Last week's report of air quality problems to the Energy and Environment Cabinet remains unanswered. This was reporting an invasion of hog odors that robbed us two evenings of the opportunity to sit in our own backyard. This is reported frequently. The retching and nauseating odors of industrial scale hog operations are horrible. 5,000 pig monstrosities are treated by the EEC as if they were a mom and pop outback pig sty with a couple of dozen pigs.

As we approach the seasons of thanksgiving and heightened religious celebrations I am reminded it is time for my letter to Santa. At first my chagrin at the EEC unwillingness or inability to require that hog barn odors be actually controlled tempted me to ask Santa for a hog barn to be placed on each side of responsible EEC Officials, that is one North, South, East, and West adjacent to their home; after closer searching of my soul I have decided I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

In its place, my letter to Santa will be the simple wish that hog barn odors no longer drive us from our own yard or other neighbors from their yards. I shall write this letter in full confidence that a Letter to Santa will be as effective as a letter to the Energy and Environmental Cabinet asking that air quality actually be protected.