Published: January 09, 2009 05:14 pm      

Letters to the Editor

Dec. 24, 2008 — Shop with a Cop

donations appreciated

Editor,

On behalf of all members of the Carter/Elliot Counties Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #72 thank you for your donations this year and in past years. Your generosity once again helped families in our area have a better Christmas. This year we went shopping and ate dinner with over 30 youngsters.

I know these are trying economic times and we understand it is hard for small businesses and individuals to donate to worthy causes such as our program. We are very appreciative; as are the families you helped, of your giving spirit and commitment to community.

We thank the following businesses and individuals for their continued support: Oney-Henderson Funeral Home, Olive Hill NAPA, Superior Foods, Kevin Jordan, DMD, S&T IGA, Speedway of Olive Hill, Globe Funeral Chapel, Qualls Oil Company, Porter’s Tire Center, John’s Garage, Olive Hill Trucking, Dr. Frank Lyons, Dairy Queen, Carter Family Pharmacy, Fishers Auto Sales, Bluegrass Express Mart, Sturgill’s Music Center, James Hardware, Sandy’s Flowers, Carhart’s Florist, The Smoke Stack, Sally’s Flowers, Bonita’s Beauty Salon, Holbrook Computers, First National Bank, Camp Dix Auto Sales, Smith Hardware, Walkers Grill, McDonalds of Olive Hill and Grayson, Loretta Porter, Althea Middleton and Becky Valandingham. Thank you to those who donated to our collection boxes as well.

We want to especially thank Pizza Hut and K-Mart of Grayson for their wonderful accommodations and fine food. Also, we express our appreciation to the workers at the family resource centers in our schools in Grayson and Olive Hill. They are a tremendous help each year in selection of participants, wrapping gifts and whatever we ask of them. You are an invaluable asset to our program.

Bobby E. Hall

Vice President

Carter/Elliot Counties FOP Lodge # 72



Thanks for support

Editor,

The Warrior middle school football team, coaches and parents would like to thank: Diary Queen, Slones, Speedway, McDonalds, S&T IGA, Superior Foods, Walkers, Globe Funeral Home Chapel, Bill and Judy at Stone Mt., Olive ill Trucking, Fishers Auto Sales, Fast Lane Auto Repair, Porters Tire Center, Kars Auto Body, and KFC.

For all your help and support, without your help this season would not have been possible.

Thanks,

Warriors Football team boosters

Thurman Conn



Thanks to one and all

Editor,

On behalf of the Olive Hill Historical Society. I would like to take this opportunity to say some Thank You’s. We’re just about to the end of another year and it has been a rough year for a lot of people so much sickness. I’ve sure had my share. The unexpected death of our dear friend and member, Donnie Brown, who always seemed more like family than just a friend or member. But, we have our memories and those will always treasure. But, in the Historical Society we are one big family, we sort of all pull together to get things done. So, many people to numerous to mention, to say thank you too. Our Pancake Breakfasts are now over, but to each and everyone who always came out to eat and support us, We thank you. Without your support we couldn’t do some things we do with the Breakfasts. This was our second year for Christmas on the Hill, which once again was a success. Thanks to everyone who made that possible. We look forward to next year. But, it takes the help of everyone. Not just our wonderful members who spend a lot of time bringing it all together. But, to everyone who donates their time to help us. We thank you. Our Tom T. Hall Concert back in May was a huge success. We thank you. We thank the community. The many businesses without your help and support it wouldn’t be possible. Sometimes we think we can’t make it. But, then we put a smile on our face and a prayer in our Heart and go on. And someday slowly but surely we will Get-R-Done.

Keep in mind our Building can be used for just about any event. Our bathrooms were completed this year also. We have accomplished a lot. And in 2009 we hope to accomplish a lot more, and we hope the New Year brings happiness to everyone. So once again thanks to one and all.

From all of us to all of you and yours. We wish you the Merriest Christmas and a Bright Healthy Happy New Year.

Thank you,

Carolyn Sue Thomas

Olive Hill Historical Society



Please be kind

Editor,

I have been on the WSAZ blog site and really disgusted with what I have read on there. I am truly sorry for the loss of Phil’s Bug Shack and especially around Christmas. I hope nothing but the best to Bridget and her family and will continue to pray that the Lord bless and keep them.

However, as a wife of a VOLUNTEER firefighter on the local Grayson VOLUNTEER Fire Department, I must take a stand and say to every citizen of Carter and surrounding counties that it is our duty to support our brave men and women who volunteer their time to help each and every one of us. When there is a wreck, they go, direct traffic, why? To keep anyone of us from becoming injured in another wreck because most of us, become “gaukers”, not paying attention to what is going on around us. They take their “fun tools” and cut out our sons, daughters, mothers fathers, sisters and brothers from horribly mangled vehicles on the highways, why? Not because it is fun I can assure you. It’s all out of love for the fellow man. How many of us can honestly say we love our neighbor the stranger enough to stand out in the rain, hail, sleet, snow for hours to make sure they get the help they need and not get paid for it? Not near what you think.

I think people have forgotten 9/11 and even more so, have forgotten the tragedy of our fallen brother and friend Randy Utley who responding to help “the citizen of Grayson”, paid the ultimate price with his life, leaving behind a young son and a loving family and host of friends. Possibly even to help the citizen of Grayson leaving horrible comments on the blog under an assumed name. During that trying time the community all came out to see the “Firefighter Funeral” as it went up Main Street, brought food to the firehouse, even sent cards of thanks and prayers. What happened to you?

I know not all the people in Carter County feel that our men and women are inadequate and we would like to take this time to say to those of you who have continued to support us, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

But to those of you who down our men and women, I challenge you to become a volunteer for one week, become a spouse of a volunteer for one week, because until you do, you have no right to sit behind a computer, use an assumed name and bash anyone without any knowledge of what you are talking about. Until you experience the tones drop and your husband rush from YOUR bed and the safety of YOUR arms while giving him what could possibly be YOUR very last kiss and “I love you”, watching him rush out of the driveway with lights and sirens blaring all the while praying to God to keep him and all those involved safe and to bring them all home safely again, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT to open your mouth and say one word against those who try to help you, the ungrateful citizen, who may have started the fire then get mad when things don’t happen fast enough to save your material possessions.

I say shame on us all for not standing up and supporting our men and women on all the volunteer fire departments.

I think you do a wonderful job and I will continue to pray for your safety and that God bless and keep your families safe and warm this Holiday Season.

Sincerely,

Kim Rucker

Proud spouse of a Volunteer Firefighter, Grayson



Drugs vs indecent exposure

Editor,

I’m writing this letter to the editor, in hopes of wakening up the good people of Carter County area, who have children in the same school system.

My son was expelled for indecent exposure, for playing a prank with his high school buddies on the vocational school bus. Several of his fellow vocational school students had participated in the same acts; only my son was the one who got caught.

The vocational school principal suspended him indefinitely for this act, not one time was he told by the vocational principal that he would be terminated for good if he moved into the district.

The West Carter High School principal sent my son’s files back to Elliott County and they were the ones to tell me my son was suspended for ten days. His suspension started October 7; fall break started the 9 and 10. I was contacted by the West Carter principal on Oct. the 17; that’s when he informed me my son was suspended for ten days along with the threat that if I would move my son to the West Carter district he would be kicked out for good. If the vocational school principal already suspended him, why did the West Carter’s principal step in and punish my son even more for the same thing?

Don’t get me wrong, we don’t condone such behavior, but I think that the punishment my son got was very severe when the same high school principal gives kids that get caught with pills or marijuana, a five day suspension and five days in a drug program at Pathways or ten days without Pathways.

What I’m trying to say is, “It doesn’t matter what you have in your pocket or in your car on school grounds as long as you don’t pull your pants down.”

When will the school board, and the West Carter principal wake up and get their priorities straight. You as the readers make up your own mind which of the two offensives is the worse. I’ve never heard of flashing someone killing anyone, but how many times have you heard of drug overdoses and or kids dying. Drugs are killing our kids!

Thurman Conn

Olive Hill



Jesus Came

Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,

Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with the baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear?

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray.

I knew in a moment this must be the Day.

The light of His Face made me cover my head

It was Jesus! Returning just like He said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in his Hand

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;

When He said, “It’s not here,” my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love

He gathered to take to His Father above.

And those who were ready to Heaven did go

While all of the rest sank to eternal woe.

I cried in alarm – oh but it was too late;

I had waited too long, and had thus sealed my fate.

With anguish untold o’er my horrible plight

I thought, “Oh, if I’d only been ready tonight!”

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There’s only one life and when comes the last call

We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!

Author unknown