Published: October 10, 2008 03:19 pm            

In Your View — 10/12/08

Boyd County needs a strategic plan

My wife and I are Boyd County residents and have paid thousands of dollars in taxes over the years. We believe in and support economic development.

We would support the proposed water park if it were properly planned. A feasibility and marketing study should be performed before any county funds are dedicated to this project.

Financing should be carefully planned to enable a positive cash flow. Instead of bank financing, the county could sell revenue bonds with the revenue from the project dedicated to paying off the bonds.

I would like to see the county appoint a strategic planning committee and prepare a 10-year countywide strategic economic plan. It should develop enterprise zones and offer incentive packages to private investors. Central and western Kentucky counties have been successful in attracting economic development by following this path.

It will take the county executives, business leaders and the citizens to join together to make this happen.

I was at the county forum that discussed the water park issue and was disappointed in the one-sided attitude of the county officials. The good old boys were all there and their voices were all heard. I was ignored and was not able to have my views expressed.

If this project proceeds, I hope that competitive bids are received to insure that the counties funds are spent wisely.

Ryan Davis, Catlettsburg



Chaining of dogs should be banned

I’m writing about an issue that’s gone unaddressed for too long — that of the perpetually chained or penned, so-called “outside” or “backyard” or “hunting” dog.

There’s no sadder sight than these outcast, forlorn, forgotten animals, relegated to the status of lawn ornaments and virtually ignored by the family. I cry every time I see an Ashland resident with a dog in their yard tied up to a tree or a car bumper or a broken down dog house that has no grass because the dog has worn it away from going nowhere.

These dogs usually lack fresh water, adequate housing, hygiene and the most basic veterinary care, including vaccinations required by law. Every year such dogs are found dead at the end of a chain because of extreme weather conditions or dehydration or starvation.

Chaining is not only inhumane, but it’s taken a toll on children. From October 2003 through September 2008, there have been at least 231 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs. Chained and unsocialized, dogs become very territorial of their tiny space, and anyone — including adults — who wanders too close can be attacked.

Connecticut, California and Texas have set statewide time limits on chaining and more than 120 communities or counties in at least 35 other states have set limits on chaining. Our state and city need to be a part of this growing movement to eliminate chaining of dogs.

Please visit www.dogsdeservebetter.org (DDB) to learn more; to find letters ready to send to representatives; and information you can anonymously send to a neighbor with a chained or penned dog. In addition, DDB will find a loving home for your chained dog if you want to give him up and they will even raise money to pay for fencing.

Sarah Lynch, Ashland



Financial crisis is not only issue

If we believe Clintonite Howard Wolson, the financial crisis has ended whatever chance John McCain once had of winning.

If indeed the issue is primarily the economic crisis, it may well be over. However, the drama of these past few weeks may prove misleading if the 92 percent of Americans who claim to be Christians stand for truth.

A basic truth is that human life begins at conception. A second truth is that every person born or unborn is guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If only 10 percent of the 92 percent who call themselves Christians would remember that their loyalty to Jesus supersedes their loyalty to any political party, the tide may change. With only 12 disciples lacking any worldly qualifications, Jesus changed the course of history. Even a remnant of Christians could reverse the culture of death to a culture of life.

Marilyn Stefanski, Louisa



Consuming animals endangers planet

As the world’s scientists begin to seek solutions for global warming, one thing has become clear: Using animals for food is endangering our planet.

A major new report by the Food Climate Research Network, based at the University of Surrey (UK), concluded that consumption of meat and milk must be drastically reduced in order to halt climate change.

In a speech in London, Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, stated that cutting meat consumption is “good for the health, and would also at the same time reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.”

Animal agriculture is a major contributor to most environmental problems, including global warming. Factory farming is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide and the single largest source of both methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide is about 300 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and, according to the UN, raising animals for food accounts for a staggering 65 percent of nitrous oxide emissions worldwide.

While we can’t all afford to buy hybrid cars or install solar panels on our homes, going vegetarian is one thing everyone can do to protect the environment.

Jeff Mackey , People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Norfolk, Va.

        

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