CHEERS

... to Graceland Baptist Church in New Albany for hosting its community remembrance service later today at 7 p.m.

It’s designed to bring together people who have recently lost a loved one — to honor those people and share feelings and stories. It’s the perfect time, as the holidays are often difficult for those who are missing a friend or family member who has died.

There will be music, testimonies, a message from John Rogers, director of evangelism and prayer and a candle-lighting ceremony.

The church is located at 3600 Kamer Mill Road.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS AND JEERS

... to the ongoing saga of the intersection of Ind. 62 and Salem-Noble Road. As we were working on a story for Sunday’s paper about how the city of Jeffersonville was going to wait until bids came in on the project before allocating money, the city’s Urban Enterprise Association stepped forward to give $185,000.

The project still has hurdles, but this is another small step toward getting a much-needed traffic signal for the dangerous intersection — one where two people have been killed in separate accidents in the past two years.

Jeers to the fact that, by the nature of government, something fairly simple like putting up a traffic light becomes very complex when you are dealing with several agencies.

As I’ve said in Cheers and Jeers before, let’s do whatever is possible to get this traffic signal up — quickly. Each day that passes before its completion could mean someone’s life is lost.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to a third trial for David Camm. What I just typed isn’t meant to be a political statement, or a commentary on innocence or guilt. I’m just weary of the Camm news, and I was only in Southern Indiana for the second trial.

I can’t imagine what the stress is like for the families involved.

From a newspaper standpoint, I’m already thinking ahead at how our sister paper — The Tribune — and this paper will cover it if the trial is again in Warrick County, or even a greater distance away.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to scheduling conflicts, poor communication ... or something else, possibly, that has cost the Jeffersonville High School girls’ basketball team a home game today, as reported Thursday in The Evening News.

Also, the annual Jeffersonville Classic wrestling event is being altered to also accommodate a home boys basketball game Dec. 19.

It’s unclear exactly how or why this happened, as people are keeping pretty quiet about the issue. It’s hard to believe the person who stepped up and took responsibility, Jeff Griffith, JHS’ director of athletics, deserves primary blame, as he wasn’t AD when these scheduling conflicts were created.

The contract for the JHS boys basketball game against Ballard High School was signed, but not mailed, before former AD Tony Branch left that post, so it’s hard to place primary blame on him.

It all seems like a mess, doesn’t it?

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to a rise in home sales in October and a decline in the national unemployment rate in November. These days, the minor victories are to be cheered.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to President Barack Obama’s committal of 40,000 troops to Afghanistan. Mr. president, we’ve been there done that in terms of misguided wars.

Remember that guy you took over for?

Let’s bring the troops home. There’s plenty of problems for them to tackle here.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



READER CHEERS

... to the lady who brought my wallet to me on Nov. 21. I hadn’t even realized I lost it until she showed up on my doorstep with it. I was such in shock that I didn’t even get her name.

She did give me the name of her church and I did call and leave a message about what a wonderful person she is. Not many people would have returned it. It did look like everything was still in it, but after I went back in the house and was looking, I had a bank envelope that contained $300 missing. That was going to be part of a downpayment on my 16-year-old son’s car.

So, I hope whoever found the money needed it more than we did. He worked hard for that money, so whoever has it, I hope you enjoy it.

Once again I want to thank the lady. She knows who she is and I want you to know how grateful I am to you. Thank you.

— Kristy Demas, Memphis



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.