So many topics, so little time

With the conclusion of the 2012 Highland County Fair this past weekend, it is time for The Highland County Press to extend a few words of thanks.

While I am sure I will inadvertently overlook someone, please know that the efforts of everyone who worked to make the county fair a success are appreciated. (However, I could have used an umbrella on Labor Day.)

First and foremost, two individuals warrant a note of appreciation: Tami (Shannon) Combs and Nelson Thompson.

Tami is a former newspaper journalist who has moved on to a more noble occupation. Without a doubt, when Tami worked in the newspaper profession, she was the absolute best at providing local fair coverage. No one – before or since – has covered the fair as thoroughly and as accurately as Tami.

Last week, I took approximately 250 fair photos. Two or three of them were actually in focus, too. Every time I snapped a photo, Tami received an e-mail.

"Who's this on the horse?" I'd ask.

"How do you spell the last name of the boy holding the chicken?"

"This judge looks like Danny Long, but I don't think he is. Do you know the judge in the photo?" (It wasn't Danny.)

Tami provided answers to each question. When I saw her at the fair on Thursday or Friday, she told me her husband was ready to take her cell phone away. If that happens, I will buy her a new one for the 2013 Highland County Fair.

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Nelson Thompson is another godsend to the community when it comes to helping promote events like the county fair. With the Hillsboro Indians football game on my calendar this past Friday evening, I knew I was going to miss some livestock sales.

I asked (begged?) Nelson for his assistance. As always, he came through. Nelson is a great photographer. More importantly, he and his wife, Pam, are great people. Their firefighting son is a good guy, too. Thank you, Nelson.

Lastly, Theresa Luschek was kind enough to drop off the sales committee reports on the livestock auctions from this year's fair. We'll do our best to include as much information as we can in the 2012 Highland County Press Post-Fair Edition.

(Oh, and for a shameless promotional spot: It's not too late to schedule your advertisements in the Post-Fair publication. Just call us at 840-9490. Our rates are more reasonable than you might be used to elsewhere.)

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Sept. 11 observance

Much has been written about the 11th annual memorial observance of September 11, 2001. I reported on the event as it happened and I've written from gut feelings about the fateful day in American history.

Instead of rewriting from a previous column, let me share this from Lt. Col. Brad Wenstrup.

"It was a Tuesday morning just like today, 11 years ago, when we sat in disbelief as we saw our nation under attack. On that day, we suffered many losses, but we also witnessed incredible stories of heroism.

"One such hero was Todd Beamer. Todd and his fellow passengers on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania were called into service that day. As Todd charged 'Let's Roll,' he and others on that flight willingly and deliberately sacrificed their lives to save hundreds of unknown others.

"On September 11th, 2001, many people were called to serve. Their service was above and beyond what most of us will ever be asked to do. … The idea of service is to leave something better than we find it. Today, each and every one of us are being asked to serve in some way or another. The direction of our country depends on all of us being concerned for our shared future, and for our children.

"Whether military or civilian, public servant or not, we all have a duty to preserve and protect the freedoms and liberties that are America. … It is our duty not to forget."

Thanks, Brad. And we won't forget.

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This old newspaper hack missed Pastor Shane Montgomery on the 11th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

For the past few years, Shane has led a memorial service on the courthouse lawn in remembrance of those lives lost on 9/11. In fact, Shane – with a few volunteers – read the roll call of each and every person who perished at the hands of terrorists.

I think Kirby Ellison organized the first anniversary memorial of Sept. 11 a decade ago.

To the best of my (limited) knowledge, there was no 9/11 observance on the courthouse lawn this year. That's too bad. It really is.

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Legal eagles

On an unrelated topic, Greenfield's Liza Dietrich deserves a well-earned pat on the back this week.

Liza (the daughter of Don and Cindi) is mentioned in a story by Mark Godsey, professor of law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the director of the Rosenthal Institute for Justice/Ohio Innocence Project (OIP).

According to the article, "Ohio inmate Al Cleveland, who was convicted of murder in 1996, has been a client of Jennifer Bergeron of the Ohio Innocence Project for many years. His case has also been investigated at various points in time by the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University and private investigator Martin Yant.

"Today, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the evidence compiled over the years is sufficient to meet the 'actual innocence' Shlup exception, and overturned the lower court’s decision and remanded the case for further proceedings."

Godsey said OIP staff attorney Jennifer Bergeron had a major victory for OIP client Al Cleveland, "who has been in prison for 21 years for a murder he didn't commit. In a habeas corpus appeal, the court found evidence of actual innocence, and remanded for proceedings consistent with its strongly worded opinion. We hope this will lead to the exoneration and release of Al in the not too distant future after remand.

This is a victory that results from the many years of blood, sweat and tears of Jennifer and her law students. Students who worked on the case include: Jason Goldschmidt, Andy Cassady, Carrie Waide, Liza Dietrich, and now graduates Hilly McGahan, Lauren Creditt, Stacey Skuza and Lauren Pressley."

Congratulations, All. And a special tip of the cap to Greenfield's Liza Dietrich.

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Leave 'em laughing

Oh, yes. One more thing. To answer those friends who have asked what I think about the first public schoolteachers' strike in Chicago in 25 years – under Mayor (and Obama confidant) Rahm Emanuel, yes, I see the humor.

If Rahm didn't know Scott Walker (Wisconsin governor) a week ago, I'll bet he has him on speed dial. Maybe Ohio Gov. John Kasich as well.

The average teacher in the Chicago Public School has 13.7 years of experience and is paid about $71,200 (before benefits), according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

That $71,200 salary is roughly $50,000 more than Ohio's per-capita income and more than double Ohio's average household income. The median income for a household in Chicago is $46,877.

So how many of you reading this are making $71,200 a year from the taxpayers and contemplating going on strike? Anyone? Of course not. Buckeyes are better than that. 

According to the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago teachers currently work 170 instructional days and 1,039 instructional hours per year. CBS News reports that salary figures provided by the Chicago Public Schools show teachers here have the highest average salary of any city in the nation. The Chicago Teachers Union insists Chicago teachers rank second behind New York City.

Oh, the irony of reading about a teachers' union angry at a Democrat mayor and former Obama chief of staff because he dared to criticize a union – while placing his own children in a private school.

You can't make this stuff up – even from the middle of 53 wooded acres in the middle of nowhere. No kidding.

Rory Ryan is maintaining a sense of humor as the world turns.