Dear Editor, I am writing to express my strong support for SB 2200, a critical bill that will ensure the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is adequately funded and staffed to provide lifesaving mental health services. With rising mental health challenges and suicide rates affecting individuals of all ages, we must prioritize crisis intervention and support those in need.

Last weekend, Greg and I ventured out Saturday evening with a group of friends to Sip Happens. If you haven’t been there yet, you’re missing out. You can get wine, of course, but there’s also beer, cocktails, mocktails, bourbon flights and more! The atmosphere is warm and cozy, not too loud, and perfect for a date night or a night with friends when you want to talk to each other without a lot of unnecessary background noise which, when you’re old-ish, is an important detail to Simmons own Sip Happens. Even though it’s Diane’s baby, Bob is there every night they are open to help Diane pour wine, mix cocktails, (try the smoked old-fashioned, it’s super cool!) and strike up conversations with the patrons. Last Saturday, Bob came over to our table to pour a beer into a frosty mug for Greg. While waiting for his fresh, frosty, chilled beer, Greg started giving Bob kudos for his article last week where he described running in the frigid temperatures. Bob took advantage of the situation to describe the run in more detail, claiming that his favorite running weather is freezing cold and pouring rain. He went on to not so subtly inform me that I should rename my article because he never sees me out running anymore. I couldn’t decide if this was a dressing down or a challenge.

By Bob Simmons, CEO, Simmons Multimedia When President Trump returned to office, one of his first executive orders was to shut down Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government. I believe deep down all of us want everyone to be treated nicely, fairly, etc., no matter one’s sex, creed, color, or political beliefs. It’s when people start slamming their beliefs down the throats of others that trouble starts. As has been said, the pendulum swings both ways, and now we are seeing it swing back right of center. I think it’s more important than ever for us to be nice to each other.

Usually, I have something or another to use this space to blab about such as rolling dice with Grandpa and his hoodlum friends, fishing, feeding my friend’s kid ice cream for breakfast, or throwing Christmas trees out of third story windows. This week, however, it’s finally time to start my long-anticipated series called ‘ridiculous things you will find in the Simmons Multimedia news office.’ First off, we are starting with my favorite inanimate office resident, Baby-Man-Doll.

Happy last day of January! After all that ranting about the cold and wind, the month actually moved right along. 31 days closer to moving my chair lakeside! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

As I pen this week’s column, it’s the morning of Inauguration Day. It’s also -30 with a -58 wind chill - a perfect day for a quick little 5k run! Now I know you’re thinking he’s nuts, but I come from a long line of nuts.

These temps are all over the place. How is a girl supposed to know what to wear for the day? Last weekend was easy.

We won! Again! Today, as I type this, it’s Monday, January 20, 2025, and Langdon recorded a frigid low temperature of -32 degrees – actual temperature – making us the “winner,” so to speak, of the coldest temperature in the region contest on WDAY news. Yay, us. This is normal and not unexpected. Nothing to see here folks, just Langdon rocking the worst weather and the coldest temps on a regular basis in January. On Friday we had a blizzard, and there was no travel advisory. We still had school though.

You may have noticed my favorite person made the front page this week! I promise, he didn’t end up there just because he is my best friend. If anyone else was given the honor I would plaster their face on the front as well, but this man has been an inspiration to not only me but countless others.

I feel like not a lot has changed since I wrote last week. Maybe I should ask our editor, Hilary, to just reprint last week’s column.