Vacation

Becoming a grandfather certainly can change a perspective on a short family vacation. Recently I took my family to one of my favorite spots — Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tenn. — for a three-night, four-day getaway. While we’ve always enjoyed visiting the area in early February because it is far less crowded than in the spring, summer or fall, I did wonder what it would be like having two grandchildren, ages 2 and 1, and their two sets of parents along with us. We tried to look for kid-friendly things to do and came up with a plan for three outings — WonderWorks, Titanic Museum and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

STANFORD - Lincoln County officials have approved paying a former sheriff's deputy more than $4,900 in back vacation pay, but it's the remaining thousands of vacation hours still held by the department's other deputies that are worrisome for the sheriff's budget. Officials estimate the county's deputies have accrued a total of approximately $100,000 worth of paid time off during multiple years of working without using many vacation hours. The danger of such a large pile of owed vacation is if multiple deputies leave at about the same time, the county will be on the hook to pay off the unused hours.

Going on vacation? Wonderful! Have a great time, and make sure and send a postcard or two to your friends and family. While you are gone, would you like the Postal Service to hold your mail to keep it from piling up? Think about it ? nothing says, "Please rob our house while we're gone!" like a mailbox full of letters and magazines. And besides arranging to have your mail held has never been easier, thanks to Hold Mail Service from the Postal Service. Now you can go online and arrange to have your mail held from three to 30 days.

Vacation is over. How slowly it came and how quickly it left. Oh well, I am grateful for the respite, however long it lasted. The beach was glorious. The sun was warm, and the drinks were cool. Attitudes were tempered by the warm ocean breezes. Everyone smiled at each other. It was wonderful. "Was" is the operative word here. It seems the second you come "off" of vacation, all kinds of things hit the fan. It is true that we all need a "vacation" immediately following our "vacation," isn't it?

Anticipation. What a great word. I anticipate a lot. Right now I am anticipating vacation. You know, the time when you get away from it all. The time when you try and pack all good things in one short week. It's the time when you flee from responsibility and worry. Oh yeah! Vacations for most of my life have meant going to the beach. I love the beach. I love everything about the beach. The sun, the sand, the water, the warm ocean breezes. When I was little, my chubby body could have been the model for the "Coppertone Baby.

Dear Editor, In response to the Feb. 13 story titled "Lincoln cuts three days of spring break," as a former teacher I have two issues with this plan. First is the idea that it is necessary to prepare students for tests. Somehow, teaching to the (state) test, or preparing for those tests always seemed like the wrong reason for schools. Unfortunately, the public has come to rely on state-generated test scores, which make them believe their children attend good (or bad)

So the high price of gasoline is leaving you feeling low about prospects for that long-awaited vacation trip to the Rockies? Now feeling like you might have to sell your first-born just to pay the cost of gas for a trip to the Knobs? Even though you may feel tempted to make that sale in order to have one less voice in the back seat yelling every five minutes, "Are we there yet?," you very well may think a short trip in your own area might break the bank. Don't despair. I may not be a AAA trip planner, but I do have an idea for a vacation that will cost you almost nothing but one that you can enjoy just the same.

The story of Louis Beto's success on the wrestling mat this season starts with a chapter called, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation. " Beto could have spent his family vacation time as a typical teenage tourist. But he might have gotten bored, and he might not have become arguably the most improved wrestler on the Danville roster. Instead of seeing the sights during his family's trip to the East Coast, Beto detoured into wrestling camps at two college campuses, and he said he's the better for it this season.

It's the first week of summer vacation, but Lindsey Hall doesn't feel like she's on vacation yet. Hall is still getting out of bed and going to school every morning, just as she did last week when Boyle County schools were still in session. On the other hand, she said she's having a lot more fun this week. Hall is one of a number of Boyle basketball players working at this week's Boyle County Basketball Camp, and she said it's a little more fun than the typical school routine, even if it means delaying her vacation.

Are you already dreaming of your next vacation? Do you find yourself wishing you had your toes in the sand while the waves wash over your beach chair? Have you always imagined yourself hiking down into the Grand Canyon or visiting Mount Rushmore and want this to be the year? Then you need to check out a new site called State by State Travel. State by State Travel is designed to help you find great vacation ideas all across the great United States. www. statebystatetravel.com There are several ways for State by State Travel to help you plan your vacation: - Search by state: There is a searchable list of all 50 states.

I am blessed that my wife understands the nature of the business that I am in. That's a good thing, because it is not uncommon for my cell phone to buzz indicating a text message or for it to ring with a business-related phone call after hours. This also happens when I'm on vacation, or taking paid time off, as the company likes to call it. I took the week of spring break off to tend to some projects at home, and over the course of five days, I responded to my fair share of work-related text messages, and fielded a phone call or two. I am not complaining, because I encourage those who have my number to call or text me when news happens.

STANFORD - Lincoln County sheriff's deputies have accrued thousands of hours of unused paid time off, but initial estimates of how much financial liability those hours pose to the county were probably too high. At a fiscal-court meeting Oct. 24, officials estimated unpaid vacation hours could pose up to a $100,000 liability to the sheriff's budget if current deputies were to leave the department, requiring the sheriff to pay out unused time off. An Interior Journal analysis of data provided by Judge-Executive Jim Adams' office shows the county's potential liability for deputies' vacation time is probably around $58,000, including benefits.

STANFORD - Lincoln County officials have approved paying a former sheriff's deputy more than $4,900 in back vacation pay, but it's the remaining thousands of vacation hours still held by the department's other deputies that are worrisome for the sheriff's budget. Officials estimate the county's deputies have accrued a total of approximately $100,000 worth of paid time off during multiple years of working without using many vacation hours. The danger of such a large pile of owed vacation is if multiple deputies leave at about the same time, the county will be on the hook to pay off the unused hours.

Oct. 12, 1987 Mr. and Mrs. J. Ben Falmlen entertained with a dinner Sunday evening at their home, 16 Boone Ave., in observance of the birthdays of their daughter, Heather; son-in-law, Richard Garrett; and Mrs. Falmlen's mother, Mrs. Milton Rainey. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wilson have returned to their home on Park Avenue following a week's vacation in North Carolina in observance of their 12th wedding anniversary. While there, they attended the Indian Cherokee Fall Festival. The October meeting of the Wayland Heights Homemakers was held at the home of Donna Banks.

Tennessee is like a second home. It might as well be. Although I'm a homegrown and proud Kentuckian, my wife Rhonda and I take enough trips to Tennessee, namely Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, to be considered at least part-time residents. We take numerous trips to the Great Smoky Mountains, but every once in a while, we discover something new and exciting. During our visit last week, along with our dinner stops at the Apple Barn Restaurant and Bennett's Barbecue, we attended the Lumberjack Feud and Dinner Show one evening and changed our last name from Taylor to Dawson for more than two hours.

DANVILLE - Instead of learning about Matthew, Mark and Luke, kids at Vacation Liberty School will hear about of George, Samuel and Benjamin. America's Founding Fathers, the Constitution and faith's role in American history will be the focus of the Boyle County 9/12 group's five-day course this summer, co-coordinator Janet Gordon said. About 13 students already have enrolled in the Aug. 1-5 program, but there is enough space for about 50 students, she said. The classes, aimed at 10-15 year olds, will highlight lessons organizers believe public schools curriculums neglect, such as Constitutional freedoms, instructor Becky Pattie said.

Though I was born in Ohio, I’ve always deigned myself to be a true southern woman. Gracious hospitality, good manners, and a gentle accent mark a belle of good breeding, and Southern Living magazine is the arbiter of all things Dixie. As I perused the April issue, my eyes lingered lovingly on the luscious images of gardens, homes and travel destinations that epitomize the southern ideal. Since I love planning a vacation almost as much as going, of course I’m drawn to the pages that advertise tourist attractions.