MARRIAGE NOT HORSING BUILDERS AROUND F ederally funded agency’s aim A laska boy with unique illness has is to help couples. INSIDE, Page 6A service animal to match. INSIDE, Page 7B The Wednesday Gleaner March 27, 2013 HENDERSON, KENTUCKY © No. 74, 129th year 75¢ Down on the farm Lawmakers strike accord on pensions ■■ T hayer: This will avert a looming fiscal catastrophe By Roger Alford plan, just hours before the Associated Press end of this year’s legisla- tive session. The proposal FRANKFORT — A pension to create the alternative system that had become retirement plan was ap- so financially troubled that proved as a separate mea- it weakened Kentucky’s sure; it cleared the Senate credit rating would be 32-6 and the House 70-28. shored up under legisla- “It is my opinion that tion approved by the Leg- this will avert a looming islature on Tuesday. fiscal catastrophe,” said The proposal now goes Senate Floor Leader Da- to Gov. Steve Beshear, who mon Thayer, the George- played a lead role in craft- town Republican who has DARRIN PHEGLEY / THE GLEANER ing it, to be signed into law. been working on the pen- Spottsville Elementary students, from left, Libby Butler, Jada Voyles, and Brayden Butler giggle at the sensation they feel when The legislation would sion issue for years. they put their fingers in the cow milking machine at the Agriculture Adventures program Tuesday morning. Parent volunteer provide nearly $100 mil- Beshear and legislative Beth Frederick holds the machine at left. Owensboro Museum of Science and History brought the program to the school. lion a year to make the leaders had been trying state’s required contribu- for the past three weeks tion to the pension plans of to develop a revenue bill state government employ- that rank-and-file lawmak- ees. It also would create ers would support. a 401(k)-like retirement What they ended up plan for new employees with was a 228-page bill in an effort to protect the that tweaked the state’s pension plans of current tax code to generate some employees and retirees. $63 million while pulling The House voted 82-17 another $33 million from for the proposal. The Sen- other sources to make the ate voted 35-3 on Tuesday evening for the funding See PENSION, 8A Hallie McCracken squeezes the teat as she and other students Science educator Meredith Hall, top, instructs Spottsville Commission approves at Spottsville Elementary School learn how to milk a cow, Elementary first-graders Cameron Wilson, right, and Joe Kyle, grind wheat, plant seed, and many other agriculture related center, how to use a mortar and pestle to grind wheat during chores during Agriculture Adventures at the school Tuesday. Hall’s Agriculture Adventures program. new-business position By Frank Boyett new businesses here or to [email protected] expand existing ones. Be- Parks director vindicates golf course manager 270-831-8342 cause Richey will continue to have some of her regular By Frank Boyett outside in However, there have been last year has met the per- The city of Henderson’s duties in the Codes Divi- [email protected] the weather many golfers and members formance expectations and new business development sion, he said, she may on 270-831-8342 when it has of the general public over exceeded in some catego- liaison may feel tugged occasion feel a little split historically the past year contact my of- ries per the contract agree- in opposite directions down the middle. “There Municipal Golf Course been stored fice with compliments and ment,” Gilliam concluded, at times, the Henderson are going to be times she’s manager Brandon Potts re- in the equip- praise for the changes seen adding that she recom- City Commission was told going to be rooting for the ceived a clean bill of health ment shed at the course. mends “continued service Tuesday as it approved developer and maybe pit- Tuesday by the Henderson where Potts “I am not aware of the by the current golf course creation of the new posi- ted against the codes de- City Commission after now rents Brandon Henderson Golf Alliance manager.” tion. partment.” some salty allegations had private golf Potts group and would welcome As for the destruction of The change upgrades But Newman said she been made against him cart space?” any suggestions they may the staircase, Gilliam said the administrative secre- was the best fit for the job during a meeting March 26. Cunningham asked. have to make improve- there is no record of those tary position in the city and “probably the most An audience of about 30 “The alienation of the ments.” limestone slabs “being of Codes Division currently qualified. Unless you live of his supporters left im- golfers continues. It’s all Some of the improve- historic nature or their held by Theresa Richey, it and breathe it every day mediately afterward. about money for Brandon ments made during Potts’ installation date.” They which will boost her sal- … it is cumbersome. It’s Mark Cunningham, who Potts. Please stop Potts be- administration, she said, in- were removed and used to ary about $2,000 annu- almost overwhelming” to said he represented the fore he does more damage.” cluded installing a practice improve the No. 9 ladies’ ally. Part of her current try to develop projects in Henderson Golf Alliance, But an investigation putting green and an out- tee box. secretarial duties will fall almost any community if alleged last month that made by city Parks and door patio; upgrading of tee And the “gaping hole” to one of the Codes Divi- you’re not doing it all the Potts had “left a gaping hole Recreation Director Emily boxes; providing senior tees; Cunningham referred to, sion’s two part-time office time, he said. in the course” when he tore Gilliam said Cunningham’s and making repairs on hole she said, has been filled in assistants, converting the Newman said Richey is out a century-old staircase, allegations have “no basis No. 6, as well as building a after an irrigation line was chosen half-time job to a “going to be our eyes and which Cunningham called that is seen by this depart- new cart path on hole No. 9. installed. full-time secretarial posi- ears and our leadership “an abomination, ” and ment,” according to her Furthermore, she said, It is within the course tion. to help” developers, esti- also alleged that Potts has five-page written report Potts has provided a free manager’s discretion Assistant City Manager mating it will take about 30 done such things as have that addressed each point youth clinic and lessons whether to open the course William “Buzzy” New- days to get the program up city employees work in individually. every Friday and started a on “golf-friendly days,” she man said the idea behind and running. the privately run pro shop, “Not one single com- Junior League and a Sun- said. “The Parks and Rec- the new position is to have “We’re feeling our way and closed the course “on plaint has been received day couples scramble with reation office has received someone in city govern- through this process with perfectly golf friendly days. by this office pertaining tournaments. no calls or complaints from ment who is both an advo- this job,” Commissioner “Why is the valuable to the management of “The management of the public about the course cate and an assistant for city equipment sitting Municipal Golf Course. the golf course over the being closed this winter.” those wanting to develop See COMMIssION, 8A INDEX T rasH PICK-UP ADVICE, 6B There will be no city Man dies after getting stuck BUSINESS, 5B online residential trash collection TV SCHEDULES, COMICS, IN www.TheGleaner.com on Friday because the city CLASSIFIEDS of Henderson observes Good S in water on rural county road CROSSWORDS, Friday. IN CLASSIFIEDS The normal Friday routes 46˚/28˚ will be collected with By Erin Schmitt on Tillman Bethel Road. Friday about a truck stuck DEATHS, 2A Partly sunny and chilly Thursday’s collection. If [email protected] The water was close to in water on Tillman Bethel LOCAL & REGION, 3A today, high in the mid- you are normally scheduled 270-831-8341 chest deep on Marks when Road with the driver side the deputy located him ly- LOTTERIES, 2A 40s; low tonight upper for Friday collection, have door open, Harmon said. A your trash set out by 6 a.m. The body of a 70-year- ing on the side of the road. deputy was sent to check MOVIE TIMES, 6B 20s. Partly sunny and Thursday. old Henderson man was Tillman Bethel Road on it, but the water was too SPORTS, 1B-4B warmer Thursday, high Also, the landfill/transfer discovered by a Hender- had flooded sometime on deep, so the rescue squad SUDOKU,D 6B in the low 50s. station will be closed on son County sheriff’s dep- Friday, and Marks’ truck was notified. No one was Full forecast, 8B Friday. It will reopen for uty Sunday morning, two apparently had stalled discovered during a search normal operations at 7 a.m. days after the man’s truck in the water. It appeared by rescue squad personnel. Saturday. got stuck in floodwaters. Marks had attempted to Marks had been stay- Printed partially The city’s curbside recycling Deputy Terry Harmon walk out, Harmon said. ing with his sister in on recycled program will operate as said he found the body Marks did not have a Spottsville at the time of paper usual this week.