Beech Tree News Network

Dear Editor,
The decisions we make in life ALWAYS have consequences.
On January 26th the voters of Butler County will make a decision.  A decision about something that I hold dear to my heart.  A decision about something that I have witnessed destroy so many lives.  I have dedicated my life for the past 10 years to restoring the lives of those people of whom have experienced so much heartache and negative impacts as a result of drug and alcohol addiction.

This is the time of year when people are committed to making improvements. Although many want to improve in some particular area, changing can be a challenge. As Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. said, “Adopting new ways rarely comes comfortably at first” (http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/03/02/can-people-really-change/). 

Dear Editor,
December 7, 1941- Attack on Pearl Harbor
November 22, 1963- JFK assassination
September 11, 2001- Terrorist attacks
All days that those who were alive can remember where they were at, what they were doing and could probably even tell you details such as the weather…

One day at work, one of the guys picked up the large wad of paper shop towels one of the other employees had dropped onto the shelf after he had washed a windshield, and said, “If I ever quit, it will be because of this!”  I laughed because the words came from the mouth of a rough and tumble mechanic who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, yet he cannot stand wadded up paper towels.  He wants them to stay in nice orderly little piles.

Dear Editor,
As you are aware by now, Butler County is set to have a wet/dry vote January 26, 2016.  Several months ago the group, Citizens for a Better Butler County, began petitioning for the call to vote.  They amassed over 1,400 signatures in a matter of months.  Their hope is that alcohol sales will help Butler County by providing much needed revenue.  While we share their desire for a better Butler County, we disagree with their solution.

As those of us in Butler county are aware, there is a vote coming up on January 26, concerning whether or not to allow the sale of alcoholic drinks. What does the Bible say? Those who have followed this column know that we have published what the Bible says about alcohol consumption on multiple occasions (Prov. 20:1, 23:29-35; Gal. 5:21; I Pet. 4:3-4; etc.). We have also written on this subject in the last couple months since this vote is coming up.

Dear Editor:
There is a great deal of talk concerning the wet/dry vote on January 26th.  I wanted to share some myths of the benefits of legalizing alcohol sales in Butler County.
MYTH
Having alcohol sales will decrease the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol and make our roads safer.
FACT

January marks a new beginning. Oprah Winfrey once said, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right” (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_newyears.html). With a new year, many feel hopeful about the fresh start or look forward to specific events.
 
I asked friends and family what they most look forward to in 2016. Their responses are listed below:
•    Duck season.
•    Watching my daughter grow and decorating my bedroom.

My question for all citizens who are passionately trying to convince the voters of Butler County that voting "NO" is the morally correct thing to do is, "Are you against alcohol sales everywhere or just in Butler County?"  I think it's important to understand the difference.  If your opposition is based on a religious belief (as many have stated), then I can support your opposition. I may not agree with your conviction but for reasons of religious freedom (see the U.S. Constitution), I don't have to in order to support you.  I also support the Amish folks who live in Butler County.

When my girls were little, I bought an advent calendar from Avon in order to help my youngest daughter, Nikki, keep up with how many days were ahead until Christmas.  It’s a cloth calendar with 24 small pockets and a little cloth mouse who moves a space each day.  I’ve put it out every year since I first bought it.  It is a favorite of my granddaughter’s.  She started begging me to hang it up around September.  I held her off until the middle of November.  It will be hers one day, and I’ve stressed to her the importance of not wearing the little mouse out by playing with it.