By Dennis Brown

A section of Ky. Rt. 8 between Vanceburg and Black Oak was closed Friday when workers with the Kentucky Department of Transportation noticed a break in the pavement.

Allen Breed, with the District Nine office, said an embankment failure beneath and just north of the roadway near the railroad tracks was resulting in a slip beneath the roadway.

Above average rainfall this spring, and over several days prior to the closing, is thought to be a contributing factor in the slip.

Crews moved in equipment and worked Saturday to make temporary repairs and get the roadway reopened.

A DOT crew member said some 48 tons of black top mix was applied Saturday and the roadway was reopened to traffic Saturday afternoon. Engineers are visiting the location this week to do extensive testing and determine what the long-term solution will be.

Bus drivers for the Lewis County School System are prepared to begin their routes when classes get underway Thursday.

Drivers recently completed their eight hour update training session and reviewed several safety plans as well as pre-trip inspection reviews, driving maneuvers and behavior management. A new training section was added to the schedule and was well received by participants.

Camp Dix Fire Chief David Stafford assisted with that part of the session and set up a machine that filled a bus with smoke to allow drivers to get a glimpse of what they might encounter if such a situation would arise.

Drivers said they appreciated the newly added session and it allowed them to realize the many difficulties a driver would face in a smoke-filled bus. Transportation Director Jim Bob McGlone said drivers felt more prepared after going through the simulation and thanked Stafford for his assistance in the session.

The day’s training was put together by McGlone with the assistance of Jean Watson, Stub McGlone and Nick Adams. McGlone said the group planned a unique day for the drivers with a goal of preparing them to deal with many situations.

During a lunch break McGlone handed out awards to several of the drivers. Those drivers receiving clean bus awards were John Roe, Terri Howard and Kathy Clemens. 

Drivers receiving Driver of the Month Awards included Lewis Brewer, Bev Detillion, Tammy Stamm, Chris Johnson, Scotty Lawhorn, Melinda Stafford, David Tully, Skeeter Shaw,

 Donna Morgan, Todd Evans and Jennifer Tackett. 

All drivers voted for School Bus Driver of the Year and the 2008-2009 award went to Bev Detillion. 

At the conclusion of the awards, McGlone honored the special guest, retiring driver Nancy Hilterbrandt.  McGlone said she has devoted 42 years of service to safely driving students to school and back home.  He said she will be greatly missed by fellow drivers, students and staff.

McGlone urges drivers to be mindful at times buses will be on the roadways and to watch for children who are waiting to get on the bus and after getting off the bus.

Parents should remind their children about the dangers of motorists and to be careful along roadways and streets.

McGlone said that every driver’s number one interest is the safety of their passengers. Drivers will ask children to be on their best behavior and it is important for students to listen to the driver if there are any special instructions for the bus ride.

Students should sit quietly in their seats and speak quietly to other children. McGlone said that making a lot of noise, teasing other passengers, fighting and jumping around can distract the driver and make it harder for them to drive safely.