News

FEMA Centers will remain open through Thursday

By Dennis Brown

Residents in Lewis and Carter counties who suffered damages during the July severe storms and flooding are be able to get one-on-one information about federal and state disaster assistance programs at Disaster Recovery Centers through Thursday.

The centers were originally scheduled to close on Saturday but it was decided to keep the centers open for extra days to allow those affected by flooding more time to come in for assistance.

The centers are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day through Thursday, August 19, at the Lewis County Volunteer Fire Department on Lions Lane near Lewis County Middle School or at the Olive Hill Historical Society at 120 Comet Drive in Olive Hill.

The centers are staffed by Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Wade Sims, DRC Manager, said the center on Lions Lane received a steady stream of flood victims last week and urges those who were affected by the July flooding in any way to stop by for more information or to apply for assistance.

Individuals are also encouraged to register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585.

KYEM Director John Heltzel said affected residents are encouraged to apply for help. “We are working with FEMA to ensure residents of Lewis and Carter counties have all the information they need to apply for disaster assistance. One way to achieve this is to keep these centers open for a few more days,” he said.

Disaster recovery specialists at the centers can check an individual's application status, answer questions, or review

information needed to process their application. Recovery specialists also can supply contacts for other state, federal and voluntary agency programs that may be able to help.

SBA representatives are there to answer any questions about the SBA's low-interest disaster loans available to homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. SBA representatives are available to assist with completing and submitting disaster loan applications.

FEMA mitigation specialists are also at the centers with information on flood insurance and how to rebuild safer and stronger after a flood.

Local emergency managers also have information for people with unmet needs. Lewis County EM Director Carl Chaney may be reached locally at 606-796-3464.

Additional information, photos and links for this and other open disasters can be found at www.kyem.ky.gov and www.fema.gov.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan.

However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to the SBA to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

School Board approves bond refunding

By Dennis Brown

The Lewis County Board of Education last week agreed to refinance some revenue bonds with hopes of saving about $129,000 over the next 11 years.

Lincoln Theinert, with Ross Sinclaire and Associates, made a presentation to board members showing the projected savings of refunding bonds issued in 2001.

Theinert said the current interest rates on the existing bonds are between 4.5 percent and 4.9 percent. He said the new projected rate is between 1.1 percent and 3.350 percent. The outstanding bonds currently total $2,065,000.

Theinert told board members that interest rates are near all-time lows. “Rates have never been lower than they are this week,” he said.

He said a conservative estimate of the savings of interest payments over the next 11 years is $129,315, or an annual savings of nearly $12,000.

Board members adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of refunding revenue bonds.

Jamie Weddington, Director of Pupil Personnel, said he had traveled to Carter County prior to the start of school and secured 300 backpacks containing back-to-school supplies for Lewis County Students.

Weddington said the backpacks were distributed through the Youth Service Center to students across the county.

He told board members the items were given to the county by Feed the Children and Carter County Cares organizations. Students in Carter, Boyd, Rowan and Johnson counties also received backpacks from the organizations.

Weddington added that cases of cleaning supplies from the organizations were also secured to provide to flooding victims in Lewis County.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. reported that the first day of school went well despite a couple of unplanned events.

Reeder said storms around the area resulted in some actual severe weather activations and some of the “drills” being conducted earlier than planned.

He added that a power outage for customers of the Electric Plant Board left Garrison and Central Elementary Schools without electricity for part of the day on August 5.

Reeder credited administrators and employees at the schools for handling the situation well and making sure things went smoothly on the first day of classes for students.

“I’m proud of the job the employees have done,” he told board members. “There was a lot of planning over the summer for the return to classes and the first day back for students was just like being off for a short break,” he added.

Reeder told board members the preschool program is facing a budget problem this year with the reduction in funding from the state and the increasing costs of operating the program.

“It’s a program I’m very proud of,” Reeder said. “It helps provide a good start for the students and it helps parents out.”

Reeder said salaries for the program total about $400,000 and the state provides only about $97,000. He recommended implementing a monthly tuition for the program for those who do not qualify for the program.

Reeder suggested tuition of $200 per month for the 10 month program and added that although the income from tuition would not completely make up the difference, it would help. He said that the school system’s general fund has covered the cost of the program above state funding and said that when revenue for the district is back up and the economy turns around, he hopes to be able to again fund the program locally.

Board members approved the recommendation. The program is scheduled to begin on August 18 and operates each week Monday through Thursday.

In other business last week, board members approved the 2009-10 annual financial report as well as emergency and provisional certification.

Board members approved setting property tax rates for the school district at 49 cents per $100 valuation for motor vehicles and watercraft, unchanged from the previous several years. The rates were also approved for real estate and personal property at the state compensating rate of 40.8 cents per $100 valuation.

Board members approved bids from Modern Foods for milk and Gordon Food Service for most other cafeteria and food items.

Board members also approved Heiner’s Bakery as the supplier of bread items to the school district at the same rates as the previous school year.

Board members approved a field trip for 4-H Camp to Carlisle for an overnight function.

Reeder reported the retirement of Diane Johnson as of August 1, the certified hires of Emily Marshall as LCCE Assistant Principal and Tiffany Felty as FMCTC Principal, and the transfer of Joyce Bentley to LCMS as a teacher.

Reeder reported certified sub hires of Bobbie J. Yates, Amanda Kidwell, Cassie Abbott, Gary Billups, Elizabeth Bisotti, Brenda Bloomfield, Treva Bryant, Ruth A. Butler, Douglas Calland, Kaycee McCane Christy, Karen B. Clark, Andrea Darnell, David A. Dickson, Glenna Fetters, Joe Gilbert, Amy J. Hampton, Brenda Himes, Sandra R. Johnson, Janet Jordan, Alice Kidwell, Ashley A. Lucas, Kayla Lykins, Melissa McKinney, Wanda McKinney, Roger Madden, Douglas D. Mellor, Julie J. Pence, Theresa T. Rizzo, John Michael Riffe, Jonathan Rogers, Jacob R. Sartin, John Silvey, Carol Smith, Brenda Smyke, Tawnya Thurman, Nathan Yates, Trisha L. Weddington, David C. White, Angela D. McGlone, Charloette Dixon, Nancy Applegate, Rebecca Sullivan and Felicia Reeder.

Reeder reported classified sub hires of Jane Applegate, Helen Buckner, Pansy Dummitt, Jo Ann Elliott, Lisa Fetters, Vallary Ginn, Mary Glover, Melissa Mabe, Carol Doyle and Rebecca McCann as cooks; Roxane Abrams, Cheryl Helphinstien, Linda Wallingford, Crystal Flannigan, Pamela Sebastian and Jessica Tackett as instructional aides; Helen Buckner, Kenneth Carooll, Maurice Carver, Beverly Walters, Rachel Horsley, Roger Bentley, Brenda Scott, Adren Pollitt, Melissa Smith and Demetrick Smith as custodians; and Brandon Vaughn district-wide.

He reported the classified resignation of Donna Moore and the extra duty hires of William Melton as LCMS Head Football Coach, Josh Book as Assistant Volleyball Coach, Sarah Stamm as Cross Country Coach and Bill Allen as Girl’s Golf Coach.

Board members approved the treasurer’s report and payment of bills before adjourning.

Magistrates updated on July flooding

By Dennis Brown

Magistrates heard an update on damage to county roadways last week at a regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Road Foreman Dane Howard said crews had first worked to get roads in a passable condition, and are continuing to work on roadways giving priority to roadways that serve as school bus routes.

He told magistrates that crews would go back to complete work and finish-up repairs once all of the roadways have been made passable to traffic.

Howard said52 roadways, mainly in the southern part of Lewis County, have been submitted to Natural Resources and Conservation Services with a request for funding assistance.

He said NRCS provides funding to help clean up mud slides and removing debris from streams following flooding. The cost of repairs could total $1 million, Howard told magistrates.

Howard said he has also been working with FEMA representatives for funding assistance in other repairs to county roadways following the July 21 flooding as well as the flooding in May.

Magistrate Milt Stanfield told Howard he we proud of the work being done by county road crews. “You’ve done a great job with the resources available,” he said of the workers.

Howard said the mouth of Kinniconick is in bad shape following the flooding and said the debris and problems which aren’t an immediate threat to roadways are the responsibility of the Corps of Engineers.

Magistrate Joe Bentley said he had surveyed the area around the mouth of Kinniconick and is concerned about problems

caused by the erosion and effects of flooding. “If something isn’t done, we stand to lose about 500 yards of Kinney within the next two years,” he said.

In other business last week, Sheriff Bill Lewis requested tax rate information so his office could compile tax bills and get them distributed so payments could begin coming into the county coffers. Lewis said he would like to have bills out in time for property owners to pay the annual property taxes in October with a discount.

Judge Executive Steve Applegate said he would contact the various agencies to gather the adopted tax rates and a special meeting would be scheduled later this month for fiscal court to approve the tax rates.

Magistrates approved the appointment of Carol Hasler to the Helen Rayburn Library Board of Trustees with a term to expire in 2014.

The approval of Kelly Armstrong as Treasurer of the Kinniconick VFD Tax Board Treasurer was given with a term to expire in 2012 and Kayla Yelley’s appointment to the Firebrick VFD Board of Trustees was approved. Her term will expire in 2013.

Magistrates approved the appointment of Jacob L. Kegley as Deputy Sheriff with specific duties as bailiff to the courts. Sheriff Bill Lewis said Kegley’s salary would be paid by the Administrative Office of the Courts and there would be no cost to Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Magistrates also approved moving Josh Lewis from a part-time to a full-time position at the Lewis County Detention Center.

County officials presented their monthly reports to magistrates and approval was given to the usual transfers and payment of bills before adjourning.

108th School Fair is this week

By Dennis Brown

The 108^th edition of the Lewis County School and Agricultural Fair gets underway Tuesday evening and continues through Saturday at the fairgrounds adjacent to Lewis County Middle School.

Fair Board President Gary Kidwell said several events are planned for the fair this year.

On Tuesday evening the baby show gets underway at 6:00 p.m. on the Main Stage with registration beginning at 5:00 p.m. Athletic Events will also begin at 6:00 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Lewis County’s Got Talent program will begin at 8:00 p.m. on the main stage

Wednesday’s events include a Home Run Derby starting at 6:00 p.m. while the Tiny Miss, Little Miss, and Miss Pre-Teen Pageants will be held on the Main Stage beginning at 7:00 p.m. Thursday’s events feature the Miss Teen and Miss Lewis County Pageants, also on the Main Stage beginning at 7:00 p.m.

A tractor cruise-in will take place on the old football field beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Kidwell said. A car cruise-in will be held on Friday starting at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday’s events include the Annual School Fair Parade which begins at 9:30 a.m. and follows the traditional parade route through Downtown Vanceburg. Kidwell said rides at the fairgrounds will be specially priced at $8.00 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Saturday. Saturday evening’s events at the fairgrounds will wrap up with the Lewis County Horse Show.

Kidwell said rides at the grounds are provided by Casey’s Rides and “ride-all-night tickets” will be available for $10.00. Admission to the fairgrounds is $5.00 for adults and $1.00 for students.

Members of the fair board are Kenny Clark, Missy Potter, Sheila Cassidy, Sam Howard, Marty Strong, Maurice Reeder Jr., Steve Applegate, Sid Bloomfield, Westy Adams, Joe Bentley, Becky Sullivan, Steve Henderson, Danny Chinn, Philip Konopka, Kasey Nolen, Dennis Prater and Gary Kidwell.

Fair Directories were inserted in last week’s Lewis County Herald. Extra copies are available at no charge at the Lewis County Herald Office on Main Street in Vanceburg or from any fair board member.

Information about the Lewis County School and Agricultural Fair is also available on line at www.lewis.kyschools.us/fair.

Plant Board updated on flood damages

By Dennis Brown

Electric Plant Board Superintendent Bill Tom Stone told Plant Board members that while workers were continuing to make repairs to water lines in the county damaged by flash flooding in May, additional damages resulted from July flash flooding.

Stone said he and other Plant Board employees had met with FEMA representatives concerning damages from the July 21 flash flooding across southern Lewis County.

Stone said work had not yet been completed on damages resulting from the May flooding although water service had been restored to all customers.

He noted there were 12 separate projects related to the damage from the May flooding and workers hoped to finalize reports with a FEMA field representative in the near future.

He told board members that the cost of making repairs following May flooding is estimated at about $120,000. He said about $85,000 to $90,000 of that amount will be recovered through federal programs from the federal disaster declaration. The program will additionally pay for steps taken to keep the washouts from recurring during possible future floods.

Stone said that with the issues involved in the flood repairs and reporting, he has been unable to meet with vendors to discuss the purchase of a mapping program for natural gas lines maintained by the Plant Board.

Stone said a meeting, however, has been scheduled and plans for mapping the gas lines are progressing. The process of locating and mapping natural gas lines is required by the Distribution Integrity Management Program.

Stone reported that $100,000 in state funding that had been in jeopardy because of an encoding error in Frankfort has now been straightened out and will be forthcoming to the local utility system.

He said the funds will be used toward video recording of the inside of existing sewer lines in a project area in Downtown Vanceburg. He said the video will assist in getting accurate bids on the upcoming sewer project for Vanceburg.

The sewer project is required by court order to separate the storm sewer system from the sanitary sewer system in Vanceburg.

An application for part of the funding of the sewer project is in the works and, if approved, the $2.5 million would be at one percent interest and have a 30 percent principal forgiveness.

The money, from the State Revolving Loan Fund, would provide funding to start the sewer project.

Members again discussed a rate study for the utility system.

Stone said Vanceburg customers are paying about $10.83 for 4,000 gallons of water while the next lowest rate around the area for the same amount of water is about $20.

“There isn’t enough revenue to cover expenses on the water side,” he said.

Board members hope to secure a rate study for all utilities at no cost from Rural Development as part of the loan process in borrowing money for the sewer project.

Board members voted to go into closed session to discuss proposed or pending litigation and took no action when returning to open session. The board also had a special meeting scheduled for Monday evening, August 9, for the same purpose.

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