Meeting in regular session last week, the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg heard good news from its auditor Smith, Goolsby, Artis & Reams, PSC of Ashland.

"Basically you all had a pretty good year under the circumstances," auditing company representative Rodney Robinette said. "You all have good management." He alluded to the hard year most utility companies experienced last year because of the high costs of natural gas.

The audit shows that net income from all operations for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2001, totaled $206,388, compared to $296, 848 last year. That's down $90,460.

Robinette lauded the management for reacting appropriately to that increased cost by finding other sources of gas and reducing the losses considerably.

The audit reveals that the company's assets total $21,095,699. That figure is up from $18,051,351 the previous year in spite of the higher cost of energy.

Robinette reported: "You all were compliant in all respects." He explained that the federal government considers the Electric Plant board to be a low-risk auditee, and that's excellent.

He praised the changes in internal control and said it is also excellent, asserting that it s way above average for Eastern Kentucky.

Meeting in regular session last week, the Lewis County Fiscal Court accepted the bid from Laney Services in Black Oak for the demolition of buildings on the FEMA Buy Out Program. Gary Laney's bid of $17,800 was the lowest of five bids received.

According to Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney, all the buildings on the properties purchased in the program must be destroyed.

Amy Kennedy from Buffalo Trace Area Development District reminded the court that 13 of the 19 properties involved have been approved for the project and six await approval.

Kennedy gave updates on several projects.

She said she attended a meeting with Haworth, Meyer & Boleyn Inc. of Frankfort and Diamond Engineering of Greenup regarding the Tollesboro Industrial Park. They discussed plans to change the entrance to the park from an agricultural to an industrial park. They are also looking to bring better water with more pressure to the park.

Kennedy also reported that the Industrial Authority stands to receive a $1 million grant.

Lewis County Judge Executive George Plummer added that they talked about getting a speculative building for the park at that meeting but weren't sure about acquiring funds for the project.

An apparently stolen box trailer has been recovered by the Vanceburg Police Department after residents noticed it had been sitting in a parking lot for several days.

Lt. Tom Flannigan said the black trailer had been parked at the Bee Mart lot in Vanceburg for several days and, after receiving a call from a concerned citizen, he went to check out the trailer.

He said the vehicle identification numbers and other information, along with the license tag had been removed and except for a few auto parts inside, the trailer was empty.

Flannigan said the trailer, used to transport a vehicle, is 28 feet long and eight feet, four inches wide. The brand name is Classic. Anyone with information should contact the Vanceburg Police Department

Two arrested on contraband charges

Vanceburg Police have arrested two people in connection with a case of promoting contraband in connection with pills being brought into the Lewis County Detention Center.

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman said that during an afternoon visitation time Saturday afternoon, Sarah Cooley, 22, of Garrison, allegedly left a package containing 15 blue pills, thought to be the prescription medication Lorcet, near a trash dumpster at the detention center.

Billman said that a short while later Karen Kennard, 45, of Tollesboro, a cook at the detention center, allegedly came out and picked up the pills and, as she returned to the detention center, she was apprehended and the pacakge and pills were confiscated.

AA accident injures four

Vanceburg Police are investigating an accident Friday at the intersection of the AA Highway and Ky, Rt. 59 in Vanceburg.

Chief Joe Billman said the accident happened about 10:00 a.m. as a 1989 Ford Aerostar van operated by Michael Bradley, 26, of Newport, was traveling east on the AA Highway, and a 1996 Hyundai operated by Kenneth Dillow, 84, of Vanceburg was traveling north on Ky. Rt. 59.

Billman said Dillow apparently pulled out into the path of the van, resulting in a collision.

Dillow and Bradley, along with two passengers in the van, were taken to Meadowview Regional Medical Center in Maysville for treatment.