Thoughts At Large is a weekly column written by Rod Ice of Geauga County, Ohio. The series began during February of 1998. Ice, a local retail manager, offered his personal 'take' on life in the grocery business through a short newspaper article. Though initially conceived as a one-time submission, the feature struck a nerve with local readers. A few days after publishing the first installment, Editor-In-Chief Don Buchanan asked a question that would resonate for the next ten years: "Have you got any more?" Ice had been a freelance writer since 1982. So the statement didn't have to be repeated. Suddenly, a new tradition had been born in Geauga County. During the twelve-year run of Thoughts At Large, Ice has addressed a variety of subjects including music, pop culture, religion, politics, local history, food, cars, motorcycles, guitars, beer and family life. The series has varied widely - sometimes using humor and fiction to entertain readers, while also employing serious thought and discussion when considering important issues. Current GCML Editor-In-Chief John Karlovec remains an enthusiastic supporter of the column. His good stewardship has made the surprising success of TAL possible. Another indispensable figure in the history of this unique column was the late Lee Rogers, of Chardon. Lee was a newspaper veteran who originally wrote two different series for the Leaf: 'Nobody Asked Me' and 'I Get Around.' His experience, good nature, and candor helped Ice to find his own 'voice' as a county journalist. The Geauga County Maple Leaf is published weekly, by Jeffrey B. Karlovec.