Dr. Joseph Bukowski, president, Belmont Technical College, center, met with county commissioners Carl Davis and John Pyles recently with regard to higher education and formation of a Higher Education Committee.
It was agreed that Team Monroe will select committee members.
Photo by Arlean Selvy

A comprehensive plan is now in place to help Belmont Technical College expand the existing higher education opportunities in Monroe County.

“The plan provides the overall framework for the expansion of higher education in Monroe County as part of a step-by-step process,’’ said BTC President Dr. Joseph E. Bukowski. “The community will benefit from this plan and with such strong support from residents, I see no reason why higher education can’t continue to grow in the county. In fact, this is an opportunity to be a role model for the entire state.”

The Belmont Technical College Board of Trustees approved a resolution in late May to support the Monroe County Higher Education Plan, which is expected to spark a cultural change and to spur economic development in the area. The plan was then submitted to the Monroe County Com-mission, which voted to support it during a meeting on Monday, June 15.

“We hope to accomplish a higher degree of educational attainment for Monroe County citizens, which will lead to an increase in mean family income and a better quality of life,” said Dr. Rebecca Kurtz, Vice President of Learning and Student Success at BTC. “Education is the key to economic development. Having a better educated workforce will make it more attractive for businesses and industries to locate there.”

An underlying principle in the Monroe County Higher Education Plan is the need to increase awareness among residents about the importance of education beyond high school. Although the plan resulted from a Memorandum of Understanding between BTC and county commissioners, substantial input has been provided by a group of community members called Team Monroe.

Dr. Bukowski said the college is willing to assume a leadership role in the execution of the plan. However, he believes the overall success of the plan will depend on the continued involvement of the Monroe County community.

Commissioner John Pyles said it is especially important to offer residents enhanced educational opportunities in economically distressed times.

The plan includes five key strategies:

• Initiate a Pre-School through Baccalaureate (P-16) Council to create a seamless educational experience from pre-school through the completion of a Bachelor’s Degree.

• Collaborate with high schools and career centers to meet the new CORE curriculum requirements and expand articulation agreements.

• Develop multiple pathways and alternative delivery methods for higher education.

• Develop an extensive program of community engagement through expanded marketing efforts.

• Establish a funding base for higher education in Monroe County.

”It’s an exciting time in Monroe County,’’ said Tim Houston, BTC’s dean of student services. “I think we will see enrollment increases in the county this fall beyond what we are already seeing.’’

Around the Burnside

Life is a continuous process of getting used to things we hadn’t expected.

Those who complain about the way the ball bounces are often the ones who dropped it.

Live and learn is what I say. You might recall a few weeks ago I wrote about the possible tax per head on cattle because of the methane gas they pass. Not knowing that cattle did pass methane gas I just assumed that the gas was passed out the end of the cow that contained the tail. I guess maybe I had watched or listened to the cable guy too often.

Well, after further investigation, actually I read it in a news article, the most methane gas is passed from the other end of the cow. I guess with four stomachs in the cow their food has to roll around and get chewed up and worked on before it does the cow any good. I’m glad I only have one.

I was right on one thing. Last week I thought habernero peppers were just a little less than fire. They may be even hotter. I was messing around in a garden store and I came across some habernero pepper plants. There was a little sign in front of the plants saying they were 10 times hotter than jalapeno peppers. Question. How could anyone eat one of these peppers, let alone two of them? Or, why would any one want to eat one? I don’t even like ramps. I did not buy any plants. A plain old mango sticks with me a long time. I do remember once having to eat stuffed peppers because I was a guest at my landlord’s table when I was in college. I smiled and said they were really good. I also remember having to eat cooked turnips at a special meal while attending Muskingum. I thought they were potatoes when I was putting them on my plate. I just never learned to eat the good stuff. I grew up on meat and potatoes.

I mentioned last week about the big round bales. It’s good to see a large field with all of the large bales. Kind of reminds me of hay doodles. We had to rake hay with a dump rake and make nice little doodle to be pitched onto the wagon. Some fun, still wonder why.

One year someone had the bright idea to make some soybean hay. Was that ever a mistake! We had plenty of hay but it was nearly double the work. In fact, we filled our hay mow and put some in a neighbor’s barn. This, of course, doubled our pleasure. We had to pitch it out of that mow on to our wagon then pitch it into our mow. I guess you call it double duty.

It was fun to handle it out of a windrow; you couldn’t doodle it. Dig your fork in and it would hang together six to 10 feet down the row. I guess the old cows didn’t mind. They ate it and we squeezed out a little milk.

One other year someone I think the same person, got the idea we should make some oat hay. Another mistake! Where we had trouble with the soybean hay sticking together, we had trouble getting the oats hay to stick together.

We pitched on the first load after carefully placing it on the wagon. It kept sliding off. Dad started with the first load to the barn. We didn’t ride because of the fear of sliding off. Sure enough, a little ways out of the hay field, down came half of the oats hay. Dad and the rest came slipping off the wagon. My brother and I laughed. Dad didn’t think it funny and used some words I could use when I went into the service. We finally rigged up a boom pole to hold the hay on the wagon. So much for trying something different.

Well, we’ve had a few hot days for those of you who complained about the cold, rainy weather. I think it’s been over a week since I mowed our lawn and it didn’t really need it.

The water station in Lewisville really gets busy in this weather. Some of us forget to appreciate water when we can go turn a little do-dad and out comes water. Maybe even complain when we get our water bill every month. They’re calling for a thunder storm this evening. Maybe we’ll get rain. I had 94 degrees on one side of the house, 99 on the other side and cool inside. The way water is being hauled out of Lewisville, I’ll bet there is a bushel full of quarters inside the little building.

A very nice rain last night. A very welcome shower as it seemed to be a rather easy rain and we ended up with nearly a half inch of rain.

I guess those of us who enjoy Jamboree in the Hills but don’t go near the place are kind of out of luck. I understand Thursday and Saturday are the only days we can watch it on TV.

I’m not sure why as I have not heard a reason. I’m guessing it could be money as that seems to be what makes the world go around. Or I suppose they think a bigger crowd will show up if it isn’t on TV.

I have watched and taped the JITH for years. I’ve done this for a person who cannot get WTOV on their TV. It seems that a TV station that has 10 times more viewers than any other station could carry the Jamboree a couple more days.

Then again it might be the lack of sponsors for those two days. Here again it’s called money. This I can understand because I use or buy very little or any of what is advertised on TV. Seems like every time I bite, something happens from the time I see it and when I get it. Some of the programs are really not worth getting sucked into buying. They really know how to make something look as though you just can’t get along without.

Remember: It’s better to bite your tongue than let it bite someone else.

Why don’t more folks attend church? Do you?