Published: March 28, 2008 01:43 pm            

In Your View — 03/30/08

Inmates with drug problems helped

We know the numbers: A 3 percent increase in crime; a 300 percent increase in the jail population.

The increase in the jail population is because of the drug epidemic in this community. Red tape, excessive bail and no treatment programs for addicts have caused the jail boom.

There is a problem facing us: Everyone and their brother are in jail for having a sickness. We all agree that jail does not derail addiction.

During church services at the Boyd County Detention Center three months ago, Jailer Joe Burchett and his wife came in and expressed their concerns. They asked the inmates what could be done to turn this drug problem around. They said they knew jail was not the answer for drug addicts, and they wanted to stop this sickness that’s eating at their home community.

Since then, Mr. and Mrs. Burchett have started an organization called Fed Up. They now are actively helping inmates with their futures. They also have called in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and have had numerous church groups coming in. Now baptisms are taking the place of hate.

Inmates now have meetings and people are there to guide them. Tension is low and hope is high.

Words cannot adequately express our gratitude to the people who now are volunteering their time and to Joe and Debbie Burchett, who are taking money out of their own pocket to make a difference Our hats are off to these good people.

Jeromy Ray Chaffins, Steve Vance and five others, Inmates at Boyd County



Audit’s comments draw a response

I want to address the story about the city of Greenup audit and the concerns of the “autonomy” of the Greenup Fire Department.

The $8,250 of “grant money” that is received by the Greenup Fire Department is received every year by any fire department that participates in the Kentucky Fire Commission’s State Aid program. With the exception of three years, the Greenup Fire Department has participated since 1955. The question was raised to what Federal Tax ID number we are using. Whose are we supposed to use? The Greenup Fire Department was formed in 1890 but I’m glad to see that the city’s new auditors have determined that we are a “component” of the city.

“State aid” is to buy specific pieces of equipment for the fire department mandated by the Fire Commission. The department’s chief is required to make separate accounting of this money and report to the Fire Commission by June 30 of each year. I agree that it’s good accounting procedures to be transparent with spending any tax dollars. This is the first year anyone has asked to look at our accounting and we complied. The Fire Commission also audits our state aid receipts and our last audit was in February with no discrepancies.

The Greenup Fire Department has never gone over its budget. Furthermore, in March 2007, we received a $150,000 federal grant and September another $5,000 from Am Vets. Every penny was processed through the city’s accounts. How much more “in” do we need to be?

Audit reports only mention the “possible” discrepancies; they never speak of the good things that are being done. I mention this to let the people know that your faith in your fire department is well founded.

Neil Wright, treasurer , Greenup Fire Department



Landfill issues not addressed

In my letter to Ronald Gruzesky, Division of Waste Management, dated Jan. 11 concerning the horizontal expansion of Big Run Landfill, I questioned the health hazards and air quality hazards of allowing rotting garbage to be stored for extended periods of time before burial. The permit was granted on March 20 without these issues being addressed.

I have questioned the Boyd County judge-executive numerous times since last November on these issues. The judge's office has made verbal inquiries to state regulators and no health or environmental impact studies have been conducted based on the responses from the state regulators.

The local Catlettsburg refinery is required to monitor for emissions from valve packing glands and pump seals because historically these have been sources of air emissions. Why doesn't the landfill need to do the same?

There is a difference between burying local garbage the day it is collected and storing rotting garbage in rail cars for extended periods of time before burial. In March alone, I have made five complaints to the local air quality office concerning emissions from the rail car garbage being accepted by Big Run Landfill.

Consider what is being done. Damp garbage is being baled and placed in rail cars. These rail cars spend an unregulated length of time in transit to Kentucky. During this period, the garbage continues to degrade. When the rail cars are opened, there is an air emission that is detected as an odor. The baled garbage is then trucked to the disposal site for burial.

When the bales are dumped and broken, there is an additional air emission. I have appealed to Gov. Steve Beshear for help in getting these health and air emissions hazards addressed. His help would be greatly appreciated.

Wade Scott, Ashland



Businesses should accommodate kids

Recently I went to an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting at my son's school. He is in the autism classroom at Ponderosa.

While we were talking, we were discussing my son's fascination of bowling. He loves bowling. (His life revolves around it; we have three bowling sets in our house, a carpet lane down our hallway, and Wii Bowling games as well.)

It was brought to our attention that our son's teacher, Carla Malone, had been trying to take the kids down to a bowling alley for a field trip. She has asked the bowling alley to hold two lanes for her class, but it has refused.

She explained that it is an entire class of children with autism. The only reason she asks the alley to hold a lane is so they don't leave for the field trip only to get down there and find out all the lanes are taken.

You can’t tell a class of children with autism that they are going to do something and then not deliver. It would upset them, and I couldn't imagine the crying and fits that would ensue.

For all businesses out there: Please support kids with special needs.

Kelly Hanshaw, Ashland



Gilmore will do a great job

I’m writing in regards to Steve Gilmore.

I’ve known Steve Gilmore for years and years. I think Steve will do a great job as Ashland new school superintendent. He knows the system well.

I wish him the best of luck.

Robert Rhodes, Flatwoods

        

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