Several residents of the proposed Lewis County North-Central Fire Protection District attended a meeting last week to gather information on the district's area and how it will operate.

The adoption of the ordinance to create the tax district was tabled during the April meeting of the Lewis County Fiscal Court when magistrates were questioned by Edward Willim III concerning details about the district and its operation.

Nearly 20 residents of the proposed district attended the meeting along with nearly as many officials from the county's five other fire tax districts, three magistrates and Judge Executive Steve Applegate.

Applegate explained the proposed fire house would be located on county property on Lions Lane and that the district would extend five miles in each direction or to the boundary with another district.

Applegate said that Vanceburg Fire Chief James "Bubbles" Switzer had approached fiscal court last fall to request that the county create the tax district. Switzer also serves as chief of the Lewis County Fire Department, which has been serving the proposed district area.

"This is not Vanceburg," Switzer emphasized, noting that when firefighters respond to a call outside the city limits they utilize the equipment of the Lewis County Fire Department.

Switzer said the department is presently operating on very limited funds, with a truck in poor repair and with continuing bills for insurance, gasoline and upkeep on equipment.

"It won't bother me one way or the other," Switzer said. "I have no problem with stopping fir protection out there. We can't do it with what we've got."

"We just like to fight fires. No we don't just like. We love to fight fires," he added.

In explaining how the taxing district works, Applegate said there will be seven members to the tax board, which will choose the chief and oversee how the money generated by the tax is spent.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Department arrested three local men who allegedly burglarized the Black Oak Market early Friday morning.

According to Deputy Dwayne Stone, community members first led authorities to Keith Miracle, 18, of Black Oak, when Stone and Deputy Mark Snedegar began investigating the crime.

Snedegar and Stone said they confronted Miracle at his residence where he allegedly confessed to the crime. He then led authorities to a wooded area in Woodland Estates where the stolen items were recovered.

Stone said that after further investigation, officers arrested Troy Johnson, 20, of Black Oak and Matt Corns, 20, of Vanceburg, over the weekend.

The three men allegedly entered to store by prying open a rear door, after several failed attempts to open other doors throughout the building. Items taken from the establishment included cigarettes, DVDs, shoes, a clock and several grocery items. No cash was taken, Stone said.

In the first incident, according to a sheriff's department spokesman, the department was notified at 12:40 a.m. Monday that the Scioto County Sheriff's Department was in pursuit of a suspect traveling west on Ky. Rt. 8 in the direction of Lewis County.

The spokesman said the chase went through the St. Paul and Firebrick areas, up Scaffold Lick Road, onto Ky. Rt. 784 and across the AA Highway.

Deputy Dwayne Stone joined the chase as the vehicles crossed the AA Highway and continued on Rt. 784. The suspect allegedly rammed his red Ford Ranger into Stone's cruiser twice in apparent attempts to run the cruiser off the road.

The suspect eventually lost control of his vehicle near the Lewis/Greenup County line while attempting a left turn, the vehicle left the road and struck a small tree.

The suspect exited the vehicle and fled into nearby woods. Following short foot pursuit by Stone, the suspect was apprehended when Stone utilized the Taser.

The second incident began shortly before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday with what appeared to be a domestic dispute.

The spokesman said they were notified that someone was attempting to break into a mobile home just east of Vanceburg off Ky. Rt. 8. He said that a woman was reportedly being abused by a man and was attempting to flee from the abuser by going into the mobile home followed by the abuser.

The mobile home's resident called police and then told the intruders that police were on the way.

The man reportedly fled the scene in the woman's vehicle, and the auto was seen leaving by deputies arriving on the scene, and they began pursuit.

The spokesman said the chase proceeded first on Ky. Rt. 8 into Vanceburg, down Second Street, on Main Street, through the intersection onto Lexington Avenue and then onto Flinders Drive. At times, the vehicle reportedly reached speeds of up to 75 miles per hour, the spokesman said.