Published: January 09, 2009 05:20 pm      

Letters to the Editor

Dec. 31, 2008 — Eastern KY Holy Rollers toy and coat drive a big success

Editor,

On December 20, 2008, the Eastern KY Holy Rollers (EKHR) held their First Annual Toy and Coat Giveaway in honor of Gerad Maggard. The event was a two part event. Part one included giving a toy to each child who was registered by a parent that is housed at the Carter County Detention Center. The toy giveaway at the detention center continued on Sunday. Part two included toys and coats being given away to people in need at New Beginnings Celebration Center. The motorcycle ministry was able to give away more than 200 coats and approximately 675 toys to 430 kids.

The Eastern KY Holy Rollers would like to thank many people in our community for their help, but would first like to thank God for allowing the people and churches in our community to come together to make this a success. We would like to thank New Beginnings Celebration Center for the use of their building and financial donations. We would also like to thank Globe Christian Church, New Hope Community Church, New Life Victory Church, New Hope Church of God of Prophecy, Pleasant Valley Christian Church, Grayson Freewill Baptist Church, Victory Christian Center, Three Pine Freewill Baptist Church, and Christ Community Church for donations including toys, coats, and financial support. We would also like to thank Carter County Cares, St. Luke’s Catholic Church, and Laurel Elementary for their donations as well as volunteers on Saturday from Carter County Cares and Grace Assemblies of God. Walmart in Morehead also donated a gift card to help purchase toys. We would like to thank Lisa Burchett, Michele Miller, Lisa Zornes, Monica Carper, Noreen Flannery, and Maria McGlone for their help setting up, cleaning up, and/or wrapping toys. Thanks to everyone who helped in anyway. Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement.

We are planning to hold this event annually. There are many, many people in our community in need. At the end of the day on Saturday, we had to turn people away because we had run out of supplies. We want to work together to serve more people next year. Anyone wanting to donate toys, coats, or money to help make this event a bigger success next year may contact Andy Bond at (606) 369-6264 or Lealan Miller at (606) 315-1264. You can make a donation or contact us via our website at www.easternkyholyrollers.com.



Stop the stealing in Olive Hill

Editor,

To the citizens of Olive Hill:

When are you going to stand up for yourselves against these drug thug thieves? When will you demand that the city police, the state police, and your district attorney do something about these thieves? My sister's house has been broken into twice, and nothing has happened to the thieves. One break in was witnessed by a neighbor sitting on her porch, and nothing was done. Let me clue everyone in, if you see someone crawling through a window of a house, and then you see them coming out with a wagon full of stuff, it's ok to call the police THEN! Come on, Olive Hill!!!! This is not the town I grew up in and love, no way would any of my neighbors sit back and allow someone to break into my house! Have you all gotten so numb to the drug crime that it is just easier to turn your head and hope that someone else takes care of it? Really?!

It saddens me every month when I come home and I see more and more of the town that I loved growing up in, just disappear. It is not just all of the buildings being torn down, it is the sense of dread and sadness that has enveloped the entire town. I don't know about you, but I am tired of seeing those I love cry because someone is under the drug induced impression that they have the right to just step into anyones home and take what they want. After all, their drug use is more important than the years it takes for some people to purchase the things they have.

WAKE UP OLIVE HILL!!! Stop giving your power away to these drug thugs. I know that you have the ENOUGH group, and they are working hard to help, no one should take that away from them. However, while they are working on the drug addicts through prayer and guidance, the rest of the community should demand that the police and the courts do what they are paid to do...PROTECT YOU! How long before they go from just breaking in to steal something, to taking a life to get what they "need"?

Susan Dennison

Geneva, IL.

an Olive Hill child, and times subscriber.



Reader wants alcohol sales

legal and taxable in Carter Co.

Editor,

I’m a regular reader of The Journal-Times and after reading the latest issue, particularly the opinion page, I would like to respond to the article – Alcohol Biggest contributor of drug abuse. While I agree for the most part with the article and the opinion of the writer. I believe more than talk should be done to deal with this problem. I also commend the students and their efforts on the drug problem. It clearly shows that some young people in this county see a problem and are willing to stand up and fight against terrible drug problems we have in this county. Now is the time for all responsible adults to take whatever actions needed to deal with this issue! Clearly alcohol is a problem in Carter county, not only for consumers’ of alcohol but also for every person in the county. Carter county is well known as one of 55 dry counties in the state to the delight of some of out adjacent counties, because if alcohol isn’t sold legally here it has to come from somewhere. While I know this a very controversial topic for the people of this county and in particular the churches and church leaders, I feel it is time for Carter county residents to consider making some changes in their way of thinking and to turn this county wet or moist. I know this does not sound like a way to combat a problem but to tackle this issue head on is the only way to deal with it. First, to deal with this issue we need to control the sale of alcohol throughout the county and that means we need to make sales legal and taxable. I also know this is a very hard thing to do in this county. Every church leader will probably come out totally opposed to such an idea and for sure every bootlegger in this county, (to many to count, but everyone seems to agree the number is excessive.) We will never change how the bootleggers will react, but I would hope that church leaders would consider pros and cons of this issue and see that a change is very necessary in order to deal with this drug problem. Some things to think about are as follows: The 21st Amendment repealed prohibition on the national level. Why? Because prohibition did not work. Illegal sales of alcohol made a few people very wealthy, the same still applies to today with the bootleggers of Carter county. I’m sorry but I don’t have much good to say about bootleggers. It is my opinion they are the alcohol source for the young people of this county. Lets face it bootleggers don’t check ID’s as a store selling legal beverages would. After talking with some county official’s it was pointed out to me that bootleggers don’t just sell alcohol but illegal drugs as well. Talk about one stop shopping! Making alcohol sales legal would certainly help take care of this problem. Studies conducted in Kentucky have shown that prohibition of legal sales of alcohol may actually reduce public safety. Research has shown dry counties may actually have more alcohol related traffic accidents than wet counties. Studies in Kentucky suggests residents in dry counties have to drive farther to consume alcohol, thus increasing impaired driving exposure. Another study noted that wet and dry counties are often adjacent and alcohol beverage sale outlets are located immediately across county lines or even state lines. This results in loss of much needed revenue for a dry county and again individuals driving farther under the influence of alcohol, thus increasing their exposure to traffic accidents. This safety issue alone is a big reason to legalize the sale of alcohol in Carter county. It was mentioned in your article about confusing alcohol and power drinks. I don’t see the problem here; anybody of legal age should be able to read labels on containers for goodness sake! This could not have happened in Carter county and it shows that indeed people are traveling elsewhere to buy legal beverages! After talking to several county officials and one pastor, all would be in favor of and would support having this important issue put to the vote by the people. It is my own opinion that we are past due and this issue needs to be dealt with now, not only for the much needed revenue for Carter county, but for the safety of its citizens. I would like to challenge members of Carter County Fiscal Court to respond to this issue. We voted you in office and new it is time to get off your butts and take a stand one way or another. We have young ladies out there that have recognized a problem here in the county, and you elected officials have a duty to respond. Everyone in the county also knows we have financial crisis. Do nothing and you could be voted out and we will elect people who will do something. Thanks to the Fiscal court for their support of the much-needed library, only good thinks will result for this action. I believe this is probably the most important matter this court has done for the people of Carter county. I would hope that church leaders not be offended by this letter, but would respond with their own opinion or anyone else who would like to respond. We need to get this before the people for a vote right away and stop this much-needed revenue from going to bootleggers and our adjacent counties. Revenue from legal beverage sales would go a long way to finance this new library. Without revenue of some sort coming in to Carter county we may be looking for a tax hike. You choose… which is lesser of two evils… wet or moist county or a raise in taxes?

Sincerely,

Willis D. Corley

Denton



Christmas Gala benefit a big success!

Editor,

The Carter County Republican Party thanks all of the following businesses and people for making our Christmas Gala Benefit a big success! We had 150 in attendance and we thank all of you. $1,532.30 was donated to Meals on Wheels with $567.00 of it coming from our silent auction. There were 90 toys donated to the Olive Hill Fire Department’s toy drive that were delivered to 30 families in Carter County. Chic Boutique, LLC, Merle Norman, Subway, Grayson, Vanessa Lynne Gearhart, Carter County Chiropractic, Wilma’s Dress Shop, Divas Salon & Spa, Fields Flower Shop, The Movie Store, Grayson Electronics, Dairy Queen, City Florist, Rupert’s Department Store, Cindy’s Gift’s and Variety Shop, Video Corner Rentals, James Family Outfitters, Nature’s Health Shop, Vogue Salon, Wear It’s At Family Shoes and Apparel, Grayson Chiropractic Center, Sylvia’s Hair Fashion, Inc., Ronda L. Bell, LMT, Dr. Steve Nicholas, DDS, Dr. James T. Hall, DDS, Super 8 Motel, EJ’s Guitar Shop, Ink in a Blink, Kara Johnson, Yoga Instructor. We also want to thank WGOH/WUGO Radio Stations and Myra Hogan with the Grayson Journal-Enquirer/Olive Hill Times, Ashland Daily Independent, WSAZ TV for their promotion and covering the Benefit Gala; Hazel Sloas who provided us with beautiful piano music; Jill York, Emcee for the evening; Pastor David Rayburn for giving a welcome and prayer.

Carter County Republican Party, Carter County Republican Women’s Club, and Carter County Young Republicans



GEM thanks to responders

The City of Grayson Emergency Management would like to thank each and everyone who responded Tuesday night, the twenty-third, as freezing rain coated area roadways and the interstate with a layer of ice causing numerous accidents throughout the City of Grayson as well as Carter County. Working side by side with Carter County EMS, the Grayson Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Grayson Fire Department, the numerous county volunteer firefighters, and the area First Responders, the city and county were ovewhelmed with calls for assistance. However, these responders gave their best to honor their individual professions. From helping those stranded on the interstate to comforting the injured, each of these responders need a special thank you. With each and every act of kindness, a difference was made in someone's life. To Grayson Dispatch, we can say it was a job well done. Under enormous pressure and strain, you were the ones who dispatched the help and assistance needed for so many. As Carter Countians, we are so much better for the many workers and volunteers who are dedicated to helping others.

Roger and Joanne Dunfee

Director and Deputy Director

City of Grayson Emergency Management