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Opinion

  •
    From the Reporter's Desk:...

     

    Christmas is just around the corner, and while I suppose I am too old to give Santa a Christmas wish list, I instead opted to present a wish list for what I hope to see come from the Kentucky Legislature when they convene in January for the 2019 Legislative Session. 

  •
    The latest controversy... or lack...

     

    All the rage lately has been about the song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” since a radio station in Ohio decided to remove the song from its Christmas playlist, citing customer complaints that the song promotes date rape and in particular some concerns about the lyric “what’s in this drink?” 

    Personally, I’m not sure what the song’s intent was, and let’s face it, we will never really know for certain. The writer, Frank Loesser, passed away in 1969, so really all we have is speculation. 

  •
    Want bipartisanship in D.C.? Tell...

     

    I frequently hear people talking about the lack of bipartisanship in Washington, D.C., and for good reason. It seems like every time you turn on the television, you hear more of the bickering back and forth between Republicans and Democrats and less of the two sides working together to create real change for the constituents they represent. 

    There is an opportunity for that in Congress now, but Kentucky’s senior senator, Mitch McConnell, is standing in the way, along with a small band of Republican senators. 

  •
    Remembering Ed Waggener

     

    I was saddened to find out that a friend of mine, Mr. Ed Waggener, passed away Monday following complications from a heart attack several days ago. 

    Many know Ed from his work as the editor/publisher with Columbia Magazine and for his work in newspapers in this region of Kentucky for many years. Ed is an icon when it comes to journalism, and he engaged communities in this region as well as anyone. Ed covered a lot of topics in Campbellsville/Taylor County as part of the seven county coverage area of Columbia Magazine. 

  •
    Remembering 9/11

     

    Tuesday marked 17 years since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, a day that changed our country forever and a date that will forever be marked in infamy. 

    Ask a group of people and it is likely that 99 percent or more can recall where they were and what they were doing when they found out what happened that morning.

  •
    Political season has arrived!

     

    If you haven’t taken a drive around town lately, it is clear to see that political season locally is in full swing. 

    Campaign signs are popping up everywhere it seems, and some are still left over from the May primary. It seems that, locally at least, political season really heats up beginning with the Fourth of July celebration, as candidates for local offices march in the parade or have booths set up. 

  •
    Know the score when eating out

     

    If your family is like mine, you probably eat a lot of meals out in restaurants these days.

    No, it’s not about my wife’s cooking. She’s an excellent cook, and her food is among the best you’ll put in your mouth.

    But we are like many families these days, busy and on the run most of the time to one place or another, and we simply don’t take the time to cook a large meal every day. Instead, we grab something at a restaurant and save the time and clean-up work in the kitchen.

  •
    A life-changing experience

     

    Despite how it often seems, I’ve long believed that the world is still full of wonderful people doing amazing things on a daily basis. 

    It’s hard to see that some days, but that was reaffirmed to me recently as I spent seven days in the Dominican Republic in the city of Santiago, alongside my wife and 19 Lindsey Wilson College students and alumni, working with GO Ministries. 

  •
    Our Fourth is fabulous

     

    Not being from Campbellsville, I don’t have the memories many of you have growing up here.

    You recall things from 10, 20, 30 or more years ago, and you remember the good old days. However, in some cases, the good old days may not have been as good as the days we are experiencing right now. 

    Take the Fourth of July, for example.

  •
    We are not "the media"

     

    The journalists at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, amaze me. In the face of one of the darkest tragedies one can imagine – watching their coworkers mercilessly gunned down by a man filled with hatred toward the newspaper and its reporters – the Capital Gazette staff carried on and published a newspaper the following day. That’s exactly what happened last Thursday when five members of the newspaper’s staff were killed. And still, the next day, the Capital Gazette put out a paper.

  •
    Where are our priorities?

     

    What if I told you that more than a thousand people recently died on American soil due to a natural disaster? 

    You would probably be shocked, right? Disturbed? You would probably be wondering why it hasn’t been all over the news, why there weren’t massive operations to provide relief to those affected. 

  • A shot in the arm for hepatitis A

    When I volunteer to get a shot, you know it’s serious. That’s the case with the health crisis of hepatitis A in Kentucky right now. It is a very serious problem, and one I believe should be met head on with the vaccine for the threatening illness.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hepatitis A is a very contagious liver infection that can be contracted by being exposed to contaminated food, or from someone who is infected with the disease. The best prevention is simply washing your hands.

  •
    Victims’ rights bill needs...

     

    In Kentucky last year, 23,785 felony cases resulted in a conviction. In each case, there was a victim who had to navigate a complicated judicial system at a severe disadvantage to those accused of doing them harm. Too often, the criminal justice system meant to work for them caused even more anguish.

    It shouldn’t be this way in Kentucky. And, with your help in November, it won’t be much longer.

  •
    Kentucky’s financial future...

     

    For many months, we have been working to resolve the toughest financial crisis Kentucky has ever faced, a crisis that began many years ago and that previous governors and legislators either negligently handled or ignored. It is now snowballing out of control. Nothing about this process has been easy. That does not, however, take away from the present reality that we are facing, or from the difficult decisions that must still be made.

  • School district should name...

    The Taylor County Board of Education is getting its superintendent search underway, as it was announced Monday night that 12 candidates had placed their names into the mix to be the leader of the district.

    The process is just in the early stages, and a superintendent is not expected to be announced until the beginning of June. There is still a lot to be discussed and evaluated moving forward, but one thing the board should keep in mind as this process unfolds is transparency.

  •
    School district should name...

     

    The Taylor County Board of Education is getting its superintendent search underway, as it was announced Monday night that 12 candidates had placed their names into the mix to be the leader of the district.

    The process is just in the early stages, and a superintendent is not expected to be announced until the beginning of June. There is still a lot to be discussed and evaluated moving forward, but one thing the board should keep in mind as this process unfolds is transparency.

  •
    Trip to National Civil Rights...

     

    As we observe Black History Month, I find myself reflecting on a recent trip that taught me more about the history of our nation, including some of the cruelest times imaginable. It was a visit to Memphis, Tennessee, to the National Civil Rights Museum, and it was a trip well worth taking.

    The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent his life fighting for equality. He did so until his death on April 4, 1968, in Memphis.

  •
    Education is key when it comes to...

     “Why would you give a needle to a drug addict?”

    Admittedly, I once thought that was a very stupid question. It would just enable an addict, make it easier for them to do their drug of choice. Why make needles easier to get? These were all thoughts I had when I first heard about syringe exchange programs.

    And so when I hear people express these thoughts, I don’t automatically discredit them, because it wasn’t that long ago that I thought the exact same thing.

  •
    Newspaper's dedication to...

     

    For more than 100 years, this newspaper, or a version of it by various names, has brought the news to Taylor County.

  • Stop the spread of hate and racism

    I have spent a significant amount of time reading and trying to gather as much information about the horrific events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, this weekend. Masses of protesters and counter-protesters clashed and one person was killed and 19 or 20 others injured when a 20-year-old man from Ohio (but recently moved from the Florence, Kentucky area) drove his car into the crowd, plowing over anyone and everyone in his path.