By Al Owens

The auditorium was full for the seventh annual Lewis County High School’s JROTC Veterans Day Program Friday, November 11.

The ceremony began at 10:15 a.m. with the posting of the colors by the JROTC Honor Guard followed by the Pledge to the Flag and the National Anthem played by the high school Band of Pride.

VFW Post 5438 Commander Kevin Hilger introduced the three first place winners in this year’s Voice of Democracy essay contest. Kayla Lykins placed third, Aaron Caskey second and Amanda Jamison won first place.

All three read their essays before the audience. Both Lykins and Caskey revealed how they demonstrate their freedom. Winner Amanda Jamison built her essay around the Pledge to the Flag. The three essays were well done, and each elicited a hearty round of applause from the crowd.

The high school band under the direction of Matt Voiles played a medley of patriotic songs called “The Spirit of America” as arranged by Charles Carter.

The guest speaker was Dr. Wayne Andrews who is serving his second term as President of Morehead State University. Andrews is also a Viet Nam veteran.

He said that veterans are absolutely priceless in terms of the freedoms we enjoy and noted that currently in America they number nearly 25 million, many of them now under the age of 65.

The number of World War II veterans is diminishing because many of them are leaving us as time passes.

In his address Andrews recalled his family’s legacy of military service beginning with his great grandfather Charles Carroll who was a veteran of the Civil War.

Andrews said that his grandfather was too old for World War I but his dad served as a Marine in the South Pacific in World War II. His father’s brother Carroll served in WWII in the United States Navy.

Andrews told the audience that he himself served in the Army from 1966 to 1970 and in Viet Nam for 18 months. His brother served in the Army during the Viet Nam era although not in that country. And Andrew’s son Joshua served three years in the Army in the infantry in Korea.

Andrews lauded the veterans for preserving our freedom whether they saw combat or not.

After his address the high school chorus sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Howe.

Hilger then named the winners of the art contest. Matt Cook placed first in the pencil drawings, Amanda Jamison in pastels and Melanie Thoroughman in oils.

At this time a group of dignitaries formed a receiving line in front of the stage. And as Pam Stevenson and Jessica Thornton read their names the veterans came forward to receive a pin in honor of their service to the USA. Pins were also given to survivors of veterans who are deceased whether the veterans died in combat or have passed away since their time of service.

This year’s pin features an American Flag rising out of a yellow ribbon tied in a bow.

A PowerPoint presentation prepared and given by Lana Henderson concluded the program. The presentation displayed about 200 photos of local veterans with patriotic music in the background.

Following the ceremony the veterans and their families were invited to lunch at the VFW Post on KY 3037 in Vanceburg.

As usual the ceremony was respectful and dignified but at times emotional. During the ceremony as “Taps” was played after a moment of silence for the deceased veterans sobs could be heard around the auditorium. Many veterans had tears in their eyes when they came forward to accept their pins.

The entire program appropriately honored our veterans and expressed the community’s gratitude for the part they have played in preserving the liberties we all hold so dear.

Meeting in regular session last Monday the Vanceburg City Council complied with two mandates from the state government.

The council gave first reading to an ordinance establishing an occupational license tax within the city of Vanceburg. The city already has that tax but the new ordinance has a few minor changes as required by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The tax remains at its current rate.

Since July 2, 1979, the city has observed an ordinance putting a quota on the number of beer licenses permitted in the city limits. However, according to the state legislature and a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling in the case of Whitehead versus Bravard the city does not have the right to impose such a quota.

Therefore, as directed by the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board the council gave first reading to an ordinance that rescinds and repeals that ordinance. The Control Board also directed the city to issue a license previously denied to one business.

Mayor William T. “Bill Tom” Cooper informed the council that state funding for black topping streets in Vanceburg has been reduced from about $32,000 to just over $23,000. 

When the state divvied up the monies for blacktopping across the Commonwealth Louisville was overlooked. Putting the large city back into the formula forced reductions elsewhere.

The mayor lamented that due to that decision and the new regulation requiring that the paving be done by a company certified by the state fewer streets in the city are going to be paved. He also announced that the paving probably would not begin until next Spring.

Cooper also told the council that the city’s application for a Community Economic Growth Grant that would have been used to purchase the Avery Stanley building was denied. He said that state money for such projects came to $10 million but that applications had been made for $160 million.

Plans call for the building to be converted into a hotel. Cooper plans to apply for those funds again next year.

The council also authorized the mayor to apply for a Homeland Security grant for another new police cruiser. At last month’s session the council okayed application for one cruiser, but the mayor was advised to apply for two cruisers in this year’s state budget.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Electric Plant Board of the City of Vanceburg learned that the two bids received for the relocation of the electric lines in the Vanceburg/Lewis County Industrial Park at Black Oak came in shockingly high, about twice what was expected. The bids were opened on Monday, November 7.

Superintendent Phil Kennedy said that the bid from W.H. Wright Company was $300,792. The one from Davis H. Elliot came in at $397,500, leaving W.H. Wright as the apparent low bidder.

Kennedy explained that the state is funding the entire project, and the state will decide whether to accept or reject the bids.

Regarding the 2004 Water Line Extension project Kennedy announced that a public meeting of the purpose of signing up for easements and for water will be held on Thursday, November 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be appropriately advertised in the paper and on the radio. He said that about 25 to 30 easements are needed.

Kennedy further announced that the company would have a bid opening on Tuesday, November 22, for the relocation of the water and gas lines.

The superintendent told the board that the utility company’s Christmas dinner will be on Saturday, December 10, at the Victorian Rose. He said that more details on that event would be forthcoming.

He informed the board that natural gas prices have gone up again. The cost rose from $13.35 per 1,000 cubic feet to $15.97. Kennedy said that he does not foresee any more changes through November, December and January. He made that estimate based on what he has read and heard from experts in the field.

The board approved the November invoices and the financial reports and then entered closed session to discuss pending litigation and also the appointment, discipline or removal of employees. 

When the board came back into open session no action was taken and the meeting was adjourned.