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* The Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated with yet another successful annual dinner last week -- this time with the theme being "Survivor." As attendees made connections, learned from panelists ... perhaps got ejected from their islands ... and more, it was clear the chamber board and Executive Director Karen Waller understood how to make the event just another way in which the chamber fulfills its mission. "It's designed to share ideas, to get together socially, give us a chance to make some awards and review the year," Waller said. But, "We try to make it fun. We try to make a combination of fun and some business content." The event WAS fun -- even if the News and Sentinel's table maintains it was cheated in the puzzle race -- as well as educational and a wonderful opportunity to trade ideas. Congratulations to everyone involved on putting together yet another fantastic event.
* CPA Brett Burns of Perry and Associates spoke along with Wood County Assessor John Kelly to county commissioners last week about the progress being made in addressing a shortfall in the Assessor's Valuation Fund. "We think revenue will continue to come in at a healthy rate," Burns said. "These guys have cut substantially. They appear to be committed to lowering spending across the board, honestly even more than I thought was possible in non-payroll areas." Kelly's office has made difficult decisions to address this challenge, including cutting salaries and covering only essential training that can be attended in a single day (rather than pay for hotel rooms and other travel expenses). "We are cutting back on everything that we can cut back on," Kelly said. Though he noted he had decided against anything that would affect the office's ability to do its job. Kelly and his team are to be commended for so aggressively facing the challenge at hand.