Mark’s Musings – Aug. 5, 2015

Mark Fortune

The Buckeyes are the preseason number one in the USA Today Coaches poll for the first time since 2006. They are followed by TCU at number two and Alabama at number three. And don’t make a big deal out of four Buckeyes, including Joey Bosa, being benched for the season opener against Virginia Tech. It won’t mean a thing. The Buckeyes will roll. You should be more concerned about the fact that what they are being benched for is apparently not that big of a deal. Now, that’s on the outside of things. Coach Urban Meyer could very well be treating it with more intensity in one on one conversations. Coach Meyer, as Buckeye fans have learned, does not let things distract from the main thing.

It was another glorious weekend in Coshocton County with the River View Community Park Social, the Coshocton County Courthouse open house on Saturday evening and the community band performing prior to that event. For many, it brought back fond memories of evenings on the court square when families and couples filled the lawn with laughter and listened to the music as it drifted amongst the tall trees. It was a fun evening and the hundreds of people that toured the restored common pleas courtroom were enthralled with the history and how the renovation unfolded from Judge Robert Batchelor.

And although I did not wait in line to see the view from the clock tower, many did. I imagine they were not disappointed. The people that I talked to said, “This was a good use of money.” That’s certainly what you want to hear.

And can we say enough about the very talented local artists that used their skills to paint on the glass of the old windows – that was a really novel idea and a great way to raise some money for a display case. Yes, I was outbid but that’s okay.

Let’s shift to the RV Community Park Social – lots of good food, fellowship and fun – and chicken! Hats off to the Walhonding Valley Firefighters (and anyone else that helps them) getting up at the wee hours of the morning to get the coals going so they can throw over 700 chicken halves on the grill. And that was some good chicken. And pie. And noodles. And ice cream. I have to stop there because that’s “all” I had to eat. You can read President Jesse Fischer’s comments and appreciation to the community and all of the volunteers in this issue of “The Beacon.”

One of the highlights – as if the above and the annual Frontier Power members meeting on Friday night – was not enough – of this past weekend was the Brenda “Buck” Hoffman Memorial 5K held in West Lafayette on Saturday morning. What a great tribute for a person that was obviously loved by many. You have to take your hat off to the folks that took the time and energy to organize the first of what will hopefully be many more years of 5Ks in honor of Brenda.

Don’t forget the Canal Festival this weekend! The schedule is in this week’s issue.

Category: Mark's Musings, Opinion