Opinion

By Linda Ireland

While my husband Bud and I were attempting to find something decent to watch on television the other night - and it's a desert out there, I tell ya - I started thinking that it has been some years since I compiled a list of my favorite movie quotes.
Although there are more interesting things to write about - I didn't.
It is sad to say that there are few quotes worth adding since the last time I updated my list. And it's sad that two of my favorite quotes include the word "taters."
So here goes:

By G. B. Dixon
Kentucky Classic Theatre Director

Is there genuine interest in and support for expanding the arts in Marion County? City and county leaders say yes. They say Lebanon is growing and that the arts are a natural, necessary part of all thriving communities. They believe that along with sports recreation, the arts help give constructive expression to youth's energy and open enriching activities for adults. They say. What do you say? We wish to know.

During the opening days of most legislative sessions in even-numbered years, the primary focus is getting bills moving through committee and readying for the governor's budget proposal.
As many of you may know, however, this year is somewhat different, as the General Assembly is also taking on the once-in-a-decade task of redrawing the population boundaries for itself, the Kentucky Supreme Court and the state's six congressional seats. It's something all states do after each Census.

Marion County has many reasons to be proud right now.
We have the top girls basketball team in the state, numerous published (and soon-to-be published) authors, top-performing schools and, of course, the Turtleman, who continues to make the headlines and airwaves for his... ahem... talents.
Saturday evening, Marion County added another accomplishment to our list.

In many ways, the Marion County Industrial Foundation is a mystery. For decades, a collection of local business leaders and public officials have met regularly to help design an economic development strategy for our community.
Nevertheless, what the foundation does has been unclear to many of us. The foundation provides oversight over the Marion County Economic Development Office, but unlike the Lebanon City Council or the Marion County Fiscal Court, the industrial foundation is not considered a public agency, at least, not in the eyes of the law.

By Erin L. McCoy
Landmark News Service

Through the years, the U.S. Patent Office has approved some pretty odd inventions. A mustache guard may have been useful 100 years ago - and its heyday may be coming around again. The toothbrush bracelet and bunny-shaped syringe have a comprehensible, if dubious, logic behind them. Meanwhile, I'm flabbergasted why the robot lunchbox never caught on.

As I have looked at the list of pre-filed bills awaiting lawmakers in Frankfort next month, I've noticed that several deal with trying to get a handle on the state's drug problem.

And let me state at the outset of this missive that I support these bills.

Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, is seeking passage of a bill that would regulate the so-called "pill-mills" or pain clinics that are popping up all over the state.

 In the Lebanon Elementary Stars photo in the Dec. 28, 2011 issue, TaLiya Spalding was not identified. She is in the front row, far right.    

My 5-year-old son might quite possibly be Jimmy Fallon's youngest fan.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Fallon, he is a 37-year-old actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC. He was also a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998-2004, and he recently hosted SNL's Christmas episode. He's also appeared in several films.