We want to start this week with the great news! Another Kentucky town has struck a blow against Sharia Law and voted for the American way. Berea will soon allow citizens and visitors the choice of beer or wine instead of endless refills of sugar water in restaurants.
Quantifiable evidence in the form of tax records show communities that follow this path increase the amount of money they have to spend on parks, police and potholes. The evidence also lends credence to the idea a beer with dinner brings more visitors. More visitors means more business. More business means an economy that isn't starving like an abandoned mutt.
Alas, quantifiable evidence also proves evolution and climate change so there's no guarantee everyone will pay attention. At least not while Survivor is on.
Obviously the big news out of Washington is the third guy in line for the Oval Office has decided to seek deeper tanning opportunities elsewhere. John Boehner, once considered one of the most conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives, is stepping down before the Tealiban members of his own party get a chance to oust him. The devout Catholic appeared to see the light when the pope whispered in his ear.
Their next target, by the way, is our good buddy Yertle McConnell.
So if nothing else, Mr. Boehner should be applauded for resigning his position when his beliefs went against his duties. That's an example to live by.
Which would be a good time to mention that for a New York minute the pope won't be the son of satan with the evangelicals. He met their latest flash hero, our infamous county clerk, and endorsed conscientious objection. Which probably means something different than Mike Huckabee thinks, but I digress.
I'm confident their goodwill will pass. You just can't get rid of all those anti-pope Facebook memes fast enough. Not after he had the audacity to speak that liberal stuff in our congress, at the request of the retiring John Boehner. Who once was a conservative they say.
And in the words of Meat, "SJ the pope ain't gonna quit being Catholic."
Closer to home, October continues its recent pattern of coming in wet and cool. We hope the October trend is consistent and gorgeous weather will greet us the rest of the month. Not that damp weather matters to our visitors.
Elkhorn City will greet hundreds of whitewater paddlers and a couple hundred more long distance runners this weekend. We show our adventure tourism potential once again this weekend with activities drawing international participants. Tell your neighbor!
Hosting the Cloudsplitter 100 is a great asset to Elkhorn City. The cooperation between locals and the organizer has been outstanding. The organizer was even able to get access to property the Pine Mountain Trail hierarchy has been turned away from. Goodwill has created a unique event, which creates positive press for the Pine Mountain Trail. As the word spreads, more folk come and leave money behind.
In closing, we welcome paddlers, runners and families who will descend upon Elkhorn this weekend. I'm sure you'll join us in wishing more towns across Kentucky will continue to overturn Sharia Laws.