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Opinion

  • Stocking stuffers: tidbits before...

    With Christmas just days away, the thought of writing a full column on one topic just wasn't going to work. Or maybe it's just the distractions that come with the holidays have rendered me incapable of staying focused on one topic. Either way, instead of a full treatment of anything, I'll offer a few "stocking stuffers" on some items that have caught my attention. - The Jefferson Circuit Court has provided a gift on behalf of open government. Last week, the court issued a decision last week that could have repercussions statewide.

  •
    Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa...

    The New York Sun editorial is just as true today as it was in 1897.

    In 1897, Virginia O'Hanlon, who was then 8 years old, wrote a letter to The New York Sun. What follows are the letter and the reply that appeared in the Sept. 21, 1897, edition of the Sun.

    DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.

    Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

    Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'

    Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

    - Virginia O'Hanlan

    115 West Ninety-Fifth Street

  • Magic Bars, chocolate covered Oreos...

    As I sit here, trying diligently to concentrate on my work, there is a container of chocolate covered Oreos screaming my name. I'm desperately trying to ignore their call, but they are begging me to come rescue them from their Tupperware prison and devour them and their double stuffed goodness.

    Oh, and sitting directly beside the chocolate covered Oreos are Magic Bars that have done a trick on my taste buds, since all I can think about is their perfect layers of graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and coconut flakes.

  • Living without insurance

    I am frequently instructed as I enter the room to see a new patient, "Be easy on me, Doc. I don't have health insurance." To which I reply, "Neither do I ... not for 15 years."

    Then the conversation turns this way, "How do you do it? Aren't you afraid? What if? What if? What if?"

    Honestly, this is where I live and how I live and here are some of my conclusions. Insurance is based on fear - my faith and my instincts tell me that there is only one appropriate fear - fear of God.

  • Something to give

    We all know the economy is bad. It's been that way for some time, and it's highly unlikely that things are going to change before Christmas. We also realize that when people think of donations, they often think of money first. This year, we want to encourage you to consider donating things instead. Recently, we learned that donations are down at both The Caring Closet and at the Lebanon Goodwill. The Caring Closet supports The Caring Place, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, in a couple different ways.

  •
    Don't be a scrooge

    Bah humbug!

    We said the same thing two years ago when we wrote an editorial encouraging local businesses and industries to become involved in the Christmas in the Park display at Graham Memorial Park. But, apparently, we didn't say it loud enough.

    Or, maybe we didn't say it with just the right amount of Scrooge-like gruffness in our voices.

    Nevertheless, the same problem that existed two years ago exists today - there's not enough local support for a worthwhile local holiday attraction.

    And why not?

  • Your (almost) helpful 2009 holiday...

    Despite my best efforts, I have not yet been able to convince my family to forgo the annual Christmas gift giving.

    I still hold out hope that some day we will enjoy the holiday for the time we spend together without the added rigmarole of picking out presents for one another. (I understand that some people still enjoy this part of the season, however.)

    With that in mind, I'm here to help, almost.

  •
    Raising the bar

    The Marion County Knights football players were understandably down after Friday night's loss to Lone Oak, but we hope with time and distance they will appreciate what they accomplished this year.

    For just the second time in school history, Marion County reached the state football semifinals.

    This year's Knights went 11-3, posting the second-best record in school history. Only the 1987 squad, which finished 12-2 and also reached the semifinals, had a higher winning percentage.

  • Educate yourself, then decide

    Tuesday, voters in Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties have the opportunity to vote for their next state senator.

    Based on the number of signs I've seen, I get the impression that many people have already made up their minds.

    That said, I hope every eligible voter (regardless of who they are planning to vote for) takes some time in the next week to evaluate the candidates, not just their party affiliation. (I'll avoid a rant about how worthless party affiliation is.)

  • Slow down, buckle up

    Many, maybe even most, drivers will get a ticket at some time in their lives.

    Speeding is the most frequent offense, but it's not the only one. Reckless driving, ignoring traffic control devices and not wearing a seat belt can all attract the attention of a law enforcement officer in Kentucky.

    No one likes getting pulled over, but almost every time, if we are being honest, we know what driving violation we have committed before the officer asks for our license and registration.

  •
    Substantive debates

    A city official stopped in the Enterprise this week. When staff members joked with her about running for a state office, her reply was no, she wasn't interested.

    "That's real politics," she said.

    Based on what we've seen so far from the campaigns to fill the vacant District 14 state senate seat, we're inclined to agree with her. District 14 includes Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties.

  • Stevie gets her 'Stevie'...

    Last week, I had one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad mornings.

    It was one of those mornings where I actually had to shut my office door, which doesn't happen very often, as my staff can attest.

    But, when life's "baggage" gets the best of you, I have found that it's effective to shut the door and get your frustrations out in whatever means you feel necessary (without punching a hole in the wall of course).

    It's either that, or going for a good, hard run, taking it all out on the pavement.

  • Honoring our heroes

    When then-Governor Ronald Reagan introduced returning POW John McCain at a speaking engagement in 1974, the future president asked, "Where do we find such men?"

    He was speaking of many veterans, when he answered, "We find them in our streets, in the office, the shops and the working places of our country and on the farms."

    In other words, President Reagan was referring to ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. And it isn't just the men.

  •
    Superstars

    Sitting on the gym floor during a school board meeting at A.C. Glasscock Elementary School Tuesday night of last week, I had to choke back tears as I stared through the viewfinder of my camera.

    I tried using my camera as a shield so that no one could see my eyes swelling up with tears. I bit my lip hoping I could stop the water works from flowing.

    But, I failed miserably. I sat there, crouched on the gym floor with tears practically streaming down my face.

    Why on earth was I crying during a school board meeting, you might ask?

  •
    It's good to have land

    If everything goes as planned, Marion County will be home to a new state forest some time next year.

    For more than two years, officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state Division of Forestry have been working to acquire an estimated 1,700 acres of property.

    The Marion County Fiscal Court has agreed to be a partner in what has been estimated to be a $2.4 million project, and the county's contribution toward the project is just $100,000, which will mostly, if not entirely, come through in-kind contributions.

  •
    Flame on!

    Fighting fires is not for everybody.

    It's frightening work - not to mention sweltering and exhausting. Oh, and did we mention deadly?

    But, this past weekend we got an up-close and personal look at what firefighters do when they respond to a house fire. Editor/General Manager Stevie Lowery attended a live burn exercise Sunday morning, which was just a portion of the Marion County Fire School that took place this past weekend.

  • Some old things and something new

    Today's edition marks the beginning of what we hope will become a regular feature.

    With all due respect to Fred Rogers, we have started something we have dubbed "People in Your Neighborhood."

    Our intent is for this to be a different kind of feature for our newspaper, and a new way to point the spotlight on some interesting people in our community.

    Sometimes we get so caught up in covering local government, community events and, yes, crime (or at least accusations of crime) that we miss some of the wonderful people living right next door.

  • Thieves invade handbag heaven

    It all started with a purse.

    A very, very expensive purse named "Stevie."

    No, really, I'm serious. The very, very expensive purse's name - or its design rather - was "Stevie."

    So, obviously, it was the perfect gift for my twin sister to surprise me with on our 30th birthday. You see, I had never been the "expensive purse" type. Give me a cheap handbag from one of our local department stores (or should I say our only department store) and I was good to go. That is, before I was introduced to "Stevie."

  •
    A flurry of activity

    There was a whole lot to cheer about all over Marion County this past weekend.

    Friday afternoon and evening, thousands of runners trekked through the county - from Maker’s Mark Distillery to Falcon Crest, across the Marion County Veterans Memorial Highway, through Lebanon, up Short Line Pike and onto other adventures - as part of the inaugural Bourbon Chase.

    Sunday, hundreds of ATV and motorcycle riders and hundreds and hundreds of spectators visited a farm south of Bradfordsville for the Rolling Fork Run.

  •
    Birds of a feather annoy together

    Why are they doing this? Why are they doing this? They said when you got here, the whole thing started. Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? I think you're the cause of all this. I think you're evil! EVIL!