Your Hometown Newspaper since 1949 Albany, KY 42602 - Single Copy 50¢ Thursday, April 19, 2012 Phone: 606-387-5144 - Email: [email protected] - USPS 118-480 One Section • 16 pages Between Lake Cumberland & Dale Hollow Lake Volume 62 • Number 27 Absentee voting underway, primary ballot will be brief Absentee ballot voting is now underway for those individuals who will be out of the county on election day, or who have medical problems that will prevent them from getting to the polls. Voters can now apply for paper absentee ballots, which will have to be returned and in the county clerk’s office by election day. The voting machine will be set up in the county clerk’s office for those who will be absent from the county on election day and wish to cast an early ballot on the machine. County Clerk Jim Elmore said the voting machine should be set up later this month. Above, Albany Volunteer Fire Department members moved to an outbuilding located to the left of a house that caught Only a few races will be on the ballot on May 22, but several fire Saturday night on the Wisdom Dock Road. The outbuilding caught fire for a brief moment, but firefighters were able to more--including non-partisan races for city council and school board seats will be on the November ballot. Candidates seeking non-parti- extinguish the flames before the small structure was completely lost. The main structure, which was vacant at the time of the san seats this fall will have until mid-August to file their candidacy. fire, was a total loss. Below left, another scene as firefighters worked to contain the blaze at the main structure. Below right, For more information about any aspect of the election, the vot- the scene as it appeared in the daylight hours following the blaze. ing process or delinquent tax information, citizens may contact the county clerk’s office at 387-5943. IDA meets with quorum, another board member submits resignation After not having enough members for a quorum during its first Fire destroys vacant house, adjacent homes saved scheduled meeting of the year in February, the Clinton County In- dustrial Development Authority did conduct its first regular meeting At 11:32 p.m. Saturday night, the Albany “We had to evacuate the neighbors. We it is on fire, there is very little danger in the of the year last Thursday morning at the IDA-Welcome Center with Fire Department was called to the scene of a got everybody out without injuries,” Roeper area around the burning structure unless the four of six members present. Also on hand was Chad Irwin and Brad structure fire which resulted in the complete said. ammo is loaded in a gun. Irwin, who were listed on the meeting minutes as loan recipients. destruction of a home on Wisdom Dock The house that caught fire was unoccupied “It could be deadly if there is ammo loaded Former IDA chairman Rick Mercader was also present. Road. at the time according to Roeper. in a gun,” Roeper said. “It’s like pulling the The board, on a motion by Keith McWhorter, first voted to accept Albany Fire Chief Robert Roeper said He also said he didn’t know an exact cause trigger. I’ve been hit with shells before in the resignation of long-time board member and officer Janie Gibson, when he arrived on scene the house was of the fire, but said owners were cleaning the previous fires. The lead bullets don’t really who had tenured her resignation earlier this year. completely enveloped in flames. house in order to get it ready to sell. go far when they explode unless they travel A replacement on the IDA board will have to be made by Clinton “The only thing we could do was try to Other than the fire, there was minor cause through a barrel.” Fiscal Court. contain it,” Roeper said. “There were two for alarm for the people in close proximity Roeper also said the bright flashing lights Gibson was also serving as board secretary treasurer and on a mobile homes, one on each side of the house of the fire. could have also been the power lines close to motion by board chairman Jim Soma, they voted to appoint Debbie and we tried to keep them from catching Bright flashes and loud popping sounds the house. Brown to replace Gibson as board treasurer. fire.” were coming from the flames that were “We had to call the RECC to come and On separate motions, the IDA also approved minutes from the Roeper said there was some minor possibly caused by live ammunition that was shut the power off,” Roeper said. December 2011 meeting; voted to pay claims and bills and approved damage to an outbuilding on the neighboring inside the home. According to Roeper, the house is owned the CCIDA expenditure reports. property, but the homes were saved. Roeper said when ammo is in a house and by the Steve Burton heirs. Board member McWhorter then made a motion to enter the USDA Audit into the meeting minutes. In a cover letter to the Industrial Authority from Rural Develop- ment area director Barry R. Turner, dated February 10, 2012, it noted Johnson reflects on two terms as 3rd District squire that the “Clinton County Industrial Development Authority is using sound loan making methods and your servicing efforts are reason- Still at a relatively young age, Willard Johnson has accomplished istrates position a “24-7” job. “No matter where you go, people have able.” quite a lot in his 42 years already, both in business and in politics. issues and problems they want to talk about.” The board then entered into executive session to discuss a loan The current president of Monticello Banking Company, also got the Although the duties of a fiscal court member varies, he said the prospect but took no official action upon returning to open session. opportunity to serve as a member of the Clinton County Fiscal Court, The next regular meeting of the Clinton County Industrial Devel- a distinction he is thankful for. See JOHNSON, page 5 opment Authority is scheduled for June 14. Johnson cited his recent job promotion to President of the Monti- cello Banking Company of Albany as the reason behind his decision to relinquish his magisterial postion. An interim magistrate for the third district will be appointed by Kentucky Governor Steve BeShearer, to serve until a new magistrate can be elected to fill out Johnson’s unexpired term. That election will take place during the fall November general election. Johnson, during an interview with the Clin- ton County News last week, just days after he resigned his political position last Tues- day, April 10, reviewed the five years plus he served on the court representing the 3rd Mag- isterial District. He was elected twice to the job, in 2006 and again in 2010. A Clinton County native and 1989 graduate Willard Johnson of Clinton County High School, Johnson also graduated from banker’s school in 2000 and the University of Colorado in 2007. Prior to working with the local bank, he worked for seven years for a finance company in Monticello. The former magistrate is married to the former Sherry York, a first grade teacher at Albany Elementary School with some 15 years with Construction continues to progress in the Snow Community of central Clinton County, as the new Blue Grass the local school district. Stockyards facility nears completion. Crews continue to work on several different areas of the complex, including Johnson said he originally sought the magisterial office six years the main structure shown above. Additional work is being done on other areas, including a scalehouse and parking ago because he had always been interested in politics and the “politi- area while infrastructure work on a nearby waterline is also underway. cal arena,” adding he wanted to see if he could make a difference. Company plans are to hold a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 23, with a livestock In praising his (former) fellow court members, he called the mag- sale to follow that event. Sports Inside Inside Weather Last Year Warm and sunny Headlines from the Lady Bat Foothills Time front page one year ago: Thursday and Friday, Dawgs Academy to think with highs in the mid to Edwards killed upper 70s. A cold front in Sunday wreck reach finals earns PRIDE about arrives Friday night, of All ‘A’ Volunteer termites: bringing cooler IDA meeting temperatures through includes discussion Tourney award Phil Smith Sunday, and showers. of recent board member resignation See pages 7 See page 11 See page 10 Highs in the upper 50s. Page 2 Clinton County News Thursday, April 19, 2012 PEOPLE Get rid of NEWS goes on Senior Trip to Disney unwanted items ... BIRTH ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS! McKinley Bryant Aaron On April 23rd, McKinley Bryant Aaron Little Sis will be 40! was born February 21, 2012 at Cookeville Regional Medical HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Center in Cookeville, Tennessee. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, Love, Dennis, Doug, and was 20 inches long. He is Tony & Margaret the son of proud parents Mat- thew and Marcy Aaron of Al- bany. McKinley is blessed with a large extended family of loving relatives who welcomed their newest member with hope and excitement! Find us on Facebook Kiss Them Goodbye The Clinton County News recently traveled with this group of Clinton County High School students and staff members for the 2012 Senior Trip to Disney World in Florida.