Columns

It is that time of year when talk turns to turkeys. Technically, there is only one breed of turkey with several varieties, although many people incorrectly refer to these varieties as breeds. Turkeys are raised only for meat. They are not raised for egg production, as with chickens, ducks and quail. As a result, turkeys do not produce very many eggs. The most common type of commercial turkey raised in the United States is the Broad-Breasted White. It has a larger breast than the other varieties of turkeys. The term heritage turkeys refers to naturally mating turkey breeds native to the Americas. These varieties date back to early Colonial times. They are...

Although this is the first time I’ve ever actually been a candidate for public office, it’s not the first time I’ve gone out on the campaign trail. Since I’m writing this on election night, I thought it would be fun to tell the story of how, inexplicably, I spent a week in South Carolina during Spring Break campaigning for an upstart Republican candidate for governor. It was totally an unplanned thing. I was a junior at the University of Kentucky at the time. A buddy of mine, Quinton, who was from a wealthy, and very Republican Mississippi family, asked me if I wanted to go to South Carolina to help out...

I haven’t been a big fan of the nastiness of the election for U.S. President. Too much focus on silly stuff, next to no discussion of real issues. It’s the ultimate triumph of smoke and baloney over substance. Emails and ancient interviews with Howard Stern only serve to get us to take our eyes off the prize. Hours of coverage surrounding who has the best energy, stamina and appropriate body language are just exhaustingly stupid. But with attention spans at an all time low, and tolerance for ridiculousness so high, I guess it takes every-increasing craziness to move some people’s needle. Things like tax policy, social justice issues or our nation’s infrastructure just...

Is social media turning us into a nation of zealots? That’s the main crux of some reporting that’s coming out of legitimate journalistic publications here lately. The stories are based on a series of studies that are pointing to a link between increasing consumption of social media as a source of current events news, and the rise in seemingly hardened, entrenched and extreme attitudes among people. It has the potential to lead to a destabilizing effect in our society. In my opinion, it further bolsters the argument that newspapers are vital to having a stable democracy and an accurately informed electorate. Nearly 30 percent of what is being propagated on social media as...

Why are you running for office? "Boy, that's a good question. I'll have to think about that one," is a response that I have gotten back on multiple occasions over the years interviewing candidates. At that point, I am usually thinking, "I really hope this person doesn't get elected!" If I am doing the interview over the phone, I am usually shaking my head about now and looking for the bottle of Advil on my desk. We periodically get some real doozies running for office. Fortunately, those folks are the exception rather than the rule. Thank goodness. As I write this column before the results of Tuesday's election start pouring in, I thought...

Beetles, bugs and flies are some of the creatures actively seeking protected overwintering sites as days get shorter and cooler. Many produce stains or unpleasant odors if crushed. Scavengers, such as carpet beetles, can be attracted to accumulations of insects that die in attics and wall voids. Lastly, over-reaction to pests may lead to excessive insecticide use indoors that can have serious consequences. Management Strategies The best strategy is to keep as many as possible from getting indoors. These pest- proofing tips will get you off to a good start  ‒ The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension publication, “How to Pest-Proof Your Home” (ENTFACT-641). Sealing as many potential entryways as practical...

Although summer may not seem that far behind us, the holiday season will soon be here! Holidays are often an exciting time of the year. Spending time with family, enjoying time off work and celebrating with family traditions are enjoyable activities. However, the holidays also can represent added stress due to the crunch on your wallet. Decorations, gifts and food expenses add up quickly. The November and December months can be very expensive, in terms of holiday spending. Holiday shopping can be both a rewarding and stressful experience. Every year, millions of Americans flock to retail and online stores to buy gifts for their family and friends. Unfortunately, poor planning...

Spring-Calving Herds • If you have already done a pre-weaning working, revaccinate (booster) calves as needed. Treat calves for internal and external parasites. If you vaccinate calves yourself, be sure to store, handle and administer vaccines properly. • Schedule a pregnancy examination of cows if not done previously. Winter feeding costs can be minimized by eliminating open cows prior to winterfeeding. • Wean calves before cows lose body condition. • Obtain weaning weights of your calves and remember weaning is the time to do your first round of culling and selecting breeding stock. You can eliminate obviously inferior calves, especially those with wild or nervous dispositions. Consider the number of heifers that you will...

Diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body uses energy. More than 29 million Americans are affected by diabetes and close to one-quarter of these individuals do not know they have the disease. An additional 86.1 million Americans have pre-diabetes. Many people believe they can prevent or control these disease by taking various dietary supplements, but that may not be the case. A wide variety of supplements may claim to reduce your risk of developing diabetes, help you better manage the disease or prevent it all together. Some of these supplements include chromium, herbal supplements, Chinese herbal medicines, bitter melon, milk thistle, aloe vera, magnesium and vitamin D....

The candy, the costumes, the frights … and did I mention the candy? The fall is here again, and Halloween is once again upon us. Here are some tips about your child’s costume: • Your child’s costume should be made from flame retardant material. If it is a homemade costume, treat the fabric will a flame retardant spray. • If possible, include a light reflector with your child’s costume. You may even consider sewing one if there is none on the costume already. Also make sure that your child has a flashlight when he or she goes out to trick or treat. • If your child will be wearing a mask, you will want...