Opinion

I recently wrote a sad story about drug use and child abuse, but there was a small ray of light; the police and the Department of Children’s Services had intervened in the situation.

After writing that article, I was alleged to have placed the DCS worker in danger, by using her name. When writing articles about crime, my information comes from police reports, which are public documents and therefore public domain. This means that anyone can access these records.

I did not write anything that was secret information.

The word socialism has come up a lot in our political debate over the last year.

Perhaps you’ve noticed whenever a commentator has used this term, usually in context of some new Obama initiative, there’s nervous laughter and awkward gestures of embarrassment. Ever wonder why?  Let’s take a look at the definition:

Easter is by far one of my favorite times of the year.

Although the religious significance of the season is a big part of why I love this time of year, it’s also the feeling in the atmosphere that excites me. The smell of hyacinths and honeysuckles that fill the warm, sun-kissed air and the vibrant colors that can’t help but make you feel at ease in the midst of personal storms.

At Monday night’s county commission meeting the group agreed to move forward with a justice center. That is great.

But let’s be honest we have been here before.

In fact, many times before. The last three budget cycles have all had allocations for a new justice center.

Why the hold ups and hold offs?

It could be any number of reasons. From the commission’s apprehension about borrowing money to some feeling ambivalent about taking care of criminals the delays have happened.

Shortly after the current LaFollette City Council was elected rumblings began that it could be a difficult group to work for.

That statement could be said about nearly every elected body. However, as the months have passed the council has taken what began as speculation and given it a fair amount of credibility.

But last week’s out of the blue chastising of fire chief Gary Byrd was dreadful. I will give the council some credit for not instigating the conflict. Nonetheless it gets a failing grade for not defending a long time city employee.

As children growing up in the 1960s, we conducted a harmless school drill called ‘duck and cover.’ Can you remember this one? Or how about this one: ‘This is a test. For the next 60 seconds, this station will conduct a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.’ In those days we faced nuclear weapons and MAD—mutually assured destruction. In our community, a tremendous cave served as the ‘fallout shelter.’ We could always go there in case someone used Weapons of Mass Destruction, or so we were told. What innocent days they were.

Have you heard about the recent economic threat to the European Union coming from Greece? Greece has a debt problem that could cause a domino effect in the Euro nations. The Greek currency has been debauched through deficit spending and now countries such as France and Germany are being compromised because their currencies are linked and vulnerable. The intricacies of EU currency agreements for the Euro have made this a ticking time bomb. reeping away from the crime scene, once again, is that manipulator of markets- Goldman Sachs. Sound familiar?

No, not the 5th – the 10th.  

The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States provides protection to the states from encroachment by the federal government.  The federal government has become more and more involved in our everyday lives from the college football bowls to the compulsory low-flush toilet bowls in our home.

My fellow journalists Jennifer Caldwell and Charlotte Underwood have pounded out columns this year sharing their new found enthusiasm for snow. I suppose I could follow suit.

But, I won’t.

Nope not me.

I have enough of this white powdery, slushy stuff to last me at least the next 10 winters.

That’s right. I am going on record- I can't stand snow.