Opinion

The new year is a time for reflection. I think that it is important to thank people who have contributed to making Cynthiana and Harrison County a better place to live. These are people or groups of people who selflessly contribute their time, energy, and yes, sometimes even money for the betterment of the community. I won’t mention names so that I don’t slight anyone, but you know who you are.

To the editor,

In difficult economic times like these, a community’s elected officials face incredible challenges.

Often, they are required to make choices and decisions that they never dreamed they might face when agreeing to offer themselves up for public service. It’s called being a leader, and our community is fortunate to have five such individuals on the Harrison County Board of Education.

We are proud to announce once again that on Jan. 19, 2009 we will be Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Day. We are celebrating this wonderful day with a march starting at 10 a.m. at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. The length of march will be determined by the weather and yet not unbearable. We are hoping for a big turn out with much more participation than ever. The march will leads us back to Ebenezer United Methodist Church where we will have our special services. Our guest speaker for the day will be Mary Evans Sias. Please come out and fellowship with us and make this a great event.

Friends of the food pantry and this community have done it again. By this, I mean, you have absolutely out done yourselves this year in supporting this worthwhile mission, the Food Pantry. When I think it can’t get any better, it does. “Praise God from who  all blessings flow.”

We all have those special places.

On a recent news assignment this past week, I spoke with a man that lost his special place.

In the middle of Nebo Road, I spoke with Charles Bell about the arson fire that had destroyed his mother’s family home only days ago.

Needless to say, he was very emotional as he looked up at the house that once was white, but now was a burned black.

Those who write columns are bound to get people who disagree with them — like “Ole Fred.”

Fred has written me a few times, most recently to take offense at a column about Christians who cuss and how I didn’t want to be one anymore. For the life of me I can’t figure out how he could find fault with that, but he did.

One thing he wrote in his e-mail caught my attention and I’ve thought -- and prayed -- about it all week, in case he’s right and I have this whole grace thing wrong.

With apologies to Charles Dickens, it truly was the best of times and the worst of times.

I had just learned I was pregnant with our now- 25-year-old daughter. We had wanted another child, and the news was definitely in the best of times category. It remained best and blissful for about a month until the worst of times began.

I can still see my husband walking across the yard of our apartment complex toward our back gate. It was the middle of the morning as he handed me a check and said, “I lost my job — I got laid off.”

It’s hard celebrating your birthday with Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong... if there’s anyone I would like to share birthday associations with, it would be the main man himself. I’m just saying, it’s a little difficult sharing the spotlight with someone referred to as the Savior.

My Christmas birthday has always been somewhat of a struggle, if you will.

The first struggle I’ve always encountered has been the disbelief of the audience.

“You’re a Christmas baby?” they ask, eyes wide.

FRANKFORT FOCUS

A Legislative Perspective on the Kentucky General Assembly

with State Representative Tom McKee

FRANKFORT – Earlier this month, Kentucky’s farmers got a welcome dose of good news when we learned 2008 would be another record year for the money paid for our crops and livestock.