Adoption awareness

November is Adoption Awareness month. For over 20 years those involved with adoption have set this time aside to only honor those who have opened their hearts and homes to become “Forever Families” and to remind us that there are, at any given day, over a half million children across the United States in foster care and a high number of those children will not be able to return home. When that happens, these children become available for adoption.

In Kentucky, there are about 785 children in out-of-home care who are available for adoption and 378 of those children do not have an identified adoptive family. Some of these children may be older or consist of sibling groups that need to stay together.  

Imagine your life with no one to call family and feeling like you do not belong anywhere. Imagine blaming yourself for the breakup of your family and to blame for their problems. If you can imagine these things as if you were a young child or youth in foster care waiting for someone to love you and accept you with all the anger, fear, disappointment and mistrust you carry around, then you can imagine what it is like to be a child waiting for a “Forever Family.”

You might have missed an opportunity to see a child come into the world, take their first steps and say their first words, but you can help the same child overcome their mistrust of the world and learn to take some first steps toward trusting the world they live in enough to love and feel loved.

Kay Upton

Adoption Support for Kentucky

Trick-or-Treat thanks

A special thank you to the following businesses and individuals who provided candy for the trick or treaters on Halloween: Marsha Duncan and the LaRue County High School volunteers; Bullfrogs & Butterflies Child Development, Louisville Gas & Electric, Bob Shoffner-LaRue County Sheriff Dept., Nationwide Uniform, Phelps Heating & Cooling, Hodgenville Christian Church, City of Hodgenville, Dr. Glenn Catlett, Hodgenville Post Office, Lincoln Museum, Sunrise Manor Nursing Home, Chamber, Dale Morris Attorney, LaRue Insurance, Almost Home, Magic Mirror, James Whitlow Attorney, Abe’s Country Cooking, Harvestland Community Church, IGA Express “Log Cabin”, Lincoln National Bank, Sallee’s Family Taekwondo, Pamida, Hodgenville Witch/The Polley Family, Family Worship Center, Ron Mather Attorney, Danny Rock Attorney, Keep in Touch Massage Therapy, LaRue  County Pro­tection Family, Lincoln’s Loft, Laha’s Red Castle, Citizens Union Bank and The LaRue County Herald News.

Thanks to Mayor Cruse, staff, employees and the city police for their support in this event.

The Chamber appreciates the participation of the children in our costume contest. We thank our judges for selecting winners. This was a very difficult task.

The Chamber strives to improve this event each year.

You may call the office at 358-3411 with your suggestions.

Rita T. Williams, Director of LaRue County Chamber of Commerce

Will someone please explain gas prices?

I would like to inquire about the gas prices in Hodgenville. I have noticed that when the price goes up in Elizabethtown, it also goes up at every station in town here. However when the prices drop in E’town it takes two to three days or more before the stations in Hodgenville reflect the decrease in price. Another thing I would like to point out is the fact that if a station has gas delivered the price should reflect what they paid for it, not for the station to charge whatever the going rate is. If my memory serves me correctly that is how the price of gas used to be figured. If you saw a gas truck at a station filling them up then you knew prices were going to change.

Can anyone tell me also why it is that the prices in Campbellsville run about 20 cents a gallon cheaper than here. Why such a difference? Is it because they have so many stations in their town that they have to be reasonably priced? With us only having a hand full of gas stations are our pocket books being drained so the gas companies and service stations can make an extra buck? It would almost pay for itself for LaRue residents to travel to Glendale, Elizabethtown or Campbellsville to get gas. I feel like we’re being cheated and someone should look into this matter.

Orval DeSpain

Respect of opposing viewpoints will strengthen country

 In the Oct. 21 edition of The LaRue County Herald News, “Lincoln’s Lessons on Civility and Communication,” Paula Marie Urey’s article was precisely right when it said that “we should use our freedom of speech rights in a thoughtful and respectful manner.” I agree. American citizens and politicians should be more contemplative and less demeaning of opposing viewpoints. When Americans are respectful in their differences, they give our country a better sense of unity. Differences in opinion are only natural, but when we do not consider the merits of opposing beliefs, our opponents lose respect for us. In our last presidential election, Senator Ron Paul’s opponents failed even to consider his viewpoints on numerous occasions. Instead of thinking over his ideas, Paul’s opponents would poke fun and laugh at him. Responding to opposing views in an offensive way forms mistrust and ill will, causing politicians to make blatant remarks about each other.

Our political leaders and we as Americans should be reminded by the Ron Paul incident. Instead of only considering our own ideas, we should work with others and consider their thoughts along with our own. George Washington’s presidency is a great reminder of unity that Americans possess when her people work together. George Washington was thoughtful of the opinion of others, and even his opponents respected him. As Washington said, “While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to him only in this case they are answerable.” Let us differ, but let us differ with dignity. When we as the people of our beloved nation treat our opponents with respect, good relationships will be kept in tact, and today’s America will have a stronger sense of togetherness.             

Gideon Ragland

Thank you to veterans

I was very happy to see a Veterans Day parade in LaRue County. The parade and reception are just two ways we can honor the men and women who gave some or all in service to our country.

It is sad to me that so many of us go about our lives never thinking about why we can live as we do today. The majority of men and women who fought did so out of desire to protect the ideals on which this nation was founded and to preserve them for those who cannot serve, for future generations and for themselves and their families. Often we cannot tell who is a veteran because they are no longer in uniform except on special occasions. But we can thank those we see wearing caps or jackets that indicate their service and thank family members we see with them. We can also thank those in service now and their families for the sacrifices they make.

I thank those who initiated the parade, Charlotte Isbell and Mona Coffey, the American Legion and the individuals who helped with the parade and reception.

I hope this is just the first annual Veterans Day parade.

If you are approached to help next year, please consider carefully before you decline because events like this are a service not only to the honorees, but also to our county and its residents.

Paula Setters

Hodgenville