ASHLAND — Lloyd residents left in the dark

I’m not opposed to a sewer system being installed in Lloyd. What I’m opposed to is not being informed of actions being taken in our behalf without including the residents of Lloyd in the process.

It was stated that they had been working on this for years. In all this time, I know of only two public meetings to discuss the sewer system. The first when the residents discovered that $470,000 had been set aside to help fund a sewer system for Lloyd. The second was to show the proposed routes now being put forth for Greenup and Lloyd. The fiscal court has established a sewer district for the county after having a first and second reading of the ordinance. Was there a notice that a first reading was to be voted on? Before the second reading, I contacted our Commissioner Tony Quillen and Commissioner Mike Hieneman and asked them if they could arrange to have an informational meeting with the residents in Lloyd to allow property owners to obtain some information on the project and its cost to residents. No meeting was scheduled and no one contacted me to explain why not.

Greenup City Council and its lawyer are  meeting with Wurtland, which operates the sewer plant, to discuss cost.  And now wants to negotiate rates for Greenup around the not-yet-established Greenup Sewer District.

Lloyd residents are left totally in the dark about our costs, and since one is required to hook to sewage if it is available, we could be left with a huge fee. My concern is that it will be a done deal before this sewer district board can even be set up. The fiscal court has without a doubt failed to represent the residents of Lloyd by not including them in their own future.

William Brown, Greenup



Regulations are threat to freedom

I’m emembering many 4th of Julys, and why shouldn’t I?  I have seen 90 of them.

I’m blessed to live under the great form of government that independence gave us — a system of personal liberty, free enterprise, free speech and freedom of religion is the best.

These have been protected by two political parties who keep each other from straying too far from the ideals of the Founding Fathers. But there is a change pending. Some changes come naturally: cultural, communication, electronic, etc. Society takes these in stride, but there is a change that is critical. It is a change in government power.

Through regulations, the government gets stronger, and the constitution becomes weaker. Big government is a monster that has threatened since the beginning. It slowly weakens the liberty of an individual. A welfare state discourages industry, and regulations stifle free enterprise. Regulations were meant for safety, security and fairness, but know this: Every regulation is a reach of the long arm of government into our personal liberties.

New regulations are chipping away at personal liberty. Every measure of liberty that we surrender to a new regulation, that same measure is added as power to government.

People are becoming servants of a government elected to serve. The government was formed to serve the people, but by new regulations, the people are being forced to become servants of the government.  Our courageous soldiers have given all to protect our liberties from foreign aggressors; but our greatest threat to liberty is here at home.

I have no doubt that our leaders are loyal, and that they love America, but the America that they envision is a far different America than we have loved. It is an enemy to liberty. A little cartoon put it this way; “We have discovered the enemy! Us!”

Tom Heaberlin, Wurtland



July 1 letter full of errors

Marcello Ruriani’s July 1 letter was filled with so many inaccuracies, debunked Fox news propaganda, and outright lies, I don’t know where to start.

 Mr. Ruriani claims Fast and Furious was a botched attempt to change the Second Amendment.  I heard Congressman Issa, R-Calif., roll out his theory on Fox news. Mr Issa claimed Attorney General Holder was allowing guns to go to Mexico so that the violence would get so bad, Americans would demand more gun control here. Talk about a wacko right wing conspiracy theory! 

First of all, we should deal with the facts here on Earth. According to the June 27 article in Fortune magazine, ATF supervisor Dave Voth had by 2010 sent a list of 31 suspects they wanted to arrest for gun trafficking to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Phoenix, but, seven months later, no indictments.

When Voth tried to testify that ATF never purposefully allowed guns to be trafficked, that there is no federal statute that outlaws firearms trafficking, and agents must build a case with a  patchwork  of toothless state laws, he was gaveled down by Issa, as this didn’t fit  his political agenda. It is legal in Arizona, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Emery Hurley of Phoenix, for an 18 year old to put down $20,000 for 20 assault rifles, then take them across the street and sell them.

After a six-month investigation, Fortune Magazine revealed this case is replete with distortions, errors, partial truths and even outright lies. ATF cannot seize guns just because they think they are straw purchases headed for Mexico.

The true irony here is that Republicans who support the NRA’s efforts to weaken U.S. gun laws are lambasting Holder for not seizing enough weapons! I suggest Mr. Ruriani turn off Fox news and do some research of his own.

Anthony R. Savage, Catlettsburg



Greedy response of some shameful

While watching the news on TV last week, they told of how people were takng advantage of our unfortunate friends and neighbors who had  no electircity, ice or even water because of this crazy weather we’ve been having.

It showed how some merchants were really raising their price for ice. Other people were buying it and selling it for $75.

How can our friends and neighbors be so greedy that is has turned them into those kind of people? I am ashamed to be a member of a society where people act like selfish animals instead of reaching out to help our brothers in need. We should all be thankful just to live here and be proud if ourselves instead of taking advantage of people!

H.D. Nelson, Ashland



Survivors sought of deadly storm

Thousands of stories have been told about World War II, and an untold number never will be told for they are on silent lips on the beaches of Europe, in far-flung jungles, on islands in the Pacific and on ocean floors.  This is just one story,

Those lost during that war were honored on this Independence Day as well they should be because they gave their all in great battles.

One battle that is seldom mentioned was not against enemy forces but nature itself. In December of 1944, plans were in place to retake the Phillippines from Japan. At least 170 ships of all types were involved when they were struck by the largest typhoon ever recorded. It raged for three days, claiming 793 lives. Many ships were damaged; some sank with all hands aboard,.

A thousand pages could not describe the mighty force and fear it bought. That my ship and I survived could only have been be the mercy of God and my mother’s prayers

On a bronze plaque in Frederickburg, Texas, are the names of those who were lost in that storm. If there are any other survivpors of that storm, I would like to hear from them.

My address is Earl H. Stewart,  194 Friends Branch,  Grayson, Ky. 41143.

Earl H. Stewart, Grayson