February 21, 2008

I'm just saying . . .
It is time to celebrate and make a name for ourselves
By James Cook, Times Editor

This week’s column will cover a couple of topics, so I hope you will read it all and let’s get ready to celebrate.
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First of all, how about a big applause, a standing ovation if you will, for the Pirate Cheerleaders. Thinking their competitive season was over with a second place finish at the regional’s three weeks ago; they got a second chance and made the best of it.
Just over a week ago they found out that they had received an at-large bid to the state competition at Western Kentucky University. This past Saturday, they performed and it was good enough to bring home the hardware. Powell placed fourth in the state out of 16 teams. They celebrated all the way home and after a long six hour drive, made it home to more celebration with family and friends. More importantly, instead of gloating they were just happy to have placed at the state and were proud that their neighbors Estill County placed in the top five. Looks like cheerleading is becoming more competitive and the athletes, that’s right I said athletes, are working just as hard as other team sports.
Congratulations ladies and keep it up!
•••
Now on to my second point and I hope everyone who reads this and has a computer will join with me. It seems that the old board game Monopoly, you know the one that lets us poor folk get to pretend to be Donald Trump. Well, the parent company Hasbro, has decided to put together a World Edition. Instead of streets as are on the normal game boards, the new special edition will list the top 22 vote getting cities from around the world. Twenty will be selected from votes collected off of a pre-set list of cities. Currently, New York City is the only U.S. city in the top 20. The other two cities will come from a “wild card” list.
The wild card list is simple. You have to register and login. That is so Hasbro can send you some e-mails about new toys and stuff. Then you can nominate any city of your choice. The voting for all 22 cities goes until Feb. 29. Then the wild card voting will be held from Mar. 1-8. The top two get to be on the board.
Now you may ask yourself, why do we care Cook?
Think about this. What if we could get a Powell County city on the game board? I nominated Slade, the home of Natural Bridge, the gateway to one of God’s greatest wonders-the Red River Gorge, population 68 but I think it’s probably higher than that. Many people you talk to from other states and even other countries know about the Gorge and the Bridge, now let us introduce the world to Slade.
If you think about it, Slade has become the land that Powell County has forgotten. We know they are there, but we don’t fully appreciate their importance. If we did, we would try to pull all the factions together and form a one goal minded tourism board that would promote Slade. At the same time we would try to build up the county’s infrastructure so we could expand as tourism increases. That increase will only come if two things happen. One, promote the area like crazy. Two, everyone must start working for the good of the area, not just their own individual gain. Because if the entire area prospers, then so do each individual involved.
With that said, now let us get on line and vote for Slade. What could it hurt? We may get lucky and sneak in or maybe Powell County can end up with our own special edition of Monopoly. Either way, as we start voting more and more and the word starts spreading, we may draw some attention to our area that is not of the negative nature. Maybe we can get Lexington news stations to report on good happenings; because we never see them unless something bad is happening (that’s their job, just like mine but the Times tries to cover ALL of Powell County). It’s our choice and if nothing else it will give you something to do on line besides myspace or accidentally ending up in areas you did not mean to go.
I’m just saying . . .
•••
Let me welcome all of the fans, players and cheerleaders to Powell County and the 56th District Tournament. We hope you have a good time, wish everyone the best of luck and we look forward to seeing you. Enjoy yourselves and let’s celebrate!!!

View from the Mountain...
Love abounds from Frisky to Shiloh
By David G. Griffin, Times Reporter

From my first recollections as a young boy, I have always been a lover of dogs. I can vividly remember being sprawled out on the living room floor watching my favorite dog shows (Rin Tin Tin – Lassie – Bullet) on our wooden, black and white television set. I also visited the Vernon Theater in Mt. Vernon with my grandfather (Pop) when the canine shows were playing. Pop was an animal lover also.
The first television show about a dog that I watched on regular basis was Roy Rogers’ German shepherd, Bullet – The Wonder Dog. The series began in 1951 when I was only seven. Another favorite, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, began in 1954. Its storyline was the U.S. Cavalry discovering a wagon train that had been attacked by Apache Indians in which the only survivors were a young boy named Rusty and his German shepherd, Rin Tin Tin.
Of course there was also the ever famous story of Lassie. It first appeared on television in September 1954. Eleven-year-old Jeff Miller loved Lassie unconditionally. They were constant companions. Lassie repeatedly saved the day for the boy and his family. I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t recall that program.
Because I was totally enamored with the television shows about dogs, my mother (Bee) allowed me to have my first puppy, who I named Frisky. He was a full-blooded, white Spitz and became my best friend. I was probably six or seven years old at the time.
Even though I loved him completely, Bee would not allow Frisky to be in the house except on an occasional special basis. We made him a nest under the front porch so he could stay warm in the winter. He and I played in the yard each day, and he would never leave my side. We were “best buds.” One day he brought a crisp one-dollar bill and dropped it on the ground in front of me. We never figured out where the money came from.
Frisky had a very thick, long, white fur coat, pointed ears, and a small nose. His tail curled over his back. Bee often commented how dedicated the animal was to me. For a couple of years, we were inseparable. He was always very alert and curious. Sometimes he could be quite feisty, but I loved that about him.
One Saturday morning Bee demanded that I come into the house and close the door. Her staunch attitude was unlike her usual rational manner. I could hear her talking to the Sheriff on the telephone. She told him to come to our house immediately.
Within a few minutes, I saw him drive up the gravel road to our house. He cautiously approached the kitchen door where I was standing in a chair looking through the window. Bee must not have realized that I was watching. Then the officer slowly pulled his pistol and shot Frisky! I have never experienced anything like that event in my life. To this day, it is a horrid memory.
I later learned that Frisky had contacted rabies and was becoming very dangerous. During those years, it was common to address such a problem in that way. But learning the truth about the situation did not change the fact that the picture of it was permanently etched into my mind.
It was many years before I was able to own another dog. When my wife and I first married and were living in Lexington, she convinced me to purchase our first house dog – a Cocker Spaniel named Dusty. He was the joy of my two boys and my wife. I don’t think I ever saw my wife as excited as she was when I handed the small puppy to her as a Christmas present. He was her dog and remained that way until his death in 1993.
Bee also had a very special attraction to Dusty. In fact, he charmed her in every way. She not only allowed him into her apartment, she eventually would put out food and water whenever we came to visit. She was also known to give him bites of food under the table when we were dining. (Those big brown eyes could hardly be resisted.) Dusty loved going to visit Bee and would beat us all from the car to her front door.
After Dusty passed away, we got our first Sheltie – Jesse. We acquired him when he was only a few weeks old, and I called him “The World’s Greatest Dog.” He was very intelligent and dedicated to our family. He and I often went for walks in the woods next to our house. When he was seven years old, we decided to purchase another Sheltie to give him a companion.
That is when we bought our precious Cody. He was the most innocent, loving, and dedicated pet we could have asked for.
As I have revealed before, we had to have Jesse put down about eight months ago. It was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences of my adult life. He had lived to the ripe old age of 14 years, and he simply had given all he had to give.
Within a few months, Cody also developed a life-threatening gall-bladder disease and had to be euthanized too. It broke my heart. My house never was so quiet! The absence of canine companions was more than I could stand.
Guess what? Yes, we purchased an eleven-week-old Sheltie puppy in January, which we named Shiloh. And I must say that I had forgotten what it is like to have a new puppy in my home! My wife tried to warn me. My sister-in-law tried to warn me. (I believe her exact words were, “Have you lost your mind?!) But I was intent on getting a pup.
Shiloh may be the brightest and most inquisitive dog I have ever owned. At 11 weeks, he could sit on command and retrieve a tennis ball when it is tossed to him. I never saw so much energy in a small package! Shiloh’s parents are both very petite animals, and we think he will be small also. His size does not hamper his vigor for life.
Wherever I go in the house, Shiloh is right on my heels. He already loves to go with me into the woods near our home. I can’t wait for him to develop into a full grown dog! I am too old to be a father to a new born! (I have to walk him each morning at 4 am.) Oh well, at least my home has the sound of animals again. I hope that I never have to be without a canine friend again!

You can reach me at mtnman@mis.net Thanks for the suggestions and comments concerning my column. I appreciate every one!