Memorial Day In Middletown 2008

For many of us in Middletown Ohio this Memorial Day surely seemed like any other. The weather had not yet turned to warm, the parade wandered through town making its way to the cemetery just like it has done for years. Backyards across the city were filled with the smell of cookouts and the laughter of friends and family welcoming the start of another summer.

However after my late afternoon trip this Memorial Day to Woodside Cemetery I was reminded that this is not just another holiday or another three day weekend. I was reminded that these markers from the picture above, lined up so neatly, and made to look so grand, represent the lives, the struggle, and the ultimate sacrifice of real people right here in our home town.

Sadly as the conflict in Iraq enters its fifth year our Memorial Day Holiday is slowly returning to more of the somber day of remembrance and prayer it was envisioned to be on its inception following the Civil War. Though I believe it is a good thing, and in our nature as Americans to take advantage of every opportunity we have to celebrate our freedom and our good fortune, it cannot be a bad thing for us to remember this day for what it really is.

Gas Prices Rise for Summer and Middletown is Feeling the Heat

With the summer season on our doorsteps, Middletown residents are already seeing the high gas prices that come with this part of the year. Today Middletown Gas Prices have risen to an average of $3.95 for one gallon of regular Unleaded Fuel across Butler County and residents are beginning to feel the impact as they begin to make travel plans for weekends and holidays.

Taken from the Middletown Journal, a local Hamilton Resident expresses his concern over the rising gas prices which have likely affected his plans for this Memorial Day weekend, and most likely, the entire summer. "As a retiree, coping with $4-a-gallon gas makes even visiting relatives in northern Kentucky a financial burden. I wanted to take a vacation and you just can't do it."

Even local schools and businesses are starting to buckle from the increased gas prices and a few have proposed looking into a four day week to try to help off set their expenses. For schools even one day off could help tremendously as hundreds of buses would not be needed that day to make rounds, and residents who must drive half an hour just to get to work would appreciate the hiatus.

There is some good news about gas prices. An Official from the American Automobile Association believes that gas will begin to drop after this Memorial Day Weekend. "During the first or second week of June we should start to see prices go down. There's an ample gas supply and consumer demand is not remarkable. Those two things alone should drive down prices." This summer gas prices are not expected to hit the dreaded $5 mark.

SunCoke The Hot Middletown Topic of 2008

A hot topic in Middletown lately has been the new SunCoke plant. A few nights ago the Middletown City Commission, over the objections of many Monroe residents, approved a plan to rezone 157 acres of land directly behind the Garden Manor Extended Care Center. This rezoning opens the door for future constuction of the new SunCoke plant.

Proponents of this measure point out that if the new Coke plant is built it will bring 75 full time jobs and 1500 temporary construction jobs to the Middletown area. The Sun-Coke plant will also supply AK’s furnaces coke for over 20 years to come, which will give AK a much needed competitive edge and help ensure its continued operations in Middletown.

Those in opposition to the new plant are worried about the potential pollution the new plant will produce and its negative effect on property values.

The council meeting, which was open to public comment, lasted over four hours. Select video excerpts of this session can be found on our Middletown Community Website.

To post an opinion from a Monroe standpoint please join in the community discussion with a visit to The Voice or from a Middletown perspective visit the Middletown Usa Blog Forum