Opinion

Dear Editor,

I have my own opinion on “county-wide cleanup.”  I do not think this is necessary that we have a county-wide cleanup.  Is it beneficial to all of us? Well, of course, but the county didn’t help us accumulate the junk we are wanting to get rid of.  We need to dispose of our own junk in the proper way.  

The General Assembly adjourned the 2010 session without finalizing a budget.  It is a matter that has caused much frustration and even anger.  People should be mad.  The fact of the matter is that the Senate would not agree to a fiscally unsound budget proposed by the House that raised over $280 million in taxes and bonded over $1 billion in projects that we cannot afford.

Dear Editor,

Major changes in education tend to occur in lurches rather than in incremental baby steps. That’s largely because it takes time to build a consensus about what’s important for our children’s future. The last major lurch was the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) enacted in 1990. Tweaks to KERA during the past 20 years have included changes in testing and more emphasis on reading, math and science.

I’m not rich, and I can’t toss money around like it’s nothing, but I must admit that I don’t think much of a penny. If I drop one, I probably won’t bend over to pick it up, and if I get a penny or two coming back in change at a store, I’ll probably leave it in case someone else needs it later. You just can’t buy much for a penny, can you?

Dear Editor,

April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. The Washington County Homemakers are once again sponsoring the Blue Ribbon Campaign.

Even before the House of Representatives passed its $17.5 billion budget proposal, the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee had our first meeting to discuss some of the tax measures that affect business. I am very concerned that these measures will hinder job creation. In the committee, I heard testimony from 10 business representatives who discussed how taxing businesses, including farms, which are already struggling would have a negative impact on employment.

I’m guilty of a grievous breech of southern etiquette. I fail to wave back to people when driving down the road.  

If you’ve ever waved to me when you’ve seen me driving, then please don’t take offense if I didn‘t wave back.  I never see anything except those white and yellow lines while driving down the road.  I never look into other people’s cars while driving.  I didn’t even know that people were waving to me until my kids mentioned it one day.  

“Kids, you can’t beat them.  Especially where it shows.”

Unknown Parent

I stopped off at St. Dominic to pick up Cindy last Wednesday right after school.  I was surprised to find her rolling around the office while laughing her head off.  

“Poor old girl.  She’s finally lost it,” I thought.

I immediately took charge and said, “Get off the floor.  Your clothes will get dirty.”

Neither of my high school friends let me in on their secret: they planned to commit suicide. They succeeded.

Not at the same time. And by then we were miles and years apart. But it still shook me to the core when I heard the news. “Death by suicide.” My friends, they were, at least for some fun years. Football. Friday night school dances. Parties. Cruising. Hanging out.