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Opinion

  • Harmon not happy with Chandler...

    Congressman Ben Chandler showed his true colors recently by voting for a massive special interests pork bill. The “cap-and-trade” bill barely passed the U.S. House (most of the moderate and conservative Democrats voted against it, along with nearly all the Republicans), and, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), will cost the average Kentucky family nearly $200 more each year on their energy bills.

  • Mr. S. Willey and the national debt

    I’ve been reading a lot on the national debt of these here United States lately.

    I think the U.S. Government is going to spend some $1.8 trillion dollars more than it will take in this next year alone.

    Trillion?  Isn’t that a hard word to wrap your mind around?  

  • Readers Write: Woman upset with...

    Dear Editor,

    Where is our responsibility to respect our American Flag?

    After Memorial Day weekend was over, and into the following week, I returned to the Willisburg community to get the American Flag I had taken down to my husband’s grave.

  • The blessing of Grace

    “Bless us, O Lord, and for these thy gifts which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.”

    Grace is such a simple prayer.  It’s a prayer of thanksgiving and a reminder that all we have comes from a loving God.  

    I had an uncle who died many years ago that never ate anything without saying Grace, and I mean nothing.  He seemed to take it to extremes.

  • Session sets stage for economic...

    As my colleagues and I began the second week of the 2009 Extraordinary Session, we were still uncertain as to if we would be able to accomplish our foremost mission, addressing our almost $1 billion budget shortfall. With the Senate approving one version of the budget and the House approving vastly a different one, many were unsure about the bill’s fate.  Yet, after only one day, the conference committee emerged from negotiations with two bills geared towards economic recovery and fiscal discipline.

  • Mr. Fixit rides again!

    You know what?  

    If you do think you know “what,” then you probably don’t know anything.  You’re just lucky you have an old man like me around to straighten you out.  Old people know everything.  The first thing is, there are a lot of “whats” in life.  I like to give them out one at a time in this here column so as to not confuse you.

    Today’s “what” lesson is kids tear up a lot of things.

  • Health insurance for pets? Have...

    I’m glad that in these weekly columns I have an opportunity to share thoughts and opinions about things going on in the world.

    I write in the local newspaper while millions of others share their opinions via a blog on the Internet.

    One item caught my attention last week that had me shaking my head.

    NBC Nightly News reported that some pet owners are spending upwards of $15,000, out-of-pocket, for surgery for a beloved cat or dog.

    That’s fifteen thousand dollars, cash!!!

  • We're not in Mayberry anymore

    Do you know what a “School Resource Officer” is?  

    I sure didn’t until about a month ago.  

    But I do now, and it’s important for you to know, as well.  

    A lot of times I avoid talking about tough, important topics because it’s too difficult to address them properly in the limited amount of space I have.  Please bear with me as I attempt to tie together school resource officers, Washington County High School and our local school board.  

  • Make physical activity a part of...

    For some people “exercise” is a dirty word. The fact remains, however, that almost everyone can improve his or her health through regular physical activity. Physical activity has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. In recent years, research has linked regular physical activity to the prevention of breast cancer, stroke, osteoporosis and many other major health complications.

  • Does Kentucky need slots? You bet!

    In Kentucky, we have horse racing, and we have the lottery. Sure, those are gambling, but now, some lawmakers want to bring in even more gambling in the form of slot machines.

    Do the people of Kentucky want the slot machines? Depends on who you ask.

    I’m not a gambler, nor do I want to see Kentucky become a state filled with crime and the other things some opponents of slot machines in the Bluegrass will tell you slots will bring.

  • Lauran

    “Look through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.”

    Lauran’s favorite quote

    Washington County High School had its graduation a couple of weeks ago.  There were 143 graduates, and I’m sure each had a story to tell.  But none could be more compelling or inspiring than Miss Lauran Elizabeth Yates’ journey to that special night.  

  • Sen. Kelly looks at special session

    The governor has called the General Assembly back to a Special Session to address the budget shortfall.  Under our state constitution, only the governor can call a special session, and he alone determines what can be considered.  If there is a lack of consensus, the General Assembly determines when to adjourn.   In addition to the budget issue, the governor has added to the call the Indiana-Kentucky bridges legislation, and an economic development package that includes incentives to attract new industry and economic development to Kentucky, including the National Allianc

  • Remember to 'Click It or...

    For anyone who complains about getting a ticket for not buckling up when driving or riding in a motor vehicle, here’s a crash course in reality:

    • 826 people were killed on Kentucky’s roadways in 2008.

    • 55 percent of those killed were not wearing a seat belt.

    When worn correctly, seat belts are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45 percent and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.

  • Remembering George

    I didn’t know George Yocum very well.

  • Lessons from God

    Jesus Christ was the ultimate storyteller, and he did it through what they call “parables.”   The parable leads the listener to one important moral lesson that can’t be denied or rationalized away.  

    I think God sent me a parable to live out this last year.

    Let me tell you about it.

  • What more needs to be said?

    If I were God, I would create humans with rewind buttons on their mouths or a 10-second delay device.

    We tend to say some really dumb things.

    Once I met a man at a gym who said he’d been a bodybuilder for 48 years. Since he wasn’t all Hulk Hoganish, I asked, “When did you stop?”

    Although he laughed, he looked at me with a combined horrified amazement as if to say, “I can’t believe you said that!”

  • S. Willey: Personal Grooming...

    My 80-year-old New York City personal advisor, Mr. S. Willey, is riding around the country visiting all of his clients.  He stopped by my house last week to see me and pass out some of his sage wisdom.  I know everyone can’t have a personal advisor, so I thought I’d let you in on what he had to say during his visit.

    Yep, I remember it like it was yesterday, mainly because it was.  There was a knock at the front door and…

    “Mr. Willey, come on in!  What a surprise!”

  • Judges should apply the law, not...

    The highest court in the land has an opening. With Justice David Souter’s retirement, President Obama will nominate and the Senate will debate the confirmation of someone new to take his place.

     It is no secret to anyone who has followed my career that I believe the role of a judge is to apply the law as written, not create law from the bench. Perhaps the best expression of this sentiment is found in the oath of office every federal judge in America, by law, must take. That oath reads:

  • D.C. road trip

    I just finished a five-day bus trip to Washington, D.C. with St. Dominic’s eighth grade class and their parents.  Well, let me tell you something.  You never met a rowdier bunch in your life.  Sure, the kids were OK, but those parents need some sharp edges rounded off.  

    This trip started at the “crack of dawn.” I always wondered what that looked like.  Cindy drove me, my brother Tom, my son Will and nephew Christopher down to meet the bus at the school.  I was determined to be on time for the early departure.

  • Loretto is a place to reconnect

    The Loretto Motherhouse will be featured on Kentucky Life on KET1 May 16 at 8 p.m. and May 17 at 4:30 p.m. and on KET2 at 7 p.m. on May 17. The description in my email reads, “The program visits the sisters of Loretto’s Motherhouse, a community of active and retired nuns, who farm, host retreats, maintain an art gallery and conduct tours detailing the history of one of the oldest convents west of the Appalachians.”