My Word

The following is the Shelbyville Area NAACP’s Statement on Furguson, MO.

We the Shelbyville Area NAACP, would like to speak to our local community about the Furguson, Mo., incident. We want our local community to know that the local branch stands with the national NAACP on this issue.

Tell this to your children early, and junior high is not too early.

In the 18th century Samuel Johnson said, “Whatever you make, spend less.” In the 20th century Howard Pearce said, “You can go in debt for a home or a business, but for anything else if you can’t pay cash you don’t need it.”

The first thing you must learn is to be able to distinguish between NEED and WANT. Above all if you can’t pay 100% of your credit and debt when due, cut the card up.

When I was growing up, one of my best friends was Meme Greenwell – her dad, Richard “Puss” Greenwell, was a teacher, football coach and later principal for Shelbyville High School. Her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. S.V. Greenwell, lived on Henry Clay Street – where until recent years the storm door still featured the “G” on the front.

I remember “Puss” talking about his brother “Jake” who was killed in World War II.

I’ve heard local and state officials say – off the record, of course – the only thing Kentucky has going for it is cheap energy.

The Alpha Natural Resources Co. says they may close 11 coal mines in West Virginia and lay off 1,100 workers. They found out they can ship coal by sea from the country of Columbia up the east coast for about half the cost of shipping it by rail from Kentucky. What’s more, they say it is easier to get out the ground and burns more efficiently. As if we didn’t have enough to worry about.