For more equity, Cardinal Run Park needs more softball fields

Equal access

My name is Emma Mountjoy and I’m a 12-year old girl who plays softball at Cardinal Run. I love softball so much and my dream is to get so much better. Cardinal Run has six baseball fields and three baseball batting cages, but the softball area only has two fields and one batting cage.

I understand that more people play baseball, but there are also many girls that play softball. Lexington has many baseball parks, but not many softball parks. Cardinal Run has a lot of room for more softball fields. Plus, the baseball batting cages have lights and the softball cages do not. All the softball teams must squeeze their games and practices into limited time slots and space. Lexington needs more softball batting cages, softball fields and softball parks. It would be amazing if our city leaders took this into consideration. Thank you.

Emma Mountjoy, Lexington

One and done

I understand that University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto, has changed his promise to keep the mural at Memorial Hall, using as an excuse an unfortunate, isolated event that had nothing to do with this important work.

A few years ago, he said, “This is important work and it will not be destroyed, removed or permanently hidden.” Now it appears he is “caving” to political correctness.

I want to address something thousands of Kentuckians see as wrong. I’m referring to the “one and done” basketball program. It’s making a mockery of our university as an institution of higher learning. Not only are they here for only one season, but I believe they can take as little as six hours of classes.

If President Capilouto wants to address a needed situation, he and other university presidents should be fighting this “big problem.” They should force the NBA to form their own “farm system” and stop using our universities as their “development league!”

I, for one, would have new respect for my alma mater, would know the players’ names, and know they are legitimate students as well as a source of pride in our community!

Charles Adams, Georgetown

Pronoun use

Things have really changed. When I was in school, it was an offense if you were caught chewing gum. Once I had to go to the principal’s office, even though, the principal was my dad. I understand now that gum in the wrong places can be a mess.

Also, we were taught grammar so that we could speak and write correctly. We were taught the correct usage of pronouns and had to diagram multiple sentences in the process. Now, usage of pronouns has an entirely different meaning. I have recently been told that in some situations you’re asked to “declare your pronouns.”

Like I said, things have really changed. No one could have anticipated this, at least not I. (notice the pronoun use.)

Belinda French, Columbia, Tenn.

Vaccine access

I’m a homebound person who can’t get out to get my second COVID-19 booster. The program we had in Louisville to get homebound people their COVID vaccinations and boosters in their homes ran out of money in May. It’s been nearly a year since I had my first booster, back in the time before Omicron and its sub-variants. I have to get groceries and prescriptions delivered, and though I always wear a mask or two, those who come to me don’t always do so. This creates an opening in fully vaccinated and boosted people which allows COVID to produce new variants and sub-variants.

The home healthcare companies I’ve dealt with won’t give COVID vaccine shots. I’m 73, have two heart diseases and am in the high risk category. If even those whose job it is to see to my health refuse to come and give the shot I need, how can I prevent the strong chance of infection and passing that infection on to others who may be insufficiently vaccinated? I’ve talked to organizations like the CDC on down, but no one will do it. Why do lives like mine not count?

Cindy Ellegood, Louisville

Income tax reduction

HB 8 reduces income tax by .5% each year, dependent upon conditions being met with the “Rainy Day” fund. Most of us might think that a reduction in payroll taxes is a good thing. But consider that this move helps the very wealthy while offering very little relief for those at the bottom of the income scale. Further, Kentucky will lose a huge chunk of revenue. A mere 1% cut in income tax will reduce revenue by $1224 million, which is more than what Kentucky puts into higher education and approximately half of what we put into K-12 base funding.

This leads to several questions. First, what constitutes a “Rainy Day”? The downward spiraling of teacher pay? A teacher turnover rate that is outpacing the national average? Evidently not, as our legislators chose not to give teachers raises during the last legislative session. And the passage of HB 8 also begs the question: how will we make up that revenue loss? Other states that have eliminated income taxes have higher sales tax rates (7.01% in Florida; 7.94% in Nevada; 8.2% in Texas; 9.29% in Washington). Let’s help average Kentuckians before giving handouts to the rich in the form of income tax breaks.

Rebecca Powell, Georgetown

More civic education

Kudos to Secretary of State Michael Adams for his effort to increase civics literacy in Kentucky. Civics education does more than increase participation in the political system, it also reduces crime. Certell has been operating a Civics Education Program (CEP) for serious felons in a maximum security prison since 2016. Inmates who graduate from our civics program have a recidivism rate of just 4%, one-tenth of the rate for inmates in general. Many inmates tell us had they been taught civics in high school they might never have offended in the first place.

Our affiliated college, Huntington Junior College (HJC), serves students in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. Civics is so crucial to a well-rounded and thoughtful citizen that we’ve started requiring a Civics Certificate for graduation. Students and local employers alike are excited about this. The civics program is available online to students in Kentucky, and it is highly affordable.

We also offer our Poptential civics curriculum free to high school teachers. With free or low cost resources available today, there’s simply no reason for schools in Kentucky not to offer a civics education.

Fred Fransen, President of Huntington Junior College and CEO of Certell, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.

Compiled by Liz Carey