Happy 4th of July!
Have A Very Safe Holiday!!!

National Guard facility is on schedule

by Teri Davis
Editor - Advance Yeoman

The joint venture between the Army and and the National Guard is “on track” says Marc Cabiness, foreman for A&K Construction of the facility located near the Barkley Regional Airport.
The new facility will contain many offices for National Guard administrative personnel as well as a large assembly area in the back for meetings and events. There is also a maintenance and storage facility and access to the runway at the airport.
The site is “expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting.”

National Guard facility in West Paducah.

photo by Alison Davis

A Salute to the American Flag

Flag Etiquette and History

History of the United States Flag:
Even before the American Revolution, flags bearing the familiar red and white stripes, which symbolize the unity of the original 13 colonies of America, began to appear. These stripes were later combined with the British Union Jack to produce the Continental flag that flew over George Washington's headquarters during the siege of Boston.
Almost a year passed after the Declaration of Independence was signed before a new flag was adopted by the Congress. But variations in the flag were persistent, and changes continued during much of the 19th century. The Flag Act of 1818 fixed the number of horizontal stripes at 13, and gave the President the authority to determine the star arrangement. The now-familiar stars and stripes were not carried into battle by the United States Army until the Mexican War.
Finally, in 1912, an executive order was established which defined the design of the flag, including the star arrangement. Later, when Alaska and Hawaii entered the Union, stars representing those states were added to the flag, adapting the traditional horizontal arrangement.

Pledge to the Flag:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

When rendering the pledge of allegiance, persons should stand at attention, face the flag, and, if in uniform, salute, or otherwise place the right hand over the heart. Persons wearing the caps of veterans' service organizations, such as the Disabled American Veterans, are expected to salute. Others, such as Boy or Girl Scouts in uniform, should render respect to the flag in accordance with the traditions of the organization whose uniform they are wearing.

Our National Anthem:
The "Star Spangled Banner" has been designated as the national anthem of the United States of America. During the playing of the anthem when the flag is displayed, persons not in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should begin saluting the flag at the first note of the music, and hold the salute until the last note of the anthem is played.
Again, this applies to those wearing veterans' organizations caps or the uniforms of other patriotic organizations.(more)

Jury begins deliberating in Ky. fraud trial

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) _ The fate of three lawyers charged with defrauding clients in a $200 million diet drug settlement is now in the hands of a federal jury.
Attorneys Shirley Cunningham Jr., William Gallion and Melbourne Mills Jr. face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on wire fraud conspiracy charges. The case has been closely followed because Gallion and Cunningham are part-owners of 2007's Horse of the Year, Curlin.
Jurors began deliberating the case Tuesday after hearing evidence for six weeks.
Prosecutors said in closing arguments the lawyers were motivated by greed when they took a $127 million payment to settle a lawsuit over the diet drug fen-phen. Defense attorneys say that the lawyers didn't commit any crimes and that any mistakes were unintentional.

Enjoy fireworks in a safe manner

(MS) — One may be hard-pressed to find a person who doesn’t enjoy a breathtaking fireworks display. These pyrotechnic delights are one of the hallmarks of the summer season. Parks, area beaches and many other recreational areas feature fireworks displays to light up the nighttime sky. Fireworks are also very popular for personal use, with peak use around big holidays, such as Independence Day or Canada Day.
Consumer fireworks, if used in accordance with their instructions, are very safe, says the National Council on Fireworks Safety. Injuries from consumer fireworks have dramatically decreased over the past twenty years, despite an increase in usage by consumers. Today, some form of consumer fireworks are allowed in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. But some fireworks can be dangerous. It is recommended that you only buy consumer fireworks from a licensed store or stand. Never buy fireworks from an individual’s house, or from someone on the street. Such fireworks are likely to be illegal explosives that can cause serious injury.
Consumer fireworks regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are packaged in bright colors and have safety warnings on the packaging. The packaging sets forth the country of origin, normally China. Typical consumer fireworks include fountains, cones, sparklers, fire crackers, bottle rockets, and multiple tube products. Illegal explosives are often unpackaged and are wrapped with plain brown paper. They are unlikely to have any safety warnings, or place of manufacture. Many of them are handmade in basements or illicit factories. They go by names such as M80, Quarter Stick or Cherry Bomb. If someone approaches you to sell one of these illegal explosives, politely decline and then call your local police department.
If you’re planning on enjoying fireworks at your next party or event, follow these safety tips.
• Only use fireworks if they are legal in your area. Shooting fireworks illegally will likely result in fireworks confiscation by authorities (a waste of your money), fines or even jail time.
• Fireworks are for outdoor use only. Do not light them indoors and then carry them outside.
• Follow the instructions for fireworks usage on the packaging. Use them only as intended. Do not try to combine fireworks to get a bigger bang or light display.
• Keep water in a bucket and a hose nearby for safety reasons.
• Fireworks should be operated soley by an adult. This adult should wear safety glasses. Spectators should keep a safe distance. Always let common sense prevail.
• Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting.
• Don’t try to re-light a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes or more and then extinguish the dud in a bucket of water.
• Sparklers can be beautiful but also dangerous. Do not let children under the age of 12 handle sparklers.
• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush, 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.
• Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
• Be respectful of others. Do not shoot fireworks off for a long duration into the wee hours of the night. Neighbors may be trying to get some sleep.
By being safe, you can ensure that this summer fireworks season will be enjoyable and a delight to behold.

Purchase Area 4-H golf scramble
set for July 11

Kevil, KY – The annual Purchase Area 4-H Golf Scramble has been scheduled for July 11 at Silo’s Golf Course near Kevil. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. and Texas Roadhouse will begin serving lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.
The entry fee is $240.00 for a 4 person team and the deadline to register is July 1. The fee covers lunch, green fees, and a cart. This is a flighted scramble and also includes a Closest to the Pin contest, a Longest Drive contest and a Skins Game. In addition, $10,000 will be given away to the lucky person who makes a Hole in One on a hole designated by Silo’s. The dress code is soft spikes and shirts with collars.
Businesses and individuals who wish to support the event but are unable to sponsor a team may choose to sponsor a hole for $100.00 or they may make a donation toward prizes or awards. The money raised by this event will go toward supporting 4-H programs in the Purchase Area counties of Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken.
For more information or to request a registration form, call 628-5458.

Looking outside the box to cover cost of fuel

If you ever think that getting a speeding ticket can't get worse, it can. Not here, in our county, but in Holly Springs, GA (a north Atlanta suburb), the police department has come up with a 'self-taxing system' to off-set their big hike in gas costs. In Holly Springs, if you get a ticket you will get a $12-fuel surcharge tacked onto the ticket! Bottom line is, if you don't break the law, you don't pay the tax.

Lunsford calls for change in Washington culture

by Tina Forrest
KPI Managing Editor

Monday seemed to be a busy day in politics as Democratic hopefuls tour the state in hopes of nabbing a few undecided voters.
United States Senate Candidate and Democrat Bruce Lunsford made a visit to Paducah as he continues to campaign against Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
“McConnell represents the old Washington culture that has us in the mess we”re in right now,” said Lunsford during an interview on Monday. “This campaign is important to the country to get a Democrat in the Senate. He said. (more)