The Breathitt County Voice

“Fantastic Four” named Governor’s Scholars for county

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:52:08 +0000

By Jeff Noble

Voice Editor

Katherine Sasser had been keeping an eye on the mailbox for the last couple of weeks.

She wasn’t the only one, because at about the same time in other places, Hannah Yount, Michelle White and Tyler Barnes were watching to see what the mail carrier would bring to them.

When they got the news, it was all very good.

The four high school Juniors are this year’s Governor’s Scholars for Breathitt County. And in addition to the four being honored with the academic enhancement, a fifth high school Junior - Codey Morton - will be going to the Governor’s School of the Arts in Lexington this Summer.

For Sasser, the news was a bit of a surprise and a guessing game. “I found out a day before the day everyone else knew, so I was trying to think who would or would not be named along with me.” The daughter of Dell and Carla Rodriguez Sasser, Katherine’s a Junior at Jackson High School, and admitted Monday that she breathed a collective sigh of relief after hearing about the selection. “I was truly excited, but I also was kind of relieved, because I worried about being selected so much.”

Finding out if she’d be a Governor’s Scholar was easy for Hannah Yount. “My Dad told me, because they sent the results to the school.” Hannah’s the daughter of Jim and Martha Yount, and since her father’s the Principal of Jackson High School, things were a little easier for this JHS Junior thanks to her fellow classmate. “Overall, I was really happy, because Katherine got hers the day before I got mine. But now that the winners have been announced, we still don’t know where or when we’ll be gone. We won’t know until the end of May.”

Perhaps the most ecstatic of the group was Michelle White. She certainly had to travel the most distance to check the mailbox. “I had a college class up at the Lees campus that day, and before the next college class I’d have, I drove between classes to the Lost Creek Post Office to check the mail and see if I got the award. I checked every day for a week, with no results,” said Michelle, who’s a Junior at Breathitt High School and the daughter of J. D. and Christine White. Then, just in case, Michelle looked at the Post Office one more time. “I checked the mail, and there it was. A big envelope, saying that I’d won. My Mom was so excited, probably because it saved her so much money. As for myself, Wow!”

Then there was Tyler Barnes. When he got the word that he’d been chosen as one of the “Fantastic Four”, the Junior at Jackson High School said very little, but made up for it with a big show of action. “I was happy to get the award, no doubt about it. I did the “Power Fist” thing, as if I did “Oh, yeah, I got it!” As for an encore of the Power Fist, the son of Don and Kim Barnes jokingly promised he wouldn’t show his fist again for the camera.

None of the four Governor’s Scholars for this year know where they’re going, but at least Michelle’s already packed for the trip. “I’ve already got my suitcases filled up with all my clothes that I’ll be taking with me. My little brother, Adam, told me, ‘I’m gonna catch up on 12 years, so I’m sleeping in your bed while you’re gone’.” Michelle’s hoping she’ll make the trip to one of the places that will be home to some of the other students statewide this summer, Morehead State University. “I’m thinking Morehead because it’s close to home, and I’m very familiar with the campus.”

Michelle may be joined there by Hannah Yount. “The focus area I really want to do is Music. But I also signed up for Psychology and Astronomy. It will probably be music, hopefully, which should be at Morehead State.” Meanwhile Barnes has signed up for Psychology, and looks forward to spend his summer a little farther out west. “I’d like to go somewhere like Bellarmine College in Louisville, or Centre College in Danville.” And if Tyler goes to Danville, he’ll more than likely be joined by a fellow classmate at JHS. “I signed up for Biological Studies, and I hope I go to Centre College, where they have those classes available.”

Established in 1983, the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program provides academic and personal growth through the balance of a strong liberal arts program, with a full co-curricular and residential life experience. Such as the four chosen from our county this year, students must complete an application and compete with others from across Kentucky. Those selected attend the program free of charge. The program’s mission is striving to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders, and to create models of educational excellence for teachers and students.

And that mission of excelling in education helps to build a fiery desire in those chosen. A desire to go further in in their studies - and in life. “I’d like to go to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, and major in Dietetics and Nutrition. I like the study of food, and after working as a Dietician, I’d like to retire and have my own bakery,” Hannah Yount told the Voice Monday morning. For her classmate Katherine Sasser, that mission could mean going out to famed halls of learning. “I want to go to a private liberal arts school. I looked at Vassar College (in Poughkeepsie, New York), and Tulane University (in New Orleans), where I would have a double major in Biology and Art. And then, I’d go on to medical school. I want to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon.”

That particular career is also of interest to Breathitt High’s Michelle White. “I’m not sure on where I want to go, but I’d like to go to medical school and either be a reconstructive plastic surgeon, or an anesthesiologist…But I’m so excited to go. My mom said, ‘You’re gonna miss me when you’re gone’, and I told her, ‘Well, I will miss the homemade food. I won’t get any soup beans and cornbread at Morehead’,” joking about the summer trip. And Jackson High’s Tyler Barnes has locked his sights on life beyond graduation from high school. “I want to go to EKU (Eastern Kentucky University, in Richmond), and go to their Criminology Department. I’d like to be a part of their Police Academy…Then after working, I’d like to enjoy retirement and be very active in retirement. I’d be going from a chair at work to a chair on the boat.”

While the talk was about the Governor’s Scholars, one student was singled out for his accomplishments. In fact, Codey Morton was also awaiting a letter to see if he was going to the Governor’s School of the Arts at Transylvania University in Lexington. “I was at work at Wendy’s when I got a call from my Mom, saying that I got a big envelope. Mom said she could feel me ‘glowing’ over the phone. And I was having a rough day at work, so that lightened things up,” noted the Jackson High School Junior who’s the son of Richard and Patti Morton.

Codey will be going to Transy from June 22nd to July 12th, and will specialize in Creative Writing. “When I first heard about this school, I wanted to try Music, but while I play guitar, I can’t read music. People say I write good, so I wrote a story during the application, and after a few steps, they liked it, and I was in.” He added that he’s excited about going to the school in Lexington. “Very excited. They’ll be a lot of workshops with authors, as well as other classes and plenty of field trips.” As for his future, Codey is thinking of a career as a writer or a psychologist, adding “I like to think what’s going on in other people’s minds.”

For her fantistic finish, Michelle got a heapin’-helpin’ of praise from her Principal, Derek McKnight. “Michelle White is a tremendous person, and I’m very proud of her academic standing. From the 7th Grade on, she’s scored ‘Distinguished’ on every part of the CATS testing. And she is so pleasant to be around. She has a big smile on her face the whole time she’s here. She’ll represent Breathitt High School exceptionally well as a Governor’s Scholar.”

Meanwhile up on Highland Avenue, the smile across JHS Principal Jim Yount’s face was wide as a new four-lane road. “I’m very impressed with the young men and women that were selected. We have 28 Juniors in the class this year. Katherine, Tyler, and Hannah were named Governor’s Scholars, while Codey was selected to the Governor’s School of the Arts. That’s four Juniors, which is over ten percent of the class. That’s very good. And, I’m impressed what Mr. Syigel told me of this group. Mr. Syigel (Chet Syigel, who’s the school’s Career Awareness Person) helps our students out with getting scholarships. And he told me all he had to do was to give them the paperwork and the students took care of it themselves. They’re a tremendous bunch of Junior students.”

Katherine Sasser had been keeping an eye on the mailbox for the last couple of weeks.
Katherine Sasser had been keeping an eye on the mailbox for the last couple of weeks.

State sidewalk project restored for Jackson

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:49:52 +0000

By Jeff Noble

Voice Editor

A state project to improve sidewalks near schools now appears to be on the right route again for the City of Jackson. A state project to improve sidewalks near schools now appears to be on the right route again for the City of Jackson.After appearing all but detoured almost two months ago thanks to the state’s new budget, the plans to build new sidewalks on streets near schools in the city have been put back in the spotlight, and to the tune of $208,000.

Jackson Mayor Mike Miller announced the restoring of that project during last Thursday’s regular meeting of the Jackson City Council. The meeting also revealed public hearings will be held on three topics on Thursday, May 15th at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall. Those three topics are: (1) The amendment to the city’s Occupational License Tax Ordinance, (2) The hiring of a Recreation Superintendent, and (3) The amending to the Police Policy to let retiring officers keep their weapon given to them by the city upon their hiring.

The restoring of the “Safe Route to Schools Program” gift of $208,000 from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet was a shot in the arm to the city, said Jackson Mayor Mike Miller. “You may recall when state highway and school officials came here to present the city with that oversized check back in September of last year. We’ll, it’s not been cut after all. And just in time, too.”

The money is budgeted for five areas, Miller said to Vice-Mayor Rose Wolfe, and Councilmembers Jason Hall, Alfred Turner, Steve Bowling, Wayne Morgan and Patrick O’Neill. Of the total of $208,000 for the entire project, $76,000 will go to rebuild sidewalks along Jetts Drive, near both LBJ and Sebastian Middle Schools. $60,000 is now allocated for sidewalk rebuilding along Court Street at Breathitt High School, with $40,000 for Elm Street and $31,000 for sidewalk reconstruction along Elm Street. Finally, a total of $1,000 would be used for educational material which would be used by BHS, LBJ and SMS. The project is expected to be completed within 18 months, and after a reading on receiving a Memorandum of Agreement, the motion to accept the resolution for the “Safe Route to Schools” program was passed unanimously.

As for the public hearings in a couple of weeks, the Mayor reminded the Council that the city would have to advertise of the hearing for the second reading and adoption of the amending of the Occupational License Tax Ordinance. “There has to be an ordinance to rescind the present ordinance that was dated back in 1982.”

The second public hearing deals with a discussion Miller had with Jackson Parks and Recreation Director Tony Turner. “We both agree that Tony’s gonna need help, so we’ll need to create the new position of Recreation Superintendent. Along with the hearing, we’ll need to amend the personnel policy manual to create the position.”

The third public hearing will deal with letting retired police officers keep the weapon they’re given when they first join the force. “Right now, when they retire, they can’t take their weapon with them when they retire. We bought those weapons with grant money, so they should at least keep it,” said the Mayor. Miller said they’d need to amend the Police Policy and make it into an ordinance.

The council approved the Municipal Road Aid Agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for 2008-09. The new agreement means funds to the city will be up 20 percent from last year. The Mayor mentioned that “CDP Engineers will have rate analysis and when and how we can fix the lift station…on the Quicksand lift station, our time has run on getting that fixed.” He told Council that he’d contact CDP on the problems, “and they’ll fuss at us, but I think we’ll have an 180-day extension.”

Towards the end of the meeting, it was learned that some changes could be coming in the city’s cable television franchise with Time Warner Cable. Both Mayor Miller and Vice-Mayor Wolfe mentioned that two new channels could become available to the city - CW KYT, and Fox Sports Ohio. CW KYT is one of WKYT’s (Channel 27 in Lexington) digital channels, and carries programs from the CW Television Network, as well as UK Women’s Basketball, Baseball and Volleyball, plus high school basketball and repeats of WKYT’s newscasts. Fox Sports Ohio primarily covers professional and college sports teams from the Buckeye State, and is best known for carring the bulk of the Cincinnati Reds baseball telecasts.

Both Miller and Wolfe noted that Time Warner is wanting to extend the present agreement for 36 months, which could help the company prepare for an important transition - and a possible takeover. “There is an outside chance that Insight Communications will buy out Time Warner, which will be a great help to the City of Jackson,” Miller added. “This will also help with the transition it digital television service, and equipping the cable system for high-definition broadcasting.” He did note that TVS Cable of Hindman and Frank Howard TV Cable of Salyersville - who expressed interest in buying the cable franchise for the city last year -are no longer interested.

In other highlights, it was learned that the city has received $100,000 for Phase 2 funding for the new fire station at the corner of Broadway and College Avenue. Council also learned that over 1,300 of the new “Radio-Read” water meters have been installed, at the rate of 30 meters a day. The city’s Municipal Water Works was commended for being one of 32 systems in Kentucky being awarded by the state Environmental Protection Cabinet for their high quality drinking water. And everyone was reminded that the re-dedication of Kiwanis Park would be this Saturday at 10 a.m.

“Biggest banquet ever” for Ministerial Association

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:46:41 +0000

Special to the Voice

The good things from the Good Earth and the good love of God brought together some 90 persons to the table Tuesday night, as the Breathitt County Ministerial Association held their annual banquet at the Old Country Inn. Members of the Breathitt County Conservation District (BCCD) came along for the event, which celebrated “Soil Stewardship Week” in Kentucky. Several ministers, community leaders, and their families were seated as well.

The large turnout was satisfying to see, said Rev. Eldon Miller who’s President of the Ministerial Association and is also a member of the BCCD. “It’s the biggest crowd we’ve ever had, and everyone seemed to have a great time. We’ve had a few new pastors come tonight, as well as people who are leaders in our county and city. Most of them are involved with their church, and several of their friends joined them as well.”

Among those who attended the banquet included Rev. Wilfred Fisher of the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association, Breathitt County Extension Agent Lowell Hamilton, Jackson Vice-Mayor Rose Wolfe, Reverend Tom Lorimer of Fivemile Community Church, Breathitt County School Superintendent Arch Turner, Rev. John Bunn of the Wolverine and Hampton United Methodist Churches, County Judge-Executive Harvey Jason Richardson, Juanita Callahan of Interfaith of Breathitt County, County Commissioners Arch Johnson and Jeff Noble, Sheriff Ray Clemons, Senior Citizens Director Jack Niece, Breathitt County School Board Chairman Kelly Noble Jr., and County Property Valuation Administrator Ervine Allen.

Soil Stewardship Week is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), which is made up of 3,000 local conservation districts such as the Breathitt County Conservation District. Together, these groups manage soil and water conservation programs in virtually every community in America. NACD members develop and distribute materials for schools, churches, and communities during the celebration held every year between the last Sunday in April and the first Sunday in May.

This year was no exception to passing out information to those assembled, which included a flyer entitled “Water is Life”, which asked people to consider both the quanity and quality of water in our community. In addition, a flyer containing a prayer for the Earth’s resources was presented to be used for Sunday Schools, while Linda Moore provided entertainment with several special songs of Spirit and Faith.

Thanks to several brilliant Impatiens plants donated by the local Natural Resources Conservation Office, not only did the surroundings for the banquet look splendid - some lucky folks got to take them home as door prizes. This also included other door prizes, including an interesting tie donated by Dr. Masja Ott of Appalucky Mission, Inc. And attention was given to one lucky woman who celebrated a milestone on Monday. Nettie Hardin celebrated her 85th Birthday at the banquet, as the wife of BCCD Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles Hardin was serenaded by the crowd with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday”.

Afterward, Rev. Miller told the Voice that the evening’s events were a fine way for people of all faiths and all walks of life to come to the table to celebrate. “Our county’s conservation district is the biggest in the state for being the largest group for our population, and the best organized group. And it’s a real way for all of the churches to work together. To look at this crowd assembled here from the 100 churches who belong to our organization is more and more satisfying to see every day.”

Voice Reporter Harold Deaton contributed to this story.

Ah, Spring…can you dig it? - Andrews get gardeners ready for planting

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:43:55 +0000

By Jeff Noble

Voice Editor

The fever that is Spring has gone full-tilt in Breathitt County these days. The fever that is Spring has gone full-tilt in Breathitt County these days.And what better way for folks to find out about the fantastic flowers and plants they can grow than to listen to the woman who goes all-out to get down and dirty in the Good Earth. “It’s an annual rite of renewal. Everybody wants to get out and enjoy the outdoors,” said Mary Andrews, who’s Assistant Manager and Certified Nursery Woman for the Lawn and Garden Section of Jackson True Value Hardware. ”Most people like plants, and after being cooped up all Winter long, they want to get outside.” In fact, Mary went one further on the fascination with Spring planting. “It’s very satisfying to get out and dig in the dirt. I’d rather dig in the flower beds, than to clean up my bedroom.”

Andrews was one of those who conducted seminars during “Farm, Home and Family Night” at Breathitt High School back on Thursday, April 17th. Some 13 persons attended the first of her two seminars that evening on “Tips for the Home Landscape-Using New and Old Favorites”. And after the frosty weather we had earlier last week, there was some concern about those plants. No worry, said Andrews. “I didn’t have much out, and I haven’t heard about any damages. Fortunately with the (National) Weather Service here in Jackson, people who are concerned about frost and forecasts can now get first-hand information quickly.”

As the seminar began, Mary asked the crowd what was the biggest mistake people make at this time of year in the garden. “Being afraid of trying something. It’s your yard. And if a plant should die, no big deal. Replace it. Experiment. Use your instincts, and pay attention to your plants.” Adding that “plants have been coming in left and right to the store lately,” Andrews reminded listeners that despite her years of experience, she still learns something new every day. “I’ve been in the landscape business for over 20 years. The plant world is huge, and I’m finding new things out there, too. Just like you.”

Quoting them the old saying “Less is More”, Mary showed them a few tools that do the trick in the garden. “They’re basically simple tools you’d use everyday.” And she also showed other tricks about mulching, having a compost pile available, using tarps, and also using knee pads, “especially if you’re on the sidewalks and on the rocks.” Wrapping up that portion of her talk, Andrews pointed out one other conveinent tool that’s been around recently. “It’s my power blower. I use it around the beds, and the plants to clear things off them, and to keep areas free of debris. I use it in the Winter, the Summer, the Spring and the Fall.”

The talk morphed into another area of what people came to the seminar for - plants. “This year, people are looking for smaller plants and easy-care plants. Overall, they want more manageable plants,” noted Mary as she picked up a few of the sample plants she brought to the meeting. “People like to plant Evergreens and Decicuous plants. They love their shrubs. But there’s three things you need to remember.”

Andrews paused and continued. “First, you always want to have an Evergreen in the plant bed, because they’ll be some greenery year-round. Second, read your tags on the plants. Most of them will have information on sun exposure and heartiness, which will tell you how much cold temperatures they can take. And third, remember about the difference between Perennials and Annuals. Perennials are plants that come back every year, while Annuals are the plants you put out every year.”

She then picked up one of the new plants available this year - a beautiful red Encore Azalea - which was met with “oohs” and “aahhs” from the crowd. It whetted their appetite to learn more at the “Farm, Home and Family Night’, and to get out there and grow something. “I’m asked what gets me out in the garden,” said Cathy Hayes, who lives on Panbowl Road. “It’s simple. Flowers. And I really have bad soil, so it’s a struggle with me…I love being outside. Just as soon as the weather breaks, I look at the plants.”

“I just enjoy the fruits of it. I like the growing, and the eating, too,” added Eugene Cundiff of Haddix. His wife Mary picked up where he left off. “We’ve been married 40 years, and I can’t imagine not having a garden. The food just tastes better, and the scenery is breathtaking.”

For Marcia Swartzentruber of Carpenter’s Branch, the time down in the dirt is a cure for the common blahs. “It’s therapeutic. I love it. I love the Lillies of the Valley, and the Perennials. It makes me forget about everything else, and best of all, you can see the results.”

Mary’s seminar was just one of several at the event, which was sponsored by the Breathitt County Extension Service. Other seminars included Home Vegetable Gardening, Beekeeping, a Nutrition Update, Starting a Greenhouse, and Home Fruit Production. A total of 16 organizations set up exhibits in the hallways of the school, and the hundreds who attended were treated to a meal of barbecue, fresh fruits and vegetables, and desserts.

It happens every Spring - Howells grow glory in greenhouses

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:39:59 +0000

By Jeff Noble

Voice Editor

You could say it was a glorious start to a fine Spring day a couple of Fridays ago.

There was nary a cloud in the sky as the sun beamed down brightly in the background. Despite the chill at that early hour of the morning, neither Jeff nor Shannon Howell cared about the nip in the air.

Neither did their dogs, Ginger and Bella. Both canines were hot on the scent of a stranger as they hung around a nearby shed. “Must have been a mouse go through there last night,” noted Shannon, who was ready to take in the folks who would take a little of their time to visit the greenhouses she and Jeff own and operate.

The gates were opened up a few minutes earlier, as Jeff took the keys to unlock them at exactly 9 o’clock. Ship-shape and in pristine condition, the greenhouses and the little “Daisy Depot” where an assortment of plants and other goodies are sold, awaited the traveler from Michigan, or the neighbor from Middle Fork.

Spring was busting loose.

At the seams.

“There was a survey that said looking at flowers reduces stress, after an ugly, depressing Winter,” commented Shannon as she stood on the deck of the “Daisy Depot”. “I think people are ready to spruce their homes up.” Both she and Jeff have had their greenhouses on their property north of Jackson, next to Highway 15 for five years now, but it’s just their third year of being open to the public.

And in the process, they’ve learned a few things about their customers. “Women call of course,” Shannon added, “but we have men here too. Some of them had drawings of their yards and flower beds, all ready to do the work when they got here.”

Always a favorite with outdoor fans, ferns continue to be a big seller for the Howells. “And we’ve got ferns for shade and full-view. Plus we have what they call the ‘Patio Pots’, which are plants already made up in a big pot. The flowers are already grown in there,” Shannon said as she showed a visitor the huge oversized outdoor chair built by Mark Marshall. She also showed where they grow plants for raising food. “At this time of year, we’re also getting and selling a lot of cabbage and tomatoes.”

Now joined by Jeff and Mark, Shannon asks the visitor if they’d like to purchase one of “Jolie’s Lotion Potions” - lotions in different scents made by the Howell’s six-year-old daughter, Jolie. Marshall puts some of the lotion on his hands, rubs them down, and looks at the big spread outside. “Springtime? I enjoy setting out the plants and flowers, but I sure don’t enjoy pulling the weeds!” Laughing as he finished, Mark can be proud of the greenhouse wonderland, because he built it. From the greenhouses to the Daisy Depot, from the oversized chair to a whole lot more, his signature can be found on the work he’s done.

And he is. “Look around this place,” Marshall wondered aloud. “It’s peaceful.”

“We get a mix of people from all over - Perry, Morgan and other counties. Plus people from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan stop by,” Jeff said, as he and his wife walked with the visitor to one of the greenhouses. “When people come back to Breathitt County to visit family, they stop here. They’ll buy pots, and we’ll put plants in there for them. It reminds them of home.”

And one of the ways that taste of home is brought back to them is from the seeds that grow their own food, says Shannon. “People still make their own canned food. Some even make their own kraut. Your home-grown tomatoes that come from the tomato plants we grow and sell here definitely taste better, as well as the melons and cucumbers and a small selection of herbs we have. One thing about growing your own food, you can’t get a lot of those varieties at the grocery store.”

While most folks marvel at the beauty and bounty these plants give out, there are a few who find great delight in some of their names, like the ‘Sassy Ferns”. Shannon and Jeff were asked if those ferns talked back to their owners. “No, they don’t talk back to you, but they sure grow pretty for you. And we’ve got plants this year called ‘Hens and Chicks’. Now, they’re small plants that reproduce sort of like, well, hens and little baby chicks.”

And if someone didn’t clean their ears out, you’d think the word “Impatiens” came out to be “Impatience”. But they’re popular, and according to Shannon, there’s a new group of impatiens. “This year, we have Impatiens plants that will now take the sun. The old ones in the past had to be planted in the shade.” And for proof, there in the section of the greenhouse they were in, under the big sign marked “Shade Loving Annuals”, were some Sun and Shade Impatiens, with their bright deep reds and luscious green leaves.

It was worth getting a picture of them. And this time the camera lens didn’t fog up, due to the humidity inside the greenhouse. So the snapshot, like the plants, was “picture perfect”.

Much like the setup the Howells have made of the farmland they own. Jeff said the decision to build and run a greenhouse has grown - much like the plants they raise - beyond their wildest dreams. “We wanted to find ways to utilize our farm besides growing tobacco and hay. We’d never have thought we’d fill this up.”

But they have. Today that farm includes three full greenhouses and one “plug” greenhouse, which Shannon explained why that particular house is called that. “That greenhouse is a little warmer, and more humid. And that’s where we grow the seeds that grow into the ‘plugs’ that go in the ground, which become the plants.”

Yep, it happens every Spring. The need to get out there and grow something is one of the best gifts to give this fine Earth, and to give to yourself and others. This new season has gotten off to a glorious start, and while Jeff and Shannon Howell are stocked ready for customers, she reminds them that their plants, like Spring itself, will ultimately come and go. “We’re usually open from mid-April to mid-June, but we suggest they come in early. After all, it’s gonna be a short season.”

VOICE News Briefs

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:38:37 +0000

Hung jury declared in murder trial

A hung jury was declared Tuesday in the trial of two Breathitt County parents accused of the death of their toddler son. That means Robert and Karen Miller will face a new trial, with a new pre-trial conference set for next Friday, May 9th. The jury could not decide if the Millers’ actions were criminal. The couple were on trial for the death of their eleven-month-old son, Braxton Jamayne Miller, after he died of a Methadone overdose last June. Campbell in serious condition after 4-wheeler crash

A local man remains hospitalized in Lexington after injuries suffered when the 4-wheeler he was riding was involved in an accident around 5:40 p.m. Sunday afternoon on River Caney Hill. Josh Campbell remains listed in serious but stable condition at the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington. Relatives of Campbell told the Voice that Campbell suffered broken ribs, a broken vertabrae, and had lung damage. They also said that Campbell had stretched his spine, had surgery on the front part of his body Monday, and was expected to have surgery on the back part of his body either late Monday or Tuesday. After a crew from Tran-Star Ambulance brought Campbell from the accident scene to Lost Creek, he was transported by helicopter to the hospital in Lexington.

Combs gets seven years for attempted arson

A Breathitt Countian originally accused of attempted murder will now spend seven years behind bars for attempted arson. 38-year-old Jerry Iseral Combs was arrested last summer after pleading guilty to setting his ex-wife’s home in Vancleve on fire. Combs was formally sentenced last Friday before Breathitt Circuit Court Judge Frank A. Fletcher.

Lenae Shouse chooses University of the Cumberlands

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:37:18 +0000

By James David Fugate

Voice Sports

brvoice@yahoo.com

Lenae Shouse, Breathitt County LadyCats’ colorful senior, has chosen The University of the Cumberlands to further her athletic and academic careers.

One of the LadyCats’ most memorable players made it official at the BHS Library Wednesday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. after turning down numerous other offers.

Many were on hand to witness the celebratory occasion, including BCS administrators, teachers, teammates, well-wishers and numerous members of the media.

Shouse led her team to back-to-back regional championships, and an opening round win in the 2008 Houchens Industries Girls’ Sweet Sixteen. Named MVP of the 14th Regional Tourney, the 1000-point plus LadyCat was also invited to the KY all-star tryout and finished in the top 20. The hard-working senior, who made life-altering improvements between her junior and senior seasons, was also named to the Coaches All-State Honorable Mention Team.

Shouse, who’s never met a stranger, stated she was impressed with Cumberland and expected to see playing time in her freshman season.

“We have the potential”, by Bobby Deaton

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:36:15 +0000

Barbara and I frequently drive up to Natural Bridge State Park at Slade and dine at the huge buffet dinner at Hemlock Lodge. The food is usually sumptuous and the atmosphere is good. Often the dining hall is packed on the weekends.

Over the past several years Natural Bridge State Park and the Red River Gorge area has begun to attract increasing numbers of people to their campgrounds and to their rental cabins. Many of these cabins are privately owned. As you drive down the Mountain Parkway at Slade you must have noticed, particularly at night, the many lights of these cabins that set high upon the hillsides of the Mountain Parkway. These cabins can also be found on Route 11 for the first 8-10 miles as you drive toward Beattyville. The Slade area, on a smaller scale of course, is beginning to take on the look of the Smoky Mountain area in attracting recreational minded folks and tourists.

It would appear that rock climbing has become one of the most popular activities that attract people from out of state to the Natural Bridge area. Hundreds of people from all across the country can be found each weekend at the campgrounds and rental cabins. They come by the hundreds to hike and to climb the huge rock cliffs found at Torrent Falls and other areas.

If you are in the Natural Bridge area near Torrent, you can view the death-defying efforts of the rock climbers as they navigate up and across the face of the humongous rock formations found in that area.

It seems most of the rock climbers choose to camp using small tents for shelter. Many of those climbers can be found on Route 11 about a mile before you approach the ramp turning up to Hemlock Lodge. As you view the left hand side of the road, a small meadow will literally be clad with small pup tents. Many of those campers can be observed at a nearby pizza store that seems to be doing a thriving business particularly on the weekends. The nearby parking lot contains cars bearing license plates from all around the United States.

Many others it seems are building small rustic-style cabins in the Natural Bridge and Red River Gorge areas as weekend retreats. Those cabins are constructed on the steep inclines of the hills that often offer a panoramic view of the huge rock formations found in the Red River Gorge area. The rustic wood colors of those structures blend in so well with their natural environment that they often are only noticed at night when they are illuminated.

Powell, Wolfe and Menifee Counties must be getting a real economic boost from the many people who are visiting the Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge areas. Hikers, nature lovers, hunters, rock climbers and regular terrorists are coming in increasing numbers.

It is encouraging to see our Fiscal Courts beginning to realize that perhaps our best hope to improve our local economy and bring in people to our area lies in the tourists business. Breathitt and the surrounding areas offer many natural attributes that people living in large metropolitan areas would find enjoyable it visit. As our nation is becoming increasingly urbanized, people all across America are seeking rural areas where they can enjoy hiking, camping, horseback riding, our wheeling, bird watching, canoeing and simply observing the beauty of natural areas that are found so prevalent in our area.

All of the above activities could be promoted by our governmental units and civic organizations etc. at little cost and perhaps would be our best effort in improving our local economy.

Every tourists or visitor to our area will eat in our restaurants, buy gasoline, stay in our motels, spend in our stores and other commercial institutions, thus improving our economy and creating new jobs.

The recently resigned State Representative from Floyd County, who expedited Greg Stumbo’s return to his old position as a representative, has now emerged as a state employee earning about $60,000 per year. It would seem that Gov. Beshear would have to have been in collusion with Greg Stumbo as this backroom deal was consummated. Gov. Beshear’s shady political deals and incompetent beginning as Kentucky’s Governor is reminiscent of the inept administration of former President Jimmy Carter. Bob Deaton 75 Parson Dr. Jackson, Kentucky 41339

“Don’t Sell Me Short”, by Andy Mitchell

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:35:35 +0000

Apparently, everyone in the country is “going green”. You probably know what I mean by this. “Going Green” has become the slogan for everything environmentally safe and attached to the growing popularity of stopping global warming. Companies big and small, individuals, and sometimes whole states have sacrificed a certain aspect of their lives in lieu of global warming. At the end of the day, after all of the ads, at the end of all the programs, will it really matter or is it too late? I completely agree with being environmentally friendly. I believe that we have a responsibility to not only ourselves and the planet that provides for us everything we need to survive, but to the coming generations of people that will be affected by our actions forever. It makes perfect sense to conserve the resources we have, search for alternative, renewable, and less polluting forms of energy, and to be aware of our impact upon the Earth. I came across an ad for a powerful energy company recently. It stated that they were finding alternative fuels, creating less of an impact upon the Earth, and “going green”. On the surface, this looks great. Then I thought, “Why would they all of a sudden care so much about the environment?” It seems to me that if they were truly interested in the health of the planet and its peoples, they would have been doing this from the very start. I know, as companies, their main goal is to make a profit. I understand this. However, if being environmentally friendly is so expensive, why would they ever do it, unless it’s just a scheme to get people to buy their products or to improve their image as a “green” company? And if it is not hurting them financially and is cheap to go “green”, why haven’t they done it since the start? It seems to me that all these companies are jumping on the bandwagon of public fear and feeling over global warming. Quite literally, Captain Planet and the Planeteers talked about the being environmentally-friendly way back in the early nineties. And how long have people been telling you to “Please Recycle?” It just goes to show that these issues are not new. The theory of Global Warming (and it’s becoming more and more of a theory each time a polar icecap melts, much to the dismay of non-believers) has been around for quite some time now. It’s just that it took these ideas awhile to become popular. If companies really cared about the environment, they would have been at the forefront of modern environmentally-safe practices for years. If they really cared, they wouldn’t have needed the support of Americans everywhere to do the right thing. Instead, we have many companies jumping on the “cool” bandwagon of “going green”. It seems like a good idea, and they really might be sincere in their endeavors. However, it seems a bit suspicious. -Cheers

“Are our public schools better today? - The Coleman Report Revisited”, by Owen Collins

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:34:34 +0000

This is a column on public education in general and is not meant as a reflection on any particular school or system. My wife, Janice, who is my editor-in-house, said this column was okay but not many would be interested in this topic. I think she is right, as usual.

I have a friend, slightly older than I, who told me that when he was a boy that he never told his parents when he got a spanking in school, for his father promised him another one when he got home, and he was as certain as the sun rises that his Father would deliver.

Contrastingly, when I was superintendent in Pendleton County, we had a first grader who questioned the ancestry of our principal and we had to hire a personal aide at $7,500 per school year to escort this hoodlum to prevent him from assaulting personnel or other students because he had been labeled “Learning challenged,” although he had enough sense to threaten us with his lawyer.

During this past winter, within one week, three female teachers, in separate instances, were indicted in the Tampa Public Schools for having sex with students, on and off campus, one as young as 15. Arriving back in Kentucky, I picked up the Lexington Herald-Leader and here was another one.

But, some defend this by saying, “Women have their rights, too!” But, I say, “Bull——; such simply shows how far we have slipped as a society!”

Montel Williams said on national television on Sunday, April 27 that 50% of the students in public high schools never graduate.

“Anecdotal,” some will criticize my remarks, but George Will writing in the Cincinnati Enquirer on April 24, 2008, in an article entitled, “Our schools slip ever further as we keep denying social issues,” He states that nationally 36.9 percent of all children and 69.9 percent of black children are born out of wedlock, a phenomenon that causes all kinds of problems for public schools.

Referring to the Coleman Report of 1966 which concluded that family influence had much greater impact on the quality of education than the amount of money spent, he claims that we have largely ignored this crucial finding, focusing instead on larger teacher salaries and smaller class sizes, National Education Association’s major planks toward improving quality.

He says that schools for decades have been treated as laboratories for social experiments such as trying to narrow the achievement gap between whites and blacks. Open classrooms, teachers as facilitators of learning, and multiculturalism are other fads promoted by NEA, as well as promotion of the gay agenda.

Now a study shows a majority of high school seniors cannot locate the Civil War in the proper half century. And many A students in high school have to take remedial classes if they opt to go to college.

He claims that the law, No Student Left Behind, got it backwards. The law should have set high achievement standards and left it up to local districts how best to achieve such, but instead, allowed states and local districts to rewrite the standards, resulting in a dumbing down of standards so they can more easily be met. Will closes by saying: a Nation at Risk? Now, more than ever!