CHEERS

... to Concerts in the Park and RiverStage. Fun. Free. Convenient.

Thanks to Bev Knight, with the city of Jeffersonville and Jay Ellis with Jeffersonville Main Street — along with their hard-working volunteers — for making these weekend events enjoyable and accessible to everybody.

— Jim Grahn, publisher



JEERS

... to Clark County Prosecutor Steve Stewart for his statement this week that there are a lot of “unsavory” people working in the horse racing industry.

What an unsavory thing for Stewart to say.

Stewart’s comments came as crews from “America’s Most Wanted” television show were in town producing a piece on the 2005 beating death of Ron Miller at a Borden horse farm. Authorities are searching for a suspect, Juan Delarosa, aka Raul Cruz, who they believe may have fled to his native country of Mexico. Delarosa and Miller apparently knew each other through their respective ties to the horse racing industry.

Not only did Stewart classify many in the industry as “unsavory” in an article for this newspaper, he went on to say they often stick together, which makes it difficult for authorities obtain needed information.

Stewart should choose his words more carefully. His comments seem a little bit haughty.

Many people who work in the horse racing industry are in this country illegally, don’t speak fluent [or any] English and are distrustful of American authorities. They stick together because they work together, share a common culture and can communicate with one another — not because the lot of them are beating others to death with bed posts or committing other heinous crimes.

— Amy Huffman-Branham, presentation editor



CHEERS

... to the start of the Clark County 4-H Fair. After a week or so of unseasonably cool temperatures, the mercury is rising and the humidity is back in high gear and that means it’s time for the fair.

The fun starts today with limited activities (check out the week’s schedule on page A3) and runs through July 18.

The only bad thing about the fair is the heat — it’s never, ever cool during the fair. Or even mildly pleasant.

Other than that, the fair is nothing but fun. Go there. Pitch your spare change in the Lions Club buckets when you park. See some animals and some very hardworking kids. Eat supper in the Junior Leaders’ Food Center and take a spin on the tilt-a-whirl.

You won’t get another chance until next July.

— Amy Huffman-Branham, presentation editor



CHEERS

... to the city of Jeffersonville — and in particular councilmen Keith Fetz and Mike Smith — for taking the initiative to save money and paper [and subsequently trees] by emphasizing the use of computers for city business.

In January, the Jeffersonville City Council, under Fetz’s direction, passed a resolution calling on the city to use fewer sheets of paper, specifically with packets provided to council members before each meeting.

Records show nearly $2,700 has been saved in the last six months, as compared to the final six months of 2008.

We understand that Smith could hardly be considered computer savvy before the ordinance passed, but has made a concerted effort since to learn how to use his city-provided laptop and to use it as often as possible — becoming one of the only council members to do so on a regular basis.

Sometimes it just takes baby steps and this is one in a positive direction.

— Amy Huffman-Branham, presentation editor



CHEERS— Amy Huffman-Branham, presentation editor



READER CHEERS

... to Jeffersonville Fire Department Maj. Clark Miles, who basically saved my life at Captain D’s.

While drinking a Diet Coke, I had a spasm in my esophagus which caused it to close — thus not allowing me to swallow, get the Coke to come back up or breathe. Miles came to my aid, got the Coke back up — which allowed me to breathe again — and took care of me until the ambulance got there.

— Ramona Bagshaw, executive director, Clark County Plan Commission



Do you have someone or something to cheer or jeer? Submissions should be sent to Editor Shea Van Hoy at shea.vanhoy@newsandtribune.com or by mail at 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN, 47130.