Published: July 14, 2008 01:16 pm            

In Your View — 07/15/08

Domestic drilling is the solution

Does Bruce Lunsford think he’s fooling anyone by pumping gas at a local gas station? Eastern Kentuckians are able to see right through these worn-out political tricks and tired rhetoric. Gas prices hurt everyone. We now feel pain not only at the pump, but also at the grocery store and in our utility bills.

One of the strongest solutions currently available to alleviate this stress is domestic drilling for oil. We have enough oil right here at home to last us for decades! Why do we continue to support unfriendly states in the Middle East? Bruce Lunsford opposes domestic drilling, and has no actual plan to lower gas prices.

Mitch McConnell has consistently supported domestic drilling, including drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Domestic resources such as these are undeniably valuable to all of us. Drilling in the U.S. would immediately help not only Kentuckians, but also all Americans.

Let’s support American businesses and allow them to provide cheaper energy for decades to come.

Hunter Davis,, Ashland



John McCain is pro-coal candidate

I was amazed when I picked up my copy of the Beckley, W.Va., Register Herald to read Harry Reid, D-Nevada, the majority leader in the U.S. Senate, saying, “Coal makes us sick.”

When studying Barack Obama’s plan for coal, it is fuzzy at best, but he does say he is against coal exploration, which means, under his plan, no new jobs will be created in this industry.

If these Democrats want to make West Virginians sick, let them began to destroy the coal industry, the life line of our state. Then our jobs will leave, our families will no longer being able to afford their homes, feed their children, drive their cars or receive medical care.

West Virginian and Kentuckian should realize that the candidate who we can vote for to provide the coal industry and West Virginia and Kentucky new and improved jobs and a better way of life is John McCain for president. He is pro-coal.

Scotty Robertson, Man, W.Va



APD accreditation was long process

The Ashland Police Department recently completed their efforts to become accredited. The program is intended to provide law enforcement agencies in Kentucky with an avenue for demonstrating that they meet commonly accepted professional standards for efficient and effective operations.

Law Enforcement agencies that choose to have their agencies accredited under this program have all aspects of their operations examined. They make conscious decisions about policies and procedures that fit the law enforcement requirements of their jurisdictions and have implemented those policies and trained their employees in their use.

Accreditation reflects that the agency was carefully measured against established standards and has met or exceeded professionally accepted practices in law enforcement. Because of accreditation, the city of Ashland will save over $17,000 annually on insurance premiums. More importantly it assures the community that the agency is committed to providing the highest quality services.

The process did not take place overnight. The foundation was poured and the long process was started during the watch of Ronald W. McBride. The effort continued when Tom Kelley was chief of police.

A major obstacle in the process was the department’s police station. Accreditation was difficult to achieve. Ashland’s new police chief continued with the project, remodeling was done, rules, regulations, standard operating procedures were tweaked and tuned and our police department finally received the fruits of the seeds that were planted long ago.

The police vehicles and all police officers can now proudly display and wear the accreditation seals and pins awarded by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police.

To Chiefs Ronald McBride, Tom Kelley, Robert Ratliff, and all members of the Ashland Police Department that had a hand in this great accomplishment, a job well done.

David Castle, Ashland

        

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