Allen Central should keep Confederate flag

THE WAY I SEE IT

Marty Backus

Well, first off, let me fill in some blanks, which I failed to do in last week’s column, about the upcoming inauguration in Pikeville. It is not just solely for the new judge-executive but for all newly-elected officials in Pike County, including Pikeville, Elkhorn City, Coal Run Village and both school boards. This comes from Pike County Judge-Executive-elect Wayne T. Rutherford by way of a member of his camp, T.J. Litafik.

My apology for the confusion I may have caused by making you think it was just going to be for Rutherford. That confusion came from the last time he took office when such an event was held for him following a special election which he won to fill the unexpired term of then-Judge-Executive Paul Patton.

——

After a recent episode with a radical group I offended because of something I wrote that someone else said in jest, I’ve become more of a believer of writing what’s on your mind and to heck with the over-used “offending” card.

For example, I read recently in the Floyd County Times that a member of Floyd County’s School Board is objecting to Allen Central High School’s students flying the Confederate flag. As we know, their mascot is the Rebels, a name that symbolizes members of the Confederate Army during our Civil War.

Board member Mickey McGuire says he believes it’s wrong for area schools “to use the Confederate flag as part of their school symbol.” He goes on to say he believes it to be “very short-sighted” on the part of the school board “to teach our children to fly the Confederate flag with pride.” In other words we just forget about the good and bad part of history and the folks who made it and teach what sounds nicer whether it’s true or not. We’ve done it in other places — caving in to racial blackmail — by changing songs, symbols and making a national holiday.

I admire those ACHS students like Chesie Cordial who stood before the board and defended her school’s right to fly the flag. According to the Floyd County Times she said “we don’t use it as a racial slur. We don’t look at the Confederate flag as a sign of hatred. To us, it reflects our history as a school...It’s about our school, it’s our pride, it’s our flag.” Good for you Chesie, and nuts to you McGuire because your action offends me! I guess the ACLU comes next if the school system doesn’t come to a decision on this.

Incidentally, I graduated from Mullens High School in Mullens, W. Va., and we were also known as the (non-racial) Rebels.

——

I had a number of e-mails and comments about last week’s question of why men and women’s buttons are on opposite sides of each other. Former Pike Countian Patricia Phelps of South Carolina and Carrel Mahoney of Frankfort said it all goes back to the Victorian age. Back then it seems a noble woman was usually dressed by her maid and because the maids were usually right-handed, it was easier for them to button the garments from right to left. As for us men, noble or not, we dress ourselves and that’s why our buttons are on the left.

——

Did you know that a national study shows folks who pick up our trash and garbage are more at risk for injury or death than a police officer. It’s due to moving on and off their trucks on roadways.

Another hazard I’m told about here in Pike County is the chance of getting stuck with dirty needle or syringe folks toss in their trash. This group of county employees are probably one of the least appreciated groups by the public, but when they don’t pick up our throw-aways we start gripping right away. And another thing, let’s appreciate what they go through during frigid weather like we had Thursday and Friday. Let’s appreciate them like we should also appreciate those few service station attendants who still pump gas in our cars when the temperature hovers below freezing. Those are two jobs not everybody would want to do.

——

I drove the newly-opened section of U.S. 119 Wednesday, the day it opened, at 6 a.m. My venture was that afternoon and after just a few miles I passed a minor fender bender being investigated by the Kentucky State Police. When the final two-mile segment is completed, hopefully early next year, it’s going to be a straight shot through Williamson to Charleston in no time at all.

But wouldn’t you know it, I’ve heard more complaints than praise on the new stretch — from not enough exits to bottle necks at the Meta entrance. Come on, let’s appreciate what we’ve got now as compared to what we didn’t have 10 years ago.

——

If you’re in the same age bracket as yours truly, you probably never thought the time would come when you realize you’ve reached this period of your life. Old friends change in their appearance and some face the inevitable health problems that accompany aging.

Two friends who have played an instrumental part in my life are suffering right now. One you’ve probably never heard of, but my friend Jim Mitchell, of Logan, is in very grave condition. Mitch, as we called him, probably is the most talented individual I’ve ever met in this and related fields. He was a newspaper, radio and television reporter peaking as a TV newscaster in the major market of Cleveland, Ohio.

Jim was instrumental in my becoming news director at WVOW in Logan when my boss thought I didn’t have what it took to get the news. He also played a part in my advancing as anchor at WSAZ a couple years later and then later urged me to take a job in newspaper here in Pikeville. Now he is in intensive care at Logan General and his prognosis is not good.

There is one who you may remember. It’s my predecessor here at the News-Express, Lajuene Waggoner. Like Mitch, he played a big part in my becoming publisher at two other newspaper before returning to Pikeville in that position. Lajuene, who left Pikeville in 1990 after spending eight years here, has been stricken with Alzheimer’s disease. He is now in a special facility for such patients in his hometown of Shelbyville, Tenn. His wife, Evelyn, has also relocated to that Tennessee town. Please put both in your prayers.

——

And don’t forget, if you’ve got information on drug pushers or manufacturers call UNITE at 886-424-4382. They don’t want to know who you are, but what you know.

Contact Publisher Marty Backus at mbackus@news-expressky.com.