6 • The Beacon February 11 , 2021

That ’ s my opinion and I ’ m sticking with that like the Chiefs defense stuck with the Bucs ’ receiving corp . A little too much apparently , for the referees . I thought that the referees controlled more of the outcome of the game than they should have . Let ‘ em play ! At least be consistent as teams navigate their way through the corridor of the playoffs . Don ’ t call a divisional game one way and the “ big game ” another way . That ’ s how I saw it , but I am probably wrong .

The halftime show was , as in recent years if memory serves correct , difficult to

Mark Fortune

Mark ’ s Musings

absorb . But I ’ m old and I get it . It was upbeat and that was a positive .

Ah , the commercials . They ’ re what we wait for each year . Were there some memorable ones ? There were several and there were also several that were a waste of good marketing dollars . I found myself laughing several times throughout as many of the commercials took a decidedly humorous angle – and others took a decidedly , “ we want to send a message ” tone . A few of those hit the mark .

One of the commercials that resonated with me was the 60 second spot featuring Jessica Long that focused on a message of hope and courage . Long was adopted as a young girl and had to have her legs amputated . The adoptive parents knew this and went forward with the adoption . Long became a Paralympic swimmer . I encourage you to watch this one .

Of course , for a guy my age one commercial stuck out for sure – “ Wayne ’ s World .” Oh my . That was funny ! You can Google all of these which I did – and found out – surprising even to me – that most of my opinions on the commercials were spot on . There were several that tried too hard and those that could have done more – with less . The oddest commercial had to be for Oatly milk . Never heard of it ? Yeh . It was cool to see “ the boss ,” and while the concept and message of the commercial probably felt really good in the conference room where it was conceived , it left me wondering a bit .

Let ’ s return to the headline of this week ’ s column , shall we ? For many years our big game meal has been the same – enchiladas ( leftovers for lunch today !) and a really , really tasty chocolate dessert that we ( okay , not me , my sweety – but I help !) have made since the Bears won the big game against the Patriots way back in 1985 . It ’ s that good . Some chips and salsa help round out the meal , and my stomach .

Here ’ s hoping all of you have a Happy Valentine ’ s Day . In this past year of loss and loneliness midst the impact from COVID- 19 , we could all use a little more love in our lives . Have a lonely neighbor ? Send a card or a note or bake some treats . Our gestures need not be large or over the top . Simple works just as well . Just be glad the government did not take the approach with COVID-19 that King Henry VI of England did , who banned all kissing in 1439 to stop the spread of the bubonic plague . Buckeye Chuck says no to six more weeks of winter . Stay warm my friends .

Ridgewood Middle School announced its principal , honor and merit rolls for the second nine weeks . Fourth grade Principal roll : Grady Alan , Kailey Angle , Brittleigh Bates , Clyde Bintz , Owen Emig , Cadence Endlich , Javyn Gress , Phoebe Grimmett , Owen Hatfield , Madelyn Klier , Ella Marlatt , Kelsie Medley , Mallory Miller , Blake Parsons , Lucas Parsons , Aryanna Poorman , Kamron Seitz , Baylee Smith , Noah Smoulder , Audrey Tubbs , Pressley Sturtz-Wise and Bronson Young .

Honor roll : Darian Alaimo , Rilyn Cottrell , John Hall , Jameson Hanna , Levi Bernard , Taylor McCormick and Kendal Myers .

Merit roll : Jayden Cutlip , Olivia Harding , Kaelyn Harrison , Payge Kinney , Corbin Knighten , Cadence Luyando , Makayla McCune , Radisyn Medley , Javen Miller , Cheyanne Reichley , Risten Shortt- Wilkie and Alejandro Velasco . Fifth grade Principal roll : Marshall Addy , Laura Bintz , Mckenna Brock , Kaylin Carter , Jayzee Edie , Brianna Geer , Xanya Hasham , Jared Hostetler , Monti James , Kail Jones , Bowen Keen , Grace Kilchenman , Molly Maple , Wyatt Marlatt , Rylee Miller , Kendall Olinger , Grey Seibert , Jauhna Sharier , Zared Taylor , Anna Troyer , Jacob Blackwell-Waite and Joshua Young .

Honor roll : Wayne Abel , Lilly Clark , Nicholas Everhart , Yavi Hasham , Marcus Keffer , Luke McCombs , Skyelynn Schlabach , Collier Surgenor and Lexii Young .

Merit roll : Laiken Belt , Bradley Cottrell , Avery Ehasz , Beau Hardesty , Logan Israel , Able McComber , Alanna Menefee , Layla Moore , Kayleigh Oyler , Greyson Schultz , Jayce Simms , Arabella Thornsburg , Jeremy Warne , Abigail Wilkin and Austin Yoder .

Sixth grade

Principal roll : Drake Angle , Emma Carter , Hunter Chastain , Amelia Courtright , Kyndal Craigo , Dylan Devlin , Chloe Dobbins , Jayke Downing , Peighton Edie , Pru Fechuch , Fiona “ Phoenix ” Fisher , Gauge Gress , Taylor Hahn , Mason Hershberger , Alaena Huff , Grace Huff , Genesis Jeffers , Andrew Kinsey , Kamdyn Latham , Vincent MacDonald , Wesson McPherson , Jaelyn McQueen , Vincent Menapace , Collin Nichols , Gavin Pisony , Baileigh Rehard , Rhett Reynolds , Jadon Smoulder , Parker Snyder and Christian Stroup .

Honor roll : Ben Boyd , Alyza Fender , Tristan Goodwill , Kylie Hamilton , Maverick Lockard , Connor Miller , Slade Miller , Remington Phillabaum , Brian Romine , Caleb Smith , Braxton Vail and Halle Wright .

Merit roll : Natalie Bradford , Korbin Burkholder , Kierra Cox , Skyler England ,

Addyson Jacobs , Ethan Larrison , Jordan Mizer , Justin Mizer , Parker Powell , Matthew Shaw , Aurora Sickles , Bryce Tolliver and Lachlan Vandusen . Seventh grade Principal roll : Christopher Art , Preston Ator , Jerica Bennett , Kenzie Bice , Clare Bintz , Broday Brickles , Jackson Cabot , Cody Croy , Connor Croy , Rain Daugherty , Sophia Dunn , Tennessee Ellis , Jillian Guthrie , Sidney Hains , Brody Harding , Lyla Jarvis , Max Jones , Jacob Jones , Autumn Joyce , Addison Lahmers , Kaydence Lahna , Madyson Lane , Madeleine Larrison , Mia Lavigne , Chloe Love , Brady Lower , Natalie Lukco , Wyette Maloy , Emily Maple , Christopher Matthews , Ben McCurdy , Jace McQueen , Rilyn Medley , Michael Miller , Trent Moore , Kaleb Nettles , Victoria Palmer , Shyanna Patterson , Sofie Paugh , Ava Raugh-Hill , Anya Ridenbaugh , Keira Schrock , Charlotte Seibert , Libirti Shortt-Wilkie , Gavin Shriver , Josie Stanton , Wade Thompson , Stephen Thornsley , Faith Udischas , Marissa Watson , Lorryn Wentz and Anthony Wilkins .

Honor roll : Brent Baker , Harlea Beckett , Cooper Cade , Au ’ miyah Brown- Harrison , Dylan Burt , Emily Cerveny , Claire Corbett , Alivia Day , Madysin Griffith , Lucy Grimmett , Tyler Hackworth , Jacey

Hess , Ben Lewis , Samantha Miller , Avah Palmer , Brayden Reynolds , Caleb Schultz , Kadence Sharier , Caitlin Swiney and Payton Walker .

Merit roll : Talon Carnes , McKenna Cutlip , Logan McCune , Logan Ridenbaugh , Dasean Starner , Tanner Thornsburg and Skylar Wright .

jsellers @ alonovus . com