By Dennis Brown

Three Garrison teens had a close call last week after reportedly attempting to ride an inflatable mattress down rain-swollen Kinniconick Creek.

Captain Mark Jordan, with Garrison Fire and Rescue, said the department received a call at 8:39 p.m. Wednesday to provide a swift water rescue for two teenagers who were holding onto a partially submerged tree limb in Kinniconick Creek just south of the AA Highway at Garrison.

Jordan said when rescue workers from the department arrived, one of the two teens had made it to shore and one was still holding onto the limb while the muddy water rushed around him. One teen had made it to shore just after the mishap and helped to summon aid for his two friends.

Jordan said the rescue workers donned gear and “Gumby” suits, placed a rope across the creek and began the process of rescuing the youth from what he called a “very dangerous situation.”

Jordan said rescue workers tossed a rope to the teen, but the weight pulled him under the water when he grabbed hold of it. Another rescue worker with the department was able to reach the teen but was unable safely get hold of him. Other rescue workers were already working on another way to reach the teen, who by now was becoming exhausted and showing early signs of hypothermia.

Jordan said Dwayne Stone, Assistant Chief of the Garrison Fire Department, made his way to the teen while tethered to the rope which had been placed across the rushing water. Stone was able to secure the teen and rescue workers on shore pulled them across to waiting medical personnel.

Stone said he estimated the water to be moving downstream at approximately 30 miles-per-hour. Numerous rains over several days had filled the creek with water and the water.

Jordan said the teen was taken by a four-wheeler from that location to an ambulance parked near the roadway. The

teenager was then taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, for treatment. He said that although the teen had inhaled some water and was chilled by the cold water, he seemed to be doing well when he last had contact with him at the medical center.

One rescue worker, Lincoln Arnold, was treated at the hospital for a sprained shoulder and getting some water into his lungs, Jordan said.

He said the teens reportedly put in near the mill pond area and had planned to ride the mattress to the Garrison Boat Dock area near Ky. Rt. 8 where a friend was waiting to pick them up.

Jordan said the three male teens ranged in age from 15 to 19. He said about 15 firefighters responded to the call for help along with other rescue workers and neighbors along Kinniconick. He noted some of the firefighters responding were from the Black Oak and Vanceburg Fire Departments.

Jordan also credited neighbors along Kinniconick for their assistance in directing rescue workers to areas where they would have easier access to the creek and for helping where needed.

Jordan said members of the Garrison Volunteer Fire Department have been trained and certified as divers and for swift water rescues. He added the department is also equipped with gear to aid in various rescues whether in water or over rough terrain.

The firefighters also continue to take training and rehearse various scenarios to aid when called upon by the community or other departments to assist in whatever capacity they are needed.

“We certainly appreciate all the help in getting these boys to safety,” he said.

He added that the situation was dangerous to everyone involved and credited the training and experience of the rescue workers for helping to make the outcome of the situation a good one.

Vanceburg City Council met in regular session last week and heard the first reading of an ordinance to set the budget for the city for the upcoming fiscal year.

The proposed budget appropriates $1.7 million in the general fund and $137,000 in the sanitation fund. The hydro fund continues to maintain $600,000 in certificates of deposit.

In presenting the tentative budget to council members, Mayor Angie Patton said she has placed $250,000 for sidewalk repairs and replacement on Ky. Rt. 59/Fairlane Drive and $500,000 for a new fire department/community center building. Those funds will be from grants, if awarded to the city.

She said about $83,000 has been allocated for the Vanceburg Fire Department and includes $46,000 from a homeland security grant to purchase equipment.

Also included is $11,000 to allow for an increase in employee health insurance and an increase in the employee retirement system. Due to those increases, city employees will not be receiving an increase in pay this year.

Budgeted for the Vanceburg Police Department is $346,764 and includes $29,766 of funding for an officer’s salary from a grant, Patton stated.

Some of the funding in the budget has not yet been confirmed but was placed in the budget on speculation that it will be awarded.

Council also discussed investment possibilities for the $600,000 in the hydro fund. Patton said interest rates are only about 1.5 percent, down from about 2.5 percent a year earlier.

She said she had been negotiating locally with banks to try to get a higher return on the investment and will present the information to council at the next meeting.

Members scheduled a special meeting June 22 for the second reading of the budget ordinance. The meeting will begin immediately following a public hearing on the proposed budget which is set for 5:20 p.m. on June 22 at council chambers.

Council heard another update concerning Time-Warner Cable in Vanceburg.

Patton said the city’s next step in getting Kentucky channels returned to the local channel lineup on the cable system will be to work with Congressman Geoff Davis’ office.

Council also reviewed a draft of proposed planning and zoning regulations and confirmed moving ahead with the plan. The planning committee regularly meets at 5:00 p.m. in council chambers on the second Monday of each month.

Public hearings will be held on the proposed codes before they can be considered for adoption.

Patton said the recently adopted policies and procedures manual for the Vanceburg Police Department has resulted in a better insurance rating for the city and translates to lower premiums paid by the city for insurance coverage.

In other business council adopted a resolution to participate in a road aid co-op program with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and heard a brief update from council member Denver Moore on the Vanceburg Electric Plant Board.

Moore serves on the board for the city owned utility company as a council representative.