District maps, final budget still unsettled matters

Capitol Ideas

Written by Rep. Bob Brookens Tuesday, 15 May 2012 14:39

Days 86 through 90 of the session flew by, with little good accomplished. We’re now on overload. Consti­tu­tionally, we meet for 90 days, but a resolution was passed earlier to give us through May 31. I hope we don’t take that long. The story is we could be back home Wednesday, May 16. Don’t count on it.

Well, the House and Senate have each now passed their respective budgets. The joint conference committee has been meeting, trying to hammer out the differences. They’re not done.

That’s the one thing we must pass before we adjourn.

However, the real monkeys on our backs remain the governor’s wish for a tax plan to be passed this year, and the matter of getting redistricting maps passed.

We still have no congressional...

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Changes pending as time marches

View from the Hill

Written by Paul Penner Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:16

Time marches on, whether we like it or not. Whether we focus on our personal lives, our health or whatever, we have no choice but to move forward into the future.

As for our health, the eyes grow dim, hair falls out and places form new places with hanging skin—where we never new there were places to begin with. Skin around the eyes begin to droop. Hair grows everywhere except where we want it to grow. Muscles turn into mush, no matter how much effort we make to retain that youthful look.

Then, the really bad stuff happens. Hormonal and chemical imbalances plays havoc with the body and mind. If you think raging hormones as a teen was a nightmare, imagine what it’s like when they disappear, faster than a speeding bullet.

The mind...

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Adding an alligator was briefly tempting

Fearless Farm Frau

Written by Shana Thornhill Tuesday, 20 November 2012 15:57

I think I have now officially seen it all. I know, I’m still pretty young yet (although I don’t usually feel that way until I’ve had my cup or three of morning coffee). Still, there comes a time in your life when you’ve finally seen the absolute last thing you expected to see.

I was at Tractor Supply buying feed last week. I’d rather not have to go all the way to McPher­son, but nobody around here sells non-medicated chick feed, and I’m all about no antibiotics in my chickens. I grabbed a Rural Messenger, since I enjoy many of the columns, as well as looking over the classifieds to see if anything we need is offered and affordable.

You all know how much I love animals. A friend once almost talked me into getting a wallaby...

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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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