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DODD: Freshman year for Christina Gilkey
She sees her life as a living testimony for the kids of the Greater Clark County Schools who have obstacles to overcome. She was raised in project housing in Charlestown. There was no father in her life. Her mother struggled to provide no more than the bare necessities. The extras were to be earned by hard work and sacrifice from job hours that were squeezed in between a full high school schedule that included participation in three sports.
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CUMMINS: Is it time to redeclare our independence?
Back in 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, predicting that Independence Day “will be celebrated by succeeding generations ... with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
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JOHNSON: The price of fame
If you were to ask the average person whether they would like to be famous, odds are that the answer would be yes. Who wouldn’t want to be known throughout the world? Who wouldn’t want to be an object of curiosity to millions? Who wouldn’t want to have the best seats in the best restaurants and never have to stand in line? What’s wrong with being surrounded by an entourage that caters to your every whim? Sounds great, doesn’t it?
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SCHANSBERG: Comparing apples and rocks in health care
We’re often told that the United States compares poorly to other countries in terms of infant mortality — especially since we’re a developed country that devotes so many resources to health care.
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HOWEY: Time to rethink state’s public education
Last December, I was on a panel with Democrat state Rep. Greg Porter and Republican Sen. Jim Merritt and made this prediction: The Indiana we see today and the one we find next spring will be very different places.
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EVENING NEWS CHEERS & JEERS: July 4, 2009
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CULPEPPER: Of empires and faith
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STAWAR: Trolling for trouble -- Alligator allegations
The Associated Press recently reported that the LaPorte police found a 4-foot alligator swimming in Northern Indiana’s Pine Lake.
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STAWAR: Man's worst friend
I recently read with admiration about the local animal shelters and all the wonderful volunteers who work there. The animals are all so appealing. I wish I could feel as positive about our own dog, but I just finished burying the wire for the containment system for the fourth time.
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HARBESON: Columnist says power often intoxicates
Ever since a police sergeant used the phrase “drunker than snot” to describe Dennie Oxley Jr., I’ve felt sick.
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BAYLOR: Foreign films, universal concerns
Admittedly, my tastes in film are narrow. They derive from wearisome experience, because out of every 10,000 cinematic excuses to squander two hours of my life, all but a dozen invariably are absolute wastes of time.
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McDONALD: Scalpel! Forceps! Screwdriver!
As you are reading this column, hopefully I will be recovering in the hospital from cervical spine surgery. This surgery requires the neurosurgeon to operate on the spine by entering from the front of the neck while narrowly bypassing the voice box, spinal column and carotid artery.
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GESENHUES: Giving up the daily grind
I quit coffee last week. It was a long time coming and my nerves are still trying to recover from the exclusion of my routine morning and afternoon jumpstart. The usual ritual was to shotgun a cup as soon as my feet hit my kitchen floor. Then I would stop at a coffee shop on the way into work for a large cup of Columbian, Kenyan, or whatever flavor from the south of the equator.
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CLERE: Budget or not, have a great Fourth
A 40-day special session might remind folks of The Flood — 40 days and 40 nights of rain. This time, though, it might be Hoosiers getting soaked.
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CURRAN: I don't even know these people
Asinine. That’s the word. I won’t rehash the press conference verbatim, but Mayor Galligan granted himself powers he doesn’t have, made accusations he had no real evidence of and just showed his rear in general.
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DODD: The Ballad of The Garbage Can Blues
“Let me tell y’all story about Jeff city politics, Please don’t think that they all are really hicks,
Often things just happen, And we all must realize, Rome might be burning before our very eyes.
Smoky residue, Need some political Visine.
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JOHNSON: Rest in peace, Brother Perry
Perry Pope died in New Albany on Monday, June 15. Depending on who is telling the story, he either died as the result of a drug overdose or a heart attack. In either case, substance abuse had something to do with his death.
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CUMMINS: We need a heating and cooling expert
They say our globe is warming. But Sen. James Imhoff, of Oklahoma, said global warming was “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” Unfortunately, a considerable number of senators throughout our nation’s history have been the greatest hoaxes perpetrated on the American people. How do some of those guys ever win an election?
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HOWEY: Mitch for president? Don’t count on it
Mitch Daniels for president? In 2012? It’s all the buzz in the Statehouse hallways where Democrats and lobbyists speculate on the governor’s true motives as the special session races toward the wall.
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EVENING NEWS CHEERS & JEERS: June 28, 2009
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STAWAR: Evolving fatherhood in tough times
Last week, we celebrated Father’s Day, and I am looking forward to cashing in my Barnes and Noble gift card, but this has been a rough year for men in America.
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BAYLOR: Unrecognizable to a Scribner
Successful coping in New Albany requires which of the following skills?
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HARBESON: Clarksville is being too charitable
If you’ve been thinking there’s no way I can resist writing about a recent event involving a government official and his adventures with receptacles in the street, you’re exactly right.
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McDONALD: Trash talk and forgiveness
We have all seen the picture of attorney Larry Wilder sleeping (obviously intoxicated) in his neighbor’s trash can. I don’t personally know Mr. Wilder — but I know of him in his professional capacity as attorney for the (Jeffersonville) city council and the Greater Clark County School Board.
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GESENHUES: Check your egos at the homeless shelter door
There has been talk about a new homeless shelter in New Albany. A recent article in this very paper confirmed that local leaders from the Salvation Army, Floyd County Community Housing Development, and Interfaith Community Council could serve as, “key players in the group,” that could make it happen.
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EYE ON THE PIE: Grouch finds good in the economy
My neighbor, Fred Fetid, was out weeding his garden. “Howdy,” I said with mock good cheer. No answer from Fred.
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CURRAN: And another other thing ...
Once again, recent news and events lends itself more to adding further comment on topics already discussed in this space than to an entirely new subject, so let’s look at some new developments regarding old themes.
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CURRAN: And another thing...
Let’s look at some new developments regarding old themes.
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CLERE: What’s next? We find out today.
Our problem isn’t that we don’t have a budget. It’s that we have three.
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GUERILLA MOTHERING: Flexibility provides the greatest freedom this Fourth of July
Our nation’s birthday is on the way, smack-dab in the middle of birthday season for our family. With all three kids celebrating from May to July, it’s a season of cakes, water-gun fights, backyard swim parties and toys, toys, toys. How do I make the Fourth stand out, in their minds?
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DODD: A trip down memory for this dad
I think the very best feeling I ever had as a father was when we would be returning home a bit late from a family outing and I would carry my son from the car when he was asleep, and I mean that type of deep sleep that only small children drift off into in the back of a car. I would gently pick him up and inevitably and instinctively he would wrap his arms tightly around my neck and never miss a beat of slumber. It was always one of those times that I think we both felt totally at peace; secure and satisfied in our respective father/son roles.
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CUMMINS: My life is a 1973 Chevrolet Impala
I don’t want sympathy, but need your empathy if you have any. How would you know how I truly feel unless walking in my moccasins? I’ve tried empathizing with other people, but many walk in sandals, flip-flops or crocs, which I refuse to wear. In Biblical times, they washed each other’s feet. We should readopt that custom, which might cut down on human conflict. If having an obnoxious neighbor, take soap and a pan over to his house.
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JOHNSON: Watching is not doing
I don’t watch much TV news these days. I find the shouting, crosstalk and general rudeness to be less than edifying. The content has also become thin at best and blatantly inaccurate at worst. Opinion masquerading as news doesn’t do much for me either. Once upon a time, editorial content was clearly labeled as such. Reporters, editors and anchors gave us the news and kept their opinions to themselves.
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HOWEY: Time to take over the Indiana Libertarians
So long, Andy Horning! May the good Lord bless you, your family and your vocal cords. As most of you know, the oft Libertarian candidate Horning is leaving Freedom, Ind., for Houston and a new job.
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EVENING NEWS CHEERS & JEERS: June 20, 2009
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DENHART: New Albany resident: Police ‘pricing themselves out of a job’
One million dollars should not go for 10 new police officers, in our opinion, after attending the recent workshop and reading the June 4, 2009, Tribune article regarding Mr. Haub’s request for $1 million to hire 10 new police officers and two crime-scene investigators.
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STAWAR: The dairy days of summer
After dropping our boat off at its second home, the repair shop, my wife, Diane, and I stopped at a roadside drive-in, where she had some birthday cake ice cream — which apparently is vanilla with blue and white icing mixed into it — and I made my customary mistake of getting a very messy foot-long chili cheese dog.
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HARBESON: Sex offender law something to think about
Who benefits from constitutionally questionable, constantly-changing and confusing laws?
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BAYLOR: Adaptive cooperation at 411 E. Spring St.
On June 10, 2009, The Tribune reported that officials from New Albany and Floyd County are in agreement.
‘Round here, this would qualify as a front-page banner headline even if their unified stance had to do with nothing more than a place to eat lunch together.
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McDONALD: Letterman’s barb not a joking matter
Last week, one joke was heard around the world. It was launched by David Letterman and the target was not whom he had intended.
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GESENHUES: A lesson for Father’s Day
Last night at dinner, my husband and my 5-year-old daughter got in a tiff. She was hoarding the calamari from the appetizer plate, and he gently tapped the back of her hand with the prongs of his fork and said, “Hold up, sissy!”
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MARCUS: Watch your pocket, someone is trying to pick it
This is a cautionary tale. Beware of your best commercial friends, your most trusted business allies, your most generous corporate supporters. They may abandon you when you need them most.
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GRAHN: Anderson’s actions last week were misguided
I have voiced support for Haven House Services Inc. and for Barbara Anderson, its director. Even though I have suggested changes in her board and stricter financial oversight, I have advocated letting Barbara fix what she broke and deal with the problems Haven House faces. I felt fixing what we have would be more efficient than creating something new.
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MARCUS: Indiana's urban entryways deserve attention
Jeffersonville and New Albany offer no views of interest as you cross north over the Ohio River on I-64 or I-65. Nor do they present any invigorating aesthetic aspect from any other direction.
We need not have an arch to rival St. Louis, but more communities could copy work done on the north side of Bloomington and the west side of Columbus to welcome visitors and bolster the pride of residents.
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CLERE: A good budget? Wanna bet?
After the regular legislative session ended April 29 without a budget, all four legislative caucuses agreed on a process for developing a budget before the start of the special session that became necessary because of the budget failure.
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GRAHN: Anderson’s plan for Haven House deserves a shot
I believe it’s a better idea to help Haven House heal itself than
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JOHNSON: Paying your debt to society
According to the dictionary, to correct means to make or set right
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DODD: The trials and joys of being a crusader
Kim, Cameron and I can now officially be called crusaders!
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CUMMINS: The story of a man who deserves a medal
A soldier doesn’t take his violin off to war, but one did.
GALLERY: New Albany opens new amphitheater with Independence Day celebration 
