Recently, a benefit was held to aid Jacob "Bubba" Andrews with the expenses he will incur as he undergoes treatment for brain cancer.
To be a part of this event was a truly remarkable experience. The kindness, generosity and support from Clyde and the surrounding
The way Republicans have been acting is very disturbing: spitting on people, threatening people's families, throwing bricks through Congressional offices, calling people hurtful names -- finally Republicans are showing their true colors. I'd expect that from a communist country.
After a year-long firefight that shed more heat than light, here's what we know:
Children remain covered by their parents' health insurance, if they so choose, until age 26.
Pre-existing medical conditions cannot be used as an excuse to deny coverage.
You can't lose your health coverage because you get sick.
To all that, we say yes.
By RUFUS G.W. SANDERS, Register columnist
Change and reform are never easy even when it is clear change is needed. It can be filled with drama and so many traumas. There is never reform without chaos. The process can be downright wrenching. It is usually disruptive.
But there are times when change is absolutely necessary. This was such a time.
In three short months the Sandusky city commission accomplished something previous leaders refused to tackle. As painful as it has been, the commission under ex officio mayor Dan Kaman ordered layoffs in the city's work force that position the city to end 2010 with a balanced budget.
Both sides of the debate on the national health care bill have conveniently overlooked an important fact. We have had a national system in place for years.
It's run by the Veterans Administration. VA hospitals serve millions of veterans every years who have no insurance and have done so for decades, at virtually no cost at all to the vet, paid for by our tax dollars.
In "South Park: The Movie," Americans talking about their resentments against Canadians bring up singer Bryan Adams. The Canadian prime minister protests, "The Canadian government has apologized for Bryan Adams on numerous occasions."
Last week a wonderful lady passed away after a long battle with cancer. Her name was Mary Ann Sloan. She was a dear friend and classmate of mine. She worked for many years at Sandusky Central Catholic High School in the office.
Cash-strapped school districts are looking to open enrollment as a means to bolster sagging budgets. While this is a often a wise move for school districts, the implications for individual students is not as clear cut. The motivations for switching schools are as diverse as the students themselves.
I just had an interesting phone call from a man facing one of life's biggest challenges, a diagnosis of cancer. He was asking for physicians to articulate their concerns about the current efforts on health reform. I think he is right. Physicians owe it to our patients to reflect on the issues and help guide the debate.
Here is what physicians do not want:
I think American's are beginning to see just how broken our government has become. We tried term limits, failed! We tried voting them out, failed! It's not whether we elect Democrat or Republican, it's the climate of government in Washington D.C..
I'm in Columbus today, with five of my colleagues from the Sandusky Register, attending the Spring Conference 2009 of the Society of Professional Journalists.
In this age of "transparent" governments, I thought it would be good to compile a list of some of the public documents that have not yet seen the light of day:
*The report that led to Perkins police Lt. Al Jenkins firing (estimated cost to taxpayers, $10,000);
Ever since the election in November my interest in national politics has disappeared. Not there. First time since Nixon. Some kind of blind faith has taken over.