Opinion

To the editor,

The short month of February in the words of President Bill Clinton “is held in the depth of winter. But, by the words we speak and the faces we show, we force the spring.” A spring of rebirth, renewal and revitalization. In this short month we watch the groundhog predict the weather, observe the history of our African American brothers and sisters, honor great men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson, and celebrate the feast day of Saint Valentine.

            A few years ago I wrote about seeing a pig fly.

            What I meant by that is seeing the surprising answer to a prayer, something I thought I’d only see “when pigs fly.” In other words, never.

            But God seems to delight in never and impossible. A woman who called the newsroom last week reminded me of that.

Not long after legislators approved the state’s two-year budget last April, we began to realize that as much as we had scaled back, it still would not be enough because of the steep downturn in the nation’s economy.

            Our state economists told us last fall that, despite several hundred million dollars already being cut, we would need to come up with $456 million more to balance the budget by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2009.

To the editor,

I would just like to write and say I think it is awful how fast people drive on US 62 E. and how heartless people can be. On Sunday, Feb. 8 my 12 month old puppy had got out and was near the road. Someone hit him and didn’t even care enough to stop.

He passed away. It was just like losing one of my children. He was our best friend. So I hope who ever did this to our family will please slow down. We miss our babe very much and this won’t bring him back but it may save another animals life. His name was Tank.

Heaven Herrington

Along with zillions of other people, my daughter, Alison, writes a blog.

As The Neurotic Housewife, Alison writes about her life as a stay-at-home mom, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this side of her in a horrifying sort of way.

It’s like looking into a mirror.

Oscar Wilde once said, “All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy.”

As my girls grew up, I often taunted them with that. Oh yeah? You think I’m a fruitcake? Just wait until you get older and you find yourself doing the exact same things.

To the editor:

Kentucky and horses... They’re a natural combination that has made the Bluegrass State the “Horse Capital of the World.” But Kentucky’s stake to the title is at risk.

States that have historically have been unable to compete with Kentucky recognize the horse industry’s viability and success and are attracting Kentucky-based horsemen with enhanced purses and breeder incentives which will substantially alter Kentucky racing in the next one to three years.

I promised Gator that I would write about him.

His real name is Mike, and he lives in the woods in a camp with some other people.

I only met him briefly, which is par for the course for reporters. We get to know people long enough to get what we need for a story, but often not long enough to care.

I’m talking about myself here, and the truth is I’m not proud of it. But I’m telling you this because God’s been chipping away at my uncaring, although he’s got a long way to go.

To the editor,

It is impossible to name the utility linemen what worked in our area to restore electricity. But it is clear that they did an outstanding job. For that I thank them.

Then there are the neighbors and friends that deserve a big thank you. Among them are Billy Doyle, Jamie Snapp, Bruce Kennedy, Russell Harris, Dustin Rose, and Chester McCauley.

To the editor:

I really hope you print this letter. We all  have been going through a crisis in the past weeks. I have always had a full time job and was a single parent for 18 years.