The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to OOPINIONPINION assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Monday-Tuesday, May 7-8, 2012 | Publisher: Taylor Wood Hayes | President: Chuck Henderson | Editor: Eli Pace | Opinion Editor: Jennifer P. Brown COLUMNIST n Where is Visitors, here’s leadership Ky. sports reality erby visitors, welcome and farewell! This space’s annual parting snapshot of Ken- Dtucky’s political landscape comes after a for health big week for intersections of our politics and sports, so much that Saturday’s trophy presen- tation by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear was almost an afterthought. Kentucky likes to use the iconic horse as its problems? brand, and there’s bipartisan agreement on that. Beshear has kept the “Unbridled Spirit” slogan adopted under Jim Host, a Republican who was More evidence of Christian County’s state commerce secretary after a career as one of poor health includes this: The rate of sex- America’s greatest college-sports entrepreneurs. ually transmitted disease infections is VOICE OF THE PEOPLE But while this is the thoroughbred capital of the more than five times greater than the na- n world, and we do love our horses, tional level, and the teen pregnancy rate Summer vacation ideas galore If you want to learn more about more of us treasure the fact that is nearly 300 percent higher than the na- Hopkinsville and Christian Coun- it’s the capital of college basket- tional rate. close to our Kentucky homes ty you can visit the Commerce Cen- ball — as President Barack Pregnancy among teens who are not ter at 2800 Fort Campbell Boule- Obama acknowledged Friday at The Editor, New Era, vard for brochures, go to www.vis the White House with the na- ready emotionally or financially to raise This is National Tourism Week healthy children, and STDs in people of ithopkinsville.com or call 270-885- tional champion University of and with gas prices at an all-time Kentucky Wildcats. all ages, place bur- 9096 and ask to receive the weekly high it might be a good time to va- UK coach “John Calipari is the dens on a commu- electronic newsletter “Christian OUR OPINION cation at home. Discover the won- County This Weekend”. most powerful person in this nity that are felt n derful places we have right here in state,” WHAS Radio sports-talk AL for generations. Cheryl Cook, Christian County and the sur- host Lachlan McLean said re- CROSS n There’s the obvious need for medical rounding counties. Executive Director cently, in what could also be taken care, often provided by the Christian Kenlake, Kentucky Dam Vil- Hopkinsville-Christian County as a commentary on Beshear, one of our most feck- County Health Department and other lage, Lake Barkley, and Pen- less governors in memory. public agencies that rely on tax funding. nyrile Forest are State Resort Convention and Visitors Bureau Beshear and his wife, Jane, are horse people, But there’s also a broader problem in the Parks in our region. Then there but he has repeatedly failed to deliver on his ways that poor sexual health can thwart are recreation state parks like Avoid frightening diseases 2007 campaign promise to help the horse indus- a person’s ability to pursue education Columbus-Belmont, Lake Mal- try by expanding gaming at racetracks and and earn an independent living. one, and Mineral Mound and by eliminating meat in diet using the money to fatten race purses like other New Era staff writer Nick Tabor’s there are historic state parks like states are doing to lure away our stallions, April 28 story about health statistics for Jefferson Davis and Wickliffe The Editor, New Era, mares and trainers. Beshear has failed partly Christian County reveals that we have a Mounds. Most of the parks have Some Americans have pushed because many Kentuckians could give a hoot long way to go in diagnosing the root something to do from hiking, beef aside after the latest case of about the horse industry, which they see as elit- causes of the problem. But the solution fishing, swimming, boating, ten- mad cow disease — one of the ist. Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell knew that in 1996, when he was running for re-elec- to every big challenge begins at the place nis, and golfing. most frightening diseases of our generation. As a dietitian, I know tion against Beshear and dispatched a dandy in leaders decide to act. That means the On rainy days there are muse- that leaving beef off our plates foxhunting gear to Beshear events to wave a rid- leaders in Hopkinsville and Christian ums to visit. Right here in Hop- can also help reduce our risk of a ing crop and shout “tally-ho!” County have to recognize poor sexual kinsville there is the Pennyroyal Area Museum, the Woody Win- range of equally as frightening The horse industry supports thousands of health as a burden that affects everyone. free Fire and Transportation Mu- chronic diseases caused by high- modest-income families, but that gets lost in the One place to start is with an acknowl- seum and the Charles Jackson fat diets. industry’s glitz and glitter, especially during the edgement that sex is a tough topic. Then Circus Museum. Take a picnic to In the leanest cuts of beef, about ostentatious partying of Derby Week. maybe we can begin to learn why so the Trail of Tears Commemora- 30 percent of the calories come Away from the horsey precincts of the many people are practicing unsafe sex. Louisville area and the Inner Bluegrass around tive Park in Hopkinsville and from fat. There are many stakeholders in this Lexington, where it is difficult to enter the sport spend the next day at Land Be- And four ounces of beef con- community who’ve tackled difficult prob- of kings, the favored sport is basketball, a pop- tween the Lakes. tains about 100 milligrams of cho- lems in the past. The League of Women ulist pursuit that most anyone can play, and the Spend some time on the farm. lesterol. From steak to ground Voters and Challenge House, for example, The Pennyroyal Region Agri- Kentucky Wildcats have a following that beef to rump roast, it all leads to amounts to a state religion. should not be overlooked as valuable in- tourism’s Farm are Fun heart attacks, strokes, obesity, and Kentucky voters elected Richie Farmer com- stitutions that can help diagnose the Brochure has 28 members in the other serious health problems. missioner of agriculture in 2003 and 2007 be- unique problems that lead to high rates five counties with things to see And switching to chicken or fish cause he was one of three native Kentuckians of STDs and teen pregnancy. and do from petting farms, wagon isn’t enough — these foods are also on the 1992 Wildcat team that lost in overtime to Other institutions that have an obvious rides, pottery classes and Arabi- packed with fat and devoid of fiber. Duke for a Final Four slot but restored the pro- role in dealing with this problem include an Horses. There are farms that But by switching to a plant- gram’s respectability after a scandal. This was the health department, local schools and grow grapes, blueberries, apples, based diet rich in fruits, vegeta- after he had been the state’s “Mr. Basketball” at peaches and vegetables. There Jennie Stuart Medical Center. bles, whole grains, and beans, we Clay County High School. More than a decade are horse camps and there are And if the Chamber of Commerce can eliminate the risk of mad after he left UK, Farmer was an icon who could riding stables. wants to confront one of the biggest hur- cow disease. We can also begin to draw a crowd anywhere in the state, and he Events are plentiful in the area dles to improving Christian County’s reverse America’s growing waltzed into office. When Calipari arrived in quality of life and long-term economic too. The 31st Little River Days, Kentucky, he repeated talk that Farmer was Take Kids Fishing Day, Kiwanis trends of diabetes, heart disease, standing, it will provide some leadership and other diet-related illnesses. “going to be the governor.” in this area. The chamber, through the Soapbox Derby, Western Ken- Last year, when Farmer was term-limited, he community vision plan, should make tucky State Fair, Cattleman’s As- Susan Levin, ran for lieutenant governor on a Republican health and all its components a priority. sociation Rodeo and the 25th An- Director of Nutrition Education slate headed by state Senate President David Maybe it’s time the health department nual Pow Wow are just a few. Williams, who had baggage and may have There are many more festivals in Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine didn’t operate as an island. This is a picked Farmer partly to keep Farmer from run- the other counties. Washington, D.C. problem that affects all of us. ning for governor himself. The choice turned out to be unwise; Farmer’s marriage fell apart, THOUGHT OF THE DAY he failed to attend many campaign events or Kentucky New Era editorials are the consensus n raise money, and newspapers began uncovering opinion of the editorial board, which meets every how he had abused his office with perks and ex- week and includes Publisher Taylor W.