Today's Word of the Day is groma. I was happily ignorant of the word until my son – who is a schoolteacher – said to me (paraphrasing): "You used to be a surveyor, do you know what this is?" Colin had drawn a rudimentary picture of a groma.

I first met Brad Wenstrup in 2012, along with his former staff member Brian Shrive, who is now an attorney with the Clermont County Prosecutor's Office. I enjoyed speaking with both men. In our first meeting, Dr. Wenstrup talked about the core values associated with leadership, saying, "The Army has an acronym for 'leadership:' Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP)."

The day before Halloween 2023 was a Monday. It was a real Monday all the way around.

This has been an impressive week for Whiteoak High School. Longtime baseball coach Chris Veidt was selected to the 2024 class of the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and cross-country runner Landen Eyre won the Southeast District Division III Cross Country Championships at the University of Rio Grande for the second straight year.

Throughout Thursday, Oct. 12 and Friday, Oct. 13, almost every national news report included something about avoiding crowds on Oct. 13. I try avoid crowds every day, so it's an easy assignment for me. Except on Friday the 13th.

I have had AEP service for more than four decades at my home and business. I am not upset with my AEP billing or service. Had I discarded what at first glance I thought was junk mail, I would have unwittingly changed billing services. No thanks. I'll keep my billing – and more importantly my customer service – with AEP Ohio.

There's a right way and a wrong way to enter foreign countries. Some are more tolerant than others. I suspect if U.S. News and World surveyed the estimated 10 to 20 million illegals in the U.S., they would agree, this is the greatest nation on earth. Let's act like it – and let's be grateful that it is. If we can keep it.

One of my favorite Jimmy Buffett quotes is “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached.” And now it has a new leader of the band. For the rest of us, his music and stories live on.

The First Amendment is not in Kansas anymore. It died in the Jayhawk State this week. Newspaper co-owner dies after police raid.

Bob will always exemplify the can-do spirit of American entrepreneurship and community leadership. He did so much for Highland County. More than most of us will ever know. Godspeed, my friend. You will be missed. Thank you for every word of encouragement.

Yes, laughter is the best medicine. While this column may lack depth (what do you want for nothing, a rubber biscuit?), I'll close with this: Here's to four more years for Turd Ferguson; we all need the jocularity. Thanks, Joe, and the Cackler. Good health to the POTUS.

On Independence Day, July 4, let us not forget to think about the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and the prices many paid for their respective commitments to forming a new nation.

Since at least March 2013, Hillsboro city officials have been made aware that the city's lodging (motel) tax was improperly levied. Since 2013, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins has told anyone who would listen that this tax should not have been levied.  So has The Highland County Press.

There happens to be a little hole-in-the-wall joint in Adams County – in Winchester, to be precise – that does barbecue as well as anyone else in our neck of the woods. It's called Smokin' J's BBQ, located on S.R. 136 near the center of Winchester. In fact, Smokin' J's BBQ is on par with the famous Jack's Bar-B-Que at 416 Broadway in Nashville. Yes, the Ryan clan has been to both.

A tip of the cap (or mortarboard) goes to Washington Schools Superintendent Tom Bailey, Board of Education members Jennifer Lynch, Mark Chrisman, Kenneth Upthegrove, Zach Camp and Dennis Garrison and the faculty and administration. The new graduates will come to appreciate all you've done through the years. I'm guessing their parents also appreciated a formal and dignified commencement ceremony for the class of 2023 – a great example of how it should be done.