Sheriff Bill Lewis said Deputy Sam Richmond and Deputy Tom Polley, acting on information received by the Sheriff's Department, went to the home of Danny R. Gulley, 38, on Sargent Branch near Petersville and discovered the plants growing in three separate plots.

Dennis Brown/Herald
Deputy Sam Richmond displays some of the marijuana confiscated last week near Petersville before destroying it. Samples were taken from the plants to be sent for lab analysis to be used as evidence if the case should go to trial.

Lewis said the incident happened Thursday evening and remains under investigation by the Lewis County Sheriff's Department.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
Deputy Tom Polley makes some last minute adjustments to a pile of evidence before it is set alight.

Meeting in regular session last week, the Lewis County Fiscal Court discussed the issue of a new trailer park being established on Clear Creek Road by James "Jay" Applegate.

Wayne Hardymon represented a group of residents that opposes the park. They maintain that no permit for the park has been obtained from the state and that the trailer park violates the Lewis County nuisance ordinance. Hardymon said the neighbors also fear the mobile home park will cause a decrease in value of their property.

As a result of Hardymon's appearance before the court last month, Lewis County EMS Director Carl Chaney had been authorized to view the site and make a report to the court.

Chaney stated that, in his opinion, the park was not in violation of the nuisance ordinance at this time. He also pointed out that the homes setting on the site are currently unoccupied.

Betty Ripato presented some photos to the magistrates in support of the park. The lots were sold off her property, and she said that the park looks decent and respectful.

Magistrates determined that the matter is out of its jurisdiction unless the nuisance ordinance is violated. The permit for the park is a state matter and other permits must come from the health department. Therefore, the could could take no action on the matter.

The Lewis County Board of Education moved to transport private school students attending Tollesboro Christian School [Tollesboro Jr./Sr. High School] on Lewis County public school buses if all the required conditions are met by the private institution.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. said that research since last month's session confirms that transporting such students is not a violation of the separation of church and state clause. He also confirmed that the cost will be about $500 per student, and that the Lewis County Fiscal Court would reimburse the school system at the close of the school year by channeling state funds to the board of education.

Other conditions include the following:

• Discipline of the private school students is the responsibility of the Tollesboro Christian School.
• The transported students must be in the local vicinity.
• The private school's schedule must parallel the public school's schedule.
• The students must be taken to a central loading and unloading zone at the private school.
• Any transportation from that zone is the responsibility of the private school.
• The private institution must provide insurance for its own students.
• A flat fee of $1,000 required by the insurance company must be paid by the private school.

He said that he does not want two things to happen: to lengthen the school day for students and to increase the cost to the board of education.

Board members voted in favor of transporting the students if the conditions are met except Karen Esham, who abstained explaining that she felt uncomfortable voting without knowing the answers to some questions. She said she wanted to know the extent of the hold harmless clause intended to relieve the board of any responsibility in case a student was hurt or caused harm. She also wanted to know if the private school had the appropriate insurance before voting on the matter.

Reeder explained that the plan would not go into effect until all the conditions as outlined were met. Esham still expressed concern over the hold harmless clause when she abstained from voting.

The board also learned that non-public students may attend the Foster "Sid" Meade Area Vocational Education Center since it is locally operated rather than state operated. Morning and afternoon transportation can be provided by the public school system.

The board moved to permit those students to attend the vocational school.

Theft at construction site

Vanceburg Police are investigating a burglary early Monday at the construction site of the Lewis County Justice Center on Second Street in Vanceburg.

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman said the incident happened at about 3:00 a.m. Aug. 21 as Sgt. Joe Paul Gilbert observed three individuals walking east on Front Street carrying tool cases.

As he approached the subjects, one of them fled, Billman said. An adult and a 15-year-old were taken into custody.

The adult, Daniel M. Lewis, 19, of Vanceburg, was charged with receiving stolen property over $300 and lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center. The juvenile was released to the custody of his parents.

Police were continuing to search for the third party Monday morning.

Among the items taken were a DeWalt drill, a DeWalt power saw, a Hilti commercial drill and a first aid kit.

Three arrested after fight

Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating a fight in Garrison Saturday night which resulted in three men being lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
A 1991 Plymouth Sundance burns in the parking lot of Comprehend, Inc., on Market Street in Vanceburg on Aug. 18. The auto, belonging to Oona G. Thomas, 36, of Aberdeen, Ohio, sustained substantial damage. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Deputy Sam Richmond said he and Deputy Tom Polley responded to a call of a fight in progress on Garrison Lane in Garrison.

After questioning those at the scene, three men, Eric McCane, Timothy Madden and Randy Horsley, all of Garrison, were arrested and charged with alcohol intoxication and lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center. Horsley was also charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.