In Mar. 8 issue, Russell County News
By Barbara Sharp Zimmerman, Columnist

With the state legislature in session, it's truly the silly season in Kentucky politics these days. Seems they can name Somerset the "Car-Cruisin' Capital" of state or some such inanity, but they can't figure out what to do about our flagging finances.

Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Jody Richards are going toe to toe on the casino gaming issue - each trying to show off the breadth of his respective power. Senator Williams says he's not going to let the measure get out of the Senate. Representative Richards showed he'd even fire one of his own to get the amendment out of the House.

Both are spitting and scratching in the dirt like a couple of puffed up roosters putting in their claims on the chicken yard.

Neither of these guys should be making the decision on this issue. By electing Governor Steve Beshear last year, the people of Kentucky seemed to say they want casinos here. Of course, they were also saying they didn't want any more of incumbent Ernie Fletcher, too.

I say let the people of Kentucky vote on the issue of casino gambling in our state. If they say no, then so be it. Bring on the next idea to increase revenue, please. But don't tell me what I should want or not want. Let me decide. Let us all decide.

I know David Williams is playing political payback with the governor over this issue and that's understandable. Gov. Beshear smacked him silly when he cancelled a major road project in Cumberland County.

Now, maybe that was necessary, but the governor could've done this whole thing a bit more graciously, less spitefully. It truly looked as if Beshear was trying to show Williams he was more powerful, and to me, that's small-time.

But now Williams has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of the best interests of the commonwealth. We need the money gaming could raise. And David Williams can show he's a bigger man than Steve Beshear.

* * *

Last week, David Davenport stated editorially in the Times Journal that while the deposed statue of the World War I doughboy should be put back on its pedestal, it should not be replaced in the center of the square, but rather off to the side in Beck Park or in front of the Judicial Center. The reason, Davenport noted, ". . . is to prevent the occurrence of another such event. . ." (i.e, being hit by a truck).

Horse feathers. That's like saying we should drain the lake because people don't know how to operate boats and jet skis properly on it.

The only other person I've heard say the doughboy should be moved wasn't a native of Jamestown, either. Evidently, neither one has the nostalgia of a native or the pull of history on the heart.

The doughboy has stood proudly in the middle of town for more than 70 years.

And that's where he belongs.