Body of Accident Victim Found Near Wooded Area Search Is Underway
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Your Hometown Newspaper since 1949 Albany, KY 42602 - Single Copy 50¢ Thursday, February 2, 2012 Phone: 606-387-5144 - Email: [email protected] - USPS 118-480 One Section • 16 pages Between Lake Cumberland & Dale Hollow Lake Volume 62 • Number 16 Casey Burchett’s car found in nearby pond on Sunday morning Body of accident victim found near wooded area A tragic accident that occured either late When offi cials arrived on the scene Sunday Saturday night or early Sunday morning has morning, a car was almost completely submerged claimed the life of a young Clinton County in the pond according to Clinton County Sheriff woman. Rick Riddle. The body of Casey Burchett, 24, of Albany Riddle said the bumper of the vehicle came off was found dead Monday morning after more before it entered the pond. After a licensing plate than 24 hours of searching in the Huntersville check, Riddle then confi rmed the vehicle belonged Community. to Burchett. The call reporting the discovery of Burchett’s “We got the call of a car in a pond around 9:30 body was made to the Clinton County Dispatch or 10,” Riddle said. “We got the car pulled out and Center just before 9:00 a.m. Monday. there was nobody in it. We then began to drain the Deputy Coroner and EMS Director Lonnie pond and search for her in the pond.” Scott said he pronounced the death of Burchett at Burchett was driving a red 2001 Pontiac Grand 9:15 Monday morning, January 30. Am when the vehicle left the roadway, traveled The orginal call was made by Ronnie Cowan through a fence and into a pond. Sunday morning after he had spotted a portion of The pond was situated just a few yards from the car above the water in a pond. the road. The scene of the accident was on the Huntersville Riddle said he guessed the pond to be 200 feet Road, about a mile west of the intersection with wide by 200 feet long and could have been 15 feet U.S. 127 in southern Clinton County, about four miles south of Albany. See BURCHETT, page 10 Emergency personnel, vehicles and lighting equipment are shown above surround- ing a pond Monday morning on the Huntersville Road, near where the body of Casey Burchett was discovered. The pond was drained Sunday after her vehicle was spotted in the water. Search is underway Below, the Pontiac Burchett was driving can be seen as it was lifted from the water by a boom wrecker on Sunday, as the search for Burchett fi rst began. for superintendent The lengthy process of choosing a new school about 20 superintendent searches (out of 179 superintendent somewhat unoffi cially began last school districts) are done each year, but added Wednesday afternoon when the Clinton County there seemed to be more superintendents retiring Board of Education held about a one-hour “work or leaving their posts this year. session” type meeting with a Kentucky School Superintendent Mickey McFall, who has Boards Association representative, who fi lled served the longest of any superintendent in the the board in on the entire process of how a super- past 30 years, announced in December he would intendent is chosen, as well as recommendations be retiring effective June 30 of this year. He will on how to proceed and conduct the search. have served more than 10 years in the position Grover “Butch” Canty, former Superin- and over 27 years total with the school system. tendent of Schools in Ohio County, who now Canty asked the board members some ques- works for the KSBA in assisting school boards tions as well about the process and basically had in the search process, addressed the board--all of them to fi ll in the blanks on some issues, such as whom were present--and fi elded questions they a time line for advertising, dates the screening had about the entire process. committee--once in place--would be required The board, at its regular meeting earlier in to meet and when board members themselves January, had opted to contract with the KSBA could conduct interviews with applicants. for their assistance in the superintendent search It is thought that at least nine or more people process. Canty told board members that on average, See SEARCH, page 10 Dress code issue brings parents out to Stearns is second to SBDMC meeting at Clinton Middle fi le for Circuit Clerk The regular fi ling deadline offi ce of Clinton Circuit Court The Clinton County Middle School as anywhere from 20-30 cases of students beginning of the year. for candidates to be named on Clerk. Stearns, a former employ- Site Based Decision Making Council held with holes in their jeans have been reported “Students are to avoid extremes and are the upcoming May 2012 primary ee in that offi ce, fi led against in- a special call meeting Thursday night, to Principal Pam Bale. Bale stated in the to dress appropriately for the occasion. ballot has now passed. The dead- cumbent Jake Staton. Those are January 26. previous weeks that several students have Students should feel a responsibility to line in most cases was scheduled the only two seeking the offi ce The meeting was called to address the been purposely cutting holes in their jeans present an appearance that will refl ect for 4 p.m. local prevailing time and since both are Republicans, dress code policy that is in place at the in order to get out of doing classroom favorably on themselves, their home this past Tuesday, January 31. the primary winner will basically middle school. work. and their school. Students, faculty and Only a handful of candidates be the elected clerk for the next More than 20 parents were on hand At fi ve p.m. Thursday, the meeting was school employees are expected to wear will be on the upcoming spring six year term. Thursday night to hear the council and to called to order with all members present. appropriate dress not only at school, but ballot in many counties across Persons seeking the offi ce of voice their opinion on the matter. Principal and SBDMC Chair Bale started also at all school sponsored activities. the state, including Clinton Circuit Court Clerk must take As it is now, the middle school’s policy by reading the board’s policy on civility. Students should adhere to the following County. However, there will be and pass a state mandated test on having holes in pants/jeans is a zero Following the reading of the board’s guidelines; No holes in jeans or pants at least one contested race on the in order to be eligible to fi le for tolerance policy. The uproar about this policy, Bale read the wardrobe policy that ballot in May. policy has come within the past two weeks is sent home with every student at the See JEANS, page 6 Kathy Stearns has fi led for the See STEARNS, page 10 Over 200 on hand to hear Blue Grass Stockyards’ Akers The Cattlemen’s Association Group, Jim Akers, to speak to held its monthly meeting last the ag communities of Clinton, week and more than 200 people Wayne and Cumberland Counties were in attendance at the Clinton about the new construction of the County Fairgrounds Tuesday Albany Bluegrass Stockyards night. facility. Construction continues in the Snow Community of central Cilnton County on The association sponsored a The new facility is currently the Blue Grass Stockyards facility. More than 200 people from Clinton, Cumber- meal for those attending and the under construction in the Snow main focus of the meeting was Community of Clinton County, land and Wayne County’s cattle communities attended a meeting last week to hear for Chief Operating Offi cer of the Jim Akers, Chief Operating Offi cer for Blue Grass Livetock Marketing Group. Blue Grass Livestock Marketing See AKERS, page 13 Sports Inside Inside Weather Last Year Showers possible on Headlines from the Dawgs New federal What if? front page one year ago: a daily basis through advance to guidelines Readers the weekend, with It’s been a tough the greatest chance winter, but crews are ready for more 18-3 with for Write: coming on Saturday. win over CDL drivers Tammy Winter weather Highs in the mid 50s has forced schools Monticello explained McClellan with lows in the low 40s. to miss 13 days so far See pages 7 See page 10 See page 12 Page 2 Clinton County News Thursday, February 2, 2012 PEOPLE Happy Anniversary Intrepid hosts “Paint the Town Red” Library To raise awareness among lo- ness by signing a proclamation, activities are in partnership Mark Wayne Phillips cal women that heart disease is proclaiming February 3rd as Na- with The Heart Truth, a national You are an their number one health threat to- tional Wear Red Day in Albany. awareness campaign warn- Notes amazing man whom day, Intrepid USA Home Health By joining together we can raise ing women about their risk of will host “Paint the Town Red.” awareness locally about heart heart disease. The campaign by: Gayla Duvall I love more and more What’s new at the Clinton every passing day. The event will take place on disease and help lead women on is sponsored by the National National Wear Red Day, Friday, the path to prevention.” Heart, Lung and Blood Institute County Public Library: Feb. 3, 2012 at Intrepid Home National Wear Red Day is a (NHLBI), part of the National Private: #1 Suspect by James Love you always, Patterson; Love in a Nutshell by Wendy Health, 723 Burkesville Rd., day when Americans nationwide Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S.