Hartford / Beaver Dam, Kentucky

EDITORIAL

A primary seatbelt law would infringe on an individual’s rights
The  Kentucky General Assembly is about to embark on a mission this newspaper feels would be an infringement on the rights of Kentucky motorists  —  mandatory sealbelt use.
But before another anti-seatbelt-law word is written, let it be understood The Times-News is not against seatbelts. Without doubt, they have a commanding position in a safety-minded society.
With the exception of established laws governing the operation of a vehicle  — laws such as those governing speed, driving under the influence and reckless behavior — nobody, we think, has the right to tell us what we can or can’t do  within the confines of our own vehicles.
To start  with, seatbelts are for our own protection, not the protection of those we daily meet in vehicles on our streets and highways. If a motorists is injured through the avoidance of a seatbelt, than that’s the tough and ill-advised luck of that motorist. Instead of luck, we might even substitute the word “stupid.”
But don’t make it a law.  We have rights as individuals and as operators of vehicles and we don’t need to be mandated to by the Kentucky General Assembly or anybody else in authority.
Our stand on this question certainly does not  take away our concern about the safety of our children and those laws now  in force to protect them. Those children must be strapped in by all means and at all costs.
A car or truck is personal property much like a person’s home. We don’t want somebody to tell us what we can do in our own homes and the same holds true for our vehicles.
And the word “property” could be the operative word in the General Assembly’s consideration of the issue.
How about this possible scenario:
The members of the General Assembly likely will agree that making seatbelts mandatory is an infringement on the civil rights of those affected.
But, that same body of lawmakers can get around that little problems by saying that  all of the state’s streets and highways are the property of cities, the state, and the federal government and that the use of them will not be allowed unless a motorist is belted up. And if that isn’t the case, they’ll likely come up with something equally ridiculous.
Of course, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand who’s behind this latest effort to make us do something we should have the right to do voluntarily.  How does insurance company lobbying strike you?

LETTER TO EDITOR
Youth football program and its officials set positive examples
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to an earlier letter printed attacking the Ohio County Youth Football Program and its leadership. Calling our youth football program “not fair” or saying that playing time is based on “politics” is absurd! The citizens of Ohio County need to know the positive things that are being done by the coaches and leaders of the youth football program and not be disarrayed by the angry few.
The coordinator of the youth football program is Larry Griffin. A native Ohio Countian and resident of McHenry who takes pride in making Ohio County football the best it can be! When Larry took over the youth program there were apprommately 60 players involved, now there are over 260.
He has gone into the elementary schools every August and personally spoken to each eligible student about the opportunities of getting involved in the youth football program. In a letter to the editor previously printed, it is stated that our leader of the Ohio County Youth Football program is not fair. This is hardly true. Larry Griffin is a person who is more than fair.
For example, he allows kids to sign up late when they really are not supposed to. He provides the best equipment available for every player regardless of their age, size, ability, and when applicable - gender. Yes, he not only provides opportunities for kids from grades 1-6 to play football, but allows boys and girls to play equally.
It takes many hours to prepare and maintain a quality football program. Just ask any successful coach. Larry Griffin also has placed rules into the by-laws limiting the amount of practices per week so that student-athletes can focus on their academics.
The coaches need to be commended for their hard work and dedication in the youth program as well. These coaches are people that take pride in the program, are dependable, and played organized football previously. They emphasize the fundamentals of how to play the game with enthusiasm that is contagious to the players as well as the fans.
Larry Griffin called across the state to get more games for the players and broaden their opportunities. In doing so, Ohio County brought their teams to Leitchfield to compete against their youth teams. Ohio County played four games against Grayson County’s youth teams sweeping all four.
After the 2001 season, an all-star team was assembled to play in Owensboro’s youth football tournament. The intentions were to get experience against quality teams and to get better. That is exactly what was accomplished. Our program became better because of our participation and we look forward to competing next fall in the same tournament.
The evidence of this successful youth program can be seen at the middle school level. Both the seventh and eighth-grade teams played for their conference championships this year. Soon those players that have benefited from the youth football program and a quality middle school program will be at the high school level.
It will be exciting to see what will become of a high school program built on discipline, hard work, consistency, and desire with seasoned and motivated players that started in our youth program!
It is always easier to find things that are wrong with a program rather than what is good. Anyone who will be, is now, or has been involved in the youth football program in Ohio County should feel confident that what is being accomplished is second to none. The persons in the leadership roles need to be commended rather than ridiculed. The next time someone makes a misguided comment about our youth football program, remind them of what has been accomplished rather than what has not.
Sincerely,
Mike Settles, head football coach, Ohio County High School.
 

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