Opinion

"But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us[a] - see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

-2 Corinthians 8:7

There are many worthy causes in the community, but it would seem logical that the issue of children not having enough to eat should rank near the top of the list.

If the Taylor County Food Pantry is just four weeks away from halting service due to a lack of funding, then it's obvious families in the community are going hungry - and it's going to do nothing but get worse.

So, are you registered to vote? If not, you'd better be hustling down to the courthouse. You've got until 4:30 today to register or you won't be able to vote on May 20.

And, believe us, there are plenty of reasons to vote.

Whether it's the Presidential race you're interested in, the U.S. Representative or Senator's races, the State Representative's race, or the alcohol-by-the-drink issue, it's time to make your opinion known.

The Democratic Presidential Primary is a hot-button topic no matter who you talk to. Even Republicans have an opinion on that race.

"Is there anybody out there?" Just as Pink Floyd wanted to know in its 1979 album, "The Wall," so do we.

One of our most popular Web site features is back and we need your help to get it up and running again.

Whether it's a front-page story, a sports story, an editorial piece or a wedding, readers once again have an opportunity to post comments about a story. Tell us if you liked it - or if you didn't. By doing that, a dialog can be opened between residents about issues and events of importance to our community.

It's getting more and more expensive to be an American consumer. With energy and food costs rising, inflation hit 4.1 percent in 2007, the highest level in 17 years. Buying imports and traveling are getting pricier, too, with the value of the greenback hitting historic lows against the Canadian dollar and the Euro.

Amid this bleak scenario, one important class of consumer good stands out as a bargain - prescription drugs. In the last year, drug prices have risen by just 1 percent. That's well under the rate of inflation, and the lowest annual price increase in three decades.

One beautiful June morning in 2006, four community leaders from Bowling Green set out for a scenic drive on their motorcycles. For two of them, the ride would be their last.

As they were driving through Logan County, a truck driver crossed a double-yellow line, killing two of the men and seriously injuring another. The truck driver had in her possession marijuana and drug supplies. In fact, she admitted to driving with drugs in her system, and tests verified that she had smoked marijuana before driving the vehicle.

It's getting worse. That's a fact. A story in the works for Monday's issue will tell it like it is.

The number of reported child abuse cases in Taylor County is on the increase.

The story focuses on statistics from Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. Last year, according to the organization, there were 269 cases of child abuse involving 369 children reported in Taylor County. Of those, 58 were substantiated, involving 105 children.

In 2006, there were 202 cases reported, involving 228 children. About 50 of those cases were substantiated, involving 74 children.

Winding up an improbable run at a national title on Monday, the Campbellsville University Tigers left Kansas City with their heads held high.

After all, the Tigers went farther than any other Campbellsville University basketball team in history - to the semifinals of the national championship tournament.

Coach Keith Adkins said there will still be smiles on their faces.

The early leaders of our country held widely divergent views on many topics, but their writings reflect a common appreciation of the importance of the right to know. These leaders recognized that in order for the new democracy to survive, public access was essential. As James Madison wrote: "[A] people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

"Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence."

- Bernard Montgomery

While it may often be unfair, elected officials are held to a higher accountability than the average person. Their character, their pasts, their integrity - all are intensely scrutinized.

Look, for example, at the current presidential campaign. If what's going on in newspapers and on television stations across the country isn't intense scrutiny we don't know what is.