Dateline Dayton — Following up on last week’s essay: Level heads prevailed within the California judicial system and baby Vanessa was not returned to Dayton last Friday. There will be an ongoing legal battle, which probably will take some time to resolve. The next court date here in Ohio is one week from today. I just hope the best interests of the child will be represented when this case gets before the judge.

One of many things I can’t understand is why this particular child is so important to a father who isn’t fulfilling his responsibility to four other children?

Legal expenses for the father in this case, are being paid by the taxpayers of Montgomery County. Not only are we paying Benjamin Mills Jr.’s legal expenses, we have provided him with two trips to California, to facilitate supervised visits with the child. You wonder what’s wrong with our government? Here is a perfect example of the stupidity that takes place daily.

I have no problem with supervised visits. However, if you can’t pay for them or provide you own transportation — no trips, local or across the country. If this father is somehow entitled to taxpayer money, it should be used to pay his child support, not finance vacations.

The taxpayers of Montgomery County should be filing suit to get our misspent money back. Maybe we can have legal aid represent us and possibly get a trip, or two, across the country.

King James

LeBron James is getting a lot of press, some negative but mostly positive. The consensus is that LeBron did what he had to do, although possibly not in the correct manner. I wish he could have stayed in Cleveland there wouldn’t have been all this hype.

I understand that Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is now trying to put together a winning team. Why didn’t he take that approach during the seven years he had the services of James? Maybe LeBron felt that Mr. Gilbert didn’t have a sufficiently high level of interest in his team, as he will be building two of the four casinos approved for Ohio.

Teenagers

Last Friday evening, Pauline and I attended “Footloose,” presented by the Summer Youth Theatre in Middletown, Ohio. We have attended previous presentations by this group. This time, however, it was a special occasion. Our granddaughter was in the cast, as Eleanor Dunbar and also a member of the ensemble.

Ashley is the oldest child of our daughter Lisa and son-in-law Paul. She will be a sophomore at Madison High School. She has been in previous plays at her school and the Middletown Community Theater. She’s had leading roles in some of these presentations, quite an accomplishment for this teenage girl.

As a youngster and until recently, Ashley was a very shy and immature.

You were lucky if she would speak to you. She even had speech therapy for a short time, after starting school. Her immaturity continued even after she got involved with theater.

But am happy to report she has finally outgrown that stage and has blossomed into a refined young lady.

I believe her involvement with theater has brought her out of her shell and molded her into the person she is today.

As is the custom with the media today, you usually only hear about the teenagers in trouble or a problem to their community. Here is a group of kids, from various high schools in the area, working together to provide an entertaining time for everyone.

If you have the opportunity, please support youth theater. It is a sound investment in the future.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net