Around Town – April 14

Orchids to …

• the person who found the dead dog on County Road 50N and contacted the owner on Friday.

• the person who turned in my purse at Walmart, from Betty.

• Four Seasons for hosting the soup and sandwich buffet for CRH volunteers and for the gifts, from Donna Rueff.

• Jim Lucas and others who have written great clarifications of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

• Jake Baker for making the gold honor roll, from Grandmother and Granddaddy.

• citizens who believe Columbus deserves better and who know for their support of Jim Lienhoop to count, they need to go to the poll and cast their vote.

• Judge Stephen Heimann for telling it as it is and posting the facts of the case.

• Jason Hyer for a great letter pointing out the obvious.

• Chuck Wells for returning my call and explaining a question on Around Town, from Sandy.

• Laurence Brown for your well-written letter illuminating the issues in the current administration and showing why we need to elect Jim Lienhoop.

• Jan and Janie for helping, checking, caring and being kind to Nita, from Nita and Nancy.

• Coach from Coaches Cutz for helping out a fledgling business, thanks a million, from Chris and Laurel Wilson at Laurel’s Hair Studio.

• my neighbor Kevin Kidd, many thanks, from Joan and Ed.

• former department head Laurence Brown for his service to the residents of Columbus and his insightful, first-person account of the leadership style practiced in City Hall.

• Jim Lienhoop for addressing the high turnover rate of department heads in the city of Columbus under the present administration, from Garry Pugh.

• Alan Purtlebaugh at Columbus Carpet and Linoleum for his friendliness, expertise and offering a cold beverage to his customer, from a happy customer.

• Tricia Ryan at Brand’s Lumber for the wonderful kitchen she designed for us, from a happy customer.

• John Lipson for his expertise with our doors and shelves, from Jackie and Vanessa.

• Elizabeth Lipson for sending home delicious sandwiches with us, from Jackie and Vanessa.

• Mayor Kristen Brown for taking the time to hear my suggestions and making my daughter smile since she really wanted to meet the mayor.

• Lucy for the work you did in my yard, from Alma.

• Lori for mowing my yard.

• Mayor Kristen Brown for always trying to do the right thing and staying above the ugliness, from a very proud constituent.

Onions to …

• the person who hit and killed the dog on County Road 50N and did not stop Friday.

• the tax office that charged me $519 for tax prep when I only made $23,000 last year.

• the group of women who are making phone calls to the public telling untruths about the mayor.

• anyone who thinks we need a new mayor when in fact we need a new city council.

• whoever stole my 11-year-old son’s bike on Chandler Lane, from a very upset mother who can’t afford to replace it.

• the unconcerned store employees who were more concerned about filling out an incident report than helping the poor, elderly women who had tripped and fallen and needed an ambulance.

• the family that is unwilling to accept the truth.

• the current administration that has opened our city to possible lawsuits for the improper demolition of homes.

• federal officials who grant approval to a CSX investment yielding cost savings 15 times its cost but at the same time decline to shake loose any money to mitigate its effect on our community.

• the candidate who excessively uses transparency as a buzz word to the point it has lost its meaning.

• the letter writer who must have never watched a State of the Union address to see that the opposite side of the aisle doesn’t always applaud for the president.

• the city for continuing to ignore the drainage problem that has been ongoing for years on Central Avenue every time it rains.

• those who have given local law enforcement a black eye.

• anyone that thinks any deal with Iran eventually obtaining a nuclear bomb is a good one.

• whomever changed the wording of my Onion to where it meant nothing.

• the agency that is aware of speeding complaints on county roads but does nothing to stop it.

• elected officials who are more concerned with losing tax revenue rather than cutting spending.

• all the doctors who have forgotten the Hippocratic Oath, who pick and choose who they see.

• the elected official for apparently not realizing that a 501(c)(3) corporation is not owned by individuals.

• those creating a community where there is fear of retribution for voicing your opinion and concerns.

• people that can’t take care of their property.

• those having poor audio and video at the debates.

• those who write letters and Orchids about a candidate’s collaboration but have not seen that person behaving poorly.

• the candidate for claiming collaboration and leadership when that person has been absent from important meetings.

• those who don’t know or ignore the facts for why many of the department heads quit or retired.

• those who say back home when you lived there a minute as a baby, which you don’t even remember, just to impress relatives.

• a branch of local law enforcement for not having a DUI task force.

• the Columbus City Council for their inappropriate behavior at the mayor’s State of the City address.

• the small-engine business that intentionally sabotaged my lawn mower.

• people who complain about the ongoing coverage of a death.

• two landlords for how they represented their property ownership in an argument at the mayoral debate Saturday.

• the manager who was rude when there was a problem with my rewards card when I was checking out Saturday at breakfast.

• the candidate who talks about collaboration but doesn’t demonstrate it.

• The Republic for printing an obvious sour-grapes letter.

• all the city council members for their actions during the State of the City address.

• the letter writer in Sunday’s paper who left rather than making Columbus better.

• the office for not having enough free tax forms for four people who do not have computers.

• the local party for not offering a candidate but trying to game the primary.

• candidates and elected officials who believe city government should fund the arts and nonprofits.

Happy Birthday to …

• Diana Mann, from Ryan, Molly, Regan, Frank, Mother and family.

• Kim King Smith, from Pastor Lewis and the Who So Ever Will Community Church.

• Florence Toll, from Bethel Baptist Church.

• Zachary Perry, from Mom (Brandy), Chelsea, Austin, Allison, Karson and Zhoie.

• Crissy Trimnell, from your family and Donna.

• Kandie Lee Dale, from Mama and Papa Freeman.

• Barbara Kinworthy, from Dove Ministries.

• Michelle Wood.

• Justin Len Ashcroft, from Grandpa Don and Grandma Penny Gilham.

• Chase Mathis, from Mom, Dad, Connor, Chance, Nana Ann, Papaw Eddie & the Steenbargers.

Belated Wishes to …

• Britni McKee on No. 21, make the most of it, from all your family and friends in Indiana, Texas and Colorado.

• Wanda Bryant, from Pastor Lewis and the Who So Ever Will Community Church.

• Henrietta McGaha, from Pastor Lewis and the Who So Ever Will Community Church.

• our mom Pearl Moody, from all of your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Happy Anniversary to …

• Tammie Pool on No. 31, from Randy.

• Cody and Emily Fleetwood, from Sharon Snyder

• Randy and Julie Snyder, from Sharon Snyder.

ANOTHER beautiful morning