With thanks for the support, love and kindness demonstrated by the Highland County community throughout the year, The Highland County Press family wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, and a bright new year.

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) has released a new oversight report, “Wastebook 2011” that highlights over $6.5 billion in examples of some of the most egregious ways your taxpayer dollars were wasted. This report details 100 of the countless unnecessary, duplicative and low-priority projects spread throughout the federal government.

Hobart employees this week made a $450 donation to  the Highland County Homeless Shelter in Hillsboro. In addition to the cash donation, Hobart also donated janitorial supplies, canned food items and eight honey-baked hams.

Wishes can come true at Christmastime. And sometimes, it takes a community pulling together to make those Christmas wishes come true. 

Throughout the month of December, the employees at the Highland County Prosecutor's Office have endeavored to fulfill some Christmas wishes for a local family through the Highland County Community Action Organization's "Adopt A Family" program. 

Federal and state tax dollars totaling $1 million have been secured for the Greenfield rail line improvements, according to State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger.

Concerns about this rule and its potential to cause significant constraints in electricity reliability have been raised repeatedly this year in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which Senator Portman is a member. The concerns have been raised by both Republicans and Democrats on the Committee.

A Hillsboro man has taken out petitions as an Independent to run for Highland County commissioner.
  Joel Tucker took out petitions this week to run against incumbent Republican Tom Host.

"This was a passing discussion that never made it to the agenda; now it's an action item. This might be viewed as an arbitrary decision that is unfair by some. It seems that we are making the elected officeholders go over budget, and I don't know that I have seen an official request from any officeholders that would lead us down this path." – Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer

State Senators Troy Balderson (R  Zanesville) and David Daniels (R  Greenfield) joined Governor John Kasich on Wednesday morning to watch as House Bill 364 was signed into Ohio law.

State Senators Troy Balderson (R  Zanesville) and David Daniels (R  Greenfield) joined Governor John Kasich on Wednesday morning to watch as House Bill 364 was signed into Ohio law.

Hunters killed an additional 16,766 deer, including 267 in Highland County, during the extra weekend of gun hunting, December 17-18, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.