November 2011
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
“Girls” (Cont. from A8) Serving Rockcastle County Since 1887 Mount Vernon, Kentucky 40456 - (606) 256-2244 Volume 125 • Number 48 .50 per copy Thursday, November 3, 2011 Low voter turnout expected Tuesday in General Election By: Sara Coguer Kentucky Secretary of State Elaine Walker announced this week that the state only expects about a 25% voter turnout for the general election Tuesday. Historically, elections with no county races have had a low voter turnout and, if the primary election in May in Rockcastle County is any indication, the same will be true Tuesday. Only about 10% of registered voters chose to vote (Cont. to A10) Arson suspected at Green Pond Ridge Wildfires are once again popping up in the Green Pond Ridge area of northern Rockcastle County as a result of arsonist activity. Over the last several days, arsonists have set fires in four different locations and, with fire season in full swing, forestry officials are concerned about the po- tential dangers. “Arson is the number one cause of wildfires in our state and a serious issue in southeastern Kentucky,” said Leah MacSwords, director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry. (Cont. to A10) Halloween on Main in MVFD receives Mt. Vernon was a huge success Monday night with an estimated thou- $27,500 grant sand kids and adults making their way The City of Mount Vernon was notified recently that through town to trick or Mount Vernon Fire Department had been awarded a treat with businesses and $27,500 grant by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Secu- organizations. Above, rity. The department applied for this grant earlier in the Ethan, Caitlyn and Chad year, seeking funds to purchase new hydraulic rescue tools Long visited the Kiwanis to be used, along with the two 12-year-old sets currently table while Kiwanis being used. member Eliza York gives (Cont. to A10) out the treats. In the photo at left, Rockcastle Regional Hospital Com- Updates on munity Relations Direc- tor Arielle Reese and Chris and Logan Estes home invasion “clowned” around with the youngsters that vis- ited their table. and I-75 fatality By: Sara Coguer The female victim who was on foot last Wednesday on Fiscal Court/RFA named in lawsuit I-75 when she was struck by a car has been identified. A verified complaint has tions of open records and Northside Inn (lot on Rich- therefore does not fall nder According to state police, Hope Pierce, 25, of Maryville, been filed in Rockcastle Cir- open meetings, violations of mond Street) by the the open records law.” Tennessee was the victim in the incident. The male subject from the domestic dispute that had cuit Court by Michael Kentucky Employee Retire- Rockcastle County Indus- The suit also charges that Sheliga of Mt. Vernon ments System standards, trial Development Author- open records requests to been called into 911 minutes before Pierce was hit has been against the Rockcastle closure of public roads,” by ity. It also alleges that open Carloftis concerning the full identified at Phillip Randy Meade II, 22, of Medora, Indi- ana. Although investigators would like to speak with Meade County Fiscal Court and the court and task force. records and open meeting time status of magistrates Rockcastle County Recre- In the suit, Sheliga al- requests to the task force under the Kentucky Retire- in reference to this incident, he has not been located or talked ation and Wellness Task leges that the court ignored have been denied by ment System have not been to by investigators. No charges are expected to be filed at this time against either Meade or the driver that hit Pierce. Force. his requests for records con- Hopkins who claims that the forthcoming and that the The suit contends that cerning the purchase of the task force is “not affiliated county/judge executive Anyone who witnessed either of the incidents is urged there were “willful viola- Jones Building and the with a public entity and (Cont. to A10) (Cont. to A10) Changes at LVFD Effective November 1st, Livingston Fire & Rescue had a change in leadership, according to a news release from the department. Sam Stallsworth resigned after 13 years as Chief and a total of 24 years of service to the department. After an election, it was decided that Russell Barron would assume the role of Chief on November 1st. According to the release, the next few months will be a time of restructuring for the department. One of the changes (Cont. to A10) MVES needs your help to win $10,000 Mount Vernon Elementary was recently nominated to win $ 10,000 in fitness money, and, based on the proposal submitted, landed in the top 15 finalists for the prize. The school is asking for your participation in the daily internet voting that will ultimately determine the winner. What can you do, you ask? Simply use the information below to vote once a day until the contest ends on November 20th (and send this (Cont. to A10) Don’t forget Rockcastle County First Responders spent last week practicing their roles for the 2011 D-Con exercise for to set your clocks the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. The main function of the Rockcastle CSEPP in back one hour an emergency at the Bluegrass Army Deport would be to shelter those residents in the northern end of the Saturday night. county who live in the PAZ zone and had to evacuate their homes. All county fire departments and the Rockcastle Ambulance Service, as well as CSEPP officials participated in the drills. Of Special Note Inside • Viewpoints..............................................A2 • Sports................................................... A8-9 • Obituaries ...............................................A3 • News from the Courthouse.................. B2 • Church News .........................................A6 • Classifieds............................................ B5-7 Contact us at: [email protected] • Deadline submission is Noon Tuesday Pg. A2 • The Mt. Vernon Signal • Thursday, November 3, 2011 CRRC decision Points was disappointing East By: Perlina Anderkin room (for ballfields, etc).” County Judge Executive That is true. However, Buzz Carloftis voiced his with the placing of strategic By Ike Adams disappointment last Tuesday roads, there is land avail- when the proposal to buy able, leaving the golf course Cedar Rapids Recreation intact, to build some ball I am oh so blessed. I have Elizabeth will make you Center went down to defeat. fields and the health/ Cats in the Woods actually see such a feline. many, many friends. And weep. We, too, were disap- wellness complex. Last Saturday my wife Now back to last Satur- among the most special and Ginnie Breen is bound pointed. Although, we con- “Penny-Wise and Pound and I decided to spend the day. Late in the afternoon, dearest are 13-year-old and determined to find a servatives, always insist Foolish” is the phrase that afternoon in our woods so all of the guys, along with a Elizabeth Bonker and her cure for autism. I know her (usually with little results) comes to mind over the we could build a campfire couple of teenagers, decided beautiful Mom, Virginia well enough to tell you that on good stewardship of our court’s action. We under- and enjoy the sights, sounds, to take a hike along the lime- (Ginnie) Breen. if it can be done, Ginnie is tax money, there was no ex- stand that there is an unfa- and smell of a glorious au- stone cliff that forms the Elizabeth has autism, on- the person who will make it cuse to pass up the purchase vorable connotation by tumn day. We filled a small back boundary of our prop- set when she was three years happen. And I do believe, of an asset such as the rec- some in the county as to the cooler and headed up the six erty. As we casually strolled old. She has an IQ in the with all my heart, that Eliza- reation center at the bargain “country club.” However, miles from our home to our near the 100-foot cliff, one 160’s but she can’t speak. beth will find her voice and price at which it was avail- this attitude should not keep campground, located in a of the men asked if I had Her mom, Ginnie, is a ven- one day talk my ears off. able. the court from making a de- patch of woods that we have actually heard or seen any ture capitalist in New Jersey Someday the phone will ring As one participant in the cision that would add borrowed from the Lord for wild cats in these woods. I and she can speak and does and the voice on the other meeting pointed out, the in- greatly to the recreation fa- the past twenty years. Three told the following story. so at every opportunity, on end will say, “Surprise!!!. frastructure on the site alone cilities available to the citi- couples who are close Several years ago, Kathy behalf of Elizabeth and all This is Elizabeth Bonker.” is worth more than the pur- zens. friends decided to join us, and I were sitting around a parents who are coping with And I will have to wipe my chase price, not counting the But, the issue is appar- and we had an afternoon that fire very late one February autism. eyes on my shirt sleeves be- 128 acres of prime land. ently moot and we will just was amazing. Each couple evening when we heard Determination, persis- cause I’m all out of tissue. Granted, there is not suf- have to wait and see what brought their own food, so something walking, slowing tence, absolute faith, resolu- Then I will ask if she has ficient land for the happens to the property and we just piled everything on crunching the leaves on the tion, are just a few of the written a poem about me ballfields, soccer fields, hope for the best since there a picnic table and made a forest floor.