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Opinion

  •
    I’m just saying ... A few thoughts...

    I’m great at making New Year’s resolutions.
    I stink at keeping New Year’s resolutions.
    Almost every year, I publicly proclaim that I will do this or that or stop doing that thing I shouldn’t be doing in the first place.
    And each year, it seems like I make a long list of resolutions just to watch them fall by the wayside either by apathy, personal weakness or my unyielding opposition to change.
    Of the six resolutions I made last year, I managed to keep three of them.

  •
    I'm just saying ... How much...

    A few weeks ago, a gentleman came into our offices and complained about the metal detectors, guards and updated security at the Owen County Judicial Center.
    “We don’t need all that here. This is Owen County. Things like that don’t happen around here,” he said.
    In light of Friday’s senseless tragedy that took the lives of 20 children at an elementary school, those comments played over and over in my head this past weekend.
    I wonder if the people of Newtown, Conn. thought the same thing?

  •
    I’m just saying ... Not exactly a...


    This was supposed to be the Thanksgiving I got a break.
    This was supposed to be the first time in decades that I sat back and let Thanksgiving come to me instead of me packing up and hitting the highway for dinner with my family.
    My oldest nephew, who is stationed in Afghanistan, is home on leave and requested that Thanksgiving be held at our house instead of Corbin or London where most of my wife’s family is from.

  •
    I’m just saying ... Disney owns my...

    The ways things are going, in the next few years, the Disney company is going to own the rights to my mom and dad, the Evel Knievel bike I got for my 11th birthday and my aunt’s favorite fishing hole down by the dam beside her old house outside of Sadieville.
    A few years ago, Disney bought Marvel Comics and got the rights to all their characters. Although some film studios retained the rights to make movies from some of the characters, eventually Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man and all the rest will become “Disney-fied.”

  • Special Veteran’s Day column: The...

    Editor’s Note: Veterans Day is an appropriate time for us to recall the sacrifices made by those serving and who had served in our armed forces. To mark this occasion, the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum in Dana, Indiana, and Scripps Howard Foundation have allowed us to reprint of Pyle’s most famous column “The Death of Capt. Waskow.” It’s a reminder to all of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many Americans to maintain the freedoms we enjoy.

    By Ernie Pyle

  • Guest columnist: Jennifer Nippert...

    It is a time of anticipation for the Owen County Public Library, as we are working hard every day to turn our plans for exemplary library service for the community into a reality.  

  •
    From the superintendent: School...

    Throughout these difficult economic times, school boards are forced to take drastic measures to reduce deficits caused by a lack of federal and state funding. When trying to balance the budget, a school system really only has two options, either reduce the amount of expenditures or produce additional revenue.
    Across the commonwealth, many school boards are considering the possibility of a property-tax increase as a way to provide additional revenue to meet the educational needs of its students. For districts like Owen County without much industry, this is the only recourse.

  •
    Planting the seeds of college in...

    “I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This
    can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever
    the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma.”
    President Obama
    Address to Joint Session of Congress, Feb. 24, 2009

  • Letter to the editor: Morgan urges...

    June and July are National Fireworks Safety Month.  
    Rick Morgan, Owen County EM Director, would like to advise the public on the safe and responsible use of consumer fireworks so as to eliminate injuries.  
    Review these safety tips:
    • Use fireworks outdoors only.  
    • Obey local laws.  
    • If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
    • Always have water handy (a hose or buckets of water).  

  •
    Don’t let scam stop woman from...

    Starting up a small business is hard enough.
    Countless hours of planning and many sleepless nights will be spent when a person decides to chase their dream and build something out of nothing.
    It’s part of the American dream.
    It doesn’t help when people are our to take advantage of you.

  • A long journey to find my legacy

    Recently, on a rainy, dismal day during my latest trip to Owen County, I stopped at the badly overgrown and neglected cemetery on route 127 at the Owen/Franklin County line. 

  • Leadership lessons: Medical...

    The Leadership Owen County class of 2012 had the privilege of visiting the facilities which provide health services for residents of Owen County.
    Parts of the dream have been accomplished.

  •
    No Cat convert this year

    No Cat convert this year

    We tried, Coach Cal.
    Thanks for the effort, Michael.
    I appreciate it, Anthony.
    You guys kept up your end of the deal.
    But unfortunately, it didn’t take.

    Last week, I shared my secret shame - my daughter is a Louisville Cardinal fan.
    Like a parent ushering their kid to rehab, I hoped that she would see the error of her ways by exposing her to a better way - The Way of The Wildcat.
    I had hoped that Saturday night’s Final Four showdown between Kentucky and Louisville would snap her back to her senses.

  • Echoes of his banjo linger on...

    Nothing has hit me quite this hard since that fall morning in 2007, the morning I got in my car and turned on the radio to hear Porter Wagoner’s classic “Green, Green Grass Of Home.” I had assured myself that since I was starting my day off with Porter, it was sure to be a red letter day. As the last few notes of the song drifted off the airwaves, the DJ’s voice was solemn as he announced that one of country music’s last great gems had died.

  •
    An intervention in New Orleans

    It’s no secret that divorce can have a terrible impact on children. Some kids act out, get in trouble with the law or start hanging around the wrong crowd.
    This new crowd may lead to terrible changes in their behavior or world viewpoint.
    This happened to my own daughter Elizabeth.
    After our separation, Elizabeth moved to Louisville to live with her mom. I stayed in the bluegrass area.
    She quickly fell into the wrong crowd and that moment most fathers around here dread happening happened.
    She became a Cardinals fan.

  • Legislative Update by Damon Thayer...

    The Senate had a full week of legislation and committee meetings, in addition to logging in long hours working on the state’s biannual budget. With 10 days remaining, you will see a flurry of bills voted through the chambers and updates on the budget and state’s road plan these last few working days.
    This week, the Senate considered and approved many important measures. Two in particular propose constitutional amendments.

  •
    County Clerk’s Corner: Clearing up...

    I have had several inquires lately concerning farm tags. In this article I will try my best to answer some of your questions.
    On March 16, 2011 SB79 took effect. It created a weight class for farm vehicles to ensure that Kentucky farmers are not improperly ticketed and taxed when operating their vehicles across state lines. SB79 created weight classification of a 26,000 lbs. for farm tags.

  • Republican candidates for House...

    Republican U.S. House candidates Gary Moore and Marcus Carey of Owen County addressed the Owen County Republican Party meeting at the Smith House Restaurant March 1.
    Boone County Judge-executive Moore said he expected most people from Owen County would vote for one of their own, Marcus Carey, but he hoped they would vote for him.
    Moore said he is a conservative, and very conservative Boone County has elected him many times, and he’s conservative on both fiscal and social issues.

  •
    Superintendent's notes:...

    By David Raleigh - For the News-Herald

  • Thayer was dedicated to Owen County

    It’s time to say goodbye to Damon Thayer.
    But it’s not him who’s moving.
    It’s us.
    Last week, the Kentucky General Assembly passed and Kentucky Gov. Steve Bashear signed into a law a new map of state senate districts. The changes were made necessary by the 2010 U.S. Census that indicated the several state senate districts had either lost or gained population.
    The old Senate District 17, which contained Grant, Owen, Scott and part of Kenton counties, was now about 13,000 residents over the ideal number for a senate district.