Columns

Winter in Kentucky is often synonymous with inclement weather. Snow, ice and black ice not only make it hazardous for drivers, but such weather can also make it hazardous for pedestrians. Falls, slips or trips can result in injuries ranging from scrapes and bruises to broken limbs or serious head injuries. Here are some pointers to help you stay upright this winter. · Keep your home well stocked with food and essential household items, like batteries and toilet paper. This way you do not have to run to the store because you are out of something during or immediately after an inclement weather event. · Remove snow and salt or sand...

The impacts of the fall drought conditions can be seen in some of our cow herds across the state.  Cows are lower in body condition as a result of the grass shortage.  Fall vegetative fescue grass will often be in the low 60’s on TDN and mid-teens for crude protein, much higher in quality than our average hay.  The lack of this fall forage growth will necessitate some early intervention. Many of the hay samples that I’ve seen this year are lower in energy than normal due to the wet spring leading to over mature forage at harvest.  Surprisingly, the protein levels have been decent in many of the hay...

On this date 75 years ago, just before 8 a.m., hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The barrage lasted just two hours, but it was devastating: More than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died in the attack. The attack signaled the entry of the United States into World War II. For years my friend, the late Tom Elliott, would always remind me that we should publish a story about the attack on this date. And for several years in this newspaper we featured a survivor of the attack, the late Ed Moses. As President Roosevelt proclaimed it is a “Date Which...

Spring-calving cow herd · Dry cows in good condition can utilize crop residues and lower quality hay now (but don’t let them lose any more body condition).  Save higher quality feed until calving time.  Keep a good mineral supplement with vitamin A available. · This has been a good year for fall pasture growth.  Extend grazing for as long as possible to decrease the amount of stored feed needed. · Evaluate body condition of cows.  Sort thin (less than CS5) cows away from the cow herd and feed to improve their condition.  Two and three-year olds may need extra attention now.  These cattle can use the extra grass that has accumulated in...

Holiday feasting, snacking and partying could add extra weight that is difficult to shed in the new year. Many times around the holidays we give gifts of candies, cookies, pies and other baked goods. While these items could be eaten in moderation, we also have the option of giving gifts that would improve the health of family members, friends and co-workers. As you consider gift giving this year, include gifts for people on your list that would help them increase their health. Suggestions for healthy food related gifts include Fruits - Give fresh fruits in a basket. Place some straw or crinkle paper at the bottom of a basket. Place a variety...

Who knew a beautiful, nice little quiet hometown library could have so much drama boiling below the surface? Mercy! Our reporting on recent issues at the Corbin Public Library has been weeks ahead of our competition. Credit to our Corbin reporter Dean Manning for his timely, accurate coverage. But, I think some perspective is in order. Personally, I’d categorize the stuff happening at the library right now as mildly troubling, but definitely not scandalous. More than anything, some procedures weren’t followed correctly. Lack of proper notification of meetings. Maybe a few purchases that were legit, but weren’t exactly made the right way or with proper authorization. And obviously there’s a riff between...

Country ham is a regional delicacy that many of us enjoy but may not know how to properly prepare. Here are some tips and tricks to make country ham the star of your holiday dinner. Country hams may contain mold, which is a result of the curing process. Mold is normal, but it could produce mycotoxins which could cause a food-borne illness. Remove mold by washing the ham with hot water and scrubbing it with a stiff vegetable brush. Soak the ham for 4 to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Cover with water and boil the ham for 20 to 25 minutes per pound. Drain and glaze your ham to taste. Brown the ham...

Once autumn leaves have fallen, mistletoe becomes highly visible on large trees throughout Kentucky. Phoradendron, the scientific name for Kentucky’s most common variety of this parasitic plant, means tree thief. These small leafy plants are commonly found on twigs and branches of many hardwood species in the southern United States. Mistletoe extracts—steals— water, mineral elements and food from tree hosts; hence the name. Mistletoe use in holiday traditions has roots in pagan times. The appearance of a live parasitic plant while the host tree appears dead led some to believe mistletoe mysteriously held the life of the tree during winter. Druids harvested mistletoe in a special rite, never allowing the...

It is with great pride that I can now say, “I’m a Lion!” Not the King of the Jungle type. Not an aggressive warrior either. No, instead the kind that wears the yellow vest … synonymous with peace and mercy and betterment of community. I’ve attended meetings of all Corbin’s social and service clubs in the 20 years I’ve been a reporter at this newspaper. They are all such great organizations. I’d been asked to join the Lions Club before, but always turned down the invitation. I felt like I just didn’t have enough time to properly devote myself to it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to the realization that there is never really...

When I filed to run for Corbin City Commission in January, I knew it was going to put the shackles on my ability to talk about city politics in this column for awhile. Election laws make it pretty well taboo to do so. So, I kept quiet. Now, all bets are off. The voters have spoken. I want to thank everyone who supported me. Honestly, I can say that running for office was quite an amazing experience. It was A LOT of work. Perhaps I put more pressure on myself than I should have, but I wanted to do well. I was not satisfied with just putting out yard signs and...