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The head of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky said there is a rush to pass a no-smoking ordinance in Northern Kentucky and the public isn't being heard.
State party Chairman Ken Moellman said he hopes what he calls the "numbers and facts" appearing on his Web site help people see the effects a ban would have.
Moellman said the site includes information about past studies on social and economic effects of smoking bans elsewhere.
His group is also proposing that businesses which allow indoor smoking be required to post a symbol of a lighted cigarette in a green circle on exterior doors.
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People in Oldham County are breathing a little easier, thanks in part to a smoking ban in workplaces.
That ordinance has now been in place for a little more than a year.
The University of Kentucky monitored the air quality inside restaurants and entertainment venues in the county before and after the smoking ordinance went into effect.
The results of the study found major improvements with the air.
EDGEWOOD - Backers of a effort to ban smoking in most businesses and public places have scheduled a rally for supporters of the proposed laws.
The rally is open to the public and is scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the UK Extension Office Durr Annex Building, 3099 Dixie Highway, in Edgewood in the Kmart shopping plaza.
"Workplace smoking restrictions lead to less smoking among employees, less illness among employees and increased employee productivity," the American Cancer Society, one of the effort's leading proponents, said in a press release announcing the rally.
The organization said the rally is designed for members of the public "who support a smoke-free Northern Kentucky."
CRESTVIEW HILLS - City officials who want to express their opinion on a proposed Northern Kentucky smoking ban for most businesses and public places should attend Tuesday's Eggs 'N' Issues breakfast meeting, Mayor Paul Meier told City Council Thursday.
The 7:15 a.m. meeting at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center in Erlanger will focus on "the state of Northern Kentucky." Judge-executives from Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Gallatin counties will answer questions submitted from business and community leaders.
Last week, Florence City Council expressed opposition to the ban being discussed by fiscal courts in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties. The ban would apply to workplaces, restaurants and bars.
City council members in the northern Kentucky city of Florence have voted against a proposed smoking ban despite strong public support for the measure.
The council voted 5-0 on Tuesday against the ban
A poll released today finds that voters from Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties support a law prohibiting smoking inside all workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
By a strong majority (65 percent to 33 percent), Northern Kentucky voters support a law prohibiting smoking "in most public places, including workplaces, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars." This support comes from a broad-based group of voters across the region, including Republicans, independents and Democrats and a majority of voters in Boone (72 percent), Kenton (61 percent) and Campbell(62 percent) counties. Half of all voters in the region (50 percent) strongly favor such a law. To view the poll results go to http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/pressoffice/kentuckypoll/2008/
"Clearly, there is support for a smokefree law among Northern Kentucky voters," said Joe Geraci, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and Kenton County citizen. "A strong majority of voters feel that secondhand smoke is a health hazard, believe all workers should be protected from it, and would find restaurants and bars healthier and more enjoyable if they were smokefree."
The survey of 750 voters was released today by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. In releasing the results, the public health organizations called on the Fiscal Courts in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties to make all workplaces smokefree, including all restaurants and bars.
The Independence resident would like to see Northern Kentucky join the smoke-free movement, and the possibility brought her and daughter Kendra to an hourlong information session Wednesday at the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service's Durr Annex Learning Center.
The session was organized by Northern Kentucky Action - a coalition of advocates for smoke-free air - and attended by about 20 people.
Representatives from the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department, St. Luke Hospitals, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy at UK took turns presenting information about the dangers of secondhand smoke, smoke-free laws in place elsewhere and how to get involved on a grass-roots level to ban smoking in most businesses and public places in Northern Kentucky.
"Our mission is to educate the community, educate the public officials and everyone in the area of smoke-free initiative and how secondhand smoke is indeed a health hazard," said Linda Vogelpohl, chairwoman of Northern Kentucky Action.
"You are our voices in the community. You are an integral part of our success."
The representatives fielded questions and met scant opposition. . . .
Some people leaving Wednesday's session found fliers placed on their windshields.
The flier outlined "facts behind the unintended consequences of a smoking ban" and referred to a Web site for additional information. The Web site - http://www.nkychoice.com - says it will be operational today.
The council voted 5-0 on Tuesday against the ban, which would restrict smoking in all public buildings, including restaurants and bars. Councilman Mel Carroll said he was concerned the ban would infringe on the rights of individuals and business owners.
Although Florence officials may hope to ignite public opinion at Tuesday's city council meeting, in the end they will just be blowing smoke.
The meeting stems from last week's caucus at which council members expressed their desire to scrutinize a proposed smoking ban that if passed, would affect Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.
Montgomery was one of the nearly 70 Clark County residents who ventured Thursday to George Rogers Clark High School to voice their opinion on the county’s smoking ban, which the Clark County Board of Health recently adopted. The board will meet July 17 for approval.
“We want to hear from you, that’s why we’re here,” Public Health Director Scott Lockard said before the forum. “…Sometimes this can be a very emotional issue.” . . .
The new regulation will ban smoking in public places including businesses, restaurants, bars, galleries, libraries and museums, as well as in health care and day care facilities and in private clubs when used for a public function.
Business owner Mary Kay Haggard asked if smoking is so harmful, then why let farmers grow tobacco? She responded to her own question with an answer: money. And it’s the money she paid to start her business that makes the ban unfair, she said.
A female board member with the Burley Tobacco Growers Co-operative Association filed a lawsuit against the group alleging slander.
The Courier-Journal of Louisville reports that Helen Cornett alleges in the lawsuit that the president of the board of directors said in a meeting she was having a "lesbian love affair" with a former employee.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Fayette Circuit Court last week, names Roger Quarles, who is president of the board, and each member of the board.
Cornett alleges in the lawsuit that Quarles and some board members want her to resign because of her support of Danny McKinney.
A female director of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association has filed suit against the association, claiming that its president said at a board meeting that she was having a "lesbian love affair" with a former employee.
Helen Cornett alleges that the president and some directors are trying to force her to resign because of her support of Danny McKinney, who resigned as chief executive of the co-op at the request of the board in December 2006.
The lawsuit, filed in Fayette Circuit Court last week, names board President Roger Quarles and each member of the board.
ounty governments, the Clark County Board of Health adopted a county-wide regulation Thursday to ban smoking in public places.
“I think we owe the community an apology for not doing it (approving the ban) sooner,” said Dr. Brian Andreas, chairman of the Board of Health. He said failing to enact a smoking ban would present a “poor picture” of Clark County’s view on health.
As presented Thursday, the regulation will ban smoking in “all enclosed public places within Clark County,” including businesses, restaurants, bars, galleries, libraries and museums.
A majority of Northern Kentucky residents responding to a new poll like the idea of a smoking ban.
Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties are considering an ordinance that would ban smoking in certain places.
The proposal is in the very early stages, but a coalition of health awareness groups called Northern Kentucky Action has been researching the issue and hopes to get a first reading in mid-July.
When it comes to regulating smoking in public places, Northern Kentucky is an unregulated island.
* What do you think: Should public smoking be banned in Northern Kentucky?
To the north in Ohio, smoking is not allowed in bars, restaurants, offices and other public places under a two-year-old smoking ban.
To the south, smoking is banned or regulated in every metropolitan area, a total of 18 communities - including Lexington and Louisville, the state's two largest cities - that encompass half of Kentucky residents.
But the situation here could change.
Officials in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties are considering enacting uniform ordinances that would ban smoking in some or all public places, including restaurants, bars, workplaces and public gathering spots.
Pressure from health groups and the public is driving the movement