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I am a Christian

When you become a Christian, people start watching you to see if you are going to fall. One thing I know for sure - I am not perfect. I am just a guy trying to live the new life that God gave me along with the chance to finally get life right. I do know what my life was like before I accepted Christ and became a Christian. I used to drink, run around with the wrong crowd, and my life was empty. Even though I got married and became a father; I was still empty on the inside. The moment I accepted Christ into my life, things started to change. As I earnestly sought to be increasingly ...

Race spotlights abortion and reproductive rights

Abortion and women’s reproductive rights are major election issues, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. It’s no different in the U.S. Senate race in Ohio between Sherrod Brown, the incumbent Democratic senator seeking his fourth six-year term, and Republican Bernie Moreno, a former car dealer and blockchain owner. The matchup is considered one of the most competitive Senate races in the country and could decide which political party controls the upper chamber. In Ohio, voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to ensure ...

Go Forth Properly Shod

Did you know that 97.4 percent of foot injuries are caused by improper footwear? It’s a frightening statistic. That’s why I made it up. We should all be frightened by the tragic, nay, near-criminal inattention to this endemic public health threat. “Go home and put on work boots,” I admonish grandsons when they show up in flip-flops to, say, split firewood. A misplaced sledge stroke and they are clubfoot for life. I myself try to set an example by wearing sturdy boots, preferably steel-toed, for such tasks. Each day as I set out on my busy retiree work day, I assess which ...

DeWine draws cheers, jeers over ballot issue

The Nov. 5 ballot will have a proposed constitutional amendment on it to change how state legislative and congressional districts are drawn. Gov. Mike DeWine admits the current system that gives control over those maps to politicians — overwhelmingly Republicans, including himself — needs to be changed despite his decisions to vote several times in favor of maps later ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. But DeWine strongly opposes the redistricting amendment saying it will make a bad situation — which has Republicans with a supermajority in the Legislature — much ...

Controlling arthritis symptoms through diet

Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published on Jan. 2, 2021 Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for ...

Increasing socialization to reduce isolation and loneliness in aging

Many seniors enjoy their independence and the ability to age in place, and that can be a wonderful thing. They can take comfort in the familiarity of their own home and consistent routines. However, aging in place can also increase the risk of isolation and loneliness, especially if seniors live alone. They may not get out as often as they used to or have people come visit. Studies have shown that isolation and loneliness can take a negative toll on health, increasing risk of depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and even Alzheimer’s disease. If you do ...