June 30, 2010 — July 4
By State Senator Robin Webb
FRANKFORT — Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, is the day we Americans celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which on July 4, 1776 declared our country’s independence from Great Britain.
For most of us, the federal holiday would not be complete without a parade, picnics, cookouts, concerts, baseball games, or some other public or private activities celebrating the history, government and traditions of this country, along with, of course, firework displays. Many also travel during the holiday.
As we celebrate our nation's freedom, please support community events this weekend. Carter County Thunder 2010 has grown from a Carter City community gathering to a regional event. Lincoln Thienert and his team have worked hard to bring Andy Griggs and local talent to the Carter County Fairgrounds on Friday July 2nd. At dusk there will be a tremendous display of fireworks and the usual family fun! Olive Hill will not let a flood disaster damper the Fourth of July spirit, as a weekend of activities are planned, including the Hop Brown Golf Scramble, Pancake Breakfast, Blessing of the Animals and parade on Saturday, and fireworks on Sunday! Hats off to the people of Olive Hill as once again we celebrate as we overcome adversity.
At home or on the road, the Fourth of July can be a lot of fun packed with some great memories. Do not forget that as your family and friends celebrate, it is always wise to practice fireworks safety.
When handled improperly, fireworks can be responsible for burn and eye injuries. Sadly, in 2006, 11 people died and an estimated 9,200 were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC also reports that an estimated 5% of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency rooms required hospitalization. The best way to protect your family -- and to not become a statistic – is not to use fireworks at home, opting instead to attend public firework displays operated by professionals.
If you still plan to use fireworks at home, use some caution and common sense, along with following a few safety tips recommended by such organizations as the National Council on Firework Safety to make the celebration safer for everyone:
• Never allow children to play with fireworks. Firecrackers, bottle rockets and sparklers are just plain dangerous. If children use sparklers, keep them outside and watch that they keep the sparklers away from their face, clothing and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit. Imagine the harm that much heat could cause to a child.
• Buy only legal fireworks, which are labeled with the manufacturer's name and directions. Illegal fireworks are unlabeled and have names such as M-80, M-100, blockbuster, or quarter pounder. These illegal fireworks have been banned since 1966, but, unfortunately, they still account for many fireworks injuries.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Be aware that fireworks can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at another person or an animal.
• Do not hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep them away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers).
• Never attempt to relight a dud.
• Do not allow children to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. There is the danger that some may still be ignited and may explode at any time.
• Soak fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
• Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they will run loose or get injured.
If a child is injured by fireworks, you should take him or her to the doctor or hospital immediately. If an eye injury occurs, do not allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, do not flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention — your child's eyesight may depend on it. In the event of a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool – not cold -- water over the burn (do not use ice). Call your doctor immediately.
Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you will take much more pleasure in them by knowing your family and friends are safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and your holiday will be a blast!
Hope you and your family have a safe and happy Fourth of July.
The race for US Senate
By Ronnie Ellis/CNHI
FRANKFORT Most of the attention so far in the U.S. Senate race has been on Rand Paul, the TEA Party standard-bearer and anti-establishment, libertarian-leaning Republican. But if Democrat Jack Conway, Kentucky’s attorney general, is to make a race of it, he is going to have to patch up differences with his primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, who has yet to endorse Conway.
Mongiardo has reasons to feel slighted — six years ago when no one else would try, he nearly unseated Republican Jim Bunning who this time isn’t running. But when it came time for Democrats to make another run at the seat, when Bunning couldn’t get the support of his own party’s leaders, foremost among them Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Democratic establishment backed Conway instead of Mongiardo. Even Gov. Steve Beshear who benefited from Mongiardo’s inclusion on the 2007 gubernatorial ticket provided only a lukewarm endorsement and didn’t get out on the campaign trail for Mongiardo.
Mongiardo believes there are two Democratic parties in Kentucky — that led by the establishment personified by former Sen. Wendell Ford, state Auditor Crit Luallen, Beshear and others and another one made up of “the little guys” with whom Mongiardo identifies. Conway had the backing of the Democratic elite and big donors, but Mongiardo led most of the way in polling — until Conway pummeled him with negative television ads while Mongiardo’s under funded campaign had to sit on the sidelines, hoarding its cash for the final push. Again, Mongiardo lost narrowly.
That hurts and it will take some time for Mongiardo to recover. In some ways, the “Randslide” beating suffered by Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson to Paul was easier to absorb than Mongiardo’s yet again oh-so-close loss. And while feelings aren’t warm between Grayson and Paul, Grayson has publicly endorsed Paul, at least attempting the appearance of party unity.
We won’t know until campaign finance reports are filed, but it’s believed Mongiardo’s campaign has a debt and he may want help from Conway in retiring it. I’ve been told it’s not large and that Conway agreed to help raise money for Mongiardo in exchange for the Mongiardo campaign’s dropping its call for a re-canvass of votes which might have delayed contributions from national donors. But word is Conway hasn’t delivered yet and that may be holding up a Mongiardo endorsement.
Conway needs Mongiardo. Despite the Democratic edge in registration, Kentucky is a conservative state which views President Barack Obama suspiciously at best. Conservative Democrats have been voting Republican in recent federal elections and they wonder if Conway’s election would represent another vote for Obama’s fiscal and environmental policies. Fairly or not, Conway is viewed by many as a rich urban elite. He’s not strong in rural western Kentucky. He can’t beat Paul just by rolling up huge margins in his home base of Jefferson County as he did in defeating Mongiardo, riding high turnout there because of a contested mayor’s race. He’s got to pick up votes in eastern and western Kentucky, both places where Mongiardo can help.
Conway’s people may think if Mongiardo withholds his support he will be blamed should Conway lose, thereby diminishing Mongiardo’s future prospects even further. But it’s Conway’s name on the ballot - and if he loses his second congressional race (he lost to Anne Northup in a previous race for the Third District), his future prospects won’t look so good either.
Right now Conway needs Mongiardo more than Mongiardo needs Conway.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
