Traffic fine of $900 doesn’t make sense

I must comment on your published article of 7/17 regarding a new Virginia law which will level huge fines for traffic violations. The article encourages the Kentucky legislator to follow Virginia and New Jersey and enact similar legislation in Kentucky. I’m not a lawyer, but it seems like the penalty should fit the crime. That’s justice.

A misdemeanor traffic violation in no way warrants a $900 fine. The article also indicates that the intent is to raise money for roads. Kentucky already has money for roads. I have lived in other states and, trust me, the roads here are fine.

Gimmicks like the article described are just another way for the governor to tax — plain and simple. Taxes are leveled in a multitude of ways, e.g. income, sales, property, etc.

Why so many ways to tax? So that you don’t realize how much you are paying. Before anyone asks me for another dime, I’d like to know what the money is needed for. Not in general terms like roads or education, but exactly what for? Salaries? Pensions?

Also, before asking for more money I’d like to see what specific things are being done to reduce costs and what results. We need more accountability for tax money. The rest of us who work in business must reduce costs to be competitive and to survive. Government should be run like a business.

Harold Rumple

Glasgow

Thanks offered to Relay volunteers

Brandy Burch and Sarah Hampton, co-chairs for the 2007 Relay For Life of Barren County, want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication to the 2007 Relay. We had such wonderful sponsors, teams and of course, our survivors. The reason we came out all night – to raise money, walk and stay up all night – even in the rain – like we were pleased to do this year, is to keep the awareness of cancer and our fight against it on everyone’s minds.

We want to thank those who were brave enough to stay out in the rain – which was heavy at times and it did rain for most of the night, we appreciate their dedication to stick it out even in the nastiest conditions.

We raised over $160,000 this year! Great job to everyone who got out there and asked for donations, to teams who held fundraisers to get money, and to our sponsors. This money goes to research and development and programs, such as Look Good Feel Better for our cancer survivors.

With factories closing and considering the price of gas as it is, we believe we did much better than we could have hoped for. Barren County Relay for Life has always been a great success and this year was no exception. We as a community got out and met some great survivors and made them feel loved and blessed and that to us was one of our major goals when we set up our committee. We were able to honor them and let them know we are here to support them and help in any way possible, even if it’s to cry together, or smile together or just sit quietly together and soak up life.

We had a lot of returning survivors – which is so wonderful – and some new faces and we are so blessed to have them all come and share their lives with us.

We were also able to honor our loved ones who have lost their fight with cancer. It was such a heartfelt experience to hear Henry Royse read the names off for our luminaria ceremony that night. To hear of our loved ones who are still fighting that great fight and of our loved ones who have gone on. This is truly an emotional experience and if you have never been to the luminaria ceremony, then this is something you must come to next year.

In closing, we would like to give one last big thanks to everyone who came out to Relay. Even though the weather was not at all cooperative, we had a great time getting everyone together and look forward to seeing everyone again at next year's relay.

Brandy Burch and Sarah Hampton

Barren County Relay For Life

Writer sings praises of ‘Children of Eden’

I submit this letter of praise for Glasgow Summer Theater’s production of “Children of Eden” at the Plaza Theater last weekend.

In the tradition established by recent local productions of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Fiddler on the Roof” by Glasgow High School, Todd Woodward and his Summer Theater cast and crew brought to the Plaza another dazzling experience of musical theater to appreciative, enthusiastic crowds of patrons.

No mode of entertainment appeals to the senses and spirit like live theater. The tension inherent in live performance, the singing voices of gifted actors, the live orchestra, the creative sets and lighting, the emotional stirrings of the story told and the sharing of the experience with your neighbors are all unique to the theater.

A special treat of this performance was the confluence of talented local actors, musicians, technical crews and support staff of diverse ages and stations of life, all working for the love of the performance – and the staging of the performance in the beautifully renovated historic Plaza Theater, itself a labor of love for many in our community.

To all who participated in this production, please know that your work and talent is appreciated by all those who attended and enjoyed.

Special appreciation goes to Todd and Lisa Woodward, whose talents and tireless dedication are the keys to these productions.

Thanks also to Bobby and P.J. Lindsey, generous supporters of local theater, and the numerous other volunteers in the orchestra, set design and construction, costume creation, and many other areas, who worked tirelessly to provide our community with a professional quality production.

These performances are not to be missed. They are treasures of our community.

I look forward to the next show.

Dr. William Travis

Glasgow