It’s true: High school years really do fly by

Horizons

Written by Bailey Kaufman Tuesday, 27 November 2012 14:40

This is the fourth month I’ve written this column, and every month I contemplated writing about this crazy thing called “senior year.” And every month I managed to avoid it.

But, as I sit here in my cozy “writing corner” and listen as Michael Buble’s smooth voice calms my thoughts, I guess it may be time to finally put my senior hopes and fears on paper.

I’ll start at the beginning: freshman year. I’m not sure if this is normal, but I remember my first day of high school like it was yesterday.

My friends and I met before school and walked through the front doors of Hillsboro High School together as students there for the very first time (typical freshman move, I know).

At that time, Taylor Swift had recently released...

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Connections make ‘stars’ accessible

Parts of Speech

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 26 February 2013 11:49

“Even if what you’re working on doesn’t go anywhere, it will help you with the next thing you’re doing. Make yourself available for something to happen. Give it a shot.” —Cormac McCarthy

 

When I was little, I wrote letters to celebrity fan clubs to collect the glossy 8x10 autographed photos they would send back out. I don’t remember all of them but one that stands out is Nancy McKeon. Remember “Jo” from the TV show “The Facts of Life”? Yeah, that one. Why does that one stick with me? I have no idea.

It was an exciting process though. Writing the perfect letter, addressing the envelopes to “Fan Club” with my name and address in the return spot. And then waiting, waiting, waiting…checking the mail every...

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Living lives for all the world to see

Don\'t Ask Why

Written by David Vogel Tuesday, 19 March 2013 13:36

All the world’s a stage. I think Shakespeare wrote that. Or Alan Alda.

At any rate, the line is as true today as it was when Jaques said it in, “As You Like It.” Or when Hawkeye put the toe tag on Frank. Whichever.

The meaning of the phrase, however, has changed. We are not all “merely players” as the monologue goes on to say, but stars in our own dramas, and we go to great lengths to make a spectacle for all to see.

(Pun alert.) My opthamologist makes a spectacle several times a day.

This may be true mostly for the 30-and-under demographic, but it seems that a lot of people go through their days putting on this production, like we’re broadcasting our lives for everyone around us.

I blame social media.

Take the simple...

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Letters (Mar. 10, 2013)

Letter to the Editor

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 09 April 2013 12:46

Fracking won’t affect water level much

 

In most of the media, I’ve been seeing a lot about how much water it takes to frack a well. The figure I see most is 2 million gallons of water per well.

Let’s see if I can put this in perspective. When we were farming we had three irrigation wells pumping a total of 3,000 gallons of water per minute—every six hours a million gallons. So 12 hours for 2 million gallons, and in 24 hours enough water to frack two wells.

What about Marion Reservoir? One acre foot of water is enough water to cover one acre one foot deep. Three acre feet is 1 million gallons, and six acre feet is 2 million gallons, enough to frack one well.

At normal level, Marion Reservoir is 6,100 acres. Take six...

Read more: Letters (Mar. 10, 2013)