Sept. 12, 2011: Our readers write

No need to create
I’ve been waiting for someone to ask the question, and since I've not seen it posed, I'll raise my hand.
Why is the Hardin County Schools leadership seeking to build a technical center?
For more than 30 years the technical college has accommodated high school students from Hardin and surrounding counties as well as from Elizabethtown High School.  There's never been an issue or requirement that’s not been accommodated to make sure students have access to the most relevant and current technology, training and academic needs. So what's changed?
Why are we considering an expenditure such as a technical center when we have access to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College?  I want to know what's changed and why it can't be fixed before my money is spent.
Terry C. Wise
Glendale

Quality-of-life issue
We have lived many places during our careers with the U.S. Army. Together, we decided that Hardin County was where we wanted to retire. This is a wonderful community and keeps getting better. We are pleased and proud that the growth at Fort Knox has had a positive impact on Hardin County.
Many of the soldiers and Army civilians who recently moved here found the litany of “wet/dry” laws confusing. Most have lived places where full alcohol sales are allowed, and enjoyed the quality of life afforded by having a wide choice of cafes, restaurants, wine shops and other venues where alcohol could be served or purchased  legally. While these things are available at Fort Knox and in places like Bardstown and Louisville, many would prefer to enjoy them in the communities in which they live. Meanwhile, downtown areas have abandoned buildings which could become bistros or cafes and Hardin County doesn’t get the jobs, quality of life choices or economic benefits that come from expanded sales.
We’re pleased to see that there is genuine interest in bringing this issue to a vote by the numbers of people who were willing to sign the petition. We hope that Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Vine Grove will be able to take a step forward and allow this. We urge everyone to get out and vote on this important issue for the future of Hardin County.
There are a lot of soldiers and Army civilians making decisions about where to permanently settle. Let’s give them one more reason to stay right here in our Hardin County.
Connie Shaffery
Frank Shaffery
Elizabethtown

Smarter choice
A map of late-1800’s Elizabethtown hangs in the Brown-Pusey House. Nearly 10 saloons dot downtown’s vicinity. These scattered saloons, among others, eventually drove locals to change the map and vote the town dry.
Another vote looms, this time potentially to return the local map closer to its previous state. Though the Oct. 4 vote would not sanction saloons (because of E’town’s current classification) it would increase access to alcohol. A “yes” vote in October and future reclassification or a future vote to allow liquor-by-the-drink licenses would allow bars. The new law, along with welcoming package alcohol sales, would pave the way for a city with freely operating bars.
A common benefit cited for expanded alcohol sales is increased revenue for the community. Package sales would draw significant money from surrounding areas. Local businesses expect to make 2.5 times the current $3.2 million alcohol sales under the new law. Profits would trickle down; but, importantly, no money would go directly to the city. The 5 percent tax on alcohol sales is ear-marked for law enforcement (a fact which seems to connote a link between alcohol sales and potential trouble). With those changes, bars could operate in historic downtown or by appropriately zoned homes, churches or schools. To revitalize downtown, business opportunities available under current law seem a safer route. To safeguard streets and homes, limited alcohol access seems a smarter choice.
Opening the window of my stifling kitchen to the cool, fall breeze last week was a picture of my move to Elizabethtown. Having grown up near Chicago and transferred to E’town from Washington D.C., I am grateful to raise my children here, to see history revived and preserved, to see the town thrive. Increased alcohol access invites issues that roused locals to vote the town dry in the first place, promising only increased revenue in return.
The beauty of Kentucky will remain whatever the vote outcome. Changes in the map are bound to come, but I would hate to see changes that would dim the beauty of home. Elizabethtown shines as an oasis in an increasingly “progressive” world. One cannot put a price tag on that. 
Jody Ingalls
Elizabethtown