Just Like Heaven
POINTS EAST | By Ike Adams
A few times, or at least once, in a lifetime, if we pay close attention, the summer season works out to be just perfect.
Not too dry—not too wet—not too hot and never too cool, but just perfect for the way we think Heaven ought to be if we grew up and left this life on earth from rural Kentucky.
The summer of 2009 has been, weather wise, the most pleasant and pleasing of my adult life.
Only twice, according to the weather people at the tv stations, has the daytime temperature gotten higher than 90 and just barely at that when the humidity was low.
I haven’t had a water hose within 100 feet of my vegetable garden all spring and summer but I have grown, (or watched grow) the most productive garden I’ve seen on Charlie Brown Road, or for that matter, in the Lowell Valley, since we moved here 12 years ago. And, aside from weeding, it has been a profound joy to watch the veggies grow.
Over the last ten years, I don’t recall a growing season anywhere near as perfect as this one has been. I don’t recall a season wherein I did not whine and bellow that the climate and the weather had not conspired to make the harvest much less than it might have been.
Now that tobacco is unfortunately out of the mainstream and blue mold and black shank no longer a worry to our economy here in the flat lands, we need more seasons like this summer of 2009 to allow our farmers and our household gardeners to produce the food we need to sustain us –or sell it for the cash to keep the farms in operation.
What worries me, more than anything else, is that these long –cultivated fields here in the heartland of Kentucky will go untended now that tobacco has run it’s course.
What worries me is that real farmers will find themselves unable to grow a crop upon which they can depend a reasonable price come harvest time. And that the good land will go to waste when it isn’t farmed.
Garrard County is the good land and it kills my soul to see this farmland swallowed up into the bowels of so-called progress. But it’s happening---And not a thing we can do about it because nobody really cares.
In the meantime, here on Charlie Brown Road, we have the best garden we have ever grown and the best Bodacious sweet corn so sweet that it will rot your teeth. And we are oh-so rejoicing in this best of all summers since we’ve lived here.
Former Circuit Clerk Responds
To the citizens of Garrard County, I was asked by many to make a statement concerning my plea. This will be the last time that I talk about this to the public or anyone else.
Yes, I did plead to one count of official misconduct. Mainly because of my health and putting myself and my family through anymore heartache. As the special prosecutor said, he felt that it was negligence and not criminal intent on my part. Yes, I was gone a lot from the office my last two years there because of my health. I had been under a doctor's care for two years before retirement and I still am under a doctor's care. That is why I made the decision MYSELF to retire in December. BEFORE ANY OF THIS TOOK PLACE, I HAD ALREADY SIGNED MY RETIREMENT PAPERS and set my date to retire as 12/31/08.
I had served the people of Garrard County for 27 1/2 years and knew I could retire with 27 years. I decided to retire because my health would no longer allow me to give 100 percent to the citizens of Garrard County. In no way did I ever try to prevent justice from being done. I had gone through two traumatic events in my life with people I loved that died tragically. If you have ever experienced heartbreak in losing loved ones through tragedies you will understand what I am talking about. But those of you that have not won't understand, and I hope you never have to experience this.
I have heard from so many of you through cards, calls and visits. Your support, concern and friendship has kept me going these past months. I have made many trusted friendships through the years and have loved being your circuit clerk. I have no regrets and would not change anything.
I knew I had the IOUs and the people I helped through those IOUs you know who you are. I was taught I was elected to serve the people, rich or poor, and when someone came to the office and didn't have the money to pay for their license to be renewed, to buy Girl Scout cookies or whatever, I paid it. All IOUs had my name on them, and when it came time, if that person had not come back to pay me, I paid it myself. Right or wrong, I did that. I may not have had the money myself to pay it at that time but I did pay it. I never had any intentions of taking any money from the office and not repaying it. I never did that. You don't put your name on IOUs if you are not planning to pay it. And you don't sign checks on your own account if you are trying to steal.
I worked in the Garrard County Circuit Clerk’s Office for 27 1/2 years and the citizens of Garrard County wanted me there by evidence of their support on election day with the number of votes that I received. I am thankful for all the support and friendships I have made through the years. I feel like I treated everyone the same and made no difference in status. That is what I was brought up to believe, that everyone is equal no matter how much money you or your family has.
As for my family, yes we have had our problems, and my kids have been at the front and center of several news articles. I feel that because of my position, my children took the brunt of that and they are paying for their mistakes. It is always about making an example for everyone else especially if you are in politics. And that is the career I chose. I would not trade it for anything even though it ended in such a negative light. I hope others never have to endure what I have been through but I love my children very much and will be there to support them. I always told my deputy clerks to handle anything involving my children so I would not show any favoritism in any way towards them. I could go on and on and tell you other things but I just hope and pray you never have to experience the things that I have been through.
In closing, I wish the best for Garrard County and as the old saying is, you find out who your true friends are when there is tragedy or controversy. I loved being circuit clerk and serving Garrard County but I am now moving on with my life and what is important to me is my family and friends. Believe me, I have found out who are my true friends. I am enjoying retirement and spending time with my three grandchildren.
Jennifer Grubbs
President Showed Blatant Inconsideration
Dear Editor,
The President of the United States showed Blatant inconsideration when he didn’t stay in Washington to hear the voices of the thousands of people who traveled there September 12 to be heard.
So who does he consider to be the United States? Obviously it is not “we the people”, the grassroots and backbone of the nation.
Sue McKnight
Time To Get Right
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the clarification concerning Bobby Ballard's claim that he communicated with me concerning his violation of election laws: If, as you say, Mr Ballard's statement was printed "verbatim" then he owes me an apology. As of this date, I haven't received one. And that surprises me a little.
I don't fabricate conversations with third parties and relate them as fact to the newspapers and I expect the same consideration.
While we are on the subject of right and wrong, let me address another topic that has come up in our investigation. It is illegal and immoral to act as a conduit for political contributions to conceal the identity of contributors, or to conspire to conceal your identity by contributing through another person. For any wishing to “get right” with the Election Registry, that train is leaving the station now. To “get right” morally, well, you are on your own there.
Thank You,
David Wilson