Columns

Raising small poultry flocks on the farm or in the backyard has become very popular. The most important things to remember when choosing the type of housing are provisions for adequate shelter from weather, adequate ventilation and also protection from predators. You should choose housing that is easy to build from readily available materials. Housing should also have a low maintenance cost and support the changing needs of your flock. Over the years, a variety of designs for backyard flocks have hit the market - each with its own pros and cons. The best design for you depends on the number and types of birds you have and on how much...

It’s a good thing that Frankfort is much more than politics. If it was just all of the chit-chat that comes out of our state’s capital city, I’m not sure many would want to visit. For sure this city of 27,000 permanent residents is steeped in as much history as any place in Kentucky. Tucked into the rolling hills on the banks of the Kentucky River, Frankfort has long been the correct answer on many quiz shows. If you’re from Kentucky it’s an easy answer when confronted with “What is the capital of Kentucky?” New residents transitioning into our state are surprised to learn it’s not Louisville or Lexington. But whether...

From time to time the following “Blew My Mind” piece has appeared on Facebook. I do not know who the author is, but it hit home with many of the experiences that some of you and I have had in our lifetime. I cut out a few of the observations and added my comments to some of the thoughts. I think you will enjoy this: “Back before the Internet or PC or the Mac….Before semi-automatics and crack….Before Playstation SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari….Before cell phones, CD’s, DVD’s, voicemails and e-mail….Go back, way, back, I’m talkin’ bout hide and seek at dusk…. Red Light, Green light…Red Rover, Red Rover…..Playing kickball &...

There needs to be a investigation of the way our local justice system handled the cases against Tristan Hall. If you read the News Journal at all, you’ve no doubt seen our reporting on Hall. He’s the local man that was accused of making a posting on the forums of the Internet website Topix (www.topix.com) in 2013 in order to hire a hitman to kill someone. He had some other charges piled on as well. He steadfastly denied all of them. He fought the system at every turn. He stridently contested every charge. He refused to accept even the most lenient and increasingly desperate plea bargain offers from prosecutors. They...

With the battle lines drawn for the upcoming May Primary election, I thought now might be a good time to break down the only local race on the ballot, which pits incumbent 82nd Rep. Regina Bunch against challenger Alex Patrick. The winner will face Williamsburg teacher Bill Conn in the November General Election. Could Patrick beat Bunch in the primary? Sure it’s possible, but I don’t see a real viable path to victory for him here. My political assessment of Bunch has remained roughly the same for several years. I think she is vulnerable to a challenge from a strong candidate. For instance, someone like retired Whitley County Superintendent Lonnie Anderson,...

I love the newspaper business, but being a publisher these days takes a stout heart. Here in just the last few months, newspapers have come under attack from all sides in what almost feels like a concerted effort to sign our death warrant. The rules are constantly being rewritten, or attempted to be rewritten, on public notice advertising. Our state legislature is constantly doing things to roll back and weaken Kentucky’s Open Records Act. In addition, a bill has been filed this legislative session to, again, end the requirement that sample election ballots be printed in your local newspaper. Budgetary information and reports that used to be required advertising only a few...

We are in a rut. Since the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index started publishing in 2008 Kentucky has been right at the bottom, just ahead of West Virginia. The index was published in newspapers and read on TV stations all across the country last week. You love Kentucky. I love Kentucky and we know it is the best state in the union. But we do get tired of hearing those unflattering research polls that are published. Why are we ranked 49th? Although Mississippi has the highest obesity rate, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana consistently has had high obesity rates. Smoking. Kentucky is number one in deaths caused by smoking and has the highest percentage...

This is my most unfavorite time of the year. To my way of thinking, the months of January and February are without a single redeeming quality. We can look at seed catalogs, but it’s too early to start planting a garden. Shopping is no fun. Where’s the incentive? We’re not going anywhere to show off our new clothes. Add to that the fact that what the stores are showing have been picked over until they are practically worn out. Seeking a relief from boredom, I spent the better part of January culling my wardrobe, helping Good Will to line their coffers. I made at least six trips back and forth, back...

Is fat a bad word? Not necessarily. Simply put, fat is just the body’s storage form for energy. If an animal consumes more energy than it uses, its body will store the excess calories as fat - like money in the bank they can use in an energy shortage (think cows calving in late winter). Fat imparts flavor to food (like a T-bone steak), but it also adds calories. So managing fat can be a delicate issue in the cattle business. Presently, the quality of beef is estimated to a large degree by the amount of marbling (intramuscular fat) that it contains. Tenderness is also important but is generally a...

The new dietary guidelines were released in January and encourage all of us to make healthy eating choices throughout our lives to minimize our risks of becoming overweight or obese or developing a chronic disease like heart disease or diabetes. These conditions are often linked to poor diets and physical inactivity. These guidelines serve as a tool for public health professionals and food service program managers to help individuals two years old and older to get on a path to healthier living. They also serve to guide policy makers. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services work together to update and revise them every five years. The latest...