The decision of whom to vote for is a struggle for many during the election season. As Americans we are often left asking what are the candidates’ views, what are their goals for the county, and what are their qualifications? 

The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce hopes to answer these and many other questions as they prepare to host their third annual Meet the Candidates Night entitled Decision 2006 on four eventful nights throughout the districts of Lewis County. 

Decision 2006 -- Meet the Candidates will visit the Vanceburg, Garrison, Tollesboro and Laurel areas to ensure everyone an equal opportunity to visit with the candidates, hear their opinions, and learn more about their future plans for Lewis County. Each Meet the Candidates Night event will include a Meet & Greet session where citizens can meet one on one with the candidates, as well as, a Forum which will introduce the candidates by position and give each the opportunity to answer a question regarding their role if elected (this will be regulated by a moderator). Three of four of the events will also include a fundraiser dinner to raise money for programs within the host school (organizations hosting are listed below). 

The event locations and times are as follows: 

Tuesday, April 18: Lewis County High School (LCHS), 5:30-6:45, Fundraiser Dinner hosted by Lewis County High School Boosters and Meet & Greet; 6:45-7:00, Candidates meet for last minute instructions; 7:00-9:00 Forum. 

Thursday, April 20, 2006: Garrison Elementary (GES), Meet & Greet; 6:45-7:00, Candidates meet for last minute instructions; 7:00-9:00 Forum. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2006: Tollesboro Elementary (TES), 5:30-6:45, Fundraiser Dinner hosted by Tollesboro Elementary PTO, Meet & Greet; 6:45-7:00, Candidates meet for last minute instructions; 7:00-9:00 Forum. 

Thursday, April 27, 2006: Laurel Elementary (LES), 5:30-6:45 Fundraiser Dinner hosted by Laurel Elementary PTO & Parent’s Store, Meet & Greet; 6:45-7:00, Candidates meet for last minute instructions; 7:00-9:00 Forum. 

The chamber is extremely pleased with the participation of those running for offices. Currently, the event at LCHS has 30 candidates, GES has 22 candidates, TES has 26 candidates, and LES has 24 candidates scheduled to participate. 

“It is our goal as a chamber to serve the people of this county. By hosting Decision 2006 -- Meet the Candidates, especially in each of the county’s three magisterial districts, we are bringing the communities opportunities to learn, decide, and help our county grow through educated election decisions for our government,” states Steve Arnold, Vice Chairman of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce at the Decision 2006 -- Meet the Candidates events. 

If you have questions regarding the event please contact Tracy McGuire at 606-796-6010 or Steve Arnold at 606-757-9339.

By Al Owens 

Meeting in regular session last week the Vanceburg City Council adopted a resolution to join the Buffalo Trace/Gateway Area Development Districts’ Narcotics Task Force. 

The city will donate $1,080 that will be matched with federal funds. The decision came after the council entered closed session. 

Bill Boggs, City Commissioner of Maysville and also Chairman of the Narcotics Task Force attended the meeting and in the closed session explained the operations of the Task Force to the council. 

Council members also moved to donate an ambulance no longer in use to the Lewis County Rescue Service and to put another old ambulance in salvage. 

Mayor William T. “Bill Tom” Cooper said that the city had sold or leased the ambulances to the Ambulance Service run by the Collins family several years ago for $1.00 each in order to provide the service to the community. 

City Attorney E.V. Holder Jr. swore in Michael Justice as a new Lewis County firefighter. 

Mayor Cooper told the council that he had gone to Washington, DC, on March 12 and met with Senator Jim Bunning and Representative Geoff Davis to request federal funding of $250,000 for a feasibility study for a new dam and lake in Vanceburg. He said the officials could not promise the money would come but did say they would try to see that the study is funded. 

He also informed the council that he has submitted applications for funding for new sidewalks on the south side of town and for a new ladder fire truck. 

Cooper said that the renovation of the old Commercial Hotel is progressing well and is on schedule. The upstairs has been painted, and the downstairs will soon be finished. He estimated that work on the outside of the building would begin sometime in May. Plans call for the renovation to be completed in time for a dedication ceremony July 3. He further announced that if the funding can be acquired an old caboose will be added as an extra attraction at the Vanceburg Depot.

A Quincy man was arrested late Wednesday night after Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies caught him in a vehicle that was reported stolen in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Donnie Dean Spence, 27, of Quincy, was arrested after deputies placed video surveillance equipment on a vehicle that was located inside of a barn in the Briary Road community. The vehicle, a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, was stolen early Wednesday morning after the owner had started the vehicle and left it unattended.

According to a sheriff's department spokesman, Spence, who resides in the area, was a suspect in this case and others what had been reported to the sheriff.

Deputies Johnny Bivens, Dwayne Stone and Jason Hill, kept the location under surveillance for about six hours. The spokesman said that Spence was observed walking from his residence to the barn where he had parked the Blazer. Minutes later the vehicle was started and exited the barn.

Once on the roadway, Deputies Bivens and Hill performed a rolling roadblock to prevent the suspect from evading capture. Spence was immediately taken into custody. The spokesman said that Spence was wearing a hooded shirt and gloves that he was allegedly using to conceal his identity.

Spence was charged with receiving stolen property (auto) and no operator's license.

Deputies were able to gather information and evidence from the scene that led to the recovery of a 1998 Ford Mustang, black with stripes, owned by Vickie Highfield, that had been reported stolen from the Quincy area early Wednesday morning.

Authorities said that Spence allegedly stole the Mustang and drove it to New Boston, Ohio, where he abandoned it before stealing the Blazer and bringing that vehicle back to the Quincy area.

As a result, Spence now faces charges of theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the stolen Mustang. He was lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center under a $25,000 cash bond.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Department has recovered several stolen vehicles, some of which had been destroyed by arson, and others that had been simply hidden in secluded areas.

According to the sheriff's office, criminals are stealing these vehicles for their own transportation purposes and usually destroy the vehicles and any evidence within a 24-hour period. 

The sheriff urges all residents to secure all vehicles when leaving them, no matter how short of a time frame.