Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses?
By
-
With apologies to Toby Keith and Willie Nelson...
A wise man once said: Old men cannot outrun young horses.
Did I tell you that I tried to catch a horse this past Wednesday? Well, suffice it to say that no good deed (or steed) goes unpunished.
Here’s what happened, straight from the horse’s ahh...mouth.
I was sitting in my Main Street office shortly before noon, when Angie Matticks walked in and asked me if I could catch a horse which had gotten loose between NCB and the HPD. Always up for an adventure, I said “Sure, I can catch a horse.” And, by golly, Mr. Ed, old Wilbur almost did.
I first spotted Seabiscuit sniffing a Dumpster behind Classic Real Estate. I casually walked up to the Noble Steed and said “Easy, Boy.” He immediately bolted south toward Paint Valley Supply. I ran after him, went inside the store and asked if a horse had passed through or if any Amish gentlemen were around who may be missing said horse.
I was told to try NCB. I did. A polite teller said the gentlemen were not at the bank. I left the bank and looked to the east, only to see a near-miss collision between a white utility van and a horse at the intersection of High and Walnut. But I was in hot pursuit. I caught up with Old Glue at the corner of South East and East Walnut, where he was feeding on last year’s grass.
“Oh, it’s you, again,” he seemed to be saying. “Easy, (gasp, gasp) Boy,” I replied, making a mental note to not ever again attempt to run down a horse while wearing a coat and tie. Fortunately, my "dress shoes" are a pair of casual Red Wings from Mae’s Shoe Station. My feet were still in the race.
A very pleasant young lady then pointed off to her left and said “Your horse went that way.”
“He’s not (gasp) my (gasp) horse!” I replied.
Alydar and I then headed due east for about 200 feet. We made a diagonal northeasterly turn that left me in the backyard of the Thompson Funeral Home. Which, I thought, was a good thing. Or, convenient, anyway, because I was about to die. We then circled back toward Walnut Street, hooked around a car or two, cut through another yard and headed toward the Cutting Crew on East Main.
And that, my friends, is no horse crap. It’s also where Seattle Slew and I parted company. When this horse hit East Main Street, it was Brother come to Jesus. He’d found the Lord. Or at least a familiar highway on his road home. I kid you not, he hit the Secretariat Gear about three strides onto Route 124 and opened up a 20-length lead on me.
But then, my luck changed. Beverly Durst saw the whole thing. She came charging out of the Cutting Crew, ordered me into her SUV, and the chase continued.
A few minutes later, we knew we’d found the horse by the long line of traffic just past Bagshaw Enterprises. Beverly pulled over and we walked up to Ron Priest of the HPD who just curiously seemed to have the situation well under control.
The horse’s owners had apprehended the AWOL Arabian easier than a quarterhorse can run a mile and a half on a sloppy track. Other officers assisted, and former Hillsboro treasurer Roger Huffman stopped to help, too.
Beverly kept saying she was just happy that the horse was safe and there were no accidents. Me, I just nodded my head. It’s hard to speak after chasing Man o’ War from here to Rocky Fork Lake. Easy, Boy, my ear.
***
John Levo a welcomed
addition to mayor's race
As I told HCP readers in January, former Hillsboro City Council member and retired bank executive John Levo just might run for mayor this year. On Wednesday, he made it official, by letting our own Brandy Chandler have the first interview on his candidacy for mayor of Hillsboro.
John served the city well on council and would be an honorable and straightforward city leader.
Former Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Mark Van Den Berg posted the following on our website at www.highlandcountypress.com: “Mr. Levo, while he was on council, always made his decisions based on solid information and research in a non-partisan manner.”
That’s been my observation, too, after many years of following city government.
Mr. Levo is running as an Independent and will certainly give city voters another option as the fourth candidate (thus far) for the mayor’s race.
***
Happy birthday, Lisa
Saturday is the birthday of one of the finest people I know. I’d mention her last name, but she’ll probably kill me as it is. (Although, you might find her name on Page 4 of The Highland County Press each week.)
Have a great day, Lisa.
The afghan is truly a work of art!
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
A wise man once said: Old men cannot outrun young horses.
Did I tell you that I tried to catch a horse this past Wednesday? Well, suffice it to say that no good deed (or steed) goes unpunished.
Here’s what happened, straight from the horse’s ahh...mouth.
I was sitting in my Main Street office shortly before noon, when Angie Matticks walked in and asked me if I could catch a horse which had gotten loose between NCB and the HPD. Always up for an adventure, I said “Sure, I can catch a horse.” And, by golly, Mr. Ed, old Wilbur almost did.
I first spotted Seabiscuit sniffing a Dumpster behind Classic Real Estate. I casually walked up to the Noble Steed and said “Easy, Boy.” He immediately bolted south toward Paint Valley Supply. I ran after him, went inside the store and asked if a horse had passed through or if any Amish gentlemen were around who may be missing said horse.
I was told to try NCB. I did. A polite teller said the gentlemen were not at the bank. I left the bank and looked to the east, only to see a near-miss collision between a white utility van and a horse at the intersection of High and Walnut. But I was in hot pursuit. I caught up with Old Glue at the corner of South East and East Walnut, where he was feeding on last year’s grass.
“Oh, it’s you, again,” he seemed to be saying. “Easy, (gasp, gasp) Boy,” I replied, making a mental note to not ever again attempt to run down a horse while wearing a coat and tie. Fortunately, my "dress shoes" are a pair of casual Red Wings from Mae’s Shoe Station. My feet were still in the race.
A very pleasant young lady then pointed off to her left and said “Your horse went that way.”
“He’s not (gasp) my (gasp) horse!” I replied.
Alydar and I then headed due east for about 200 feet. We made a diagonal northeasterly turn that left me in the backyard of the Thompson Funeral Home. Which, I thought, was a good thing. Or, convenient, anyway, because I was about to die. We then circled back toward Walnut Street, hooked around a car or two, cut through another yard and headed toward the Cutting Crew on East Main.
And that, my friends, is no horse crap. It’s also where Seattle Slew and I parted company. When this horse hit East Main Street, it was Brother come to Jesus. He’d found the Lord. Or at least a familiar highway on his road home. I kid you not, he hit the Secretariat Gear about three strides onto Route 124 and opened up a 20-length lead on me.
But then, my luck changed. Beverly Durst saw the whole thing. She came charging out of the Cutting Crew, ordered me into her SUV, and the chase continued.
A few minutes later, we knew we’d found the horse by the long line of traffic just past Bagshaw Enterprises. Beverly pulled over and we walked up to Ron Priest of the HPD who just curiously seemed to have the situation well under control.
The horse’s owners had apprehended the AWOL Arabian easier than a quarterhorse can run a mile and a half on a sloppy track. Other officers assisted, and former Hillsboro treasurer Roger Huffman stopped to help, too.
Beverly kept saying she was just happy that the horse was safe and there were no accidents. Me, I just nodded my head. It’s hard to speak after chasing Man o’ War from here to Rocky Fork Lake. Easy, Boy, my ear.
***
John Levo a welcomed
addition to mayor's race
As I told HCP readers in January, former Hillsboro City Council member and retired bank executive John Levo just might run for mayor this year. On Wednesday, he made it official, by letting our own Brandy Chandler have the first interview on his candidacy for mayor of Hillsboro.
John served the city well on council and would be an honorable and straightforward city leader.
Former Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Mark Van Den Berg posted the following on our website at www.highlandcountypress.com: “Mr. Levo, while he was on council, always made his decisions based on solid information and research in a non-partisan manner.”
That’s been my observation, too, after many years of following city government.
Mr. Levo is running as an Independent and will certainly give city voters another option as the fourth candidate (thus far) for the mayor’s race.
***
Happy birthday, Lisa
Saturday is the birthday of one of the finest people I know. I’d mention her last name, but she’ll probably kill me as it is. (Although, you might find her name on Page 4 of The Highland County Press each week.)
Have a great day, Lisa.
The afghan is truly a work of art!
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]