Is there a way out of our impasse?

View from the Hill

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 26 February 2013 11:50

It’s early Monday morning. The day’s news is all about the coming snowstorm. According to The Weather Channel, this is winter storm “Rocky.” Let’s hope it lives up to its name and delivers a knock-out blow to the drought.

Since when did someone decide to name all weather events, including snowstorms? I guess it shows how much attention I pay to the folks who make such decisions.

I can imagine, as every little thunder cloud wanders by, somebody in never-never land comes up with a name for it.

“Oh, look! I see cloud bank Ivan! He’s even running into cold air mass, I’da Know! And they are spawning a bunch of little ones, Hughie, Louie and Dooey!”

OK, now. Back to reality, please.... There’s one problem with going...

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Finally, a good deal for the silly-product buyer

Fearless Farm Frau

Written by Shana Thornhill Tuesday, 19 March 2013 13:35

Most of you know that going to the store with small children can be quite the adventure. If they’re not touching everything in sight, they’re asking for something. “Can we get this?” is repeated ad nauseam.

Some of their requests are a little outlandish. I really don’t think that a 5-year-old wants that tin of caviar.

That habit seems to perpetuate itself into adulthood. It’s easy to justify this or that, just because. Personally, I don’t spend much money on fancy shoes, manicures or makeup simply because the chickens really aren’t that impressed when I do.

My purchases tend toward the practical: farm implements, tools, boots and jeans. But, give me a seed catalog or show me some chickens or horse tack, and I could...

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Daydream a glimpse of future life?

Horizons

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Friday, 29 March 2013 15:22

Every time I have attempted to start writing this column for the past few hours, I have drifted away into a daydream, usually a memory or fantasy about New York City.

So, finally I have concluded that writing a worthwhile column is not going to happen. Instead, I am going to continue to daydream—only this time on paper.

Let me set the stage. This daydream is a fantasy about my future. It’s a dream of a typical day interning for the “Today Show,” probably during or before my senior year of college. I know my life probably won’t look like this then—especially because I will not have any spare money to do most of these things—but that’s why it’s called a fantasy.

So, come along and dream with me.

My alarm clock jerks...

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Fracking could drain reservoir level

Staff Soapbox

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 02 April 2013 11:54

You’d think this was an old problem that was solved years ago with construction of Marion Reservoir.

I have talked to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers people in the past who said water supplies for communities like Marion and Hillsboro are minor compared to the total volume of water that passes through Marion Reservoir.

But there is a new potential high-water-use demand, already begun, that could greatly draw down county reserves in the future.

It’s horizontal oil drilling, or “fracking,” which could use huge quantities of water. One such well being drilled already draws water from a creek flowing into the reservoir, its neighbors said.

According to analysis by Stephen Ellis with Morningstar Inc., a licensed index provider for...

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