Drug testing school athletes hurts kids

Drug testing high school athletes is a waste of money.

The state of Texas spent $3 million drug testing athletes and kids who drove a car to school, and only caught two kids who tested positive for steroids, and they were drivers, not athletes. One was a bodybuilder, the other a power lifter.

For generations, high school sports have gotten more kids off recreational drugs than any counselor, rehab or anything else. Now a lot of kids who do these recreational drugs will not even try to play sports. The kids who play sports, who smoke weed or do other drugs try to keep it under control so they can perform better with many even quitting for good.

With these new stupid random drug tests, a lot of the kids who are using recreational drugs will not even try to play sports in fear of getting caught, and they will become hard-core drug addicts.

It is a shame that the leaders who make these stupid, self-righteous laws will get on national television, attack their opponents with slander, then lie, cheat and buy votes -- anything it takes to win an election with few or no boundaries, then want to nitpick kids who are trying to better themselves by playing sports.

We have senators who have been in and out of rehab for alcohol and drugs, but let's single out high school kids who are trying to get an education by playing sports. High school sports have sent a lot of kids to college.

Willie Williams

Huntington

Law enforcement deserves higher pay

Our law enforcement pay is a joke. These men and women place their lives on the line every day. We don't think of these brave individuals until we need them.

They are our defense against all types of crimes. They are there to protect us 24 hours a day. What do you think it's worth to place your life on the line each day? I wouldn't want their job, and most citizens wouldn't.

The United States government pays our military hazard pay for fighting in Iraq. I feel our law enforcement should also receive hazard pay. There isn't a lot of difference between our military and law enforcement. Both put their lives on the line each day. The county commission and city council should get together and raise the pay for these individuals.

Those running for county commission should make this a priority. I feel a fair starting pay for our law enforcement should be $40,000 or $50,000.

We also have domestic violence shelters that require help. These agencies are very important for all the citizens of Lawrence County. I'm sure there are funds available to help these agencies. We need to have a safe place for women and men to go when their lives are threatened. There are many women who have lost their lives due to crazy men.

It should be a top priority of our city council and county commission to ensure the citizens of Lawrence County are protected. They should provide whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of our citizens. That starts with fair pay for our law enforcement.

James Murphy

South Point, Ohio

Biden's Iran ties raise questions

I recently read a book by Jerome Corsi titled "Atomic Iran." It had several references to Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, the Democratic vice presidential candidate. He accepted campaign donations of $30,000 from pro-mullah sympathizers living in California. The year was 2002. He also met with Iranian mullah sympathizers in Switzerland and Washington, D.C., in 2002 and 2004.

My question is, do we need a vice president who is so closely associated to a country such as Iran, which is determined to destroy the United States and Israel?

Thomas Harshbarger

Ceredo

AP Video