Opinion

As gas and food prices continue to climb, it is critical that we effectively manage our budgets and personal finances to make ends meet. Juggling investments, tax returns and credit card bills can be difficult, so it is important to educate yourself on the best ways to save and invest in your future. Since April is Financial Literacy Month, I wanted to share with you some tools that will help you better understand your finances and protect yourself against identity theft.

On April 8 and 9, General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker testified before Congress about the current political and security situation in Iraq. According to both officials, progress in Iraq is significant, but reversible. As a senior Army commander told me recently, "We simply cannot walk out of the Middle East now."

Why is it that Henry County can't attract new businesses, so there can be local jobs for local people?

According to the Ky Deskbook of Economic Statistics, 59 percent of Henry County's workforce is employed out of the county, and 46.3 percent of them travel more than 30 minutes to get to their job destinations.

The cost of living is going up daily, due largely to the gas crisis. The spending power of a paycheck is dwindling, but just how much of it is going to the increased cost of just getting to work?

This pool issue has been something that our family and community has now heard of and been listening to for quite some time now. During the last city elections for Mayor and Council members, we had quite a few prospects, and current members stop by our home. The only constant issue that any of them talked about, was the pool. They all mentioned there was a great need for something for our young people to do in this city, let alone county.

"The worst things in history have happened when people stop thinking for themselves, especially when they allow themselves to be influenced by negative people. That's what gives rise to dictators. Avoid that at all costs. Stop it first on a personal level, and you will have contributed to world sanity as well as your own."

We believe Donald Trump said it best.

We are standing at a crossroad in history. This has been and will be a record-breaking presidential election, in more ways than one. And for the first time in a long time, Kentucky voters will play a crucial role in selecting the presidential nominees. The Republican presidential primary has already been decided and they have quite a formidable candidate in Senator John McCain. But it's the Democratic race that still has many people on the edge.

We would like to thank each and everyone who attended, worked, or contributed in any way to the Marilyn Moore Benefit held on March 21. The benefit was a huge success. Once again, the people of this county opened their arms and hearts and proved why this is the best county in the world to live in.

It's time for the Eminence City Council to remove the rose-colored glasses and take a hard look at the feasibility of re-opening the city's pool.

Officials initially believed the pool repairs could run the city as little as $12,000. That belief was hopelessly naive.

As the pool committee and council looked a little deeper at cost estimates for the pool's repair, the price tag rose from $15,000-$30,000 to more than $150,000.

I wanted my senior project to mean something. I wanted it to somehow help the community, but I also wanted it to be different. I knew I wanted two things to come out of my project. That was to raise money for juvenile diabetes and to have the Kentucky State University Phi Beta Sigma to perform at our school. I also wanted to feed the volunteers that helped me with my project. I mailed out letters to the surrounding businesses asking for donations for a silent auction or to help feed the volunteers. I made flyers and put them up at different locations.