care In the hopes that a
dead rodent soon would be there. I was nestled all snug in my bed While
visions of eggnog danced in my head But Ryan in his PJ's, armed with
those silly traps Refused to stop 'til he won against those rats When
suddenly… read
more. |
From
the Other Side of the Edge… A
“Life Changing” Miracle ….Would it have been Allowed, under Obamacare??
By Joe Facinoli - This is a true story, and a long one, but worth
it. It’s one very close to home. It was a
Friday. Pay day for his loyal employees, ….and he
was
late. It had been a normal, chaotic day, but now he only had
about 45 minutes to make the ten mile trek, through city traffic and
with two stops in between, to the last of his… read
more. |
Pick your own reality,
By Jim Surber
I love a good argument as well as anyone, so much that I have always
been willing to spend time and effort arguing things that can never
have resolution like politics. I am also entertained reading the
arguments of others. The online versions of today’s newspapers are
seldom without heated arguments, accusations, rationalizations and
occasional name-calling as readers comment on opinion articles and news
items. Whether you wish to call it left-right… read
more. |
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