March, 2008
By Jeff Noble
Voice Editor
Telling a crowd of some 75 persons that “The sky’s the limit, but you face great challenges,” former Governor Paul Patton came to Oakdale Christian Academy on Tuesday to fire up students about succeeding in life.
The man who headed Kentucky’s government from 1995 to 2003 - and whose admistration was credited with the term “Education Pays” - said inside the gymnasium at the Beacon Center that the way to that success is through education. 
By Jeff Noble
Voice Editor
Just as folks are hoping for Spring to hurry up and come, Old Man Winter reminded us last weekend that he’s still the boss for a little while longer.
A powerful winter storm marched through Kentucky last Friday into Saturday, starting out as rain and thunderstorms before changing to freezing rain, sleet, and finally snow. Across Breathitt County, snow accumulations averaged from two-and-a-half inches to four-and-a-half inches, with a National Weather Service employee reporting 4.5 inches of snow northeast of the Guage community by last Saturday afternoon.
By Jeff Noble
Voice Editor
Just before High Noon last Thursday, a wreath was carried in front of the Breathitt County Justice Center. It would soon be brought over to the Courthouse to serve as a memorial to those victims of sexual assault in this county. And as a reminder that those who suffer can find help and solutions.
A crowd of about fifteen persons descended on the sidewalk where the wreath was standing. On it was a teal-colored bow, which signifies the month of March as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in this county, and throughout the Kentucky River region.
By Jeff NobleVoice Editor
A new girls dormitory could be in the plans for Oakdale Christian Academy in the not-too-distant future, says OCA President Dan Fisher.
That announcement was made Tuesday afternoon before Former Governor Paul Patton spoke to students, family and other local residents during a special program on campus.
By Jeff Noble
Voice Editor
Monday was a good day for Rosemarie Gold to come visit Jackson. The snows from the weekend had pretty much melted down, so she thought the drive down Route 205 would be a pretty easy one.
Seemed there were some obstacles along the way - something all drivers have to watch out for during the winter. “Potholes,” Gold told the Voice that morning. “I had to keep an eye out for potholes past West Liberty to make it here.”
Tester pleads “Not guilty” in courtThe man accused of shooting his estranged wife at Hardee’s on Highway 15 almost two weeks ago pleaded not gulity to assault charges Monday. Clarence Tester was in Breathitt District Court when District Judge Kenny Proffitt waived the case against him to the Breathitt County Grand Jury. When asked if the Grand Jury will indict him, Commonwealth’s Attorney Darrell Herald commented that it was too early to tell. The Grand Jury is expected to hear the case on Friday, April 4th. Clarence Tester remains lodged in the Three Forks Regional Jail near Beattyville on a one million dollar full cash bond. Donna Tester continues to recover at the UK Hospital in Lexington.
The terminology of the Old West in describing a newly-arrived eastern tenderfoot pretended cowboy clad in a flashy western cowboy suit and a large ten gallon hat could well be applied to the Presidential candidacy of Barack Hussein Obama.
Obama’s repetitive, well-rehearsed and simplistic rhetoric advocating change, hope and bringing Americans together is reminiscent of that tender-footed cowboy. Where are the specifics? What changes is he advocating? Change can be good or bad.
I apologize for writing an article last week that was much too long. I will attempt to rebut some of Bobby’s accusations in a much shorter article this week. Bobby began his article last week by saying that I must be over my operation since I lambasted the actions of his Bush administration. First of all, my operation was for a hernia and not a brain operation. My mind still recognizes the blunders which the Bush-Cheney regime keeps making. Bobby says that I am talking the country into a recession. I didn’t know that my rhetoric was that powerful, but I don’t have to talk the country into a recession because any sane person who goes grocery shopping and or buys gasoline knows that we are already there.
Dear Editor:
Another Spring is unfolding across Southern and Eastern Kentucky. As the Redbud trees begin to blossom, I urge all citizens to help in removing unsightly trash from Breathitt County’s roads, streams and hillsides during our annual PRIDE Spring Cleanup, April 5-19. Recruit your friends, family and neighbors to help.
“He’s from over there. He’s one of them.” What exactly does that mean? I’ve thought a lot about some of the reasons I’ve heard people give for not wishing to vote for a particular potential presidential nominee. Most of the explanations reveal more about who we are rather than who we may not be voting for. It’s not a pretty picture by any stretch.
