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A few kudos, a thank-you or two, and a long goodbye

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Rory Ryan

Well, good for old John Durham, who summed up the last seven years of political bull spit as follows: “We conclude that the (Justice) Department and FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law.”
    
No kidding.
    
Special counsel Durham concluded that the FBI should never have launched an investigation into connections between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, according to a report compiled over the last three years and released last week.
    
Durham’s 300-plus page report also states that the FBI used “raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence” to launch the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation, but used a totally different standard when weighing concerns about alleged election interference regarding Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
    
Kudos to Sean Hannity for being right for the last seven years, and shame on the mainstream media for accepting undeserved awards for publishing misinformation about nonexistent Russian collusion.
    
Some people simply have no shame. In other words, there’s nothing to see here. They lied to the world for almost a decade, and will never acknowledge those lies nor apologize for them.
    
But enough about that. No one takes them seriously anyway. Let’s move on.

* * *

• This past week’s mail brought a couple of interesting items. First off, while I was anticipating the arrival of a new gas cap for my wife’s Jeep Compass to correct an emissions issue, the package that arrived felt more like a hardcover book than a Jeep gas cap.
    
Much to my surprise, I received a copy of Dr. Robert T. Sharp’s new book, “The Bull in the Darkness and the One-Eyed Dog,” a followup to his well-received classic, “No Dogs in Heaven? Scenes from the Life of a Country Veterinarian.”
    
As much as I enjoyed “No Dogs in Heaven?,” Dr. Sharp’s latest work might be even better. Without a doubt, my favorite chapter begins on Page 33 and is about a dog named Pierre, later to be known as Clipper.
    
As Dr. Sharp writes, “It was almost unfair to take Clipper to the local high school on Career Day. The guidance counselor learned that if you invite a vet, he’ll probably bring a dog.”
    
With more than two dozen other tables set up for Career Day, it was soon obvious that the students were more interested in the vet’s table – and Clipper – than all the other businesses that were represented.
    
“Why does he get to bring a dog?” someone asked. “You’re cheating, Sharp,” another business owner yelled.
    
The chapter on Clipper is worth the price of the book. Another gem by Highland County’s own Dr. Rob Sharp. Read it. You won’t be disappointed. 
    
It’s available at https://www.amazon.com/Bull-Darkness-One-Eyed-Dog-Veterinarian/dp/14930….

* * *
    
• The Buford Church of Christ Lighthouse Ladies brightened my week with a very nice thank-you card signed by several church members. I’m not sure that we’ve really done anything to deserve the note of appreciation, but it was certainly a nice gesture. 

Thank you, Lighthouse Ladies of Buford.

* * *

• Mickey Parrott and I met in August 2002, if memory serves. I had just been hired as the publisher and editor of a Hillsboro newspaper, and Mickey was soon hired as a sales associate for us. 

Along with HCP VP Angie Matticks and Sports Editor Stephen Forsha, the four of us have worked together for close to two decades. 
    
It is my hope that we would continue to work together for another decade or more. That just isn’t in the cards, however, as Mickey and Doug plan to enjoy their well-deserved retirement years, beginning May 31 of this year.
    
Mickey probably will not like this column, but that’s too bad. 
    
She has served the Highland County business community exceptionally well for more than two decades in the newspaper business and other professional endeavors. In addition to working with so many local business owners with class and professionalism, she also has been a great co-worker. Always.
    
Mickey gave us a months-long notice that May 31 would be her last day with The HCP
    
I’ve tried and tried to get her to reconsider; but that’s her choice, and I not only do I respect it, but I envy it. She’s earned it.
    
For all of you who know and appreciate Mickey and have worked with her for the last 21 years, please send her an email, stop by the office or drop her a line to congratulate her on this well-earned retirement.
    
We will miss Mickey, but if she ever gets bored in retirement, she will always have a job with her friends at The Highland County Press.
    
Thank you, Mickey. You have our number if you change your mind.
    
Meanwhile, enjoy. You deserve it.
    
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County’s only locally owned and operated newspaper.

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