John J. Patterson from the Kentucky Governor's Office for Technology addressed the Lewis County Fiscal Court and the members of the public last week about establishing Enhanced 911 for the county.

Patterson said that the experience of 9-11-01 had Homeland Security aware of the need for 911 in the nation but that it is not yet universal. He noted that 25 of Kentucky's 120 counties do not have Enhanced 911 and Lewis County is among those. Nationwide only 175 counties do not have E-911.

He added that since Congress learned that E-911 is not universal in the USA it has started a big push to create a universal system across the country, and federal dollars will follow that.

Patterson informed the court that House Bill 2898 in the House of Representatives is on a quick route to passage. It will create one hundred million dollars annually for the next five years to build enhanced 911 programs especially focusing on wireless 911. Before a community can get wireless 911 it must have E-911.

He continued that in the Senate SB 1250 is also on the fast track.

"Both bills," he said, "enjoy a lot of bi-partisan support. The Senate version will create $500 million annually."

Patterson explained that Lewis County has the opportunity to take advantage of some of that seed money.

He further elaborated that the federal money is not designed to maintain a 911 program long term but just to get the program started.

Several county residents voiced opposition to the $3.00 surcharge for E-911 that is already appearing on their Alltel phone bills. Most poor counties with a small tax base use the advance charge to provide the finances to buy the needed equipment and launch the program. Patterson told the audience that the procedure usually takes from 18 to 36 months.

However, he expressed the opinion that a $3.00 monthly charge probably would not maintain the program. He said that Fleming County has E-911 has just upped their monthly charge to $4.00.

Patterson recommended that Lewis County go into partnership with another county or agency in order to afford E-911. He mentioned partnerships with the Kentucky State Police or Greenup, Fleming, Mason, Rowan or Carter Counties. As a matter of fact he emphasized that his message was "partnerships."

Regarding partnerships Patterson strongly recommended the establishment of a regional board and that the county makes sure it has equal representation on that board and not to enter a landlord-tenant relationship.

He explained that with Basic 911 the dispatcher must depend on the caller to tell the location of any emergency. With Enhanced 911 the calling instrument gives the dispatch the location of the caller. He said that in an emergency seconds or minutes can reduce response time that translates into lives saved.

In addition to that he told the Court that in an emergency where the victim can't communicate with the dispatcher the emergency personnel would still know where to find the caller. That would involve such cases as a heart attack, someone choking, a diabetic emergency, a woman in the process of being battered or a person being robbed.

Members of the public expressed apprehension about the program and its expense citing Alltel's poor phone lines and maintenance and the fact that wireless phones just don't work well in Lewis County and in some places not at all.

Magistrate Stanfield pointed out that wireless phones don't do well in the community because of a lack of microwave towers that relay the signals.

Patterson advised the court that if Lewis County now ignores Washington that sooner or later someone will come down to establish 911 in the county and local control will be lost.

Dyer contends that the road is dangerous for residents as well as for a school bus and told the Court that two men with a truck and a backhoe could fix the problem.

He addressed his remarks to all the magistrates and that drew a reaction from First District Magistrate Milt Stanfield.

Stanfield said, "You address all of us and you're not in my district. I check my roads and the other boys do, too. And you're telling us how to fix it and that is that man's (pointing to Road Foreman Dane Howard) job."

First District Magistrate Keith Chapman stated that since the magistrates took office at the beginning of their term they have wanted to upgrade Rock Run Road. County Judge Executive Steve Applegate echoed that sentiment.

Chapman further explained that the county government and the road crew have had a terrible year because of the ice storm and the Spring flooding.

Applegate said that the road crew has worked many hours overtime just trying to give people access to their homes after the floods.

He told Dyer that they would try to correct the problem as soon as possible.

Dyer also presented a petition with nearly 150 signatures on it asking that the road be repaired.

Lewis County Attorney Clayton "Buddy" Lykins, Jr., gave first reading to the Countywide Juvenile Curfew Ordinance and the magistrates accepted the first reading. Chapman made the motion to accept the reading and commented that a few people he had talked to opposed the ordinance but the majority of the folk favored it.

The ordinance stipulates that minors under 18 years of age cannot be out unless with their parents or guardians, are on an errand for their parents or are on their way to or from an event one hour before or after that event between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Orville Dyer of Rock Run addresses the Fiscal Court about repairs on the road that creates a danger to residents and school buses.

Sheriff Bill Lewis said that the ordinance would not affect law-abiding youth but is designed to deal with those that continually break the law or who are involved with drugs.

Lykins then gave second reading to the ordinance establishing a County Cemetery Board, and the Court adopted that ordinance. That action clears the way for the Court to apply for matching state funds to maintain county cemeteries that are not funded.

Turning to new business Applegate proclaimed Saturday, October 25, as Make A Difference Day and asks the public to support the local AmeriCorps and provide cans of beef stew for the needy in the area. Local collection points are at Garrison Elementary, the Lewis County Middle School and local grocery stores.

The court moved to donate $250 to the Lewis County DARE Program.

The magistrates also moved to continue with the procedures to adopt Lynn Wood Place into the county road system.

Judge Applegate announced that Thursday night, October 30, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., has been designated as Halloween Trick-Or-Treat night in the county. That is the same time set by the city of Vanceburg.

Deputy Mark Snedegar said two barns were destroyed by fire last Tuesday and a third building on Wednesday. A suspect was arrested late Wednesday and charged with three counts of arson.

Snedegar said the first barn, belonging to David Lanthorn of Burlington, was reported on fire at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. As firefighters battled that blaze, a little over an hour late a second barn, belonging to Adrian Craig of Mr. Olivet, was report on fire. Both barns were located on Crooked Creek.

On Wednesday, an outbuilding on Sand Hill, belonging to Kim Ellis of Sand Hill, was reported on fire at about 5:40 p.m.

Damage is evident to this barn on Crooked Creek following a fire there last week. In all, three buildings were destroyed in two days as the result of an apparent arson.

Snedegar said the investigation into possible arsonist-assisted blazes was begun and a suspect identified.

Snedegar said that through the investigation and with the assistance of area residents, Kevin Wills, 32, was located at about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and charged with three counts of second degree arson, and lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center.

Deputy Dwayne Stone is investigating an accident at about 3:20 p.m. Friday at the intersection of the AA Highway and the Grayson Spur.

Stone said a 2002 Ford pickup, operated by Kevin Bloomfield, 27, of St. Paul, was traveling west on the AA highway when a tractor-trailer, operated by Nicholas Moraza of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was approaching the highway on the Grayson Spur.

Stone said the tractor-trailer pulled into the path of the pickup and Bloomfield swerved to the right to avoid striking the semi, went off the roadway, struck a cliff and overturned, coming to rest on its top.

Bloomfield was taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, for treatment.

A Vanceburg man was injured in this car vs. tree accident last week on McDowell. The driver apparently lost control in a curve.

Snedegar said the accident happened about 9:30 p.m. as an auto, operated by Kippy Clark Jr., 18, of Vanceburg, was traveling north on the roadway.