PLAY BALL! to Put Biblical Teaching Back in the Classrooms
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Your Hometown Newspaper since 1949 Albany, KY 42602 - Single Copy 50¢ Thursday, March 15, 2012 Phone: 606-387-5144 - Email: [email protected] - USPS 118-480 One Section • 16 pages Between Lake Cumberland & Dale Hollow Lake Volume 62 • Number 22 State audit fi nds host of problems with county bookkeeping practices State Auditor Adam Edelen has released the audit of the fi nancial compliance with laws, regulations, contracts and grants. The auditor $97,413 to be used for the purchase of cardiac monitors. The county statements of the Clinton County Fiscal Court for the fi scal year must also comment on material weaknesses involving the internal did not advertise for and obtain bids for the cardiac monitors. ended June 30, 2011. State law requires annual audits of county fi s- control over fi nancial operations and reporting. KRS 424.260 states “Except where a statute specifi cally fi xes a cal courts. The audit contains the following comments: larger sum as the minimum for a requirement of advertisement for The audit found that the county’s fi nancial statements, in all * The fi scal court should advertise for and award bids in ac- bids, no city, county, or district, or board or commission of a city material respects, fairly present the county’s assets, liabilities, and cordance with KRS 424.260 and the county’s administrative code. or county, or sheriff or county clerk, may make a contract, lease, or net assets arising from cash transactions and revenues received and During the review of expenditures, we noted one instance during other agreement for materials, supplies except for perishable meat, expenditures paid in conformity with the modifi ed cash basis of ac- which bids were not obtained as required by KRS 424.260 or were fi sh and vegetables, equipment, or for contractual services other than counting. not awarded in accordance with the county’s administrative code. As part of the audit process, the auditor must comment on non- The Clinton County Fiscal Court received a federal grant totaling See AUDIT, page 5 With winter nearing an end, it’s time to get outside and ... School board hears request PLAY BALL! to put Biblical teaching back in the classrooms Clinton County Board of Education dealt with again asked “why can’t we put the Bible back in a request for putting Biblical teaching back in the school?” classroom, a student discipline issue and other The group also presented the board a petition items of business at its regular monthly meeting that was gathered recently containing some 1,671 Monday evening. All members except Goldie names of individuals who had agreed that the Bible Stonecipher were present for the over one-and-a- should be taught in the local schools. half hour session, which included a closed session Guthrie also questioned who determined which prior to adjournment. text books were used by students in the school The board approved two leave of absences, district. including a medical leave to Susan Pierce from Supt. McFall briefl y explained the process, not- March 7 through August 7 and a family medical ing the state forwarded a list of text books available leave to Marcie Aaron from February 21 through per curriculums and a committee of local educators May 15. decided which texts to use in each subject area. For After voting to pay claims and bills, Superinten- example, if math text books were needed, the com- dent Mickey McFall gave the monthly personnel mittee would consist largely of math teachers. report, which included the following: Substitute Guthrie suggested, other than teaching Bibli- teacher--Sandra Denney; Certifi ed hired--Nathan cal courses, that there should also be morals class Garner, assistant baseball coach at the middle taught for girls and boys at each school; noted she school; Classifi ed hired--Russell Baker, assistant was in favor of the paddle saying teachers should baseball coach at the middle school and Mike Ri- be able to have control of their classrooms and gney, custodian at Albany Elementary. a dress code not only for students but faculty as Barbara Guthrie and other representatives with well. her then addressed the board members, requesting Supt. McFall noted that he and CCHS Princi- at fi rst that the Bible be taught in school, as part pal Sheldon Harlan had already been discussing Spring sports of required history. “Students don’t know exactly a possible elective class to incorporate a Biblical how our nation came about,” Guthrie said, adding type course. Also, board members noted that there underway that despite what some government offi cials say, were organizations in the schools such as the 180 she believes the United States is still a Christian Club, FCA and others available, as well as Albany at C.C.H.S., nation. Elementary having voluntary morning prayer. She fi rst presented hand-outs to the board mem- The superintendent, in noting an elective course youth league bers, Supt. McFall and Board Attorney Lindsey may be possible, also said that faculty and admin- Bell, apparently indicating that Kentucky law al- istrators encouraged students to be respectful and baseball lowed Biblical type teaching. that there was a dress code in place. He also noted In her address to the board, Guthrie said that signups begin school children are not being taught morals and See SCHOOLS, page 9 this Saturday This week marks the beginning of spring sports in Clinton County and with the high school baseball, softball City council gets projects and tennis teams taking the courts and fi elds, Saturday Top, fi rst year Head Coach Patrick Stalcup, No. 1, talked with will mark the fi rst of several update, discuss traffi c issues his team Monday before the opening game’s fi rst pitch. Clinton youth league sign ups for the County hosted Clay County, Tenn., but failed to pick up a win, upcoming baseball season. Albany City Council held its monthly meeting Also on a motion by Delk, they voted to approve 6-5. This season for the last Tuesday, March 6 with fi ve of six members a budget amendment to transfer $15,000 from the Above, volunteer Jared Bertram put the fi nishing touches on youngsters will be somewhat present and general items of business being dis- Municipal Road Aid Fund to the city street depart- the pitcher’s mound in preparation for Monday’s opening game different as the league this year cussed. ment. The funds will be used to repair and fi x roads while assistant Coach Nick Irwin, below, prepared the infi eld. The is going independent, rather The council fi rst heard a progress report from in the area around the new Dollar General Market Bulldogs hosted Pickett County, Tenn. on Tuesday and will host than being directly affi liated Monarch Engineer David Bowles, who noted that store, primarily the Nolan Subdivision area and Casey County on Thursday, March 15, 2012. with the Little League national water lines should begin being moved soon in the Conner Street. orgnization. south Albany area to accommodate the U.S. 127 Mayor Nicky Smith noted the construction Albany Independent bypass project. company was aiding in repairs to the Conner Street Baseball and Softball President Bids have already been awarded to Southern area. Turk Polston said it was simply Backhoe, Inc. for utility relocation in the second The council then entered into a brief eight-min- a money issue. and fi nal phases of the bypass project from around ute closed session on personnel but took no offi cial “We had to write the Little Hwy. 1590 west southward to the Tennessee state action upon returning to open session. League franchise a $3,000 line at Static. Work should begin on the second sec- City legal advisor Norb Sohm also informed the check before we hit the fi rst tion in early April. council that the owners of the new Dollar General ball last season,” Polston said. Bids were then opened on a 2003 Ford F350 Market was working on surveys at this time and “We’ve kind of went out on truck that the city had declared surplus. The adver- have agreed to donate some adjoining property at our own this year.” tisement had stipulated a $5,000 minimum bid. the new store--enough for the city to widen and Polston said there will still Only one bid from Jimmy Little had been re- construct a turning lane in that location. be plenty of games and the ceived on the vehicle, but was only for $3,501-- The council also again discussed the high traffi c league will probably continue less than the required minimum. Councilman Tony congestion in the north Albany area, specifi cally to follow Little League rules Delk made a motion to reject the bid, which passed near the Hwy. 1590/U.S. 127 stoplight around by unanimous vote. The council will rebid the ve- See BALL, page 9 hicle and set a $4,000 minimum. See COUNCIL, page 9 Sports Inside Inside Weather Last Year The LAST full week of Headlines from the Bat Dawgs, Hospice Suite CCHS front page one year ago: winter looks more like Racket at Clinton JROTC a spring forecast, with Extended school days begin next week Dawgs Hospital to Bulldog sunny skies Wednesday and highs in the low Wellness Center open get seasons host Open Battalion 80s, a chance of rain for business daily through Sunday, under way House competes with highs in the low Messer named Coach of See pages 7 See page 2 See page 10 70s. the Year in 4th Region Page 2 Clinton County News Thursday, March 15, 2012 PEOPLE www.clintonnews.net Mayor Nicky Smith proclaims 2012 387-4142 to be ‘Year of the Girl’ in Albany Winsett Girl Scouts Centennial Proc- Whereas, the award winning dents; tive members, and Girl Scouts is lamation: A Proclamation De- Girl Scout Leadership Program Whereas, core programs the largest member of the World claring 2012 as the Year of the helps girls discover themselves around Science, Technology, Association of Girl Guides and Girl and Celebrating 100 years and their values, connect with Engineering and Math (STEM), Girl Scouts, a global movement Photography of Girl Scouting.