Michael Ihle of Ravenswood entered his contact information on a website to receive promotional materials from Fred Thompson supporters. He ended up participating in two presidential campaigns in three states.

RAVENSWOOD – Many people choose to advertise their choice of political candidate by placing campaign signs on their lawns or bumper stickers on their cars. That was all Ravenswood resident Michael Ihle intended to do in the summer of 2007. Now, less than two years later, his involvement with politics has led him to travel extensively, rub elbows with the political elite, and even run for office himself.

“I’ve always been politically active,” says Ihle, 21, “but this season by far I’ve been the most involved in.”

Ihle’s odyssey began in June 2007, when he began scrutinizing the field of potential candidates for president of the United States. Ihle, a Republican, had always admired actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson, and decided that he was the best choice, even though Thompson had not yet formally declared his candidacy for office. Ihle visited a website set up by Thompson’s supporters with the intention of receiving a few campaign materials, and supplied his cell phone number. Read the full story

The politics of voting are often ugly. Accusations of fraud or outright theft are often hurled from both sides. But it seems that those on the liberal side are displaying a disturbing tunnel vision in this regard. In our own county – along with Putnam and Ohio counties – fewer than 20 people reported problems with their votes. They reported that touch-screen voting machines were not recording their votes properly, or showing their vote being cast for another candidate. Read the full story

RIPLEY – Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., paid a visit to Ripley during the course of her reelection campaign on Nov. 1.

The congresswoman arrived at McCoy’s Inn and Conference Center around 5:00 p.m. Saturday evening.

She was was greeted by cheering supporters with chants of “Send her back!”

Ripley Mayor Carolyn Rader called Capito “a great friend to all of West Virginia.” Read the full story