Opinion

We could not be happier that the Netherys, longtime Shelby County residents, have received state incentives and are planning to open the first distillery in Shelby County, at least the first legal distillery.

The Shelby County Fiscal Court, Triple S Planning Commission and all of those working behind the scenes should be commended for identifying, responding to and solving an issue quickly and efficiently.

Even though I grew up in Tennessee, which I’m still to this day not very happy about, I was in Kentucky quite a bit visiting family.

However, now that I’ve been here for more than a decade, I realize how many uniquely Kentucky events I’ve missed out on.

I still haven’t been to Mammoth Caves or the Corvette Museum. I haven’t been to the Newport Aquarium, although my wife and son have.

Amid breaking news Monday that included suspects in an unusual murder case in Nelson County and Toyota pulling 1,500 jobs out of Northern Kentucky came the announcement that the Bluegrass Pipeline was ceasing work.

We must say this came as a big surprise to us. Although Shelby County was on the extreme edge of the 180-mile route, we were interested in how the pipeline would take its Natural Gas Liquids from Pennsylvania through 180 miles of our commonwealth on its way to the Gulf.

But now it appears that the project is dead, at least for the time being.

We’ve been back and forth on the curbside garbage issue for what seems like a decade. We’ve talked about it, you’ve talked about it and your elected officials have talked about it, but we continue to wait and nothing is getting done.

Really, though, the whole thing is pretty simple: Can government provide a better service than what residents have now?

Not just cheaper – although that’s a big, big part of it – but better for everyone.

Thanks from Goodwill

This past month, following a harsh winter that chilled donations by 7 percent statewide, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky launched a “March Gladness” campaign and the Shelbyville community really responded.

We are pleased to report that donations increased by 9 percent during the month of March!

Live up to the Constitution

The drug cartels are laughing at us as we keep drugs illegal to insure their profits stay high to fuel our enemies in our own hemisphere toward the destruction of our own country. Usually by our own police and greedy officials who are rapidly destroying our U.S. Constitution with compete impunity.

Last week the Simpsonville City Commission did something that very few governments consider – they chose to lower taxes.

The 10.2 percent decrease in property taxes will be a welcome reprieve for residents, but we really commend the commissioners for their progressive outlook.

Recognizing the commercial growth that is coming their way, the commission realized the windfall in taxes they were about to receive. And instead of instantly looking to see where that money would best be spent they took a minute to see how it could best be used.

Does the NCAA have an axe to grind with the state of Kentucky? It sure looks that way.

Not only were our beloved Cardinals and Wildcats relegated to much lower seeds than they both deserved, but now the NCAA has decided to ruin a week of productivity in offices from Paducah to Pikeville – as the coach wearing the blue tie might say.

The two now will meet in the Sweet 16 late Friday night in Indianapolis, the second time in three years they’ve met in the NCAA tournament.

We’re not sure our hearts can handle it.

Here in ACC country, the sun is fading behind the oncoming threat of snow showers. There are tears and fear, loathing in the gloaming. Tobacco Road has rolled up its reputation and burned its hopes in the NCAA Tournament, leaving this as what ACC fans say to a Kentuckian these days:

Louisville will be in the ACC next year.

Yes, the Cardinals will, and perhaps the ACC would like to claim them right now, but not so fast, my friend.