Steve Beshear

Kentuckians need to be aware that Gov. Steve Beshear refused to participate in the Sept. 26 KET candidate forum and has turned down many other opportunities for voters to hear his ideas. I suspect Beshear won't talk about his ideas because he doesn't have any, or he knows his liberal ideas wouldn't be popular with fiscally conservative Kentucky voters. Kentuckians also need to know that Beshear supports President Obama for re-election. Obama has brought us high unemployment, outrageous spending, increased debt, attacks on the coal industry, over-regulation of businesses and unpopular health care mandates.

Winchester Police Capt. Harvey Craycraft, left, presents an Occupant Protection Enforcement award issued by Gov. Steve Beshear to Officer Greg Vaught for his work during the Click-it-or-Ticket campaign last month. Vaught gave out the most citations locally during the state-wide seat-belt campaign.

LANCASTER - Janetta Starnes' eyes widened as she looked upon the Grand Theater for the first time in more than 40 years. She remembered how the gold frame once housed Lancaster's silver screen, the balcony once buzzed with excitement, and the stage once promised small-town stardom. "Ohhh, I used to come here and you couldn't even walk for the people," Starnes, 72, said. "So many memories. " After taking in the sight of the theater's renovation Tuesday, Starnes turned to thank the day's special  guest - Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear.

FANCY FARM, Ky. - An editorial in The Courier-Journal a few days ago wondered whether the political speaking at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic had outlived its usefulness, in light of the vitriol spouted by candidates and the outlandish, pugnacious behavior of their most ardent supporters. Yes, the speaking long ago became as much a theatrical presentation as a public-policy forum, but it has many redeeming qualities (plus, the picnic itself proves mutton can be good eating). The speaking brings Kentucky's political community to our state's far west, a sometimes- neglected area that is closer to Memphis and St. Louis than to Louisville.

With the filing deadline for the November elections fast approaching, local party officials are still awaiting the governor's appointment of someone to fill the Boyle County Fiscal Court seat left vacant by the death of longtime Magistrate Mickey Harmon.  Judge-Executive Harold McKinney said state law dictates Gov. Steve Beshear must make the appointment, and the governor was notified about the vacancy shortly after Harmon died June 28. McKinney has not suggested who to appoint and had encouraged anyone interested to write a letter to the governor's office.

President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Washington have placed a ticking economic time bomb in the economy of almost every state.  Unfortunately for us, thanks to inept political leadership, the one in our state is about to explode. While the decision to extend unemployment benefits was made in Washington, the states are stuck with the bill.  Almost none of them would have the funds to cover the added cost. Not to worry though. Once the dirty deed was done, President “Hope-n-Change” came around offering federal loans to states to pay for the benefits, promising that his stimulus package would soon work a miracle on our crashing economy and brighter days were indeed ahead.

FRANKFORT - It's still July, but the race for governor has begun in earnest, with the incumbent and his main challenge on paid TV so much, and targeting the same audiences, that their ads occasionally run back to back. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican state Senate President David Williams have had what amounted to their first debate, before the Kentucky Farm Bureau board, and Saturday they will headline the political speaking at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic in Graves County.

Governor snubbed veterans Dear Editor: I'm a life member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans. Recently, about 15 veterans attended one of Gov. Steve Beshear's town hall meetings at the Knicely Center in Bowling Green. We sat together in the second row at the event, right behind the governor's staff, who took up the first row. We all wore our American Legion hats, so our status as veterans was very obvious to all, including the governor. We listened to the governor talk and open up the floor to questions.

Gov. Steve Beshear joined a group of Clark County officials and business leaders to welcome Senko Logistics Co. to the Winchester Industrial Park at a special grand opening ceremony Monday. The company has already hired three employees and plans to employ a dozen people by the end of the year. “Whether you create one job or 100, it’s a plus,” said Todd Denham, director of the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Authority. Denham has been working with Senko officials for four years to bring a facility to the industrial park.

Gov.  Steve Beshear will join the Winchester/Clark County Industrial Authority and city and county officials in celebrating the grand opening of Senko U.S.A. Inc. at a ceremony July 11. Senko, a cold storage/dry goods distribution center located in the Winchester/Clark County Industrial Park at 3600 Corporate Drive, will employ between 10-15 people.