My thanks to each of you who have offered concern and condolences during my battle with a severe leg and blood infection that has had me down for most of the month. Your thoughts were much appreciated.

Not back up to full speed yet, but wrote the first column in weeks Friday and hope to resume a full schedule next week, RR is renewed for another year, and thanks to those who helped make it possible with contributions and suggestions.

Any ideas and suggestions on how we can improve things here are encouraged and are welcome as we head into what, I'm sure, will be a turbulent year in politics and government.

Doug

It is the role of a newspaperman to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
-- Finley Peter Dunne