Published: January 23, 2008 01:43 pm         

Make state a cleaner place

The editor:

I was born in Kentucky but left the state when I was seventeen. I came back every year at least 1 or 2 times to visit relatives and friends. I have brought quite a few people into this state. Some have moved here and some did not. I was in Pennsylvania for about 50 years so I know the state quite well. It is a beautiful state.

Kentucky also is a beautiful state. The natural beauty of its streams, lakes, rivers, forest, small mountains and rolling farmland is unsurpassed. A lot of its areas are like Pa.

I moved back here about five years ago and have since been exploring the wonders of the “outback” of the rural areas as well as the tourist attractions. When visiting most generally you want to see the fabulous horse farms for which Kentucky is most noted. They do make a very good impression on the short-term visitor.

It is only when you extend your visits to other areas that you “see” what Kentucky really has to offer. Just this week I had guests from another state and we went for a drive. I know January is not the best “tourist” month of the year. It certainly does open the eyes and lays bare the real Kentucky. I was totally ashamed, embarrassed, shocked and dismayed at the views in rural Kentucky.

My guests were very polite. They asked such questions as, “Isn’t there any zoning at all here?” “Wonder why they don’t remove that old structure of a house from in front of their new house?”

“Aren’t there any laws to prevent people from abandoning those “eyesore” trailers and just leaving them there to rot indefinitely?” “Don’t the county health officials have any say about the debris strung over the yards and lots?” “The filth piled on porches up to the windows?” “The sheds and buildings posing a danger to anyone who gets near them?” “Why don’t the officials in the Daniel Boone National Forest do something about the trash and abandoned trailers, the dilapidated buildings and filth along their roads through the park?” “Aren’t these people paid to enhance the beauty, attract tourist and enforce the laws that are on the books?”

We as citizens of this commonwealth should see that the elected officials do the job they were voted in to do. I think we that live here see so much of the devastation we are overwhelmed by the problem. It is much easier to travel a road less ugly than to clean up the really bad areas.

I am not very familiar with the environmental laws in Kentucky, but one thing is for sure–we need to check into the people who are responsible for enforcing the laws that we have and make new laws to make Kentucky a prettier, cleaner, healthier place to live. If other states can do it so can we. Be a good neighbor report to the health departments, zoning (if you have it) anything that will help clean up YOUR state. It is your duty! If nothing is done by your calls, you see no action in a week or so; you write letters to your newspapers, telling whom you contacted and where the violations are. You will suffer no ill repercussions from your taking action. Let’s work together.

Jayne Newman

Morehead