ASHLAND — He cannot wait until Nov. 7

As usual with summer came the re-runs of NCIS and Law and Order, and of course the terrible reality shows —  i.e.  Apple Pie Wars and The Real Housewives of Flatwoods —  that insult our intelligence. And they are sponsored by attorneys and car dealerships begging for our business.

 And then comes fall, wonderful fall, with new shows and sports.  So now we can relax and enjoy our televisions.  But, no, it's a major election year. So each commercial break is not four ads but, five, and all are political campaign ads. We are so inundated by the mud-slinging and muck-raking of our would-be elected leaders. We are sick of them before they get elected.

I personally cannot wait until Nov. 7 (the day after Election Day) so the barrage of political name-calling will end. And I can get back to watching my television in peace, where the ambulance chaser and used car salesmen commercials will seem as innocent as little sinless cherubs on the screen.

  Don Stewart, Ashland



Sure signs of Sunday drinkin’

I’ve formed an opinion on the idea of Sunday beer drinking and beer sales at the Ashland Riverfront Park.

It seems to me that whoever made the decision back in the 1980s to develop a shopping mall within a stone's throw from businesses in downtown Ashland and not think it would have a severe financial impact on downtown retail sales, must have been drinkin’ on Sunday.

A few years ago, pipeline construction completely destroyed the roadway on 6th Street, Central Avenue down to 9th Street and Greenup Avenue. Whoever signed off on the approval of the roller-coaster blacktop repair must have been drinkin’ on Sunday.

Driving on Carter Avenue, I find that traffic is three lanes one block, four lanes the next, and back to three lanes. Whoever set this traffic pattern must have been drinkin’ on Sunday.

Whoever painted those yellow lines on Roberts Drive or 6th Street and Central Avenue must have been drinkin’ on Sunday.

 Ever wonder why the manhole covers stick up a couple of inches above the road causing us to dodge them when driving? Probably because the engineer that didn't figure 3 inches of blacktop pressed down to 2 inches when rolled would leave the manhole cover sticking up an inch must have been drinkin’ on Sunday.

The group that designed the Port of Ashland River Park did so without any concern for local boaters and the parking situation there is a fiasco. Those people must have been drinkin’ on Sunday.

Lastly, I address the issue of beer sales on the Port of Ashland River Park.  There seems to be some concern about beer sales on public property. When those big party boats are docked and tied to the public property at the port, what do you think they’re selling river water?

Jeff Preston, Westwood



Writer gets his views from God

I have read the recent letters and in particular the Oct. 21 column by Kenneth Hart about the movement to bring Sunday alcohol sales to Ashland. The arguments are mostly based on the economic impact from restaurants being allowed to sell on this busy day. I was disturbed by Mr. Hart’s column presenting the argument as if those who hold no objection to this law should have a voice and those who do object should be silent in their objection. 

Regardless of where I get my opinions from, I am a citizen and allowed by the First Amendment to voice my opinions. I hold the right to vote for the well being of my community as I see fit. Mr. Hart says that he can’t respect a person’s “inference that his or her beliefs should be law.” Where do we get laws? They come from people’ beliefs about what is best for the community. 

As a Christian, I believe God blesses those who make decisions based on what is good and right. I see no separation between religious views and secular views. There are simply views held by citizens.

Our governmental system is set up so that the majority vote establishes the rule of law. I hope the majority view alcohol like I do, whether from a Christian perspective, medical perspective, law enforcement perspective, or any other. That is how our government is set up, and I thank God for this.

I get my viewpoints from my God through Scripture. I do not need to be silent because of where I get my beliefs just like I would not try to silence anyone else. 

Mike Fork, Ashland



Facts don’t back Crisp column

I wish whoever is responsible for determining which or whose syndicated columns are to be featured would exercise a little more judgment.

John M. Crisp, an English teacher at Del Mar College in Texas, was the featured columnist in the Oct. 31  Independent. The title of his column was “Denying climate change and other realities cost dearly.”

The other realities that are to cost us dearly, while they reflected badly  on sport’s  treatment/policies of ignoring serious injuries and should be addressed by those charged with maintaining the integrity of said programs, will not cost we the people dearly.

Crisp then proceeded to his main theory, which he presented as fact, that climate change was going to make life on earth miserable if not addressed in a major way. His evidence was that virtually all of the serious climate scientists support that greenhouse gases are being pumped into our atmosphere, etc.

That which he states as fact is the exact opposite as all the serious and creditable scientists have debunked the notion this is happening and the only faction that keeps trying to sell this idea are those who profit by maintaining this posture.  Amen to Al Gore who pulled off  this most expensive, biggest hoax ever and is still profiting, as those who drank the Kool Aid, continue to believe and try to save the Earth from that which it does not need to be  saved.

Don Cartmill, Flatwoods



4-H Foundation benefits kids

Nearly 205,000 youth from around Kentucky, about a quarter of the state’s K-12 population, participate in Kentucky 4-H programs or activities. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation that I chair isdedicated to the financial support of the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program.

To help us connect with journalists and the public, we have launched a new website — www.Kentucky4HFoundation.org — and hired Strategic Advisers, a public relations firm based in northern Kentucky.

The Kentucky 4-H Foundation is a partner of the University of Kentucky College of Agricultureand the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H Youth Development. The Foundation’s mission is fourfold:

-- Actively assist, advance, and support the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program;

-- Encourage and support youth leadership development and education through 4-H;

-- Recognize, support, and assist trained 4-H adult and teen volunteer leaders;

-- Assist in private sector fundraising efforts while nurturing new resources through business partnerships.

I hope you take a moment to visit our new website. You can also visit the Kentucky 4-H Foundation Facebook page  (http://www.facebook.com/KY4HFoundation) or follow us on Twitter(@KY4HFoundation),

David Wallace, chairman, Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Fort Mitchell



Letters invited

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