Beech Tree News Network

“We’re moving in the right direction” is a phrase oft-repeated in Frankfort.

But it’s not always used appropriately.

Senate Republicans did anything but on the recent methamphetamine legislation – committing a foul worse than anything we see during March Madness.

Kentucky vs. Louisville, Ohio State vs. Kansas are the match-ups in the 2012 NCAA Final Four Saturday afternoon and evening. Certainly OSU/KU will be a great game. However, the fact that the ultimate (that’s right, tobacco road fans) rivalry will be played in the Final Four for the first time ever is nothing short of extraordinary!

Are you a volunteer? Most people do things for others, never thinking of their kindness as volunteer work.

Volunteering is generally intended to promote good or to improve quality of life in some way. People volunteer to improve skills, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and for other reasons. Volunteerism is giving of your time without pay. Although a volunteer may not earn money, volunteering produces a feeling of self-worth and earns respect. Volunteering may be an organized effort or an individual endeavor.

As always when I visit with you about NCAA basketball around tournament time each year, I must always put forth the disclaimer that I never played in an organized game. As a seventh and eighth-grader I did get to dress on our high school B-team at home games. We got to come out before tip-off and shoot, then, during the half-time of the A-team games. I did have a jersey with our school colors, but that's where the complete uniform ended. Oh, I had trunks, such as they were. They were olive-drab and very much resembled World War-Two soldier's boxer shorts.

It has been nearly a year since I approached Sandra B. about teaching me the craft of fusing and slumping glass.  I had met her at a Christmas bazaar the previous fall, and I had been to her house to pick up some bottles she had done for me for Christmas gifts.  I was reticent about asking for help, because I knew it was a source of income for her, and I didn’t want to encroach on her territory; but my fascination with the craft won out, and I asked her if she would teach me.

FRANKFORT – While we passed several important bills this week, my efforts were centered on reviewing the House’s proposal, House Bill 265, for the state’s two-year budget. Each year, spending will be roughly $9 billion or $18 billion total over the two-year budget cycle. The Senate proposal carries about 6.58% authorized debt which is lower than the House’s proposal of 6.8% and even lower than the Governor’s proposal of 7.1%.  The Senate’s budget puts more money into the Rainy Day Fund and significantly lowers the state’s structural imbalance.

Legislation to Help Victims of Tornadoes Highlights Busy Next to Last Week in Session

FRANKFORT, Ky. – With only days remaining in the 2012 Legislative Session, the pace of consideration and approval of bills picked up this past week.

Friday night March 23, there will be a huge rematch of a regular season showdown.  This rematch will take place in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, no less.  The rematch of which I speak is the Kentucky Wildcats vs. the Indiana Hoosiers.  December 10, 2011 was the scene of their regular season confrontation.  Kentucky was up 72-70 with seconds remaining when Christian Wofford sank an uncontested three for the narrowest of Hoosier wins.  Doron Lamb was the leading scorer that day for the Cats with 19.

Is it spring yet? The 2012 spring equinox came a little early: March 20 instead of March 21. Spring is a beautiful season, and many of us have been watching for its signs.

Innuendos (indirect hints or remarks, which may or may not imply something derogatory), can say a whole lot of hateful stuff. Folks sometimes use them to lie, or to tell the truth. Truth is better.