By Monica Stafford

The Vanceburg Depot Museum is now open with new hours for spring, thanks to local volunteers.

Now, from Monday through Saturday, the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The new hours began March 1 and will continue until November.

The museum will also open for special occasions or groups, such as out-of-town visitors.

Last year, the museum had 28 volunteers and this year they estimate the same amount.

"Last year we had a wonderful group of people," said Patty Kennard, Vanceburg Renaissance Committee Coordinator. "I'm sure this year will be just as great."

Volunteers can sign up on a monthly or weekly basis to fit their individual schedules. Volunteers can commit to a minimum of two hours, either per week or month.

Kennard says that asking only two hours from volunteers allots more time to open the museum and makes it easier for anyone with a busy schedule to volunteer.

"I'd been a long time resident of Vanceburg," says Carla Patton. "But I moved away for about 10 years. Now I'm back and I wanted to get more involved with the community. My son is in school during the day, which is great for giving me time to volunteer."

The depot was built in 1913 and now houses plenty of historical artifacts that range from WWII fatigues, railroad artifacts, to old-fashioned women's apparel. Some of the earliest artifacts date back to the 1800s and of the newest are from Desert Storm.

The depot is the first of its kind to house historical materials and display them for the public.

"We accept donations or anything on loan," Kennard added. "If someone has something of value when is comes to the history of Vanceburg, I encourage them to bring it into the museum. They can display it as a donation or on loan, however they chose."

For anyone interested in volunteering at the Vanceburg Depot Museum, contact Patty Kennard at 606-796-6003.

Vanceburg Police are investigating a break-in early Friday at Lewis County Primary Care.

Police Chief Joe Billman said the incident happened about 4:15 a.m. when someone cut through soffit on the roof and sawed through a header board, then climbed into the attic and mechanical room, back into the attic and then into the pharmacy area where a motion detector was set off.

Billman said police were notified by the alarm company and Officers John Ferguson and Ryan Hull responded to the building and secured it.

The spring forest fire season officially began on February 15, bringing a ban on outdoor burning within 150 feet of a woodland or brushland, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Dry, windy conditions in eastern Kentucky contributed to fires that destroyed at leas two homes and vehicles in Leslie County.

"We are at least an inch behind on rainfall this spring," said Chuck Wilburn, district forestor of the Division of Forestry office in Morehead. 

"When the sun comes out and the winds pick up, low moisture can really make wildland fire conditions erratic and potentially dangerous. I am proud of the hard work our fire crews have been putting in on these fires.

This year, 526 fires have burned over 13,716 acres in Kentucky. In comparison, 1,710 fires burned about 51,580 acres in 2005. Sixty percent were arson fires.

The high level of wildland arson prompted the division to request targeted high visibility law enforcement. Targeted patrols will take place in eastern Kentucky, led by Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

"I encourage the public to be vigilant in helping us combat wildland arson," said Leah MacSwords, director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry. "With their help, we can help protect one of Kentucky's most valuable natural resources -- our forests."