Opinion

Editor’s note: This week is National Newspaper Week. Since the 1940s, the Newspaper Association Managers group has sponsored National Newspaper Week. It’s a week-long celebration and recognition of the important role of newspapers in their communities. The theme is “Newspapers - the print and online connector for today’s communities.”

When my brother, my sister and I were younger, we were told to read for at least one hour a day during the summer. While my mother was at work, somehow I was sure that she would know if I hadn't done my daily reading. Since I knew I was supposed to be reading anyway, I looked for things that would hold my attention.  But I also wanted a challenge.  The copy of "It" that I found in a local bookstore was more than 1,000 pages. When I picked it up, I thought it would fit the bill, and "It" certainly did.

Suicide Prevention Week just ended on Sept. 11. The topic of suicide is an important one: suicide kills more than most people realize but is very preventable. Nationwide, there are two suicides for every homicide. In Kentucky, there is a three to one ratio. Suicide strikes certain demographic groups more than others. White men, those in jail, and people living on some Native American reservations have higher rates of suicide than what is found in the general population. Among teenagers and young adults suicide is one of top three killers nationwide.

Once upon a time, I had dreams of moving to a big city, living in a fancy studio apartment and working at a large, daily newspaper. But, some dreams aren't meant to come true, and I ended up moving back to Marion County after graduating from college and working for my hometown, weekly newspaper. I would be lying if I didn't admit that sometimes, actually quite often, I wonder what life would be like had I actually pursued those dreams rather than coming back to my small, country hometown. It would have been exciting, no doubt.

It's been five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Last week, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit "The Big Easy" and, I can say with full certainty, New Orleans is alive and well. After hearing stories from my mother, who lived in the French Quarter in the 1960s, I jumped at the chance to visit the city with my friend, Ann, who won tickets to the NFL Kickoff concert featuring the Dave Matthews Band. And... Oh yeah... Some sweet, young gal named Taylor Swift.

I am not a person to normally write to the newspaper. But I was so upset this week that I have to express my concerns.

Gregory Wilson is scheduled to be executed on Sept. 16, by signed "command" of Kentucky's governor. As Gregory is now a face on front pages and a topic of public discussion, I ask to put a face and character to the person who will be killed in the name of Kentucky's citizens. I bear witness that he is not the same man who committed the crime.

Addiction.

Many of us have seen what addiction can do to a human being. Whether it’s an addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, or a number of other things, addiction ruins lives. Sometimes, it ends lives too soon.

I know. I’ve seen it happen.

Last week, we had a letter to the editor asking people not to kill rattlesnakes, while elsewhere in the paper we had two photos of people holding rattlesnakes they had killed.

The irony was not lost on the newspaper staff, as I'm sure it wasn't lost on you.

The issue reminded me of a story from my own past, when I was an intern at the Sweetwater Reporter in Sweetwater, Texas. Sweetwater is the home of the world's largest rattlesnake round-up (or so they claim). I wasn't working there at the time of that year's round-up, but I did see a few rattlesnakes that summer.