Opinion

On Nov. 11, 2010 I had the privilege to address the students at Owen County High School about the importance of Veterans Day. Also in attendance were several Veterans and family members as well as many Owen County faculty and staff. Before the assembly, the Veterans and their family members were treated to a very delicious meal and a tour of the facility if they so desired.

I wanted to publicly say thank you to Ms. Wallace and her staff for honoring the veterans this past week in such a memorable and touching way.

Since serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War in the 1950s, this is the first time someone has said, “Thank you for your service to this country.”

I was 16 years old when Carl Johnson died on this ribbon of a road that winds between the river and a limestone cliff. He was not much older. We never spoke a word to each other. At least, I have no memory of his voice. But his black eyes looked out on the world through long, angel lashes and all the girls agreed that he was beautiful. If you favored delicate-boned, olive skinned boys, that is, which I didn’t, preferring taller, sturdier types.

I will be so glad when this election is over. I am sick and tired of all the political ads — on both sides. I mute them or watch DirecTV now to get away from them. Neither party of any of the races have shown themselves adult enough to be a representative of this state or any other elected position, which doesn’t mean to say I won’t vote. I have voted in every election since I got the privilege at 18. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.

I would like to tell you about my experience with the Owen County Adult Learning Center and its staff.

First, let me start off by saying that I dropped out of high school back in 1995. Needless to say, when I came into the center this past February, I was nowhere near prepared to take the GED test.

I took the pre-test, had it explained to me where I placed, what actions to take next, and to come back on Tuesday to start classes.

Ms. Mason, it sounds to me as though you have judged all Christians. Maybe you talked to or heard five or 10 saying something. I believe there are thousands of Christians that don’t say such things.

I am a sinner saved by Grace. I’m not a model Christian or a Bible scholar, but Jesus said, “Judge not that ye be not judged” Matthew 7:1-2.

Did you open the door. We are to separate ourselves from such.

To the voters in district four:

Troy Bramblett is running against Ray Smith for Owen County fourth-district magistrate in the Nov. 2 General Election. 

Our district includes the areas of Wheatley, Monterey, Gratz, Pleasant Home and Perry Park.  There is a crucial need to have new blood to represent our district.

On Thursday night, Oct. 14, a district-four forum was held at the Monterey Fire House for the purpose of meeting and asking questions to the incumbent Ray Smith and Troy Bramblett.   

 She claimed she was not a historian but a memoirist; yet the words of Georgia Green Stamper, guest speaker at the Owen County Historical Society meeting Thursday, skillfully took on the cadence of the color, life, and movement of Owen County history.

Annelise wants to be a spaceman, she told me, so that she and I can fly to the moon.

“What will we do when we get there?” I asked, not telling her that the astronauts had found the moon to be a cold, dark place.  I sank deeper into my easy chair, though, in case she had any ill-timed illusions of leaving the earth’s atmosphere that afternoon. My bones have been achy lately, and I wasn’t sure I was up to spur of the moment space travel.