A cavalcade of comedy and a few words of appreciation

The other day (or maybe it was a few years ago, my memory isn't what it once was), two old men approached me and asked if Highland County was a good place to "settle down."

I'd like to think that Highland County is a very good place to "settle down."

Especially, if that's your intent.

Certainly, it's as good – if not better – than many other places.

My token curiosity entering into the conversation, I asked the elderly, woebegone tandem: "So, what brings you to Highland County? Family ties?"

"Nope," they said.

"Employment opportunities?"

"Not really," they answered in unison.

"The mountains? The seaside? The weather? Surely, not the weather."

One of old chaps, maybe Harry Hill was his name, replied: "None of the above. We're just looking for a place to settle into and see what develops."

The other fellow introduced himself as "The Rev. Petroleum Vesuvius Nasby, a Copperhead
and a Democrat who was presently impersonating a Republican."

"So, what do you think about our chances?," the older of the two asked.

"You've come to the right town," I replied. "Welcome. And who knows? You may have a relative or two ahead of you."

* * *

Moving on, a few acknowledgments are in order. First and foremost, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, perhaps the last thinking man in the United States Senate, has come up with a 66-day countdown to reality.

In 66 days, give or take, Congress will have to choose whether to fund the so-called "Affordable Health Care Act," otherwise known as Obamacare.

Frankly, I cannot imagine any real American wanting any federally mandated medical insurance program named after Obama or Clinton or Bush or Reagan or George By God Washington.

The whole concept of the federal government taking over damned near 20 percent of the economy as it relates to medical insurance is a bigger scam than the monorail in Springfield or bogus music lessons in Hillsboro.

Senator Cruz has been the most outspoken as well as the most intelligent voice against Obamacare. He is challenging other Republican lawmakers to stand in similar opposition.

Let's hope that a few supposedly conservative Ohio congressman and senators (say, Rob Portman, Brad Wenstrup, Mike Turner, Jim Jordan, etc.) will soon submit their respective newspaper columns in support of Sen. Ted Cruz's common-sense approach.

But I wouldn't count on it.

* * *

Don Fender received a most well-deserved honor this this week. We'll get to that in a moment.

But first, Sara Wiskerchen, the managing director of Media Communications for the National Association of Realtors, deserves a word or two of gratitude.

Due to my personal lack of journalistic protocol this week, I failed to make a copy of a very nice letter from National Association of Realtors President Gary Thomas to Don Fender.

Rather than risk a possible misquote, I contacted Sara early this morning. She tracked down President Thomas' letter to Mr. Fender and was kind enough to email the letter to The Highland County Press. Thank you, Sara Wiskerchen, and the National Association of Realtors.

More importantly, thank you, Don Fender, for all you have done and continue to do for Highland County.

Like many, many local residents, I am very happy to say that I have known Mr. Don Fender for the past 40 years (or more). That said, I cannot even attempt to document all the good that he has done for this community. (Most of which, he has done without fanfare.)

But I'll close with this. My parents have always held Don Fender in very high regard.

That's good enough for me.

Thanks, Don. And congratulations.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.