Jim Longworth

My wife Pam once told me that there are only three men she would ever leave me for: Tom Selleck, some guy named Jessie who she dated in college, and Rick Springfield. I am relieved to report that Selleck lives two thousand miles away, and Jessie is in prison making stained glass. However, hunky Rick Springfield is winding his way to us at this very moment, claiming that he’s scheduled to perform in Boone later this month. A likely story. Rick’s story began in Guildford New South Wales, Australia.

Don Martin is a numbers guy who gravitated to the study of mathematics early in life. He is the living embodiment of who we point to when a young student asks, “When will I ever use math in real life?” The fact is that Don has been a master of equations throughout his career in public service, but he always made numbers serve the human equation above all else, first as a teacher, then as superintendent, and finally as a county commissioner.

Next week, we celebrate our 250th anniversary of independence from Great Britain. A few weeks ago, we celebrated Memorial Day, where we honored men and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m as patriotic as the next guy, but over the years, I have come to dread these holidays, and I can explain my disdain in one word: Fireworks. Despite what we see in old movies, war is not glamorous. It is not glorious, and it is almost never necessary.