As another year comes to a screeching halt, Russellville as a community has undergone some gentle and drastic changes. First we go through the battles of the Electric Plant Board and the city officials and made news almost across the entire nation.

Then we see all kinds of drama as the drug industry takes over this small community. Then we see our little city slowly dying as industries close and move to other poorer nations to save money.

Then we see the effects of big city life as our first unionized plant goes on strike. And each time our reactions have been anger, sorrow, shock, disbelief, frustration and humiliation.

Each time we see the reactions of both sides of an issue and we comment on them. Well to those who put those people down who went on strike, think of this one thing. Everyone has a voice and they should use it. There should be no violence to get a point across but there will always be people who choose to stir up trouble no matter who it hurts.

And look of all the people it did hurt. Think of the families who won't have much of a holiday because they choose to stand up for what they thought was right. Think of the names that was drugged through the mud because of issues that should have been settled quietly and without all the drama and expense that it has caused our community.

And all of it has cost us all, for you know who is going to pay for all the lawyers that worked on that landmark case of the Electric Plant Board.

And all of the businesses that hurt because plants closed down and people were out of work. And the people who had to cut out pleasures because they felt what they were fighting for was right.

Our laws give us freedom of speech and choice. God gave us the mind to form opinions. And in order for us all to come to peace with what has shook our community again we should come together as a community and support each other. Without joined support we will all die out as a family community.

Whatever happens next year I hope we all can come together and face the problems and settle them better than we have this past year. And I know that a higher judge over all of us has seen what bickering, gossiping, mud slinging, arguing, and fighting has done to unsettle us as a community in Logan County.

With all of us together we must strive to bring more to Russellville and end the petty bitterness brought out by the legal issues, the strike, the drugs, and, yes, the fading of Russellville, Ky. This has been my home for over 40 years and it is sad to see the way it is fading to nothing.