Dark and Cold for Christmas

For the second time in 11 months, a severe winter storm has left tens of thousands of people in Kentucky without electricity or water for days if not weeks.

For the third time in fifteen months, thousands of families are powerless because of the despicable refusal of Big Power utilities to bury electric lines underground where the wind, snow and ice can't tear them down.

Sometime next year, the Kentucky Public Service Commission will issue yet another report stating that even though burying power lines will save lives and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, it will not require power companies to do so.

Meanwhile, Christmas in the mountains is going to be even less festive than the recession has already left it.

State officials said about 87,000 Eastern Kentucky residences remained without power and 15,700 had no running water as nightfall approached Sunday and temperatures dipped below freezing.

More than a foot of heavy, wet snow snapped trees in the easternmost portion of the state over the weekend, leaving many residents stranded in cold houses that might not have power restored by Christmas.

Dozens of others made their way to emergency shelters in 10 counties.

In Pike County, Totie Crig lor sought refuge in a high school with her husband, Tim, and their 8-day old daughter, Tessa, after losing power Friday night.

Totie Criglor said it was the first time they had gone to a shelter. "We came for the baby's sake, to keep her warm," she said.

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