One of the things on my to-do list was to subscribe to the local paper, the Callie Register. The Register is actually a weekly paper (we have a daily, too, but that’s more of a handbill than a paper and you can’t subscribe to it), arriving mid-week every week. I may also subscribe to the paper in Redstone. Haven’t decided. Here is what I learned about my new home town:

• Crime is uncommon enough that each and every infraction can be listed in a weekly paper. Infractions including speeding tickets. Names are named. I suppose that’s a decent way to keep folks in line.
• The most high-profile news item involves a system of powerlines scheduled to go through Dent County. Everybody here is against it. Oh, and a slaughterhouse proposal. Everybody is against that, too. Oh, and tearing down an old warehouse. Opinion on that one is mixed. The locals have become fond of the graffiti.
• I need to learn the structure of the Little League system because right now that’s about half of what the Sports page is about.
• Callie thinks it has a parking problem. I suppose by some standards it does. I know that more than once I have been surprised at how glad I was to have a small car. Of course, part of it is that the notion of walking a few blocks in a town this size seems kind of weird. Even so, by this city boy’s standards, there is no problem.
• Local farmers are looking to cash in on the “grass-fed beef” craze. Apparently there is a pretty ridiculous mark-up. That can’t last for too long, can it?
• I’m going to have to learn more about farming if I am going to follow current events.
• In an off-year, primary election with no competitive senatorial or gubernatorial primaries, 48% turnout is considered “low” in Dent County.
• Almost all of the political letters to the editor are written by three people, two conservatives and a liberal. Neither deviate from Talking Points.
• One of the things I had in mind for recreation when we moved here was bowling. Then we got here and the bowling alley was shut down. The good news is that it looks like it’ll be opening sometime late this year or early next. It was apparently foreclosed on by the bank rather suddenly. There’s a big to-do about people that had things stored in there (bowling shoes, balls) not being able to actually get their stuff back.