Meeting in regular session last week, the Lewis County Fiscal Court received a report from representatives from the Kentucky Department of Transportation regarding the Rural Secondary Road Program.

Henry Roark informed magistrates that his department would send its recommendations for road improvements to Frankfort along with their requests. The decision on which projects would be selected is made in Frankfort.

Roark said that Lewis County's allotment for the program totals $818,926. Of that total $382,188.20 would go for expenditures and the remaining $433,737.80 for improvements.

He and David Leach presented the court with the following recommendations:

• KY Rt. 559, Petersville-Flemingsburg Road from the county line to KY Rt. 344, asphalt resurfacing at a cost of $176,043.30.
• KY Rt. 1662, Emerson Road (Raven Fork) bridge replacement at a cost of $132,000.
• KY Rt. 1662, Emerson Road drainage improvement, 1.290 miles from the junction of KY Rt. 59, at a cost of $40,000.
• KY Rt. 989, Big Salt Lick, asphalt resurfacing beginning at the junction of KY Rt. 1237 to 0.186 mile south of Runyon Hollow at a cost of $197,041.80.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
Lewis County Judge Executive George Plummer, second from left, spoke with Buck Clary of Dillon Construction of Flemingsburg last week concerning the Trinity Station Bridge replacement project. Clary said the project should be completed in about two weeks.

Magistrates also presented their list of recommendations:

• The North Fork of Licking River Road (Bowman Springs Road), one mile of initial treatment.
• Vance's Creek, resurfacing.
• Hazel Branch, 1.4 miles of resurfacing.
• Fly Branch, 1.3 miles of resurfacing.
• Rock Creek, 1.5 miles of resurfacing.
• Beechy Road, initial treatment.

Lewis County Judge Executive said the list contains two roads from each district.

Authorities are investigating an accident about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, at Dugan's Curve that claimed the life of a Mason County man.

A spokesman with the Morehead Post of the Kentucky State Police said Barry Cooper, 38, of Rectorville, was traveling east on Ky. Rt. 8 about one mile east of Vanceburg in a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
Emergency workers examine the wreckage of a vehicle last week following an accident on Ky. Rt. 8 east of Vanceburg that claimed the life of a Mason County man.

The spokesman said Cooper went off the right side of the roadway and traveled through a ditch until impacting with an embankment. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn ejecting Cooper.

The spokesman said Cooper's body landed in the eastbound lane of Rt. 8 and was later struck by a 1999 Ford Escort, operated by Roberta Sparks, 35, of Vanceburg.

Sparks flagged down a passing motorist who, in turn, notified authorities.

Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene.

A single vehicle accident Friday, November 17, left several wondering just how lucky one can be.

The accident on the AA Highway near Tollesboro happened about 8:00 a.m. as a 1986 Buick, operated by Charles Phares, 64, of Vanceburg, was traveling east on the highway, according to a spokesman with the Morehead Post of the Kentucky State Police.

The spokesman said Phares reportedly dropped his glasses and, as he was attempting to retrieve them, the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
The guardrail is shown in the engine compartment following an accident on the AA Highway near Tollesboro last week. The guardrail passed completely through the vehicle, exiting through the back glass.

The spokesman said the guardrail went through the front of the vehicle, passing through the engine compartment and passenger compartment -- narrowly missing Phares -- and then through the rear glass. Click here for more photos.

Steve Miller, Chairman of the Greater Fleming County Regional Water Commission, said original plans for the project called for a 36-inch line from the treatment plant and wells in Lewis County, across Mason County and on to Flemingsburg in Fleming County where a one million gallon water storage tank would be located.

Miller said the commission wanted to look at possible ways to serve more customers and reduce the cost for all customers.

Jane Brown, an engineer with Haworth, Meyer and Boleyn, said a feasibility study to serve additional water systems in other areas resulted in responses ranging from a desperate need for water to those who said they had an adequate water supply.

Brown said by altering the original plan, they would be able to reduce the cost to customers and serve more customers.

The new recommendation is for a 30-inch line from the well site in Lewis County to the Mason-Fleming county line, a 20-inch line from there on to Flemingsburg and a 500,000 gallon water storage tank to be located in Flemingsburg.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
State Representative-elect Mike Denham, at left, and State Director for Rural Development Tom Fern, at right, spoke to area officials about an extension project for the Greater Fleming County Regional Water Commission. Wells for the project are located at Wilson's Bottoms in Lewis County.

The second phase of the project would include the installation of a 12-inch line from Flemingsburg to Sharpsburg and a 24-inch line from the Mason-Fleming line to Blue Licks and then on to Millersburg.

Some of the areas they could serve would include Nicholas County, Mt. Olivet, Maysville, Southern Fleming County, Bath County and Montgomery County. Brown said the water companies at each of these locations could purchase the water for about $2.65 per 1,000 gallons. That amount compares to $3.42 per 1,000 gallons in the original plan.

Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development, said the project looked good for eligibility of funding for the $16 million project.

The first meeting of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 28. At that time a nine-member board of directors will be chosen by members of the Chamber.

The meeting will be at the E.V. Holder Jr. Lions Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Amy Kennedy, who is on the Chamber Steering Committee, said that a deadline of November 20 had been set for members to join and be eligible to vote for the first board of directors.

Kennedy said she is pleased with the response for membership and added that anyone seeking information may contact her. By Monday, nearly 50 members had signed on.

A Chamber application page 1, page 2 in PDF format is available on-line.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
Members of the steering committee to organize the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce met last week to finalize plans for the first meeting. Pictured, left to right, are Amy Kennedy, Kenny Clark, Craig Stanfield and Jerry Ugrin.

Turkey Dinner "on the Range"?

  

Paula Franke/Lewis County Herald
This flock of wild turkeys blocked traffic briefly on one of the back roads near Ribolt but quickly headed for the relative safety of tall grass and the woods. Think they realize that Thanksgiving Day is approaching?