Bad News

STANFORD - The night was filled with laughter and plenty of tears as the members of the Lincoln County High School Class of 2013 said goodbye to their high school careers during graduation ceremonies Friday night. The 220 seniors took their final march through the halls of LCHS as students as they made their way to the high school gymnasium for the school's 39th annual commencement exercises. Principal Tim Godbey welcomed the seniors, their families and friends as ceremonies got under way, and then it was the seniors turn to take the podium for the night's speeches.

As we approach Halloween, you'll spot many ghouls, ghosts and graves, which you probably will find more amusing than frightening. However, whether it's Halloween or not, you can encounter things that truly might threaten your future well-being - such as scary investment moves. Here are a few of these "terrifying tactics" you'll want to avoid: Investing too conservatively When most people think of making investment mistakes, they're probably worried about investing too aggressively.

Newspapers and public officials frequently find themselves at odds. That's no big secret. But there is often a mutual respect for the respective roles each must play. When it comes to attorneys who represent public bodies, our respect for Ed Hays' knowledge and professionalism tops the list. We have found him to be thorough, diligent and fair in representing the City of Danville, even when we have been unhappy with the outcome. And he hasn't been afraid to give bad news to his clients, either.

Dear Editor: It appears the election for president will be close if you can believe the polls. And it is your duty, more than your right to vote your conscience. You remember when Kerry said the leaders of the world preferred him over Bush for president? I was just reading who the enemies of the United Stated would prefer for president. Though not endorsed by North Korea, The Financial Times noted North Korean radio has aired several of Kerry's anti-Bush speeches. From Iran, the Teheran Times stated, "Kerry is exactly what the U.S. needs right now. Maybe they need him more than we do!

Kentucky needs the same type of miracle this week that Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm found. Brohm was supposed to be out of action at least six weeks after he needed surgery on his thumb and hoped to be back when the Cardinals played West Virginia in November. Instead, Brohm might actually get to play Saturday against Cincinnati. The Cardinals have been just fine without Brohm - and Michael Bush. But they will be even better with him. Cincinnati features another Kentucky native, Dustin Grutza, at quarterback.

Lincoln County schools' CATS test results released by the Kentucky Department of Education last month contained good news and bad news. Four schools distinguished themselves and most others made gains, while the high school held steady or fell in all categories except English. Crab Orchard and McKinney elementarie and the Lincoln County Middle School exceeded state-established goals while Highland, Waynesburg and Stanford Elementary are progressing. The middle school was ranked among the top 25 in the commonwealth for the first time.

It went from high to low for Jason Epperson on last night's episode of "On the Lot. " The Winchester native was the top vote-getter of six contestants last week, earning the chance to direct Jerry O'Connell for his next film. The bad news: Jason's film did poorly with the judges and left audiences a bit bewildered. O'Connell played a guy whose friend encourages his decision to make a move that will "change his life. " After suspense builds about where O'Connell is going and why, the film ends ends with him playing a practical joke on a friend, moving him and his belongings into the woods.

If you're 50 or older, getting a colorectal cancer screening test could save your life. Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum. A polyp is a growth that shouldn't be there. Over time, some polyps turn into cancer. Screening tests such as colonoscopies can find polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. These tests can also find colorectal cancer early, and if found early, the chances of being cured improves. Those at risk include people 50 or older and anyone who has had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer before; and have had inflammatory bowl disease, or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

HARRODSBURG - Barbara Lake was driving home from Lexington on U.S. 68 on Jan. 22. She had just crossed Brooklyn Bridge at 4:35 p.m. when a tree fell onto her car from the cliffs above the roadway, and her life as she knew it ended. A look at a picture of what was left of her car might make one wonder how she survived at all, but she did, learning to walk all over again because her lower right leg was crushed in the accident. Recently, another tree fell almost in the same spot, but it was early in the morning and no one was hurt.

Dear Editor, Observing my retirement savings and dreams disappear like everyone's, I have been reading as much as possible to learn the real cause and what is likely to happen. There are global banking investment "creations" over the last 37 years, after the U.S. left the gold standard, that have set the stage for a depression. I recommend an article by Niall Ferguson, professor at Harvard, in the Vanity Fair December 2008 issue. Ferguson has concluded that the total output of all of the world's economies in 2006 was $46.6 trillion, but the amount of "money" on paper in the forms of stocks, bonds, derivatives, options, swaps, debt instruments, was over $517 trillion, by the end of 2006: over 11 times what the value is of the world's economic output.