Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 218 N. Locust St. - Carlisle, KY - 859-289-6425

Editor,

The Silly Season: Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid along with their liberal colleagues (liberal defined as to liberate us from our traditional values) are perplexing as to whether they really believe what they are saying about drilling for oil. They say, if we drill now it will take ten years to come on line, whereas the experts say there are some areas such as the ANWAQR and in the Gulf of Mexico, which could come on line in eighteen months. They also say, if we drill today it will not change the price at the pump. What a brilliant deduction.. Are we to believe that, because this is true for those who can only think in terms of the next five minutes, those who do think ahead should not plan ahead? They would also have the oil companies drill on the 68 million acres now allowed them where the financial risk of not finding oil is high and will not allow drilling where the oil is known to be known to be plentiful. In the North Sea, 76 dry holes were drilled before they struck oil in a mega-deposit.

Finally, the liberals/socialists in Congress threaten to have the government take over the oil industry; whereas, socialist/communist systems for the past century have conclusively proved that in economic matters they fail miserably. A saying in Russia over the years was, “They pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work.” Russia and China have given up on the socialist economic system and become Fascist. Their economies are now booming. Also, oil shares are owned primarily by the public and by pension funds, not the super rich. With the share that the oil companies keep, they invest in oil discovery and vital infrastructure, as in how to get the oil processed from the oil sands of Canada and from the shale environment of the mid-west. An excess profits tax would seriously impact necessary investment. Imagine how with government control our highly politicized Congress would stall and debate the process, ad in how windmills and solar panels in twenty years could provide 10% to 20% of our needs, so we don’t need to drill now where the oil is.

Of course, our capitalist system is not perfect, as indicated by the sub-prime mess and the near bankruptcy of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which hold some five trillion dollars of mortgages and are considered too big to fail; so the costs of their mismanagement will be shifted to the taxpayer. A significant part of their problem was their implied government sponsorship and from pressure from Congress for the mortgage industry to give subprime loans (we have all seen TV commercials to the effect that “bad credit doesn’t matter”). It is also true that the bonuses and retirement benefits corporate executives extend themselves to the tune of the 10’s and 100’s millions of dollars are obscene and represent grand theft from the share holders. In 2004 Michael Eisner retired from Disney with a half trillion dollars in Disney stock options. Disney hasn’t’ yet recovered from that immense shareholder dilution.

Hopefully the neo-con republicans who have joined the big government liberals in recent years to accelerate our political and economic decline will have learned the lesson that they are not in tune with the American people. If so, and they campaign showing they will uphold traditional vaules, there is a change we can weather the economic difficulties at home and military exposure abroad which threaten to destroy us.

Domenica B. Di Mieri
Louisville KY

Editor,

I am from Nicholas County. I was born here and raised here. I have lived and worked here for most of my adult life. My husband has lived and worked here for many years. We have paid our taxes and supported the community.

My husband and I are retired and own a small concession stand. My husband is also a beekeeper and we sell honey on the side of our concession stand. It is just a way of making a little extra income and we enjoy doing it.

Last year were just getting started and set up at “Saturday in Carlisle”. In the summer of this year we received a letter inviting us back for this year. I sent in the application and money to reserve a spot after we had already set up at the Blackberry Festival and Nicholas County Fair. A few days later we received a phone call stating that we could not set up this year except to sell honey. (No food or concessions)

I think that this was discrimination on the part of Carlisle. This only happened after we had been at the festival and fair. I think that other vendors thought that we took away a lot of their business at the fair.

I understand that some of the other vendors are non-profit and doing it for a club or organization, and why they wouldn’t want vendors from the outside the county, but this is our hometown. We were also told it was going to be non-profit this year. If so they why does the application ask for money if you are doing for a profit. They are telling you what you can and cannot sell in your own community.

It is not about he money. It is the principle of the matter. We are able to go to other fairs and shows and make money. We really enjoy doing this in our own community. It has really bothered us a lot that our own hometown won’t allow us to be part of the activities and events.

Carlisle should support all of its own citizens. After all we have supported our community for years.

Debbie Hamm
Carlisle, KY

Editor,

To this “so called” editor of the Carlisle Mercury “gossip”.

I would like to introduce myself. I am Linda Caskey the loving grandmother of the “Nicholas Woman” that you so gracefully splattered on the front cover of your “so called newspaper”, in the boldest print I have ever seen.

In your poor task or your lack of obtaining the truth you led readers to believe that the arrest was made following an official investigation. This is not true.

I will not say anything bad about Officer Weaver or the Carlisle Police Department or any elected official involved in this. They all have been caring and supportive through this entire process, but I want this “so called” editor to know that this arrest was made with information give to the officials by her parents. It was done so after a gut-wrenching decision on her parents behalf with hopes in their heart that this was they way to save the life of a daughter they have loved and cared for since birth.

I sometimes read your “so called gossip paper and every time half of it consist of court news, always with the same names week after week. Drugs, cold checks, forgery and etc. At no time have I seen a single one of these repeated offenders singled out to be displayed on the front page of your gossip paper. You did this with no regard for a young person who is faced with a long journey to try and get her life back or thinking of any danger you per her young siblings and family in or the family that has been torn apart.

I am sure that some people, readers will say it is what she deserves. Before this happened to her Lori was a caring and loving young lady. To these people when I pray for Lori every hour of every day I will pray that the next young person in Nicholas County who may make the same mistake is not one of yours.

To these parents, grandparents, family is very careful because no matter how much time and love you give your children there is a leach waiting for them. There are drug dealers on every street corner, every other street and a lot of rural roads just hoping and waiting. It is sad that our small town is known as the “drug capital” of Ky.

To the “so called” editor, why don’t you use your “so called” know how to obtain information to help the officials get these drug dealers out of our town and county. I will say no more on this because I don’t want to jeopardize any on going investigations but if you would do this you may be able to write an article that could benefit the people of Nicholas County.

Lori is now in a place where she is receiving professional help and we pray for her long journey back to the good life she once knew.

We ask all the people of Nicholas County to pray for her as we pray for her and all of yours.

Don and Linda Caskey
Carlisle, KY

The loving and caring grandparents of Lori Beth Sosby.

PS we wish to extend a special “Thank You” to the officials and “Dawn Letcher”: in their caring and professional handling of this situation and help during our very trying time.

Editor,

I would like to say thank you to all who helped in the planning and contacting the Nicholas County High class of 1983. Saturday night August 23rd the class of 1983 had its 25 year reunion, at the Carnico Country club. I felt that everyone had a wonderful time. I would like to say a special thanks to Connie Markland Hinton, Tammy Markland Phillips, and Toni Sexton Warner. If I left someone out, I do apologize. There are many fond memories growing up in Carlisle, and going to school in Nicholas County. Saturday night at the reunion while talking with fellow classmates, it was almost like being back in school. There were some who hadn’t changed at all, others it took me a while to figure out whom they were. They had a good time watching me squirm trying to remember them. It’s been 25 years since I saw or talked to some of them. I truly hated for it to end Saturday night. It was very difficult holding back the tears when it was over and time to go. Thanks again for all who helped and to all that attended.

Thanks

Kevin Watkins
Russell Springs, KY