Although the Kentucky House of Representatives considers a wide variety of bills during any given week of a legislative session, there are times when broad themes emerge.  We had three last week, and they affected our universities, our farmers and our legal system.

For our universities, the highlight came on Thursday, when Governor Beshear signed the session’s first bill into law.  It gives many of our four-year public universities the ability to spend $363 million of their own money to build 11 projects, which are expected to support about 5,000 construction jobs.  This will not use any new state tax dollars or cause tuition to rise.

Most of the money will be used by the University of Kentucky, which will now spend $110 million to upgrade Commonwealth Stadium and $100 million for a new science building.  Two-thirds of the cost for that building will come from the school’s athletics department, the first time in Kentucky that athletics revenue has supported academics.

On Tuesday, I was proud to take part in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony that unveiled a new five-year plan for agriculture.  It notes both the successes farming has seen in recent years and the challenges the profession faces down the road.  A copy can be found online at www.kyagcouncil.org.

Dear Editor,

To All Falmouth Residents:

In a time of progress and change for our nation, it has never been more important to know that you can be self-sustaining and care for your family when needed. News of E.coli and listeria on food and tainted meat in our countries groceries makes for scary times. Being able to, without a doubt, know exactly what is in the food you are eating is becoming increasingly difficult.

Backyard chicken keeping is an answer for many. Backyard chickens allow for fresh, extremely local food production on a small, manageable scale. Our small agricultural city currently has an ordinance that disallows the keeping of domestic fowl unless they produce food, income, or kept as pets. At the present time our council is working to further restrict this by removing these stipulations. The reasons cited for banning these animals from within city limits are unfounded. They pose no greater health risk than cats and are not anywhere near the noise disturbance of dogs. Responsible pet ownership makes urban chickens not only efficient food producers, but sensible animals to allow within the city limits of Falmouth.

Five benefits that backyard chickens can provide that you may not know:

• A progressive community attitude: Falmouth can help lead Kentucky in the Urban Agriculture movement.

• Enriching educational opportunities - for children and adults alike.

• Sustainable lifestyles choices - promoting healthy citizens, neighborhoods, and soil.

• Homegrown food source - the ultimate "Local Food;" decreasing our effects on the environment by consuming products that are grown in our own geographical region, city, or neighborhood.

• Lessons in food production and safety - Eggs don't come from cartons!

Chicken keeping is a healthy, economical, and sustainable way to feed and enrich our families and our communities. Many towns and cities across our nation have already embraced backyard chickens. Highland Heights, Florence, Erlanger, and Cold Spring allow them, as does Manhattan, Chicago, Anne Arbor, and San Francisco. Falmouth could be on the forefront of the sustainable living movement and provide its residents with the option to take control of their food.

We must embrace change and do everything we can to provide our children a safe and healthy environment to grow up in.  We are not asking to allow chickens to run amuck in our town. In fact we know that this can only work if proper restrictions are put in place. We also do not wish to divide our town but we do want positive progress to change our community for the better. I urge you as citizens of Falmouth to create your own opinion based on facts and understand the value this has for the citizens of our community. We invite you to view the information we have presented to the Falmouth CityC ouncil as well as our recommendations for a proposed ordinance with proper restrictions on our website AmmermanEnt.com/chicken.pdf  and don’t forget to support our cause and make your voice heard by signing our petition through the link on Facebook.com/FalmouthCLUCK.

Monica Ammerman
CLUCK (Citizens for the
Legalization of Urban Chicken
Keeping)

Nicknames in our society are really a thing of the past.  This concept was not so in the Fall and Spring of 1961-62.

Pendleton High had begun its third year as a new school. Basketball and spring baseball were the only sports that existed. Therefore, much community interest and support was given. The attendance at basketball games exceeded very easily those of today.  Bleachers were packed, chairs were organized on each end of the court, and there were even many who found niches, and stood for the entire game.

The regular meeting on February 26, 2013  for the Pendleton County Industrial Development Authority has been canceled. We will hold a special meeting at 7  a.m. on March 5, 2013 at the Citizens Building, 135 West Shelby Street, Falmouth, Kentucky.

Pendleton County Fiscal Court meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., February 26, 2013.

Tentative agenda will go as follows: Call to order, prayer, pledge, approval of agenda, approval of minutes, approval of treasure's report, severe weather proclamation, rural secondary plan presented by District 6 Hwy Department, Simplex Grinnell Justice Center contract, Department of Ag Spay/Neuter Grant, approve FEMA applicant agent resolution for 2013, inundation map grant resolution, one year tornado rebuilding celebration, transfers, pay bills, closing remarks by Judge Bertram/magistrate and adjourn.

Kentucky law designates Feb. 15 through April 30 as spring forest fire hazard season.  During this time, it is illegal to burn anything within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland between the daylight hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The law is intended to prevent forest fires by allowing outdoor burning only after 6 p.m. when conditions are less likely to cause a wildfire to spread.

“Wildfire is an extremely dangerous situation that doesn’t have to happen,” said Leah MacSwords, director of the Division of Forestry (KDF).

“Kentuckians have lived with wildfires for so long that people think they are a natural occurrence, but nothing can be further from the truth.  Deliberate or careless acts by people lead to wildfires with the largest two causes by far being arson and burning of trash and debris.” Last year, KDF suppressed 1,234 fires that burned 32,855 acres across the state, and arson continued being the leading cause of wildfires in Kentucky.

To reduce the risks of wildfire, forestry officials recommend that citizens be aware of fire hazard seasons, outdoor burning laws, campfire safety and precautions to take while burning woody debris. The following guidelines provided by KDF summarize the specifics of forest fire season:

Be aware of all outdoor burning restrictions, including forest fire hazard seasons, air pollution regulations and restrictions imposed by local ordinances and county burn bans.

Avoid burning debris during fire hazard seasons and during times of dry, windy conditions.

Completely extinguish all campfires and debris piles. Never leave a fire unattended and always extinguish fires if conditions become too windy. The smallest spark can lead to a dangerous wildfire.

Properly extinguish smoking materials. Put out cigarettes, cigars or pipes only in cleared areas free of vegetation or debris.

Avoid parking cars, trucks or recreational vehicles on dry vegetation. The exhaust system on a vehicle can reach a temperature of more than 1,000 degrees, which could easily start a wildfire.

Incorporate “Firewise” practices around homes and communities in forested areas. Firewise practices range from creating defensible space around homes by removing leaves, debris and firewood and ensuring access for fire response personnel and equipment in rural or isolated areas.

Report suspicious acts of arson to the nearest Kentucky State Police post of call the Target Arson Hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON.

For more information about fire hazard seasons, outdoor burning laws and safe burning practices, contact the Kentucky Division of Forestry at 1-800-866-0555 or visit the division’s website at http://forestry.ky.gov.

By: Lovina Eicher

My husband Joe has been home the last three days, not having any work. Makes it a little harder on payday but we shouldn’t complain.  God always provides a way if we keep our trust in him. Meanwhile Joe has been kept busy here at home. Yesterday our two oldest girls, Elizabeth and Susan, were working and the six youngest were in school. Joe helped me do the laundry and then we made noodles the rest of the day. It is a good feeling to see a table full of noodles drying.

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer testifies to the state Senate Agriculture Committee as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, right, and Reps. Thomas Massie, left, and John Yarmuth listen in Frankfort. Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo by Chris Aldridge.

Before a packed house filled with hemp supporters, the Kentucky Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 50, Sen. Paul Hornback’s legislation that provides an administrative framework if and when the federal government legalizes industrial hemp.

Republican Majority Leader Damon Thayer made the motion for passage as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, U.S. Reps. John Yarmuth and Thomas Massie and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer testified together in support of the bill. In a showing of bipartisanship, the motion was seconded by Democrat Sen. Robin Webb.

“This is by far the most impressive panel to testify on a bill in my 13 years in Frankfort,” Commissioner Comer said. “We’re honored that Senate Bill 50 passed by a unanimous vote.”

Initial figures from Kentucky’s Tax Amnesty program show a strong response from delinquent taxpayers.  Actual and estimated receipts of $56.9 million slightly exceed the budgeted amount of $56.7 million.  However, total revenue attributed to amnesty will not be conclusive until the end of the fiscal year, which is June 30.

“More than 27,000 delinquent taxpayers from all 120 Kentucky counties and all 50 states participated,” said Lori H. Flanery, Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet.  “This means we have 27,000 more taxpayers who are now compliant and have come clean with the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Kentucky’s public libraries are providing new digital services along with books and other items at an unprecedented level, according to statistics compiled by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) from annual reports submitted by Kentucky’s 119 public library systems.

Kentuckians checked out almost 20 million books from public libraries and bookmobiles in addition to more than nine million audio visual items in 2012, while welcoming almost 20 million visitors and serving many more through websites offering a wide range of services.