It is time that the people of Highland, Fayette, Pike, Pickaway, and Ross counties make the distinction between government and society. It is time that we take our society back from the government to promote “our happiness positively” through our charitable giving, which can only be done by lightening the burdens of taxation with a “No” vote on Nov. 8.

In the past few decades, Americans have gotten totally addicted to credit, thus debt. It has even become a social aspect when people rate themselves by their credit score. In comparison, last year in China, 96% of all new cars were paid for in cash.

Under SB5, paid sick leave and vacation days would be reduced for average public workers. However, members of the Legislature enjoy unlimited paid leave for any reason whatsoever.

If you haven’t made up your mind yet, I urge you to come to the AAUW Candidates Forum on Monday, Oct. 10,  starting at 6 p.m. This longstanding tradition allows for us to get an understanding of the candidates and the issues at hand.

We are a nonprofit shelter with no state or county funding. Most weeks, we survive on a wing and a prayer. My hope is that the people of Highland County will care enough to support our mission so that no animal has to go without. Please help to keep our shelter going. No donation is too small. Help us now so that we may continue to help them.

Don’t be fooled into believing that the 1 mill replacement levy proposed this Fall is the same as the one currently in place, because it is not.

If anyone thought our governor was finished in his attempt to break the back of the Ohio public schools with SB5, think again. As we speak, HB 136 is moving through the Ohio House.

After much discussion, the membership of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office believed it to be in the best interest of the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Highland County to forgo the increase that both the Fact Finder and Conciliator believed the County had the ability to fund and continue to have their pay scale frozen at the same level it has been at since January 1, 2008.

Greenfield can be rejuvenated! Other communities have done it, so why not Greenfield?

When Hillsboro voters, the people for whom the city is supposed to be organized, were asked the question, they voted by 59% in favor to 41% opposed to have wards drawn within 5% of the ideal population for a ward which is just the 2010 census population of the city divided by four.

By identifying government as the problem, and never the solution, Ronald Reagan gave Americans something to pound on like a pinata instead of accepting  responsibilities of citizenship.

National Assisted Living Week (NALW) will take place Sept. 11-17, and will feature the theme “Forever Proud.” On Friday, Sept. 16, we welcome Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink, who will be honoring the Highland House residence for National Assisted Living Week.

While the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce are affiliated and have a close working relationship in order to keep our local business community members educated and informed on legislative issues, the Ohio Chamber does not speak for our local Chamber.

Unless we the people go beyond what the right wing noise machine and its partners in the corporate media pump out practically 24/7 and seek the whole truth we are in danger of making the United States into one big version of Texas. WHAT THEN?

Why resort to removing legislative members from committees? Why deny us the right to testify on the bill? Why try to split the referendum into pieces on the ballot, and attempt to confuse voters by ignoring our constitution on whether this should be a yes or a no vote?