For those of you who do want to send more of your income to any government agency, remember that you can always do that. For any tax levy you support, should it fail, simply calculate your monthly tax burden had it passed, and send the check to the appropriate agency. There's nothing stopping you, after all. But leave your taxpaying neighbors alone.

Lord Acton warned us more than a century ago: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. He wasn't talking about electric power in the late 1800s, but his words are as applicable today as they were then.

Not wanting to be the one who puts a damper on Mother Nature's good graces in this Winter of our Content, I nonetheless risk incurring her wrath in late February or beyond. Let's face it, Highland County has not, to this point, had a typical winter. Snowfall has been minimal. Sub-zero temperatures nonexistent. Perhaps we've used an ice scraper on our windshield four or five times since December 1. Simply put, the area highways and byways have been ASG (All Systems Go.)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse bring Conquest (Pestilence), War, Famine and Death. The Four Horsemen of the 2012 Republican presidential campaign bring Gingrich, Paul, Romney and Santorum. Seriously, it's come down to THESE guys for the once Grand Old Party?

Our first order of business this week is to wish a very happy anniversary to Ernie B. and Rita K. Blankenship. What an amazing milestone: Fifty years of marriage! From their East North Street home to the palatial estate on the ridge overlooking the city, Ernie and Rita have always been humble, caring and community minded citizens.

Bill Horne warned us. He really did. ...PUCO’s response – half-hearted as it is – is on our website.

One year ago this month, in a Feb. 28, 2011 news release by American Electric Power, the electric utility company filed a request for an increase in its distribution rates. By its own admission, AEP said the increase in a customer’s total monthly bill would be approximately $4.38 or 4.05 percent in 2012. Imagine our surprise – and others' – when our residential bill increased by 60 percent last month. The distribution fee was higher than the electricity cost.

Frankly, there's not much from all of my past experiences that I can draw from to rationalize this type of behavior from a public official. He seemed to be angry at this newspaper and, at the same time, angry at one of his primary campaign opponents who was attending the public meeting. (For the record, I have never written about the mayor's hair or sleeping habits. I don't care about either. Nor does anyone else. Get over yourself.)

Yes, it's been said many times. There are watchdogs. And then there are lapdogs. Some dogs will hunt. Some dogs are best left on the porch.

When doing evaluations, above all else, keep it real. KEEP IT REAL?! What is this, 1975? No kidding!! The guys in suits actually told us to "keep it real." I laughed so hard that my Montezuma's Revenge made a surprise attack and I missed the next 30 minutes of the corporate insanity while becoming well acquainted with Bootie's men's room.

Now, back to the best sports movies. A couple of nights ago, I tried to come up with the five best sports movies. I started with "Remember the Titans," "Brian's Song," and "Bang the Drum Slowly." The latter two are old school. Many of our readers don't remember Brian Piccolo or even Gale Sayers. As for "Bang the Drum Slowly," this was a baseball movie with Robert De Niro as the catcher who was dying of cancer. De Niro always reminded me of our high school centerfielder, Clarence Brabson. The same look. The same mannerisms. The same toughness.

The nation's Republican leaders could do worse than bringing Gov. McDonnell to the forefront. And they probably have.

The Ohio Legislature and Ohio citizens have been satisfied with these legal sections and have not amended them for nearly half a century and more than half a century, respectively. Simply put, the statutes are specific and logical.

There's a photo of the depot for the old Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad, which traveled through Greenfield. According to local stories, Henry Ford (yes, the Henry Ford of Michigan) cut off the shipment of steel for automobiles by way of the DT&I to the Patterson Company, fearing the Greenfield competition. The Greenfield Grain and Hay Company is in there with the Iseman family photos. On Page 26, you'll find actress June Knight wearing a pair of Wilknit Hosiery pantyhose (nylons?).

There's a photo of the depot for the old Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad, which traveled through Greenfield. According to local stories, Henry Ford (yes, the Henry Ford of Michigan) cut off the shipment of steel for automobiles by way of the DT&I to the Patterson Company, fearing the Greenfield competition. The Greenfield Grain and Hay Company is in there with the Iseman family photos. On Page 26, you'll find actress June Knight wearing a pair of Wilknit Hosiery pantyhose (nylons?).