ASHLAND — Opposed to bust for draft dodger

This is in response to the letter fromn Don B. Pratt, Lexington, about having a bust of Muhammad Ali in the state capitol.

 As a Vietnam Veteran, I cannot forgive those who refused to serve their country. I will stand up and salute our flag and our deceased veterans who made it possible for Muhammad Ali to refuse to serve in the military.

 All the freedom we enjoy is because the sacrifices of the men and women who served our country. I am proud to belong to the American Legion whose motto is “For God and Country.”

 I am one veteran who would be opposed to a bust of a draft dodger in the state capitol in Frankfort.

 Ray Caudill, Ashland



Suggested words for the Ali bust

This in in response to the July 31 letter headlined “Ali bust belongs in state capitol.”

For sheer comedic value, can anything come close to a preening, posturing Progressive? Only Progressives can flit from cause to cause, like hummingbirds going from flower to flower, all the while breathlessly informing us of the righteousness of both themselves and their causes.

The author of this letter was no exception as he implored “our military leaders and veterans” to “demand” that a bust of Muhammad Ali be installed in the capitol rotunda.

 Now, one might expect that someone like me, a veteran of Vietnam with more than  27 years in the military, would be rather hostile to an idea like this. Perhaps, a few would expect me to say something to the author resembling, “Why don’t you try working for a living?”

However, in the interests of civility, I am going to meet the author and his fellow Progressives half way. I will be glad to “demand” that our elected leaders place a bust of Muhammad Ali in the capitol rotunda. However, it is my stipulation that one of the two captions (below), inscribed in large, prominent letters, be placed directly under the bust. I gladly leave it up to my Progressive friends to choose the most appropriate caption.

(a) “Muhammad Ai – if you’ve seen one draft dodger, you’ve seen them all.”

(b) “This bust of Muhammad Ali is dedicated to all those draft dodgers who lived comfortably in the United States or Canada while better men than they fought and died in a far off country.”

 OK, all you Progressive gadflies, it’s time to vote! Please indicate your choice so that we can get this bust of Ali into its proper place! Vote today!

 SMSGT. (Ret.) C.A. Crabtree, Russell



Local  businesses support auction

The Boyd County Livestock Auction at the Boyd County Fair was held last week. The Boyd County 4-H club and Boyd County FFA Chapter youth raised livestock and had their projects auctioned off on the last day of the fair with more than 50 animals sold.  I am sure many of you read the article about the kindness of our wonderful community in helping out one of the fair exhibitors, Alexis Russell, who was diagnosed with cancer.  

I would personally like to make our community aware that our local farmers, small and local businesses were the ones who spent their time and money to not only purchase the children’s livestock projects, but also to help a family out in our community. Without our small and local businesses, none of this would have been possible.

Being a parent of three children who sold livestock at the auction, as well as being a small business owner myself, I urge and encourage everyone to support your small and local businesses instead of going out of the area, state or using the Internet  for items you can get locally. Not only does this take money from our community, but it takes away from what we can give back to children and families in Boyd County. 

While I  do not have an official list of all the local businesses that supported all the children in the livestock auction on Saturday, 

I do know that there were no Internet companies, nor is there ever, supporting our children in our local schools and community.  I personally thank all those businesses that came out to the Boyd County youth livestock auction and I know I will continue to support those businesses. I hope you will as well.

Sarah  A. Conley, Catlettsburg



ATV riders should wear a helmet

   I wish sommeone would gather and report the statistics concernig ATVs (four-wheelers) and the number of adults and children who are injured and killed by them in the Tri-State each year. I know that many of the injuries are not reported on the news.

The reason for my concern? We have a daughter who is now in an Intensive Care Unit in a coma.

Her ATV accident was July 5. She has gone through two terrible operations on her jaw and face. She had a deep brain concussion and brain bleed.

Please, friends, if you plan to ride an ATV, bike or motorcycle, wear a helmet; in a matter of seconds, your life could change forever.

Helen A. Prescott, Raceland



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