ASHLAND — Global warming is scientific fact

The little maps on the back of garden seed packets are-a-changin’. They give plant hardiness information and are important to all of us: Gardeners, arborists, farmers, and botanists. Plant hardiness zones from the USDA are based on average low temperatures. New zone maps for 2012 have just been released and are based on 1976-2005 data.

In 2011 zone maps were depicted in 10 degree Fahrenheit zones. Kentucky was reflected to be predominantly in Zone 7 with average lows 10 to zero Fahrenheit, whereas Northern Kentucky and parts of mountainous regions were Zone 6 with average lows ranging from zero to minus 10 Fahrenheit.

 In the 2012 zone maps, two additional zones have been added so that warmer ranges in Hawaii and Puerto Rico are addressed, bringing the total to 13 zones. The map of Kentucky depicts Zone 7a (zero to 5 Fahrenheit) and Zone 6b (minus 5 to zero Fahrenheit) to be dominating, while Zone 6a (minus 5 to minus 10 Fahrenheit) appears to be a smaller area in this temperature range.

Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press points to zone changes indicative of global warming whereas USDA denies the soundness of using temperature lows as a predictor of change. He points out that “nearly entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska, and Texas, are in warmer zones.”

One thing is certain:  A massive change will take place in decisions relating to plant hardiness. This change will be imperceptible to most of us. It will range from label changes on fruit tree seedlings, to changes in seed production, in advice to farmers from county agents, and perhaps to crop loans and insurance. The zone changes will resonate throughout all of agriculture.

For most in the environmental community the evidence of climate change, including warming, is overwhelmingly a scientific fact. Kentuckians can only hope that the palms will be coconut palms.

Gene Nettles, Hickman



We are getting away from roots

I have enjoyed reading again the history of our presidents. I know you have done this before but you are to be highly commended for reprinting this information.

As a former educator, I am afraid we are getting away from the basic roots of our history in this nation.

I am not bashing sports, but I’m afraid that many of our young people know more about sports figures that about our presidents.

 The United States has been a ray of light and hope to millions around the world. The Statue of Liberty is a great symbol to all the peoples of the world.

As the words of “God Bless the U.S.A” say let freedom ring “from the hills of Tennessee, across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea, from Detroit down to Houston, from New York to L.A.” I think America needs to really bless the Lord before we can expect blessings from him.

Lloyd Dean, Morehead



Henry’s letter merits an ‘Amen!’

The only thing I would add to the well-written “In Your View” letter from Bernice Henry, published Feb. 15, is “Amen!”

There has been so much unresearched garbage printed in the newspaper recently that it is refreshing to hear “the other side of the story.”

I am a white female and I am thoroughly ashamed of the way African-Americans have been treated and the way our president — duly elected by the people — has been mistreated by the media.

Catherine Williams, Ashland



Third Ice Bowl will be Feb. 25

On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Ashland-Boyd County Disc Golf Club will be hosting its annual Ice Bowl Disc Golf Tournament.

The Ice Bowl is a tournament to raise funds and awareness for local food shelters. The 2012 Ice Bowl will be the third such tournament at Armco Park since the courses opened in 2009. In recent years, the tournament has raised well over $1,000 in cash and several hundred pounds of food for River Cities Harvest, Boyd County’s local food shelter.

The rules to participating in the tournament are few and simple. The tournament cannot be cancelled as a result of the weather conditions and there is no whining allowed.

In years past, the average temperature has been in the teens with the wind chill reaching single digits, and an average of 6 inches of snow on the ground.

If you don’t want to participate in the tournament, you can still help by donating food or money on the day of the tournament at Shelter No. 5.

For more information, such as registrations fees, tournament times, and disc golf in the tri-state area, please login to www.ABCDiscGolfClub.com

Tim Huff, ABC Disc Golf

 

Replace everyone in U.S. House

Our national debt is $15.2 trillion. Applied equally to the population, each man, woman and child owes more than $49,000.  It is growing so fast that it is likely to reach $20 trillion within the next five years. Each citizen would then owe more than $60,000.  Our representatives in Congress are arguing about how to "balance the budget" by 2020.  Huh?

What can be done to reverse this catastrophe?  The Constitution requires every spending bill originate within the House of Representatives.  We should replace every member of the House with a citizen representative who only represents the voters who elected them and is not obligated to special interest or big party money. 

GOOOH (Get Out Of Our House) is a system that will do that.  Every citizen of this country owes it to themselves to check out this system and join the effort to regain the freedoms that were once guaranteed by our constitutional republic.  For more information go to www.goooh.com.

Roy T. Newsom, Granbury, Tex.