Many of those attending are hopeful the Chillicothe event will have some historic political significance for the state of Ohio. One thing is certain: For Mitt Romney to have some historic political significance, he needs Ohio's 18 electoral votes. Rob Portman is his best chance to secure those votes.

More importantly, North Carolina's Atlantic Beach is home to the Monkey Bar and Grill. With a name like Monkey Bar and Grill and a menu that includes the Congo Burger, it can't be all bad. I'll have to get back to you on that.

More importantly, North Carolina's Atlantic Beach is home to the Monkey Bar and Grill. With a name like Monkey Bar and Grill and a menu that includes the Congo Burger, it can't be all bad. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Now, I'm just an old Ridgerunner. If Mr. Lambert insists he is not a public official, well, he's a nice man and I believe him – regardless of what the state auditor says or what the local CVB does in executive session or what the commission president says about having a meeting about the office. I'm not sure why Mr. Lambert so vehemently objects to being a Highland County public official, but I will respect his wishes.

You know the city of Hillsboro has big problems when the administrative brain trust is a collective effort of national triangulation from Los Angeles to Florida to Washington, D.C. (It really is.)

Greenfield really seems to support its annual festival. The Greenfield Rotarians do a great job and provide many community services, the majority of which go unreported, but not unnoticed.

Greenfield really seems to support its annual festival. The Greenfield Rotarians do a great job and provide many community services, the majority of which go unreported, but not unnoticed.

I have seen the stoic and rock solid Coach Jim Horne cry exactly two times. Once was at Dayton's Welcome Stadium and once was at his brother's funeral. For the record, I cried both times, too. Jim knew that was a very special team. Two decades later, many of that team's players are successful professionals today – including many still in Highland County. That team produced future coaches, teachers, lawyers, insurance executives, public officials, farmers and pharmacists, and at least one actor.

Last week's edition was the first in almost three years in which my column did not appear. To some readers, I apologize. To others, I appreciate your words of thanks for the omission. Last week was also the first week in the past 500 (or more) in which I did not publish a Highland County newspaper column, and the first week in the past 1,000 (or more) in which I did not publish a newspaper column in southern Ohio.

What many people often fail to realize is that attorneys are, by and large, very gifted writers who possess not only a sharp mind but an even sharper wit. My old editor Jay Brushart would've probably changed the previous modifier to "acerbic." Yes, lawyers (like a few newspaper columnists) do have an acerbic wit. And why not?

When the self-proclaimed anarchist – who enjoys the support of the Republican Party, but perhaps not quite as much as he once did, judging by the weekly foot traffic from South High Street to my desk – says he "hates a lot of government institutions" and names, specifically, the EPA and the Department of Labor, he leaves out a few other branches of government.

This week's meeting with the Highland County commissioners and the Veterans Service Commission was a positive step in clearing the air, so to speak, between the two county offices. There were valid points from those on either side. There was no name-calling from either side.

Since the early 1970s, we have purchased almost every household appliance from Collins Appliances, through three generations of both families. Frank "Squeak" Collins has seen our occasionally messy kitchen. So has Danny. So has Jeff. So has Kevin. So has Steve Nartker. (Ramona, God bless her, has been spared the ordeal of delivering appliances to the backwoods!)

Before the month of June does come to its inevitable conclusion, there are at least two pending public meetings of considerable interest. Both are scheduled for June 27. The early meeting involves the Highland County Commissioners and the Highland County Veterans Services. It is open to the public and there's never been an admission charge to the best of my knowledge. A special meeting of Hillsboro City Council also is scheduled. This is a meeting of Hillsboro City Council. Anyone not on City Council ought to come to the meeting with his hat in his hand.