To the Editor:

As a member of the Glasgow City Council, I wish to respond to the article in your Sunday paper concerning the smoking ban ordinance. I agree with the statement that tabling should not be used to avoid a vote on an issue. I voted no on the motion to table and was prepared to vote yes on the ordinance. There are times when tabling is appropriate, such as times when more information is needed to make a decision.

I also wish to respond to Mr. Waters’ statement that he would ask council members, “Do you believe in the Constitution?” As a social studies teacher I am quite familiar with the Constitution and I do believe in it. The preamble states the reasons for which the Constitution was written and for which the government it created exists. One of those is “to promote the general welfare.” I believe a smoking ban does just that.

As a homeowner and owner of a farm, I also value property rights, but I realize that all rights are relative. Our rights must always be balanced against the rights of others. When one of my cows die, I could easily dispose of the carcass in one of the many sink holes on my farm. This could possibly contaminate the water supply of my neighbor; therefore, I don’t do that. By the way, it is also illegal to dispose of carcasses in that way. It is also my belief that our rights have relative value, that some are more important than others. In almost all listing of rights, the right to life is listed

first. I don’t believe that is an accident. Without the right to life itself, no other right matters. I think that it follows that a threat to our health is a threat to our life and is therefore of primary importance.

There are good and able members of the council who disagree with my opinions and I think it would be wrong for voters to make their decision based solely on one issue.

A recent move has made a change in my telephone number necessary. In order to make it clear that I am not trying to become unavailable, I am giving my new number: 834-1191.

Jesse R. Brown

Glasgow

Homemakers Day

Dear Editor:

Barren County Homemakers celebrated their 70th annual day on Sept. 25 at the new addition to the Barren County Cooperative Extension office. We want to thank area businesses which donated door prizes and tokens for goody bags.

We would also like to thank the Program and Decorating committees and the volunteers who worked to make this a special day. T.J. Samson Community Hospital, FRECC, Rascal Deli, UK Cooperative Extension office, Awards Inc., PBI, Edmonton State Bank, South Central Bank, BB&T, SCRTC, Glasgow Daily Times, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Gayles Beauty Shop, U.S. Bank, Smart Style Beauty Shop, Greer’s Florist, Angela Mills Motley Stutler, Hack Bertram and Ashley McCorkle from UK Women’s Registry.

Barbara Matthews