Orchids to …
• Diana Torres for helping your sister, Carmen Melendez, during the birth of your niece, Amie, five years ago.
• The Republic for putting a flag up in front of the building, from an appreciative veteran.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods for taking a bold step toward responsible gun ownership, with hopes that others will follow the lead.
• Sheriff Matt Myers and his team for their progressive approach to improve our community by testing Prison SMART.
• Michael at Best Buy for the speedy answer to my question.
• City Council and the mayor for rethinking the value of an enhanced, year-round Donner Center over the unpopular use of funds for a Riverfront park.
• Roger Gillespie for being such a caring person, from Lloyd and Mary.
• Russell McCabe Orthodontics in Columbus and his staff for being kind, courteous and going above and beyond their duties, and for being generous with retainers, from a satisfied consumer.
• Jody and Kevin at Needler’s Market for a great field trip and for the delicious fresh fruit you gave us for snacks, from all the Little Seeds at Little Seeds Preschool.
• Lee Watts at Zwanzigz, from a customer.
• Mancino’s staff for being friendly, efficient and giving the best service, from Kim King Smith.
• Columbus Regional Hospital sixth floor staff, especially Becky, Tiffany and Courtney, for excellent care and kindness during my stay, from Pete.
• the staff at Kroger Pharmacy for the customer assistance and satisfaction, from a happy father.
Onions to …
• anyone thinking a teacher with a gun is a good idea.
• those who don’t realize that allowing some educators to have firearms would make teachers become the first targets, even if they are unarmed.
• people who don’t realize there’s no such thing as an assault rifle.
• missed opportunities in classroom instruction due to hours of preparing specifically for a standardized test.
• the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles for increasing registration fees.
• people who think DACA exists — it does not, as only Congress can pass immigration laws.
• doctors in Columbus who do not accept Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 insurance.
• whomever dumped the little male dachshund dog who almost got hit by cars near the Love Chapel.
• pot smokers who have no respect for those who ask them to not light up in front of them and with children present, but do so anyway.
Happy Birthday to …
• Abby Rakshit, from your co-workers and Donna.
• Zaimeire Baihetiyaer, from your co-workers.
• Shona Fisher from your family and Donna.
• Arnold Green
• Jeremy Paetzel and Allison Clay, from friends at the Moravian Church.
• River Smith, from Aunt Elsie.
• Max Roeder, from Bob, Jeri, Connie and the rest of your family.
• Barbara Abner, from Marsha.
• River Smith, from Aunt Elsie.
• Jeremy Paetzel.
• Amie Ojeda on your fifth birthday, from Grandma and the family.
• Caryn Brooks, from Joseph Hart Chapter DAR.
• Mary R. Williams, from Jimmy and Shannon Lee, Olene, Mark, Michele and Bayleigh Williams.
• my sons, Johnny and Jamie Turner, love, Mama.
Happy Anniversary to …
• Bob and Jeri Goecker, on No. 32, from Tina, Kim, Tom, Max, Chad and from the rest of your family.