Calipari’s salary not from taxes

So who writes that big check, and where does the money come from?

First, none of your tax dollars will go to John Calipari’s wallet.

A deep wallet it will be leaving every other college basketball coach in the dust. Coach Cal will make a record annual salary of more than $4 million.

The second highest — back-to-back national champ Billy Donovan — will make a million dollars less at Florida. And all those highly paid coaches can thank TV for a big part of their payday

Just last fall, ESPN and CBS agreed to pay the Southeastern Conference billions of dollars to broadcast their events. And a large chunk of that money ends up in the hands of the University of Kentucky.

“As revenues increase, it’s just natural that salaries for coaches and that kind of thing also increases … It’s just a simple case of supply and demand,” says Tony Neely with UK Athletics.

He says TV deals are just one piece of the pie, though. Ticket sales and deep-pocketed boosters round out what amounts to a $67 million a year athletic operation.

And not a penny of it comes from tax dollars or tuition.

“We try to tell folks all the time we’re not spending tuition money on coaches,” explains Neely. “We’re not spending tax money on coaches. We have to raise it ourselves.”

In fact, Neely tells us the athletic association actually gives money to the university every year.

They give $1.2 million straight up, plus another $16 million or so by paying for athletes to live and eat on campus and so on.

Bottom line, if it weren’t for big-time coaches like Calipari and the money they bring in, UK students would have to pay even more for their education.

Chris Erwin, Ashland



Nature’s beauty never changes

At 80, I often tell people I’m from a different world than the one we live in today.

I saw and heard my first radio when I was just a kid growing up in Greenup County. It was battery powered as we didn’t have electricity. I remember trying to figure out how they could get that voice to come out of the little box they called a radio. Then came TV a few years later.

I could go on and on about the things I have seen come and go during my life. I still miss those good old days. Those were simple times and also some hard times, I might add, but we still enjoyed life to the fullest as kids will.

I love my good memories, but I still try to find a place to fit into this “new world” that I find myself in. We have lots of new fangled things that are enjoyable and very convenient. I have a computer that I play around with and keep in touch with our friends and family through e-mail.

There is one thing that will never change though: The wonders of nature and all the pretty flowers and trees budding out in spring. I drove by Central Park the other day and the baby tears and daffodils seem to have outdone themselves this year. They are a sight to behold. How much more beauty could a person ask for?

People were strolling through those daffodils taking pictures of their kids. They seemed to be enjoying all this beauty so much as I.

I guess I can quit griping so much. This old world hasn’t changed that much after all. We can be thankful that God has allowed us to enjoy all this beauty.

Leonard M Grizzle, Ashland



Man a steward of neighborhood

When we reflect and recall the life of Kenneth Bell, we allow ourselves to remember one who took on the responsibility of becoming the “Steward of the Carter Avenue Neighborhood.” When his days were good, you could drive down the street and always see him sitting on the porch and he would immediately throw up his hand and wave.

Kenneth especially enjoyed a visit from his friends. He was always quick to come up with some sort of catchy remark about a situation. He also would readily offer his solution or advice whether you requested it or not.

Kenneth loved the tradition of the Sunday family meal complete with homemade rolls. If Lou Veinia was not feeling up to it, then he readily jumped in to complete the meal. It was so much more than just a meal — it was a time for family to share their love with one another.

His friends became his family as well. His concern was for their well being before his own. His beloved teacher, Ms. Johnson, was one mission that worked on faithfully. When his health permitted, he walked over to check on her often. I remember Lou Veinia saying that he would not go to sleep until he saw Ms. Johnson turn her light off for the night.

Family and friends will sadly miss Kenneth Bell. The last “Steward of the Carter Avenue Neighborhood” will rest after many years of vigilance in caring for others.

Henry L. Mosley, Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church



1969 RHS class needs addresses

The Russell High School class of 1969 is planning its 40-year class reunion. We need phone numbers, and/or e-mail addresses for the following classmates:

Cynthia Bailey, Howard Bess, Carlos Blum, Dottie Clifton, Scott Colegrove, Debbie Creech, Ann Dollar, Shelia Donahue, Mickey Emmons, Diane Evans, Clyde Fosson, Jennifer Gamble, Elma Hamilton, Gloria Hensley, Rebecca Hurn, Becky Hughes, Suzanne Keyes, Shirley McKenzie, Bill McKnight, Debbie Napier, Steve Napier, Andy Kubicek, Kathy Stambaugh, Mike Stone, Debbie Sutton, Kathy Walthour, Glenda Whitt, Diana William and Sonda Yates.

If you have information on any of these classmates, please notify Cathy Belt Smith, (606) 836-6040, smithscomputer@roadrunner.com, (606) 571-4009; or Susie Simpson Daniels, (606) 836-2157, gilleydan@roadrunner.com.

Cathy Belt Smith, Susie Simpson Daniels, Russell High class of 1969



Daughter is also a comeback kid

My husband, Dwayne Wilburn and I also like to think of our daughter, Misty Dawn Wilburn (then 16), as a “Comeback Kid” of Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Cabell Huntington always will hold a special place in our lives. On April 1, 1999, our daughter was in a car wreck and sustained traumatic brain injury. She was taken by ambulance from Ky. 3 in Rush to the Ponderosa School parking lot to be transferred by helicopter to Cabell Huntington Hospital.

The staff, doctors and nurses were as efficient then as they are now. They were so supportive of our family during our time of need.

She was also given no hope. We were told she would be lucky to survive, let alone walk, talk or even eat again. Misty was in a coma for 17 days. She spent 23 days in the hospital and then was transferred to the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center in Lexington for another two months. After that she was in Carbondale, Ill., at a brain trauma rehab facility for six months. She has made a remarkable comeback by learning to walk, talk, eat and emotionally adapt to a life with a traumatic brain injury and physical limitations.

On April 1, 2008, we decided that April fools’ day for us is now a day of celebration of her life, not a day full of practical jokes. There are still deficits that we are overcoming, but thanks to God, the Cabell Huntington Hospital and many others she is with us today.

The Children’s Hospital project will be a wonderful compliment to Cabell Huntington’s existing facilities.

Della Wilburn, Rush