KIDS SMARTER THAN SOME GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR

We've become a nation of busybodies. The latest example is Attorney General
Paul Summers' admonition to country singer Gretchen Wilson to stop
displaying a can of smokeless tobacco while singing the song "Man With A
Skoal Ring" in concert.

Before anyone protests about promoting tobacco -- smokeless or otherwise --
it's obvious that all thinking people do not want to encourage young people
to use the stuff.

But let's look at the life cycle of students in Tennessee these days. They
are taught in elementary school and particularly in middle school about the
dangers of both drugs and tobacco. Most students are required to take
D.A.R.E. classes. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and
it's a highly effective program used nationwide.

We probably don't give teenagers enough credit to think that one exposure
to a can of smokeless tobacco will send them running to the convenience
store for some smokes.

And if we're going to put the skids on Wilson's act, maybe we should also
warn the beef jerky company that uses smokeless tobacco type cans for its
product that we're going to run them out of town, too.

Not only did Summers ask Wilson to stop using the Skoal can, but he also
urged her to make public service announcements about the dangers of
smokeless tobacco.

No one should abuse alcohol, drugs or tobacco. But becoming the concert
police is going overboard.

Ballpark Announcement Coming Soon

Dare we say "play ball" yet? It seems the city is tiptoeing toward a deal
to build a new Sounds ballpark.

That fact came out last week when Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, the
developers of the ballpark and surrounding retail/residential development,
put on a presentation at the Civic Design Center.

CEO Bill Struever said both sides are getting close to a deal the city is
comfortable with.

Finance Director David Manning, who has been mum on the deal for months,
added that the Sounds plan contains the necessary economic benefits to make
the deal work.

Look for an announcement soon that will officially put the stamp of
approval on the new ballpark.