Speak Your Piece

E-m@il address

In addition to the telephone and the U.S. Mail, The Mountain Eagle accepts comments to Speak Your Piece by electronic mail. Our address is: mteagle@tgtel.com

I think my son-in-law saw this thing you described last week in Speak Your Piece. It was about three in the morning. It was sitting on a fence at the head of Little Cowan. It's a cross between a big rat and a skunk, the size of a small dog. It scared the bologna out of him. Did you say it was a Tasmanian Devil?

Think about this: Every sincere prayer is heard in Heaven. It may not be fluently expressed, but if the heart is in it, it will be sent to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers and He will present it to the Father without one awkward word.

I would like to ask these big fat women in Letcher County what they have against skinny ladies. Is it because you just sit and eat until you can't eat anymore and you're jealous because they're skinny and keep themselves looking nice? Quit being so jealous of these skinny women. I think they're nice and sexy.

We all need a real good place to hide stuff. I'm going to look around and see if I can't find a good hollow to hide stuff in.

This is Alien. Don't sit and ponder whether it's really me or not, because I said I'm Alien. That should be proof enough. I was just wanting to say howdy to a certain person. Make a MySpace or e-mail or just look me up when you're around here where I live. Just keep in touch. I miss your company.

To the devil-possessed witches in Jenkins: Be patient. Your holiday will be here in late October. It is so natural that you will be celebrating this event. All you will need for your costume is a hat and a broom.

To the mean kids who broke into the Blackey Library: You disrespected what belongs to the community. You should be taken outside and whipped with belts. This is the only thing in this area for you to do and you go and vandalize it. Maybe parents should keep up with where their kids are. This is really sad. You kids know better. You're just mean.

I hear people have been seeing me around. Seems like you can't do anything without people watching you. My name is Taz, the Tasmanian Devil. Next time you see me, it will probably be in Whitesburg on Saturday the 27th — on a float. Look for me.

I was absolutely blown away by the Pure and Simple Band at Neon Days. I think they are better than any of the bands headlining any of the festivals so far this year. I hope they'll be at Mountain Heritage this year.

(The band is scheduled to perform at the Mountain Heritage Festival at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.)

A certain council member in Neon has been going around telling everybody that he's the mayor instead of Susie Polis. He's been sticking his nose in everybody's business and causing trouble for a lot of people because he doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut.

The food pantries that are supposed to be in Letcher County totally stink. You can go up to LKLP and get a voucher and take it to the food pantry that's beside the church in Whitesburg and the people there will get downright hateful with you and tell you that you're not allowed to come there. They tell you to stay in Neon, where all you can get is vitamin water that's outdated. I think if you're out of food you ought to be able to go to the one in Whitesburg, especially when you're in extreme need.

How can a person who works for a large coal company still draw his SSI check?

To the 57-year-old man who has been divorced for 2-1/2 years: I don't drink, smoke or do drugs or any of that stuff. I'm 56 and soon to be divorced from my old man shortly. I like to go for long drives, go to movies, and listen to concerts. I would also like to visit my family once in a while, which I haven't been able to do for the last 12 years. I hate it when a man curses you out and makes you feel like an idiot. I don't care if you live in a shack.

Hey, you maroon drunk. Are you on the draw, spending our tax dollars for the booze for you and your beer-drinking friend?

Certain people believe it's wrong to go to a birthday party where they play games, but they'll go to a baby shower where they play games. What's the difference? To me there is no difference.

To the pretty little redhead: I know your man is in jail, but I would really like to take you out. Even if you care about him you will forget about him once you go out with me.

To the man on Linefork: You need to get rid of the trash you're living with and get your family back together.

I love it when they call me Big Papa.

To a certain man: You know you want me. Come and get me. I'm just a few trailers down.

Can anybody out there tell me how the county officials can get by with anything but the regular people have to pay for what they do?

Our president says the Alaskan oil won't bring down the price of gasoline. There's a reason for that; the Alaskan oil is going to Japan. In 1988 under George the First, they were going to drill in Alaska but then the word got out that the oil was going to go to Japan so it didn't get drilled. Is it going to go to Alaska if it's drilled this time?

I hope you people know that if you get money at a certain check-cashing place, everybody in Letcher County will know you got it there. They tell stories.

People, you better not be stupid and put Republicans back in office. You see what kind of trouble the world is in now, don't you?

I saw in the paper where a social services worker got indicted for stealing heating aid. Now I wonder why a certain service station hasn't gotten in trouble for taking heating assistance vouchers for kerosene and reselling them to other people for more. A certain business has been doing this for years now and it has been reported. The woman it was reported to got mad because it was reported and cursed out the one who reported it. I think that's one thing that should be checked into.

Some of these people who get heating assistance vouchers are selling them for drug money while their children do without the heat they need in the winter.

Thanks so much for recognizing bluegrass DJ Paul Morris a couple of weeks ago for being on the air for 33 years on the same station. That's an amazing accomplishment that should be recognized widely. But I noted a statement that it was the oldest continuous bluegrass show in the world and that didn't seem right to me. I checked with the International Bluegrass Music Association and here's the '4-1-1' on that: Paul has the oldest continuous show in the South, but it's not nearly the oldest bluegrass show in the world. Cousin Johnny Small, who is now 94 years old, has been on the air at WNLC in New London, Connecticut since 1953. Linc Sinclair has had his 'Hillbilly at Harvard' in Cambridge, Massachusetts since at least 1962. Bill Nolton's 'Bluegrass Ramble' has been on WCNY in Syracuse, New York since January 1973. And Ray Eckland's had his 'Pig in the Pen' show on KPSA way out in Berkley, California since 1974. The record of Paul Morris is still something to celebrate.

I had to laugh when I read in The Mountain Eagle about Seth Long. I had to wonder why the paper didn't report how badly he behaved at the meeting. He acted like a spoiled brat who didn't get what he wanted. This was an appointed seat on the board and he should have accepted that his term was up and the fiscal court wasn't satisfied with his performance. He should have exited gracefully. The Mountain Eagle showed its bias on this …

(The article you're referring to was writted by William Farley, who is praised often for the evenhandedness of his reporting. Mr. Farley says Mr. Long did none of the things you accuse him of doing. We'll take his word over yours.)

I saw in the paper where someone said if you need a job you can go to McDonald's because they don't test for drugs. If they want to work they can go to Enterprise Mining. They don't do drug testing anymore because they can't keep enough miners if they do.

Jay, we know you don't like birthdays — the cake, gifts, and all that fuss. But you know that we love you, and fussing over you we must. So here's to a great big 51st birthday from all of us. Love, Faye, kids and grandkids.

I still can't believe we still don't have water on Copperhead Road on Craft's Colly when everyone else all over Letcher County is getting good water. It's so close to us and we can't get it because of this one property owner. I just want him to know he is thought of every time we go by there. All the neighbors are in agreement that it's a shame we can't get good water because of him. Thank you.

Football coaches shouldn't get out and talk about their players. Nor should they tell a player it's his fault because they lost a game. Mrs. Craft, you need to talk to your coaches. Remember, all that glitters is not gold.

To a certain woman: I know people make mistakes, but I don't think you should be allowed to go back to work after taking other people's medicine and letting them suffer.

To the little girl who junks up the living room with her games: Get up off your fat hind-end and put it up. I am sick of you, you pumpkin-face little brat.

Could someone tell us who you have to know to sit in the big box seat at the Jenkins football games? One guy sits up there even though he doesn't have any kids playing or cheering. Maybe the rest of us ought to go up there every Friday.

To the sexy cop: You said do what? Pull me over and I'll lick you over. I miss you, baby. I'll call you later. Bye.

I would like to wish Amy Cornett a happy second birthday. She sure is pretty. I would put her picture in there, but I can't afford it.

(You can't afford it? We don't charge for running pictures of children on their birthday.

This is to a certain woman on Craft's Colly: You really need to watch who you mess with. All you do is run your mouth and I'm sick of it. You want to brag about having another man and how you cheated, too, but the guy you're with now is a child molester and is jail. So I would stop bragging if I were you, and I think it's funny that you have one man thrown in jail for rape and then turn around and date a man who has done the same thing. Stop calling my man's family, because they don't want you around and they just make fun of you.

To a certain guy: I've seen you get out of a red Ford truck. I want to know if you have a girlfriend or a wife. You are a gorgeous looking man. If you are not attached to anyone I sure would like to have those big arms of yours to wrap around me anytime day or night. Please respond and let me know if that can be arranged. Signed, Very Curious.

Brushey Bill, you got my vote. You got a lot of things going so I agree with a lot of it. I don't live in Letcher County anymore. I did live there for 40 some years but moved years ago. I go back often to McRoberts. So I vote for Brushey Bill fer president. He's the best so far. S.F.

I think The Mountain Eagle should do a story on why the fellow at the mouth of Copperhead Road refuses to allow water to over 25 families on up the road. Is it just plain meanness or greed? We all involved would like to know the truth. I hope this man never needs something from any of us. We might be just as cruel or indifferent.

I read in the Lexington newspaper where the Jenkins High and Middle School is ranked in the bottom 10 in the state. It's past time to send those kids to LCCHS where they belonged all along.

Dixie Harlow, wishing you all the happiness life can bring on your birthday and always. With love from your Indy family.

To the supervisor involved with a male employee: Don't do it. You will regret this for the rest of your life, and your children will forever suffer. He is not worth it as he has been involved with numerous other employees, and also nurses from other hospitals. You are smart so wake up, take a step back, and realize you are falling into the devil's trap. Please don't succumb to this temptation.

To a little lady at Blackey: Little one, I'm still here waiting. I'm not going anywhere. When you are ready, I will give you all the love and respect you deserve. I will show how a real man treats a good woman. And if you will let me, I will show your girls what it's like to have a good dad. But first dinner and a movie would be good. Just know that about anyone would be better than the drug scum you had.

Why are the third graders getting to start the games while the fourth graders are on the bench? This is their last year of Pee-Wee. Show some confidence in them. They give you their all. Let them start the games and/or give them more playing time. They've earned it.

We need help with the drug dealing here on Long Branch. This is unbelievable what is going on in this hollow. To all police departments: Do something before someone gets killed. Thank you.

The fruit trees he gave us, and every herb./For food he made them, that was his word./Man has taken them and used them for other things./Many troubles into life these things can bring./The things God gave us we misuse each day./I'm sure he's not happy with the things here today./We should be thankful, but lots of us are not./For the wrongdoing, hell will be very hot./Use what God gives us and enjoy it the right way./For if we continue, we'll all have to pay. C.A.C.

Howdy, Brushey Bill here. I have listened to my opponents attack each other on my cuzin's television and I agree with both that they are so rich that they have lost touch with the common man. Barney and me agree that if congressmen and senators are so rich, they must make more money than they need. Therefore we proposed to cut all elected officials' salaries to minimum wage so they can think more along the levels of the common people that they are supposed to be working for like you and me. They have so many homes that they don't even know how many they own. Now old Brushey Bill don't want to brag, but I have the nicest home around these parts. It's an '84 International so new I ain't even took the wheels off uv it yet. I intend to add a room fer Barney if we win the election and if Letcher County sells more buses this year. I'll sell Air Force 1 and forbid any politician to fly or be driven by a limo anywhere. They'll have to ride the bus, train, or taxi like the rest of us. This way they can meet and talk to the people they're working for. Mules are exempt from this rule. Eliminate all political conventions, and multi-million dollar parties that you pay fer with your $3 tax donation. With all them millions, we'll have bluegrass festivals all over the country with free food, beer, and maybe a little of old Brushey Bill's moonshine. Use all that wasted TV time fer the good stuff like 'Hee Haw', 'Hawaii 50', 'Star Trek', 'Gunsmoke', 'WKRP in Cincinnati', and 'Bandstand'. I will limit commercials to one fiveminute advertisement per hour. That's about how long it takes ol' Brushey Bill to walk down to the outhouse and back. No more ugly hags like Matylin Albright and Condaliza Rice negotiating foreign policy. No wonder everyone hates us. They probably think all the women here are that ugly, and just want to git us men out of their misery. We're gonna send the babes like Penelope Cruz, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Christy Brinkley, etc. They'll loosen up those wrinkled up old dictators. I intend to solve our garbage problems by building a giant landfill at Crawford, Texas. Our nuclear waste will be buried in North Korea. A little more radiation won't hurt nuthin' after Brushey Bill is through with them. I'm going to send Dick Cheney to bury the stuff. Free the elephant from the oppression of the Republican Party. And free the mule from the Democrats. Barney thinks the mule's status should be elevated to the mascot of my party 'the very independent party.' Most importantly, I will return this nation to a government 'of the people, by the people, for the people', not of the government, by the government, for the government. I promise the government will once again serve you, as it was intended. You will not serve it as you do now. Sincerely yourn, yore candidate for president, Brushey Bill.

Broken Love — Their love soared like an eagle, ran like a runaway train, burnt like a forest fire, ran deep as the rivers, shone as bright as the stars in a blue heaven, high as the mountains. They played with it like the wind. It became a broken dream just like a broken glass and their tears washed their love away like the grains of sand wash out to the ocean. The seagulls squawking it over, on the ground the crawling crabs saying, 'Oh God! Oh God!' God said, 'My children, my children. I sent you a road map and what did you do? You put it on a shelf and let it collect dust.' Have faith. God moves that mountain of broken love. Stargaze.

To the one who wished my husband a happy birthday: I've suspected you for three years but he always laughs and says, 'Oh that fat thing. Give me a break.' You're not the first one he's fooled with. If you want him, let me know for sure it's you and you can have him.