Columnists
FINAL MUSINGS
This week, I have a few final observations as we head into 2026.Every few days, my printer temporarily refuses to print. It sounds like it’s trying to process something, maybe something disagreeable that I wrote, and struggles to spit it out. Then I see a display saying the device is running a self-diagnosis, with a…
Read MoreAsk Rusty – Did Obama-Era Social Security Tax Cuts Hurt?
Dear Rusty: I will be retiring early next year but my question to you is: During the Obama administration, payroll taxes that employees pay were cut in half from 6.2% to 3.1%, while the employer’s part stayed the same at 6.2%.This continued for around a year I think. This was an attempt at giving people…
Read MoreTaking Close Look at Barry Odom’s Purdue Roster
In hindsight, first-year coach Barry Odom signing 82 new players to a Purdue football roster decimated by the transfer portal was adding quantity over quality. The record says 2-10 but there was some talent among the newcomers as indicated by five selections to All-Big Ten teams. Let’s rank some of these transfers by their play…
Read MoreCheese Balls & Chex Mix & Fondue, Oh My!
From Time to Thyme By Paula Dunn When I was trying to come up with an idea for this week’s column, it occurred to me that although I’ve written several times about cookies for the holiday season, I’ve never touched on the savory food that was standard fare at local holiday parties back in the…
Read MoreReminiscing on Christmas in Noblesville
Notes scribbled on the back of a Sears & Roebuck Christmas catalogue . . . I LOVE Christmas in Noblesville!There are so many reasons and I suppose it’s a bit different for each of us. For me it starts and ends with Santa’s House on the courthouse square.Back in the day when the Christmas season…
Read MoreBranna: Don’t Stress the Stress of Holiday Season
Whether you call it, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, or any other seasonal celebration . . . most call it notorious for STRESS! From picking the right pine tree to posting your packages overseas, both negative and positive holiday stress come into play. One sure-fire way to put the celebration back into the season is to…
Read MoreHeights Revealing Distinguished Alums Soon
Hamilton Heights is proud to announce the launch of our Distinguished Alumni Program—a new initiative celebrating graduates who have made lasting contributions in their professions and communities. We are thrilled to share that our very first honoree has been selected! Their story reflects the pride, excellence, and legacy of Hamilton Heights. Stay tuned…the official reveal…
Read MoreBREATHING EASY
This is about a medical concern I had last summer. I’m fine, but this is my only chance to write funny stuff about a lung biopsy. I hope. When I arrived at the hospital, I met Jill, the RN, and immediately asked her if the doctor assigned to me was good at what he did.…
Read MoreHOOF IN YOUR MOUTH DISEASE!!!!! I read yesterday that IKEA was “withdrawing” one of its most popular food offerings from supermarkets in Sweden after discovering traces of horse meat in the product. In racing terminology, horses are not “withdrawn,” they’re scratched. But no shopper wants to hear the phrase, “Effective immediately, we are scratching our…
Read MoreAsk Rusty – Consider ‘Wearing Out’ Factor While Deciding Social Security
Dear Rusty: Enjoyed your recent article on claiming SS benefits. I feel, however, any decision making should also include what I call the “wearing out” factor. Yes, financial need, health, and longevity are definite criteria for a decision. The inevitable problem (I just turned 83) is the speed at which many of us descend down the back…
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