August 9 , 2007

What is really going on ?
by James Cook, Times Editor
There were so many thoughts that have run through my head this week and with all the room they had, they must be tired by now. But some are still running wild, so I guess I can only get them to slow down if I share them with you.
Here we go!!
• The Corn Festival seemed to be quite successful, at least looking at it from the outside. Speaking of the outside, it had to be the hottest Corn Festival I had attended. It was wonder more people were not overwhelmed by the heat than actually was. If that type of heat continues, the name may have to be changed to the Pop Corn Festival.
• I have to applaud the young men and young ladies, and their parents, who participated in the pageants last Saturday. The heat was hard on all of them. It was making some of the younger ones cranky and you would have thought it would have made staying dry and keeping that makeup from running difficult. But they all looked refreshed and kept on smiling.
• Hats off to the crew that plans the festival and keeps it running. Another wonderful job!
But now I have other things running through my head, more serious things.
• Is it just me or are pastor’s wives beginning to scare you too? Not all of them most are very kind, loving, God-fearing women who have a hard task ahead of them each day and greet it like a Christian should. I pray for them daily.
But in recent news, one Tennessee preacher’s wife killed him, shot him in the back while he slept. In another case from Alabama, the wife went missing from a women’s retreat with other church members. Fearing she was dead, she was found in New York after selling her rings and was working at a fast food restaurant. She left without saying anything, not even to her children. Press reports state she had a problem with prescription drugs, but has returned home now.
Speaking as a preacher’s kid, the congregation and the local community’s expectations are high for preachers and their families. But we have to trust in God and if need be, some counseling could help those with problems they fear they can not face. Too bad they don’t for fear of what the community might say. What was that Jesus said when people wanted to stone a woman to death, “let he who hath not sinned, cast the first stone.”
• How could anyone allow a 14 year old to drive a car, over 100 miles per hour? How could anyone let them drive period? But that is exactly what happened last week in Lexington. It was a move that proved fatal. All because the only driver in the car had their license suspended and the owner of the car allowed the suspended driver to borrow the car. Then they wonder why they are facing charges? Some people can not see the forest for the trees.
• How safe did you feel crossing a bridge after the horrific collapse in Minneapolis last week? I hate crossing over big bridges, especially over rivers. I heard one expert say that type of fear, crossing bridges, is a mask for something else. Yes, I don’t like a sudden falling sensation and I don’t want to drown.
I’m not making fun of the situation, but all reports indicate that this did not have to happen. Where did all the money go that was supposed to be used for repairing such infrastructure like bridges? I thought it was the government’s duty to keep the public safe and to provide safe roads and conditions, as safe as possible, for the people who elected them? Think about that next time you vote for someone just because of their party affiliation or because they look more like a leader, or because they are younger or better looking (these are all things I have heard people use as a basis to vote for someone).
•How can congressmen fight, well almost fight, at least challenge each other to a fistfight, and consider themselves dignified leaders? Last week Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D) challenged Lee Terry (R), of Nebraska to a fight after the two exchanged heated words during a debate over the child’s health insurance bill. I know it is an important bill, but if Congress wants to fight, let them fight harder to do their jobs, fight less to give themselves a raise or prepare to fight to hold the “job” we elected them to do.
It seems that too many of our leaders are out of touch with the very people who “hired” them. They complain about each other, but have no real plan to make a difference. If they DID, they should have implemented it and got things done. They enjoy too much fun on the backs of the common people, as we foot the bill. Too much pork being spent, as we watch important issues fade into the distance. Do we really need a prison museum in Leavenworth, Kansas?
You only hear of the important issues as the ballot boxes are being dragged out to be used. Once the election is over, it’s off to enjoy the perks, occasionally make an appearance and tell people how much they are working “hard for you”, and then back to a six figure job while most Americans struggle to get by and get affordable health insurance. Can anyone else see the hypocrisy?
I don’t consider myself to be political. I am a Democrat, but I vote for the best person for the job pure and simple. So forgive me if I ruffled the rooster’s feathers, upset the donkey or caused the elephant to trumpet a little louder. There has to be a better way because I am fairly sure that this is not the way our forefathers pictured it. No one is above the law, all must respect the law and everyone needs to think about what is good for all, not just ourselves. Especially if you were elected to do just that.
I’m just saying . . .

View from the Mountain
'Dr. Dave' knows the uses of Epsom Salts
by David J. Griffin, Times Staff Writer
My wife and I visited with a close friend of ours in Louisville recently, and while we were there an occasion occurred that required nothing less than the use of Epsom Salts.
We spent an entire afternoon at the races at Churchill Downs, which required being on my feet much of the day. By that evening when we returned to her home, my feet were aching terribly and had started to swell. Our friend immediately told me to take off my shoes and socks and sit at her kitchen table, where she produced a galvanized bucket filled with Epsom Salts and water to soak my feet. I could not believe how much relief I received from the soaking.
This incident reminded me of my grandmother (Mommie Katie), who also believed that Epsom Salt was a miracle cure for a variety of illnesses. She used a large galvanized tub for the “foot soak” treatment. (Young people would likely be shocked that the same tub was also used for collecting tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes from the garden, and assorted fruit from the orchard—but my generation understands.)
Mommie Katie thought that Epsom Salt was a cure for a variety of problems. And it does actually have dozens of healthful benefits. This long-time remedy has been used for: aching limbs, back pain, muscle sprains, healing cuts, colds, congestion, and flushing toxins from the body.
There is still a picture in my head of my grandfather (Pop) sitting in front of the ‘Warm Morning’ stove with his feet submerged in that bucket filled with her miracle cure. He used the “salts” often when he had tired and aching feet. Sometimes he took a bath with a cup of Epsom Salt to relieve sore muscles from working in the garden or yard. He touted the benefits of a good soak.
My own recent experience and the fact that I am a former chemistry teacher motivated me to find out something more about this old-fashioned cure that has stood the test of time.
The name Epsom Salt was originally given to magnesium sulfate when it was found in mineral waters in Epsom, England. People traveled many miles hoping that they would be cured of health problems by soaking in the mineral water baths.
Research explains that magnesium is absorbed into the skin when bathing in a 1 percent solution. When used as a soak, the salt is absorbed into the skin reducing inflammation by drawing toxins from the body. It acts as a mild sedative for the nervous system, therefore reducing pain. It also reduces swelling and relaxes muscle tissue.
Epsom Salt also delivers sulfates which are necessary for the formation of nerve tissue, joint proteins, and proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. Medical research indicates that sulfates are difficult to absorb from food, but are readily absorbed through the skin.
I am certain that my grandparents had no idea about the medical reasons for using Epsom Salt, but they depended on it nevertheless. Mommie Katie added it to her bath water because she said it made her skin soft and just made her feel better. She was probably ahead of her time because magnesium is now considered a mood-elevating compound. It also has been used to increase energy and stamina.
For those of you who have never tried this wonderful body soak, simply add two cups of Epsom Salt to the warm water in a bathtub and soak for about 12 minutes. The ladies can also add a few drops of lavender for a gentle soothing aroma.
For the healing remedy of a “foot soak,” add a cup of Epsom Salt to a tub of warm water as a popular balm for aching feet. Believe me—it does wonders for tired and painful feet.
[The information above is not intended to replace the care or advice of your physician.]
(You can reach me at mtnman@mis.net Thanks for the wonderful responses to this column. I appreciate your suggestions and comments.)

Letters to the Editor
Our daugthers than our community
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players, parents, coaches and the community for their support this past summer for the Girls Summer Softball League. Once again we had a great season, with more games played than ever before, which meant more fun and more opportunities for the girls to learn about the game of fast pitch softball.
I would like to thank Leslie Wright, Neal Hamilton, Matthew Charles, Wyona King, Greg McIntosh, Aaron McIntosh, Matthew Preece, and Christi Billings, for helping with the coaching the Piggy Tail Division. I also want to thank Greg Wheeler, Cheri Wheeler, Darren Farmer, Malena Hall, Saundra Booth, Marc Caudill, LeAndre Knox, Paul Howard, Kevin Neal and Shawn Miller for helping to coach the Pony Tail Division.
I also want to thank the board members: Marc Caudill, Cherie Berryman, LeAndre Knox, Christi Billings, Richard Boone and Donna Woodward. Your help and putting what was best for the girls first was so appreciated. And a special thank you to our umpire, Erin Billings and all the scorekeepers who helped this year.
I would be remiss if I did not thank the team sponsors and those who helped this league this year. They were: Clay City Dairy Queen, Candle Annie’s, Protek, Tanner Dodge, Hood’s Pizza and More, Whitaker Bank, Allen’s Hardware and Marc and Karen Caudill, Monroe Jones, David Faulkner, the Powell County School System and the Powell County Lions Club. Without your help, the league would not have been as successful. I want to send out a very special thank you to the parents who donated to their time and some supplies to the concession stand, as well as the concession workers, led by Donna Woodard and Christina Cook. I hope I have not forgotten anyone, if I did I am sorry, but I thank you as well.
This league has been established for three really simple reasons: to teach the game to the girls and prepare them for the next level, to be fun and of course to be fair to ALL the players. That is the only reason I wanted to be a part of it and I hope we were able to provide those things for the past two years.
I have enjoyed my time with the league and I hope this league can continue on the right path to bring about a fun, learning and fair experience to prepare our girls for high school ball. One must crawl before they walk, but in the last couple of seasons I have seen our girls learn quickly and I can foresee them running before too long, if the plan continues.
Lastly, I am grateful and humbled by the fact that this league has allowed me the chance to be a part of it. Because of the care and time put into this league by so many, it has been a pleasure working with them.

James Cook
President
Powell Co.
Girls Summer
Softball League