Orchids to …
• Hope Community Food Pantry for always smiling, being friendly and going the extra mile to help others, from a grateful grandparent.
• Elaine at the FairOaks Mall office and Amanda at Bath and Body Works for helping me get into my car when I locked my keys in it.
• David Jones for caring enough about our city to attend council meetings and to write a revelatory letter to The Republic.
• Tammy Watson for taking a stand and running for sheriff.
• Weston Miller and Kent Biehle for playing a great game against New Albany, from John Brooks.
• Jason at Needler’s for helping the lady with the soft-drink issue, from Lisa.
• Taylor, an amazing employee at CVS, for helping me make all the canvas prints, from a grateful customer.
• doctors offices that have their places sprayed down with Lysol after closing to prevent this terrible flu bug.
• the manager of the west-side Walgreens for frequently going above and beyond to assist a customer.
• Dr. Anita Conte, Columbus Regional Hospital oncologist, for her caring, dedicated and special care, from Charles Rose and family.
• Bartholomew County Highway Department for replacing the signs on Belleville Road, from a grateful resident.
Onions to …
• anyone who thinks requiring proper identification is voter suppression.
• local state representatives who change proposals based on the interests of lobbying groups rather than interests of their constituents.
• states and cities that do not offer discrimination protection for residents on sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Republicans for putting politics ahead of national security.
• drivers who make driving much more difficult than it needs to be.
• the ones who think the church is trying to make them pay for a new community building, because if they don’t agree they shouldn’t give.
• the city for traffic lights that don’t have sensors or have sensors that don’t work.
• the homeowner who has stacked junky-looking items on the side of the garage, which makes the whole neighborhood look like a junkyard.
• the man who picked up my keys at the post office and has not returned them.
• the people who do not realize that medical marijuana does not make you high.
• the many parents who are sending their children to school sick because they have no babysitters.
• Republicans in Congress who undermine the FBI Russian investigation.
• the owner of the large dog that allows it to run freely without a leash in the downtown area.
• the woman at the office on Friday for using foul language.
• the mother who sells Girl Scout cookies so her daughter can get the top prize every year.
Happy Birthday to …
• Melanie Stamper, from your family, Forgings team, Sabrina and Donna.
• Roxie Russell, from Bethel Baptist Church and friends.
• Gary Poland Sr., from Bethel Baptist Church and friends.
• Tristan Schaefer, from friends at the Moravian Church.
• Seleah Settle from friends at the Moravian Church.
• Emma Long.
• Gracie Greene.
• Nevesh Paetzel.
• Jessie Kidwell.
• Marjorie Clouse Hull, from all of her Bartholomew County friends.
• Joshua McKinsey.
• Jake DeBusk, from your friends in Hartsville.
• Douglas Essex, from his family.