Published: February 25, 2008 01:42 pm            

In Your View — 02/26/08

Casinos won’t solve our economic woes

Please say no to casinos.

Every day I read The Independent, I voice my opinion to the one that will listen — me. However, this subject is too important for all of us. We need to really get involved and let our officials know how we feel.

This would not be a “win-win” for Kentucky and it is not just “another form of recreation.”

Research the impact gambling has on communities. We take for granted the goodness of a good, safe community. Yes, we have our economic problems, but what town doesn’t? Bringing in casino gambling would increase crime and addictions as well as additional need for counseling for gamblers who have lost their families, homes, etc.

Gambling will just make the poor poorer. It takes the money that should be spent on groceries, etc. The increase of the drug problem in our area is very disturbing and we are already not feeling as safe in our communities as before.

Why open our communities up to higher crime rate which means our local authorities would be working overtime, needing additional help to protect us?

Please, do your own research, don’t just “think this would be a good idea.” See all aspects of this before you haphazardly support this. There is much more to this issue than just money.

A person who wrote in listed a number to call, I called it, please consider calling, say no to casinos. (1-800-372-7181) We will be able to get through this economic crunch. Casinos are not the answer.

Don’t let scare tactics that we are economically doomed if we don’t support this. It is an addiction that will increase crime rate and destroy families, why risk your family.

Teena Smith, Russell



Don’t shift health care costs to vets

I’m concerned about the administration’s continuing efforts to shift disproportionate costs of the military health services system (TRICARE) to its beneficiaries.

As a military retiree, I’m well aware of these health care benefits. Retirees earned them and our military pay was suppressed because of the intangibles represented by “total military compensation,” which was based on those promised retirement benefits being available to us and to our families. Similarly, our active duty men and women rely on the continued commitment of our government to provide them these benefits in exchange for a military service career to our nation.

This past December, the Department of Defense Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care submitted its final report, echoing the administration’s call for military retirees to pay more for their “earned” benefits. The task force recommended every outrageous increase the Pentagon asked for and even went a step further: It recommended enrollment fees for both TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life.

This is a slap in the face to those brave men and women who have answered our country’s call both in the past and this current period of war! When TRICARE for Life was established, the Treasury general fund was the source of funding, not the DoD budget. Not one penny for TRICARE for Life comes from the Defense budget!

I urge members of Congress to remember the promises made to those who take up arms in the defense of our country. I urge you to support, legislation that gives the military health care system the funding priority it needs.

David M. Ruggieri, Flatwoods



Sparrow’s Nook served for 14 years

The Sparrow's Nook is closing. I say this with sadness but also with a feeling of pride and thankfulness.

Our volunteers have come from different communities in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio and we have made many great friends. When we started, we were all much younger and healthier but 14 years have passed and some are no longer with us. Death, jobs, moving, babies, all have made changes in our lives.

I thank our church. Second Baptist, for its support and encouragement through the years. Community organizations have stepped forward and assisted in many ways. We could not have done this without all of them. Wonderful people have come through our doors as both consumers and helpers.

Donna Tackett, whose vision and hope it was from the beginning, and Pal Daniels, her right-hand, have been a constant example of love, patience and understanding. We have served many home-cooked meals over the 14 years.

We have one last thing to ask of you. We look forward to seeing all of you Friday, Feb. 29 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 4950 Williams Ave., Ashland, for one last meal together. If you have been a part of this in any way through the years, please be with us during this special time.

Rita Hughes, for all current Sparrow’s Nook workers



Riverfront trees will be missed

As I was going to one of my favorite places on the river bank, I wasn’t prepared for the shock I was about to receive. It seems they had decided to cut down all those big maple and locust shade trees growing along the river bank.

No doubt it’s part of the city’s riverfront project. I can't begin to count the days I’ve sat on the little point under the shade of those trees above the boat landing. There always seems to be a breeze coming in off the river to cool a person off on these hot summer days here in the Ashland area.

I don't guess everyone feels as I do about preserving nature, etc. But I was born and raised in the Greenup County hills and woods, and I guess it’s in my blood.

I will surely miss the shade trees and the tranquility of sitting on the point above the boat landing enjoying the cool breeze and watching the ducks and geese and a tow of barges going up or down the river. But there are times when we have to forget our own feelings for the good of everyone concerned. I’m sure this action to improve and beautify the riverfront will be a complete success to serve its purpose for the city and the whole community around Ashland.

I don't want to sound like I am against improvement. I guess I just got myself in a routine of visiting the old river. I have so many wonderful old memories of when I was a kid growing up on the old river and sitting over there reminiscing just gives me a chance to catch up on some of those old times so many years ago.

I do want to wish them complete success on this project.

Leonard M. Grizzle, Ashland



Drive out Ky. 5 would be nice

I’ve been thinking about when we lived in Ashland, and the state was getting ready to take some of the crooks and turns out of U.S. 60 from Ashland out to Princess. That meant Ky. 5 was an alternate route to by-pass that strip of road.

I’m not certain, but I bet there was a lot of moanin' and groanin'. I might have been one of them. I soon got over it. I liked Ky. 5 and found some new friends out there. If I still lived in Ashland,and being an old Sunday driver, I could make that little spin Ky. 5 to Princess, turn back on old route 60 and come back in town, get some dinner, and tell the wife to bring me a cup of coffee. Do you think that would work?

That little turn around for a Sunday relaxer would be mighty nice. The wife and I keep saying we need to get down to Ashland one more time to look around.

This getting old is for the birds, but I guess it beats whatever is second best. Greyhound once rented a couple rooms in the old downtown hotel. I stayed there many times when I drove for Greyhound.

How about the old Henry Clay? Back in the old days, the two of us have rented a sleeping room there for short durations. One time, when I did a short stay at Armco, I rented a room just up the street from the Greyhound Station. It was a good place for $7 a week.

Now I read in the paper that people with sleeping rooms are getting as much as $125 a week. My how times have changed!

Emery Higginbotham, St. Albans. W.Va.

        

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