Bat Dawgs lose a close one in regional opener

Despite suffering a loss, we’ll once again offer up much deserved congratulations to our Clinton County High School Bat Dawgs on their performance in Monday’s 4th Region Tournament.

After reaching the 4th Region Tournament by earning runner-up honors in the 16th District Tournament, the Bat Dawgs were in Bowling Green on Memorial Day to take on the Spartans of South Warren, one of the highest touted baseball teams in the region.

South Warren had previously upset Bowling Green in the 14th District finals 7-3. Bowling Green had previously picked up three regular season wins over South Warren.

Our Bat Dawgs took the Spartans to the wire, giving up an eventual 3-2 decision in that opening round game.

Despite the loss, congrats go out to the Bat Dawgs and coaching staff on a nice season and being the last CCHS team still playing in this now concluded 2015-2016 athletic season.

Memorial Day brings the start of another tourism season

Last weekend’s arrival of the Memorial Day holiday also marks the traditional start of another summer tourism season in our “lakes” area.

Here is my annual reminder to all that our roadways and our waterways are going to be considerably more crowded for the next few months as we entertain thousands of visitors in our county and invite them to enjoy our lakes and the beauty of the surroundings we often take for granted.

Give yourself a little more time for trips on the road, even if it’s just down to the store and back, and remember, many of our visitors sharing our highways are going to be unfamiliar with our sometimes quirky driving habits, they will be in a hurry themselves to get to their marina and begin leaving their money in our economic stream, and they might even be lost.

Be nice – they bring piles and piles of money with them, and they leave without most of it. They buy gas, food and souvenirs, and they are a huge boost to our economy.

On the water, likewise. Share Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow with our visitors by giving a little more room. Often they only boat a few times a year and they are trying to get every minute in that they can during their brief stay in Clinton County.

The bottom line is simple. There’s plenty of Albany and Clinton County to go around, and our hope is that we get through the summer tourism season on a safe and happy note.

Remember, in the words of Sgt. Phil Esterhaus of the Hill Street Blues police drama from the early 1980s . . .

“Let’s be careful out there.”