A few odds and ends and mishegoss just to fill some space

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Mishegoss (also spelled mishegaas, meshugaas, or mishigas) is a Yiddish slang term that means craziness, foolishness or senseless behavior. The word stems from the Yiddish meshegas and is rooted in the Hebrew word meshuggah, which means crazy.

Leave it to Gary Lewis to become perhaps the first person in my nearly five consecutive decades in printing to have mishegoss published in one of my printed materials – either from Rotary Forms Press, Inc. or any one of the half-dozen newspapers where I found almost gainful employment.

As we reported last week, the current Hillsboro City Council member and former Hillsboro city auditor asked to go “on a soapbox” with comments against the state at the most recent council meeting.

Council approved a resolution authorizing city auditor Dawson Barreras to transfer money from the General Fund to the Miscellaneous Government-Pro Services Department, pursuant to ORC 5705.14(E). The legislation was introduced as an emergency in March, but no vote was taken after a motion to suspend the three-reading rule failed to pass. It involves moving the money for the payment of the law director, as the city is currently contracting with Hannah Bivens, following the resignation of former director Randalyn Worley, who was in an elected position.

At council’s April meeting, Barreras asked council not to take any action until he could confirm from the state whether legislation was necessary or if they could “just move this money into the law director Pro Services line instead of Miscellaneous Government.” The auditor told council last week that the state verified that the action required council approval.

“After talking with Mr. Lewis and (SSD) Shawn Adkins, we were thinking that we would maybe be able to do this transfer without council approval,” Barreras said. “I did get word from our auditors from the state of Ohio saying that we will need to have council legislation, and I asked them verbatim, ‘if I make this transfer without council approval, will I be hit on an audit?’ And they said, ‘you absolutely will be.’”

Although Lewis agreed with comments from Adkins — who said he would “back our auditor 100 percent because I don’t think anybody wants to be liable for that kind of money” — the former city auditor Lewis asked to go “on a soapbox” with comments against the state.

“This absolutely irritates me,” Lewis said. “This council passed a budget last year for this year, and we did it by department, and this money is within the department that we approved the money for. All it is is just moving it from one line down to another line. It should be as simple as that. 

“We’re called home rule for a reason. If we're not breaking any federal or state laws, we should be able to do what we want to do. Council passed on that level where that money is. It shouldn't matter which line item that it is in, but the state legislature, in all their infinite wisdom, does not trust us hicks down here to be able to run our own budgets.”

Lewis added that it is “just absolutely irritating that we have to go through all of  this bureaucratic mishegoss.”

Bureaucratic mishegoss, indeed.

* * *

• This morning, for no particular reason, I drove down to the Railroad Street city park just to look around. 

In the 1970s and 1980s, I spent countless hours at those basketball courts. Even in the winter months. I remember shoveling snow around the second basketball rim from the parking lot, which was my favorite. This was probably 1978 or '79. It was probably 35-40 degrees on a Saturday. 

Within an hour, enough guys showed up for a game. That's just how it was back then.

Over the years, the park fell into disrepair and neglect. Today, with the pickleball courts, basketball courts and playground, it looks great. I may have to stop by and see if I can still sink a few layups.

* * *

• I was happy this week to read in The HCP that John Grimes was selected for posthumous induction in Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame. A well-deserved honor.

The Ohio Agricultural Council is set to honor the 2026 awardees who have made lasting contributions to Ohio’s agricultural industry. The ceremony, celebrating its 60th year, will be held Friday, Aug. 7 and is expected to draw more than 600 attendees, including community leaders, industry professionals and family members.

John dedicated his career to advancing Ohio’s beef industry through education, innovation and hands-on production. During his decades-long tenure with The Ohio State University Extension, he worked directly with producers across the state, delivering practical, research-based programs on cattle management, forage systems and marketing strategies that improved efficiency and profitability.

Beyond OSU Extension, John remained deeply connected to production agriculture as the owner of Maplecrest Farms, a respected seedstock operation known for high-quality Angus and Simmental cattle. He and his family also helped strengthen the connection between producers and consumers through Maplecrest Meats & More, a direct-to-consumer venture highlighting locally raised beef.

* * *

• And then there was this infamous fish photo sent by Gov. Mike DeWine's office and posted at https://highlandcountypress.com/news/dewine-celebrates-inland-fish-ohio….

DeWine and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife celebrated Ohio’s inland fishing during the Governor’s Inland Fish Ohio Day. This year’s event was held at Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County. 

Let's just say the photo didn't entice any would-be anglers to fish Lake Hope.

The big one probably got away.

* * *

• A belated congrats to my son-in-law and HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha, who earned multiple awards in this year's Ohio Prep Sports Media Association annual writing and photography contest.

In addition to earning honors in the Game Story and Column Writing categories, Forsha also placed third in the Division 3 Writer of the Year category.

The longtime HCP sports editor has won numerous awards for his outstanding coverage of local and regional sports.

As Whiteoak Hall of Fame baseball coach Chris Veidt told me, the recognition for Stephen was very well-deserved. I agree.

Stephen and I have worked together for more than 20 years. I often joke that I was fairly good at his job for three years – and it almost killed me. Covering more than 300 sports events a year across the Buckeye State – with many tournament road games of more than 300 round-trip miles (OHSAA mishegoss) – takes its toll.

But Stephen never shows it. He just moves on to cover the next event. And whether a local team is winning and advancing or falls a bit short, his coverage is always positive. Stephen has never – not once – called out a player for an error, missed free throw, interception or dropped pass that could have changed the game's outcome. 

Simply put, Stephen is the best sports editor in the history of Highland County newspapers. Anyone else is searching for second place.

I can't say the same. I once wrote that Hillsboro's JD Wagoner – while trying to throw out a runner at home plate from center field at Shaffer Park's Legion diamond – airmailed it halfway to Clear Creek and the runner scored. 

Sorry, JD.

* * *

• Lastly, there was this phone call today that our VP Angie Matticks received from a trusted advertiser who said she was told by another local media company (you mean there is another one?) that The Highland County Press has ceased home delivery. 

There are a few things that I have never and will never allow from my staff. We do not discuss any other competing business. Period. If for any reason, that business needs addressed, I'll do it.

Angie handled the call professionally as always. (She actually does home deliveries around her residence in Paint Township. She knows.)

For the record, The Highland County Press has had a combination of home deliveries and special location store placements of our newspapers since 1999. I can provide a list of thousands of folks who receive our paper every week (often double-wrapped due to the weather).

We take our job and responsibility seriously. To those liars who cast aspersions to the contrary, stop by 128 South High any time. I'll set you straight in short order.

Maybe my pal in Dallas needs a call.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press, Highland County's ONLY locally owned and operated newspaper.