Beer sales letter elicits response

This is in response to Bill Secrest’s letter published July 7. He had to know this would be controversial when he composed this letter.

His opinion is that it’s OK for moms and dads to stroll down a public street with beers in their hands and “small kids in tow.” My opinion is that it is a free country and people may drink beer (if it is legal) at a public event if they choose. However, I don't think it is appropriate to encourage “moms and dads,” who probably drove to the event, to do so with their children.

There are at least two things wrong with this scenario. Who’s driving the kids home? If these “kids” become underage drinkers, everyone will be blamed but the parents who set the example in the first place. These same parents will blame the kids’ peer groups, television, movies or perhaps the neighbor down the road.

I know that legal drinking makes many events much more appealing to many people, but everyone should follow the laws of the area they visit. I’m sorry the participants of the Great Race couldn’t imagine taking one evening off from drinking.

Perhaps, since they had nothing better to do, they could have attended one of the many area churches for the evening services.

Robin Reeves, Ashland



Water is diverted onto his property

Why do we have code enforcement in Boyd County?

In Boyd County, it must be permissible to divert water, dirt and sand from your property onto other people's property.

A neighboring property owner built a home in Graydon Heights. The back of the property comes down onto Shopes Creek. The contractor dug two large ditches several hundred feet long, and 2 to 3 feet deep and wide. All the dirt, sand and water from the ditches run onto Shopes Creek in front of my property.

At my request, Steve Sturgill, code enforcement officer, came in March and said this is in violation of county and state regulations. He came again in late May or early June, but nothing has been done.

I’ve called the state highway department many times in the past three years, and it has ignored my requests to clean the ditchline out so the water can run off where it is supposed to.

The only person who has tried to help me is Boyd County Judge-Executive Bud Stevens. But this ditchline is not a county problem. Shopes Creek (Ky. 538) is a state highway.

The person who built the house and had the ditches dug is at fault for starting the problem. The county is at fault for permitting him to do it without making him correct it, and the state is at fault for not doing its job of cleaning out and maintaining the ditch line.

The only person suffering because of this is me. My yard and garden stay wet from the water that continually stands in this ditch. This isn’t only an inconvenience to me but also a safety hazard when the road is full of water and obstructs traffic.

Is this your taxes at work?

Fred Lester, Catlettsburg



Joe Burchett doing an exceptional job

I commend Boyd County Jailer Joe Burchett and his staff on the exceptional job they do. Mr. Burchett’s willingness to spend long hours to keep our school grounds, baseball fields, dog park and other areas in excellent shape is to be commended.

I acknowledge the qualities he and his staff possess to achieve standards which help to keep the city of Ashland and Boyd County looking neat, clean and well cared for.

Mr. Burchett has the ability to motivate his staff and his inmates. His inmates volunteer for these jobs, and if you take the time to look around, you will find they do an excellent job. They are always friendly and courteous whenever you see them out on a job.

I salute Joe Burchett and his staff for their interest and concern for Boyd County. I also salute the Boyd County Detention Center allowing inmates to be a productive part of our county. By allowing these inmates to volunteer, Mr. Burchett is instilling motivation and pride in them.

Bobbie Perkins, Ashland



Safe Harbor seeks sewing machines

Safe Harbor of Northeastern Kentucky is offering a fine arts, enrichment program for its residents. Now under way is a book club, under the direction of ACTC Assistant Professor of Humanities Mary Shortridge.

The goal is to provide incentives for life-long, creative pursuits. Classes will eventually include knitting, crocheting, quilting and other handcrafts, as well as basic sewing classes. All instruction will be provided under the direction of expert artisans in their given fields. Leading the way will be Associate Professor of Art Wendy Fosterwelsh, also of ACTC.

The shelter is in need of new or gently used sewing machines, which will become an important part of this program and its success. If you wish to donate, please contact Brenda Keathley, at (606) 329-9304.

Safe Harbor serves the needs of families in the FIVCO area. Along with its vital mission of emergency and continuum of care for those affected by violence and abuse, it is also the goal of the organization to bring lasting enrichment to the lives of our clients.

Brenda Keathley , VISTA Volunteer Coordinator, Safe Harbor

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1979 RHS class needs addresses

Russell High School class of 1979 is planning a reunion August 21-22. We still are trying to locate these classmates:

Gerri Akers, Marci Artist, Michael Babineaux, Sherry Blankenship, Randy Boggs, Toby Boyd, Lisa Bradford, Lori Brenner, Clyde Brown, Kevin Brown, Tammy Brown, Cindy Clark, Curtis Clark, Ronald Clark, Mike Cline, Robert Colegrove, Mark Cyrus, Michael Delong, Johnda Downs, Diana England, Donna England, Marshall Fulton, Josie Garcia, Sue Garner, Don Gayhart, Bill Gedling, Paul Gillum, Becky Haycraft, Vicki Hinton, Anita Howard, Carla Hughes, Tammy Jackson, Kerry Justice, Tony Kershner, Leslie Knight, Susie Lemaster, Jackie Lewis, Tina Lewis, Calvin Martin, John Martin, James Mays, Charles Scott McDavid, Cindy McDowell, Tammy McDowell, Jesse McLemore, Charlotte Meadows, Steve Murray, Hugh Napier, Michael O’Brien, David Parker, Bill Pemberton, Lynn Potter, Dena Reed, Tom Riggs, Brenda Roark, Nadine Roark, Richard Sala, Gregory Sargent, Jeff Smith, Tony Sparks, Anita Stanley, Sam Stephens, Randy Stevens, Sandy Stuber, Becky Taylor, Trudy Tucker, Keith Waddell, Becky Ward, Julia Wright.

If anyone has information on these classmates, please call Judy Cantrell Fleming at (606) 325-3542 or Jackie Conley Muncy (606) 836-9860.

Judy Cantrell Fleming, Ashland