-
JD Vance has eastern Kentucky roots
James David “JD” Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, has eastern Kentucky connections. Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, but he was raised by his mamaw (grandmother for those of you reading this who are not from our region). His parents divorced when he was a toddler. His ancestors are from Kentucky and Appalachia.…
-
Louisa CMH Tribute Show: A remarkable Appalachian affair
The Country Music Highway Tribute Show in Louisa this past weekend was a remarkable Appalachian affair. Organized by Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), it was the essence of Appalachian spirit, kinship and talent. At the heart of the event was the symbolic passing of the torch from the legendary Ricky Skaggs to the 12-year-old prodigy Adalyn Ramey.…
-
A snake in the birdcage and the Trump assassin
Former President Donald Trump barely missed several hissing bullets that would have ended his life last Saturday. The world watched a miracle take place as former President Trump barely missed an assassin’s bullet. Thousands of people in the audience witnessed this in person, and millions of people have watched it live or have since seen…
-
Did the U.S. really go to the moon?
For many years there have been many conspiracy theorists who claim that the United States did not really land on the moon or have the first astronauts to set foot on the lunar surface. If you believe that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first astronauts to land on the moon on July 20,…
-
A clarion call for fairness
In our community, the newspaper serves as a foundation of informed citizenship, diligently reporting the news that keeps the public aware and engaged. Over our 35 years at the Mountain Citizen, we have encountered complaints from various individuals, including citizens, public officials and political factions who have found themselves or their associates spotlighted in our…
-
For better, for worse
Words are easier than actions. For example, “for better, for worse.” Couples traditionally say these words when they marry. They mean the words at the time. They have no idea what they are saying. No one can really know what they are saying because they are clueless about what the future will bring. Sticking together…
-
Changes I think we need in America
After watching the recent debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it was obvious we need to have our presidential candidates complete a cognitive test. Cognitive tests are short, quick tests to check how well your brain is functioning. These test results should be made public to the voters so they can be informed and…
-
Happy Fourth of July
BY SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER Let us reflect on our nation’s remarkable journey, which started as a country that sought freedom from British oppression over 4,000 miles away. Our nation’s founders, driven by enlightened thought, fought tirelessly for the most extraordinary human experiment in self-governance the world has ever known. Today, our men and women in…
-
Be careful walking after dark: The police may be scary
Freedom to move about the country is a wonderful privilege. Let us be appreciative of our freedom this Fourth of July week. Recently, I was taking a late-night walk in Owenton, Kentucky. Owenton is a little town of maybe 600 people in rural north central Kentucky. I had just finished watching the sad Biden-Trump debate…
-
Appalachian phrases and words that you may still use
People who live in the heart of the Appalachia region, which spreads across the mountains of West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and into parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee, can easily be identified by their dialect. It still amazes me that when we travel away from the area, people can guess…
Category: OPED
