Mark’s Musings – Nov. 19, 2014
Mark Fortune
From the words made famous by Gomer Pyle, “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!” Yep. The snow, while not exactly a “surprise” in the real meaning of the word, struck Coshocton County with a ferocity not seen since – well, last winter. So winter is here, huh? According to the calendar on the wall or on your smartphone, tablet, computer or anywhere else, we still have just over 30 days until winter “officially” arrives. Guess again.
Let’s shift our attention for a moment to the Buckeyes. Nice win against the Golden Gophers. Can the ‘Bucks continue inching their way up the ladder and make it into the playoff? Upcoming games against Indiana and Michigan do not bode well for moving up – especially in the power rankings. The committee will favor the Buckeyes for playing in a bowl game instead of the playoff – a game against Oregon (who tends to choke down the stretch in the Pac10) or perhaps TCU – both would be good games and well attended by OSU fans from across the country. Then the Buckeyes would move to the championship game against – well, probably Wisconsin. Can the defense stop Gordon? Not sure. So we could be premature here on the playoff and all that. But do expect a decent bowl game. The boys from Columbus are always a big draw.
The news about the Kraft expansion is very positive for our community. Our community leaders deserve to be congratulated for – well, I have to say it, bringing home the bacon. Yeh, I know. Lame. But really, our County Commissioners, Port Authority, Mayor’s office and City Council members all played a key role in this success. I am sure there are others who also deserve a compliment – especially the management and employees of the local Kraft plant whose work ethic and quality allowed Kraft corporate to have the confidence in this plant. This will increase our jobs and of course, community payroll, all good things in a community that sometimes tends to look backward instead of forward.
The Miracle on Main Street parade that brings Santa to our community happens this Friday evening – and represents the effort of a lot of folks. Come downtown for some hot chocolate, cookies, and a neat parade. And of course, Santa!
What’s your take on the Navy Seal that opened up about being the person that killed Osama Bin Laden? Typically, Navy Seals keep their missions quiet – as they do tend to revolve around sensitive matters to our national security. But lately, books, movies and speaking engagements are the norm – not always to the liking of the greater Seal community or command. But in this case, perhaps it is a positive in that this individual shows he is not afraid of reprisals and is willing to take a stand on the matter. For many people – especially those that lost loved ones on 9/11, going public gives them some closure. For that fact alone, perhaps it was the right thing to do.
Category: Mark's Musings
