ASHLAND — Westwood has a  dog problem

Though man’s relationship with dogs has been around for thousands of years, modern city conditions no longer permit dogs to run at large. This is especially true in the densely populated bottoms and backroads of Westwood. I will admit I’m not certain what type of laws are currently on the books in Westwood, but if leash laws exist, they certainly are not being enforced.

I am a fairly recent transfer to the area and am shocked by the routine sight of dogs constantly patrolling the streets in misfit packs.

They are ubiquitous. When not chasing cars they can be found sunning themselves in the middle of the road and constantly making their presence felt in myriad other ways. This is a potentially dangerous situation. These dogs are under the constant threat of being hit by a car or worse, causing a vehicle to swerve and wreck, potentially injuring a human trying to avoid a collision with one of these unsupervised dogs. This is not to mention the fact that they cause me to become the nuisance when I have to lay on my horn at 8 a.m. to coax these animals out of my way.

 Wild dogs are unpleasant for walkers (a point that becomes ever more important as gas prices continue to climb) and possibly dangerous to children. They are a threat to livestock, and to a lesser degree, gardens, flowerbeds and lawns.

I don’t have enough room to get into spaying and neutering, but dogs roaming the neighborhood unchecked only beget more dogs roaming the neighborhood unchecked. It’s a regular zombie apocalypse. George Romero should make a movie..

Westwood is fairly congested and I feel that packs of dogs roaming the streets are annoying, completely unreasonable and potentially dangerous. And I am not alone.

Patrick Day,  Westwood



How taxpayers are being sold out

When I built my house here in Moehead in 1972-73, I signed a contract with Kentucky utilities that if I would make the house all electric, I would never have to pay more than $50 a month for electricity.

The first year I got back $11.40 in overpoyments. Two years later, they dropped the contract and I paid my bill monthly with no payback. My bill was seldom more than$100 a month. Then, when the leaders of our government let foreign companies buy Kentucky utilties, my electric bill started to rise monthly. Now my electric bill is more than $400 a month

This is only one example of the taxpayers of the U.S. being sold out. How far are the taxpayers of the United States in days, months and years behind the people of North Africa and vicinity if this stealing the bread right out of our grandchildren’s mouths continues?

Cliff Barker, Morehead

 

County workers often overlooked

The Kentucky General Assembly recently passed resolutions in recognition of April being National County Government Month. We also acknowledged that county governments “provide inestimable services” to our citizens. Often, the roles of these public servants are overlooked or go unacknowledged until we need assistance.

There is a long list of jobs and services provided by our county governments. Our county governments build and maintain roads and bridges; provide law enforcement and other public safety services; manage courts and jails; maintain public records; offer public park systems; deliver essential hearth care and housing, and oversee many other projects and programs.

As citizens, we do not always think about who cleans the snow and ice from the roads; who transports and cares for prisoners, or who works to bring state and federal funds for much needed projects to our county.

As a state legislator, I work closely with county officials to ensure that we get our fair share of state funds. Though I may be in Frankfort assisting with the budget process, I rely a great deal on my county officials to keep me up-to-date on our community as well as to help prioritize projects. Their guidance is invaluable.

This month’s national celebration is a good time to express our gratitude to our county governments. .

This year’s National County Government Month celebration is dedicated to another group that is always deserving of acknowledgement. The theme is “Serving our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their Families.”  April would be a good time to salute our veterans and our military personnel for giving of themselves so unselfishly. It also would be a good time to become familiar with the programs and services that counties have available for them.

Robin Webb, State Senator, 18th District, Grayson



Republicans only serve the wealthy

I find it unbelievable conservatives who are so anti-government want to be in total control of government. Government is not the problem; anti-government conservative Republicans and their Tea Party comrades are the problem. If they achieve complete control of the government, we will have a laissez faire corporate dictatorship. Trickle-down economics that doesn't work for the overwhelming majority will continue to be the order of the day.

 Government should be serving the common good. Republicans are for serving  the rich primarily. They use their phony concern for deficits to defund liberalism (Democrats), bust unions, trample on the majority middle class and poor. With malice aforethought, they are in the process of destroying America. The rapidly growing income gap between haves and have-nots is a serious problem.  If we the people stand idly by and let anti-government conservatives unjustly run roughshod over us, we deserve what we get.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville



Hardin Cemetery in need of funds

  With the mowing season upon us, we remind those with family or friends buried in the Hardin Cemetery located behind Siloam Baptist Church that a donation in your loved ones’ honor would be greatly appreciated.

The perpetual care volunteers hope to continue the upkeep of the cemetery but we need the help of every family to continue to keep up with the mowing fees.

Donations or information about the care fund may be directed to any of the trustees: Emma Ruth Floyd, 44 Stone Drive, Greenup, Ky. 41144; Judy Maynard, 2260 Ohio River Road, Greenup, 41144; Kim Hardin-Bonzo, P.O. Box 41, Greenup, 41144.

Kim Hardin-Bonzo, Emma Ruth Floyd. and Judy Maynard, Greenup



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