Opinion

The recent death of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, brings up the question of what would be the best way to honor his memory.

One way we have immortalized some great men is declaring their birthday a national holiday. We have also declared the Monday closest to Oct. 12, the day Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World, a national holiday even though we now know some Viking explorers arrived in the Americas before he did.

Don’t worry your pretty little heads about it, Hoosiers.

The state of Indiana is perfectly comfortable keeping you in the dark. It makes things easier for special interests and the government employees who are supposed to be regulating them.

The latest evidence supporting that assertion comes from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Air Quality.

Cannelton’s common council voted at a recent meeting to close the city’s historic gazebo to public use. We understand their reasons for doing it and know they didn’t make the decision lightly.

It was called a temporary measure, but we don’t foresee the reasons for it going away in the near future. Not without concerted action, anyway.

The reasons are a handful of people who have vandalized the gazebo.

Trista Lutgring, Feature Writer

I’m sure you’ve heard of a bucket list; many of you probably have one. These lists generally include things one wishes to accomplish in their life before they pass on. As someone who has seen writing as a hobby since a very young age, one of the goals I have always set very high on my bucket list has been to write a book.

I am happy to let you know I can mark that goal off my bucket list. At the age of 26, I think that’s a great feat to accomplish.

BY DAVID HAMMOND, Guest Columnist
A lot has been said about right-to-work and a lot more will be said in the upcoming legislative session. Voters need to understand the meaning of the term and consequences of its implementation.

Right-to-work laws are statutes enforced in 22 U.S. states that prohibit membership, payment of union dues, or fees as condition of employment, either before or after hiring.

In his autobiography, Mark Twain said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” There was a lot of truth in that humorous remark, which helps explain why the facts aren’t always what they appear to be.

One example is the often-stated “fact” that the U.S. Postal Service is losing money and needs to reduce mail delivery from six to five days a week and eventually to three days a week.

The Obama Administration’s arguments against getting Congress’ approval to continue military actions in Libya have the stink of dishonesty.

Honor and honesty share a common root. If we are not honest, we have no honor. No honesty exists in our nation showering Libya with bombs, then claiming it’s not war and therefore Congress needn’t be bothered to consider whether the killing and destruction should continue.

The Indiana Department of Health’s Immunization Division has stated that beginning July 1 it will no longer be able to provide vaccinations to families with health insurance.

State health officials said the new rule will ensure that families with insurance don’t rely on free vaccines.

We understand the state health department’s not wanting to have its free services taken up by those who can afford them, as using the department’s time and money for those could deprive some indigent people of necessary care.

High-school seniors across the county are graduating and as they close one chapter on their lives and start another, we extend to them and their families hearty congratulations. Cannelton students received their diplomas Saturday and Perry Central seniors graduated Sunday. Tell City seniors will conclude their high-school careers Friday.

Seniors will take varying paths in the weeks and months ahead. Some will continue their education or join the military, while others may opt to dive in to the working world.