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The views
expressed on
this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views
of County
News Online
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Quality
People, By Bob Robinson
They keep talking about “The Golden Years.” I’m not sure who came up
with the phrase, but I don’t think it was anyone in their “golden
years.” According to Sandra Snider, faithwriters.com, it was strictly
economic. Financial service providers and retirement community builders
coined it to spin the myth that old age is a lot like childhood… no
more responsibilities. Sit back and enjoy! “The life you’ve waited
your… read
more.
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State Representative Richard Adams… Ohio House Will Continue Focusing
on Jobs,
Education
It is custom at the beginning of every legislative term for
the
legislature to lay out goals, as well as ideas for how best to achieve
them. These ideas focus on issues that are most important for the
state. Often, while other issues obviously surface along the way, the
top policy issues that are established at the beginning of the General
Assembly require the most time and attention. The biggest priority of
House Republicans under Speaker… read
more.
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Broke
Wife, Big City… But
white girls
are always on a diet, aren't they? By Aprill
Brandon
You guys...I don't know. Is it just me or does this new year just
seem...I don't know...a bit lackluster? A bit blah? I mean, 2013?
Thirteen itself is just a crappy number. Unlucky, even. And was anyone
happy when they turned 13? Of course not. You had acne and hair
sprouting in weird places and were the very definition of awkward and
everyone hated you because you were SUPER annoying. Even the end of the
world Mayan prediction… read
more.
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Life
with Levi… Levi’s
first hotel
stay, By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson, Assistant
Editor
This
past weekend, our little family ventured to the big city of
Indianapolis to visit my grandmother, aunt and uncle.
Normally,
we would have stayed overnight with them, but since this was Levi’s
first official night away from home, we opted for a hotel instead. When
we first arrived at the hotel, Levi thought the elevator ride was cool.
He giggled when it took off and again when it stopped on our floor.
Next was the hallway. For… read
more.
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State
Representative Jim Buchy… Death
Tax Now a Part of Ohio History
A few weeks ago, while people around the world counted down the end of
2012, around here the celebration could have been counting down the
elimination of Ohio’s death tax. The estate tax, or “death tax,” in
Ohio dates back to the late 19th century, when it was first adopted.
This regressive and outdated taxing method has become a major
impediment to economic growth and has cost companies and family farms a
great deal of money, sometimes forcing… read
more.
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Broke
Wife, Big City… The
Pizza Principle, By Aprill Brandon
You know, I often wonder what it'll be like when I'm old. You know,
like, when I'm 35. Ha! I kid. Thirty-five is now the new 12. You're not
technically old until 44. Everyone knows that. But seriously, I do
often wonder how things will be when I'm in my 70's and I'm (hopefully)
a grandmother to grandkids who are way less messed up than my actual
kids. And they all gather around their Ninja Gammy
(<-----trademarked) and ask "What was it like… read
more.
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Life
with Levi… Lambie
goes into
hiding, By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson, Assistant
Editor
It finally happened. The dreaded flu bug has finally made it’s way into
our house. We’ve all been getting by pretty well. Had some sniffles,
coughs, and a couple of colds, but nothing as bad as this. And, of
course, the baby would have to get it first. Poor little Levi. He went
to bed last night just fine, and woke up this morning with tummy
troubles. And poor Daddy was home alone with the baby when the flu bug
reared its ugly head… read
more.
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U.S.
Representative John Boehner… A
Simple Principle: No Budget, No Pay
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) released the
following column discussing legislation that will require both the
House and Senate to pass a budget, and withhold member pay if they
fail: “When I and my Republican colleagues were entrusted with the
majority in the House of Representatives in 2010, we committed
ourselves to addressing our nation's debt problem and re-establishing
trust between the American people… read
more
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A Darke County Editorial Icon… Paul
Ackley joins CNO
Paul Ackley has been an active Editorial Cartoonist for over thirty
years. In 2009 and 2010, he was awarded ‘Best Editorial Cartoonist' by
the Ohio Associated Press. Ackley has a drawing displayed in House
Speaker John Boehner's Washington D.C. office... Click below for the
complete biography. Paul will be joining CNO each Monday. You never
know what he has on his mind, so you won’t want to miss a single post… click
here.
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Modern
Day Pied Piper,
That’s My Opinion By Bob Robinson
The so-called “Fiscal Cliff” was averted on Tuesday, January 1, 2013.
The Senate passed the legislation in the early hours. The House, after
much groaning and complaining, passed it just before midnight. Income
tax was raised on those the Democrats referred to as “the rich” from 36
percent to 39.6 percent. “The rich,” by Dem definition, were single
income filers earning $400K a year and joint filers earning $450K a… read
more
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U.S.
Senator Sherrod Brown… Staying
Healthy During Flu Season
Following tragic reports of deaths from the flu in Ohio, Connie and I
send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those who have lost a
loved one to this terrible and sudden illness. At the same time, we
must actively take steps to prevent the illness from spreading. My
office has been briefed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) on new information about this season’s flu and the
preventive steps Ohioans can take. Through sharing… read
more
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State Representative Jim Buchy… Two
Years of Targeting more Gun Rights and Freedoms
The issue of our gun possession rights remains paramount in this state.
The importance of protecting the Second Amendment and improving
concealed carry laws was a key topic of the Ohio General Assembly over
the last two years. In west central Ohio, we know it is a matter of
freedom. To our benefit the Ohio government passed three pieces of
legislation in the gun owner’s favor. In the past two years, we fought
tirelessly to enact laws that keep… read
more
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Broke Wife, Big City… I
don't know how she doesn't do it, By Aprill
Brandon
Once upon a time (2010), in a land far, far away (exotic South Texas),
there lived a woman (for lack of a better term) who was an expert at
juggling many balls (not as dirty as it sounds). From dawn to dusk, the
woman ran around (in a most elegant woman-like style), like a giant
chicken with its head cut off (albeit in stylish and really, really
painful heels). And then, suddenly one day, the woman… read
more
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Life
with
Levi… The
life of the party,
By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson
On Sunday afternoon, I hosted a Thirty-One party. Or should I say, Levi
hosted a Thirty-One party. When I decided a few weeks back to host this
party at my house, I knew that Levi would be at it, and I figured that
he would be pretty good since my mom and sister would be there. For
those of you who aren’t familiar, Thirty-One is a company that sells
purses, bags and storage containers in cute, colorful patterns that can
be personalized (and for… read
more
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Magic
coins in
wonderland? By Jim Surber
I’ve decided that it is unfortunate that Lewis Carroll wasn’t born a
century or so later than he was. Think of how much more inspiration he
could have gleaned for his satirical works from our modern US
government than from Victorian England. Consider this conversation
between Alice and the Cheshire cat in his “Alice in Wonderland.” “But I
don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can’t help
that,” said… read
more
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State Representative Jim Buchy... Two
Years of Steps Forward in the Pro-Life Movement
The issue of life remains paramount in this state. Governor
Kasich and state leaders have made protecting and enhancing life an
emphasis during the past two years. While our team worked to
balance a budget that included an $8 billion hole and put Ohioans back
to work, we continued to provide a focus on the issue of life
concurrently. That focus was driven by the pro-life
community,
which has played a… read
more
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Life’s
Challenges,
By Kathy Magoto
Life is busy and it seems that we all walk a thin line in
life.
It’s a constant balancing act between our civic responsibilities, our
personal and physical well being, as well as our spiritual
growth. For most of us we lose our peace when we struggle to
find
enough time, energy or money to accomplish the goals we deem important.
For example, a friend of mine has been working lots of overtime, they
have no personal… read
more
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State Representative Jim Buchy… Removing
Obstacles to Quality Education in Ohio
In the past two years you have heard a lot about changes to Ohio’s
education system. Through a cooperative effort
between
lawmakers, teachers, parents, and students, we have passed several
bills that increase and improve educational opportunities for young
Ohioans. As we near the end of this General Assembly, I am
proud
to look back at everything the Ohio House has accomplished to
strengthen Ohio’s schools… read
more
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Broke Wife, Big City… It's
the
end of the world as the Mayans know it, By
Aprill Brandon
Even though technically I'm writing this before the supposed end of the
world on Dec. 21, I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that we
didn't all meet our fiery doom simply because the Mayans got lazy with
their math homework. And if I'm wrong, well, pffft... what are you
going to do about it? Judge me? Shove it in my face? You're freaking
dead. But even though this prophecy is complete bunk… read
more
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Life
with Levi… The
Great Lambie Swap
of 2012, By Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson
Meet Lambie. Lambie is Levi’s bestest friend in the whole wide world.
If he were allowed, Levi would take Lambie everywhere! Lambie is a must
at bedtime, and when Levi is sick. This poor lamb has been through it
all… He’s been puked on, peed on, but thankfully never pooped on. And
after a half dozen washes (even though the tag strictly forbids machine
washing), Lambie stinks! Here’s a little background on Levi’s little
lamb… read
more
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Key to our
success: Youth, Family & Community,
By Bob
Robinson
An Editor’s Perspective: Sports photos, Letters to Santa, Student
Accomplishments & More
County News Online was “conceived” as a fundraising project for the
Senior Scribes Scholarship Fund. Net proceeds from CNO are used to
provide scholarships to help our young people reach their college
goals. We’ve made no bones about the fact that our purpose is unique…
our goal is not to compete with other information sources… read
more
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Darke
County Commissioner Mike
Stegall… Joint
Fire/EMS
Districts: Are we Ready?
Several months ago I ask the question “Is now the time for joint fire
and EMS districts in Darke County?” I wanted to set up a group to study
the situation, but since this was such a hot button issue, I decided to
do the research myself. I want to restate that I have no dog in this
fight one way or the other. I was just trying to figure out if we are
doing everything we can in the County to save lives and dollars. I do
not hate firemen, (I helped start a fire department… read
more
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Time to
Fight Back, By Jana Kolling
There comes a time occasionally when a “tipping point” is reached and
something has to happen. It’s here. 26 people were
killed
in Connecticut, and the media spent 2 weeks up there uncovering the
most gruesome details possible. All the usual leftwing
suspects
go on their tiresome tirades about racism, hate, fear, guns and our
despicable nation. Now, any well-schooled conservative
already
knows the ends to their means. Liberals MUST perpetuate
racial… read
more
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Speaker
John Boehner… 2013
Must Be About Cutting Spending and
Reforming the Tax Code
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the
following statement following passage of the Senate agreement on the
fiscal cliff:
“The federal government has a spending problem that has led to a $16
trillion national debt that threatens our country’s future. On the day
after the election, I proposed that both parties work together to avert
the fiscal cliff in a manner that would ensure 2013 is the year we
finally enact entitlement reform and… read
more
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Broke
Wife, Big City… The
10 Canine Commandments, By
Aprill Brandon
There comes a time in your relationship with your pet where you have to
lay down the law. For me, that time was last week, when my dog, Buffy,
almost ripped my arm out of its socket because he saw a SQUIRREL!
Ignoring my pleas of "Stop it! Now! You are so grounded!" as I
half-stumbled/half-ran behind him, Buffy broke the silent agreement we
had (or at least I thought we had) that he would obey… read
more
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2012: A Year of Good Times and
Not so Good
Times, That’s My Opinion By Bob Robinson
Good times. Where do I start? Family first. Always. Those of us who are
so blessed need to remember that not everyone is so fortunate. Be
grateful for the loved ones who surround you, and be compassionate
toward those who may be suffering. County News Online. Nearly two and a
half years ago this month, three Senior Scribes – Lyn Bliss, Kurt
Fritsch and yours truly – sat at a table in the BRC cafeteria having a…
read
more
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Thoughts for the New Year… Share
your time and your talents,
By Kathy Magoto
Happy Holidays! How did this phrase go from being preferred
to
barely acceptable? This is just another example of
the
pendulum swinging too far left before it heads toward the
right. Personally I have nothing against the “all
encompassing terminology. We have Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New
Years closely together and these are the holidays that affect the
majority of us locally, but perhaps we know or… read
more
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Life
with Levi… Daddy’s
Little Helper, By
Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson
Well, we survived the “Blizzard” of 2012. Mommy and Levi didn’t leave
the house until Thursday after the level 3 was dropped, but just
because we didn’t leave the house doesn’t mean we didn’t have any fun!
Since we got snowed in on the day after Christmas, that meant that Levi
still had a few Christmas gifts that still hadn’t come out of the box
(some assembly required). So once Daddy got home… read
more
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