News

Mesonet station coming to Lewis County

By Dennis Brown

The Kentucky Mesonet is expanding its weather and climate monitoring network to Lewis County.

Lewis County Fiscal Court entered into an agreement during the April meeting to help clear and maintain the small plot at Charters where the weather monitoring station will be located. The county will also construct a fence around the equipment to be located there.

Dr. Stuart Foster, director of the Mesonet and the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University said he is extremely pleased to have the new station as part of Kentucky Mesonet. A network of automated weather stations.

He said the site will provide valuable data to assist National Weather Service meteorologists in producing forecasts and severe weather warnings, and will also provide benefits to a wide range of interests in the area.

The local station will be located at Twin Valley Farm at Charters on a lot about 60 feet by 60 feet and will include a small building, tower and weather data collection instruments. Stations are spaced so that small weather features noted on nearby stations can be resolved.

Stuart said the Lewis County location will be the first in a county bordering the Ohio River and the local site was among the most promising looking of the northern areas of the state they had surveyed.

More than 20 Mesonet sites are operational statewide collecting real-time weather and climate data on temperature, precipitation, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and direction.

Data is packed into observations every five minutes and transmitted to the Kentucky Climate center at KS every 15 minutes every day throughout the year.

The data is available online and includes a feather that allows users to see weather and climate data collected in a 24 hour period.

The goal of the project is to develop a statewide automated environmental monitoring network of about 100 stations that will collect data and support a variety of products to serve needs across Kentucky, including agriculture, education, emergency management, engineering and construction, water supply management and weather forecasting.

Since the first station in Warren County became operational in May, 2007, more than 20 stations have been installed and plans for expanding the network are continuing.

The Lewis County station will join the network that includes stations in Logan, Rowan, Calloway, Casey, Ohio, Adair, Bullitt, Fayette, Grayson, Allen, Caldwell, Knox, Christian, Franklin, Hopkins, Jackson, Owen, Lincoln, Breathitt, McClean and Carroll Counties. Nearby Mason County is also on the projected location list.

Initial funding for the project was secured by US Senator Mitch McConnell through a $1.5 million federal earmark for the Kentucky climate center, part of WKS’s Applied Research and Technology Program in the Ogden College of Science and Engineering.

More information can be found at www.kymesonet.org.

Officials present monthly reports

By Dennis Brown

Lewis County officials presented their monthly activity reports during the April meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Sheriff Bill Lewis filed his department’s report for activities from March 9, 2009, to April 13, 2009:

* Subpoenas Served 79

* Domestic Related Calls 78

* Civil Summons Served 43

* Felony Arrests 14

* Misdemeanor Arrests 11

* Accident Investigations 6

* Juvenile Investigations 10

* Criminal Summons 18

* Prisoners Transp. to Secure Facility 311 miles

* Juveniles Transported 648 miles

* DVOs and EPOs 8

* Court Bailiff Hours 433

* Prescription Deliveries 1

* Auto Inspections 103

* Funeral Escorts 6

* Property Taxes Collected $119,036.77

* Franchise Taxes Collected 180,005.61

Total $299,042.38

Stolen Property Recovered

* Ruger 22 caliber $125.00

* Jennings Auto 9mm w/holster 200.00

Total $325.00

Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney reported the following activities:

* Performed all routine administrative/office tasks as required by KyEM.

* Turned in all monthly reports for KyEM.

* Helped instruct a FEMA required course for grants.

* Participated in several conference calls with state and federal officials.

* Working on preliminary paperwork for county and city reimbursement from Ice Storm.

* Met with FEMA officials.

* Attended a FEMA mitigation grant workshop at Maysville.

* Attended a Web transportation meeting at Maysville.

* Working on 911 issues.

* Working of Flood Plain issues.

* Provided dispatch coverage.

The Lewis County E-911 Dispatch Center received a total of 427 calls for service for the following agencies:

* Sheriff’s Department 247

* Vanceburg Police Department 180

* Traffic Stops 78

* Injury Accidents 10

* Non-injury Accidents 18

* Complaints 104

Fire Department and other calls:

* Lewis Co. FD 11

* Camp Dix FD 9

* Garrison FD 25

* Vanceburg FD 10

* Firebrick FD 3

* Black Oak FD 10

* Kinniconick FD 2

* Tollesboro FD 28

* Med Corp Ambulance 151

* Coroner 1

Road Supervisor Dane Howard reported that more than 4,400 tons of gravel and 17.33 tons of asphalt had been hauled over the previous month and said pothole repairs had been made at Bowman Springs, Birchwood Lane, Lower Kinney, Quincy, Old County Road, Tar Camp. Tar Fork, Evermans, Garrison area, Evans Lane, Southern Manor, Hazel Road and Laurel Road.

Graded roads included Golden Ridge, Stamper Branch, Hickory Hollow, Holbrook Hollow, Scaffold Lick Road, Raccoon Road, Saw Pit Branch, Nolan Branch, Red Brush Road, Garden Branch, Bear Branch, Horseshoe Bend, Straight Fork, Mud Lick, Spy Run, Dry Hollow, Stone Branch, Hackworth Branch, Goodwin Branch, Sailor Branch, Crooked Creek, May Hollow, Hackworth Branch, Griffitt Hollow, Old State Fork, Amish House Road and Mud Lick Road.

Howard reported that pipe had been installed or repaired at Garrison, Garden Branch, Bradford Lane, ADR Subdivision, Raccoon Branch, May Hollow, Beechy Road, Paint Lick Road, Hazel Road, Dyer Branch and Blue Spring Road. Power Lick and Dunbar Hill Road received ditching or road widening.

Tree and debris removal/brush cutting/mowing was reported for Quicks Run, Toller Hollow, Indian Hills, Bradford Lane, Birchwood Lane, Lower Kinney, Old Trace and Amish House Lane. Bridge redecking retainers/repairs was reported for Butler Branch.

Howard reported other repairs at Dyer Branch, Briary Road, Fly Branch, Rock Creek Road, Power Lick, Dunbar Hill Road, Wilson Road, Spy Run Road, Bigden Hollow Road, Red Bruch Hill Road, Twin Branch Road, Lions Club Road and Briery Side Road at Quincy.

Lewis County Jailer Tim Underwood filed the following activity report for March 1 – 31, 2009:

Inmate Population:

* State Inmates CC/CD/CI 41

* Traded 0

* Served Out 2

* Paroled 1

* County Inmates 30

* Inmates Booked In 74

* Average Daily Jail Population 70

Fees/Payments Collected:

* Booking, Housing, Medical, Damaged Property $1,629.68

* Telephone Commission $1,637.56

* Class D/CC/CI Pay for January $38,485.52

Food

* Somerset Food in March $6,107.61

Traveled 660 Miles

* Hardin County Detention Center

* Roederer Correctional Complex

Underwood reported that 41 Class D inmates participated in the work program totaling 4,840 man hours. The agencies they assisted included The Lewis County Courthouse, Justice Center, Sheriff’s Department, City of Vanceburg, Solid Waste Program, Clean Highways Program, Garrison Little League, Garrison Boat Docks, Tollesboro Little League, Lewis County Historical Society, Lewis County Board of Education, Corps of Engineers, Helen Rayburn Library, and the Black Oak, Tollesboro and Camp Dix Fire Departments.

Areas covered by the Clean Highways Program included Ky. Rt. 10, Garrison Lane, Old Trace Creek, Rock Run, Warrens Cemetery Lane, Hickle Drive, Briary Road, Martin Lane, Ky. Rt. 8, Scaffold Lick, Birchwood Lane, Evans Lane, Lions Lane, Craycraft Lane and Murphy Lane. A total of 975 bags of waste were picked up.

Underwood reported the commissary account at the jail totaled $5,995.00 and the inmate account had a balance of $7,040.28.

Lewis County Animal Control Officer Shawn Henderson reported that for the month of March there were six adoptions; 10 dog tags sold; 23 dogs put down; and 84 calls requiring response.

The next regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court will be at 9:30 a.m. May 11, 2009, in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.

Straight Fork will see roadway improvement

By Dennis Brown

Judge Executive Steve Applegate presented the 2008-2010 Biennial Highway Construction Plan to magistrates during the April meeting and noted that some long awaited projects are included in the plan.

Applegate said reconstruction of the mouth of Straight Fork along with bridge replacements at Skidmore Lane the Fleming County line and raising a section of County Route 1026 out of the flood plane are included in the $3 million state budget for work in Lewis County.

Applegate said $2,330,000 was allocated for reconstruction of 2,100 feet of Straight Fork Road beginning at the intersection with Ky. Rt. 59. He noted that slides and slips along the steep bank along Kinniconick have been plaguing the roadway for several years.

He credited State Senator Charlie Borders with helping to secure the funding to get the projects in the budget and on the short-term plan.

Applegate said that following rains the roadway is in danger of more slides and residents on the road are limited on the routes they can use because high water also blocks their other route out.

Other projects include replacing the bridge and approaches on Skidmore Lane 0.1 mile south of the AA Highway at a cost of $200,000 and constructing a new bridge crossing the North Fork of the Licking River at the Lewis County-Fleming County line at a cost of $5 million.

The budget for reconstructing along County Road 1026 to ensure that the route is out of the flood plane is $175,000.

The construction plan initially included an incorrect road number for Straight Fork, an oversight Applegate said was soon corrected.

Residents of Straight Fork have tolerated the roadway’s failings for several years even walking their children around the slip areas to get them to the school bus waiting on the other side.

Applegate said the state reconstruction of the 2,100 foot section will put good roadway past the danger areas and would provide reliable access for those traveling to and from the area for many years.

No one hurt in accident

By Dennis Brown

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a single vehicle accident on Ky. Rt. 8 near Dugan’s Curve east of Vanceburg.

According to Chief Deputy Johnny Bivens, a 1996 Dodge van, operated by Stacy Baird, 31, of Vanceburg, was traveling east on the roadway on Tuesday evening.

Bivens said the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway, continued through a grassy area and struck a culvert. The van overturned and came to rest on its top on the south side of the roadway.

Bivens said Baird was not injured in the accident.

Bivens was assisted at the scene by Deputy Dwayne Stone, Deputy Jason Hill and KSP Trooper Jeff Lewis. Also assisting were Vanceburg and Black Oak Fire and Rescue.

Library board meets

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session this month the board of the Helen H. Rayburn Public Library of Lewis County discussed the recommended segregation of financial duties for the library and made assignments accordingly. Prior to the changes the Library Director handled most of the financial matters, but CPA Donna Hendrix advised the board to alter that procedure or become ineligible for state and federal grants.

Hendrix had informed the board that most small libraries dealt with the same problem and are being encouraged to make like changes.

The board moved to hire Theresa Rizzo as the bookkeeper. She will aid in establishing the segregation of duties and keep the library in compliance with state regulations.

Library Director Marilyn Conway announced that the library has received a $250 grant from the Kentucky Historical Society’s Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The grant will be used to purchase materials relating to Lincoln during this year’s bicentennial celebration.

Conway also informed the board that the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program is “Be Creative at Your Library.” She said the library has received 644 books to give away to the children

this summer. The library will launch the program on Friday, June 5 at 1:00 PM with a performance by a group called Up River. The group plays Irish music.

KDLA Regional Consultant Charlotte McIntosh told the board that Morgan Tracy, Head of Circulation has moved to the position of Library Director at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. She wrote, “With his departure, State Library Services (SLS) has reassigned the ordering and management duties for kits and collections to other SLS staff.”

McIntosh reminded the board that the KPLA/KLTRT Spring Conference would be held in Lexington at the Downtown Hotel April 22-24. She also announced that the 11^th Annual Southern Kentucky Book Fest will be held at the Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green, KY on April 18.

She said that Children’s Book Week this year will be May 11-17. Kentucky will celebrate the week with special activities in libraries, schools and bookstores designed to develop a love of books in young people.

The Director’s Report showed that 792 patrons came to the library last month. They checked out 4583 books from the main library and 1388 from the Bookmobile. The computer register reveals that 1410 signed up to use the computers. The Internet was accessed 706 times.

The next regular session of the Library Board will be on Tuesday, May 12 at 1:00 PM at the library.

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