Greetings, one and all, and welcome! Thanks much for joining me. Mail and submitted comments remain fairly steady and for that I thank you. We’ll get to some of it shortly. First, a couple of quick thoughts from Your Humble Narrator.

n There’s plenty planned for tomorrow’s local Independence Day celebration: the parade, car show, TQ racing at the fairgrounds and, of course, the annual fireworks show. Please allow me to encourage you to get off the couch and enjoy being outside. It’s good for you.

n A belated happy birthday to my wife, Angie. She observed (I refrain from saying celebrated) another passing year earlier this week. I’m always happy to have made it this far; oddly enough, women frequently don’t share that philosophy.

With that said, it’s time to check the mailbag. Let’s hear it from The Roiling Hundreds!

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n I would just like to thank the lady who is taking care of the flowers on Main Street. They look great!

n Thanks to all the landowners who have mowed the side ditches at cross roads near them. And if you're a landowner who hasn't mowed, shame on you. Sometimes it's like a game of chance to cross those country roads.

n Local law enforcement uses a lot fewer SUVs that many agencies do. There are many law enforcement agencies that have an entire fleet of Ford Expeditions.

n It would be easier to mow the grass on our country road if people would stop throwing their beer bottles, cans and trash out of their vehicles. I am tired of cleaning up other people’s trash so that our country road looks nice. We work hard to keep it cleaned and looking nice, then stupid people come down the road and throw out their trash. We pick up more beer bottles and cans than anything. (I was told growing up that throwing trash out the car window was like a slap in America’s face. Maybe that lesson wasn’t universally shared. kg)

n Why is it that people who are the first to tell you how overweight/fat you are are the last to acknowledge that you have lost a substantial amount of weight? (I’d say unless it’s your doctor speaking telling you you’re overweight is pretty rude and inconsiderate. Assuming you’ve recently lost weight please allow me to congratulate you! kg)

n I'm a Republican who walked around the RushShelby Energy Community Building every night of the fair, and I stopped and visited with friends at the Democrat booth. Just because we disagree politically doesn’t mean we should be disagreeable with others. That's what's wrong with politics.

n Republicans visiting with Democrats! If the two parties only were that cordial in Washington we would all be better off. Good for the Republicans for taking the time to visit with the other side.

n Rush County is pretty close to average prices in the state for gas.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

n What is the deal with the parade going down Morgan Street instead of Main Street? There are not enough places for people to sit and watch the parade; many home owners will not like total strangers being in their yards.