• Rory Ryan 31 December 2020

    Clarence Graham, 1931-2020: Remembering a titan in the newspaper profession

    I met Clarence Graham in the summer of 1990 at a bar and restaurant in Washington Court House. Three area newspapers were meeting to discuss a weekly football tab for the now-defunct South Central Ohio League, that included Jim Horne's Hillsboro Indians and Otis Wagner's McClain Tigers. Former publisher Phil Roberts and I rode together from Hillsboro to Court House. Along the way, Phil told me that among all Brown Publishing publishers, he had the greatest respect for Clarence Graham's editorial judgment. As a young sports editor, I simply put that information in my memory bank in case I might need it later on. I did.
  • Rory Ryan 30 December 2020
    'Dr.' Hunter Biden is smarter than 'Dr.' Barack Obama
    Joe Biden (er, JoeBama – pat. pending) recently said that his son, "Dr." Hunter Biden, was the smartest man he knows. Really? It seems that JoeBama needs to get out of his basement more often and meet a few people.
  • Rory Ryan 19 November 2020
    God bless Ohio Sheriff Richard K. Jones
    This evening, I asked some of our local law enforcement if their respective departments will be arresting anyone outside their home after 10 p.m. due to the DeWine curfew. My first reply was from Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin, who initially said "No." Then added, "I should've been more clear – absolutely not."
  • Rory Ryan 9 November 2020
    R.D. Hottle (1948-2020): A great American and patriot
    Godspeed, our friend, Bob Hottle. They just don't come any better.
  • Rory Ryan 9 November 2020
    R.D. Hottle (1948-2020): A great American and patriot
    Godspeed, our friend, Bob Hottle. They just don't come any better.
  • Rory Ryan 29 April 2020
    Political propaganda and a great history lesson
    Miss Claudia (an Ohio State Fair 4-H champion, by the way) produced, narrated, starred in and submitted a wonderfully humorous video of her take on the Spanish-American War, a war between Spain and the United States in the Caribbean and the Philippines in 1898. She dedicated it to Mr. Sheets. Lord knows, I hope he has a sense of humor. I would encourage our friends and readers to take a break from COVID-19 and watch this humorous history lesson at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnPHkpqHkYA.
  • Rory Ryan 10 February 2020
    A few midwinter roundball rimshots
    The thought occurred to me over the weekend: Does anyone remember the last time an Ohio high school sectional or district basketball tournament was held in Highland County? Do we have to go all the way back to the Class A, AA and AAA high school breakdowns?
  • Rory Ryan 5 January 2020
    Godspeed, Ralph Holt – a true public servant
    Ralph Holt was one of the nicest gentlemen to hold public office in Highland County. I'm sure he had to make his share of tough calls and endure the usual criticism, but I'm willing to wager that he did it with the best interests of the community.
  • Rory Ryan 29 December 2019
    You've come a long way, Crusaders
    My first visit to the relatively new Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington High School was Saturday, Dec. 28. The occasion was to watch the Hillsboro Christian Academy Crusaders play Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy in the Pepsi Classic Holiday Tournament hosted by the high school.
  • Rory Ryan 29 December 2019
    You've come a long way, Crusaders
    My first visit to the relatively new Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington High School was Saturday, Dec. 28. The occasion was to watch the Hillsboro Christian Academy Crusaders play Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy in the Pepsi Classic Holiday Tournament hosted by the high school.
  • Rory Ryan 1 November 2019
    Nadler owes alphabet community an apology
    In Rep. Nadler’s haste to disparage the president of the United States before begging for more tricks and treats from his moronic supporters, Nadler determined that future presidents are restricted to men (him) and women (her).
  • Rory Ryan 25 September 2019
    No surprise with SOS opinion; now fix the ORC
    I ask the General Assembly to introduce legislation to amend ORC 733.02 to read identical to ORC 733.24 (replacing "village" with "city," of course) – “Mayor of village – The mayor of a village shall be elected for a term of four years, commencing on the first day of January next after his election. He (sic) shall be an elector of the village and shall have resided in the village for at least one year immediately preceding his election.”
  • Rory Ryan 10 September 2019
    From the Frying Pan to the Jaycees’ haunted house
    This week’s column was all set to be about my next vacation to the Frying Pan Tower Bed and Breakfast. But then, out of nowhere, John Levo emailed me about the former Hillsboro Jaycees organization.
  • Rory Ryan 10 September 2019
    From the Frying Pan to the Jaycees’ haunted house
    This week’s column was all set to be about my next vacation to the Frying Pan Tower Bed and Breakfast. But then, out of nowhere, John Levo emailed me about the former Hillsboro Jaycees organization.
  • Rory Ryan 21 July 2019
    Community loses a caring leader and longtime volunteer
    Michael Bradford was always about helping others, mostly with very little fanfare. His pleasant demeanor and willingness to help others will be missed in Highland County – and beyond. I know we will miss working with Michael in his professional capacity as well as through his considerable community service efforts. He was a good man. Godspeed.
  • Rory Ryan 2 July 2019
    Thanks, ODOT: Fizzleville is lovely this time of year
    Unless Bentonville has formed a recent Anti-ODOT Sign Thief Society that I don’t know about, I am blaming ODOT for this ordeal.
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