By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Lewis County Board of Education was treated to several success stories beginning with the Lewis County Middle School Academic Team.

Coached by Bill Billman and Charity Burriss the Academic Team won the Limestone League Tournament and is preparing to compete in the Governor’s Cup Competition. Two large, beautiful trophies were displayed.

The School Board presented each team member with a certificate commemorating that achievement. Several parents were on hand to see the presentation.

Brad Hughes with the Kentucky School Board Association drove from Louisville to attend the meeting. He is currently traveling around the state attending school board meetings to listen to the types of issues, questions and success stories at the local level and take those back to Frankfort.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder, Jr. lauded the JROTC Veterans Day Program. He said that it was a tremendous success, and that more veterans attended the program this year than ever before.

Reeder told the board that the state has issued a report covering the last six or seven years showing the schools that have made the most progress on the CATS scores over that period of time, and Lewis County is 16th out of the top 20 schools in the Commonwealth.

Eric Bloomfield, CPA, Portsmouth, OH was on hand to give the 2004-2005 annual financial audit report. Bloomfield explained the basic processes used in the accounting procedures and told the board that no instances or findings of noncompliance with either state or federal records was found. He said the schools got a good, clean audit.

Bloomfield said that the school district enjoyed an increase in revenue in the general fund of about $250,000 over the previous year, most of that coming from state revenue sources.

He said that total revenues came to $11,819,424; expenses totaled $11,372,549 leaving an excess of $437,875. Regarding the district’s assets and liabilities Bloomfield said that the major change was an increase in the cash position of about $350,000.

The CPA commended board treasurer Joe Kennedy and his staff for keeping such good records and said that they did a fantastic job. He pointed out that he doesn’t find that kind of expertise in many places.

The board approved that financial audit report.

Larry Riley, principal at the Lewis County Middle School, told the board about his school’s use of the two half-day school days. 

The teachers use that time to analyze data from the CATS scores in order to develop strategies to continue progressing toward the school’s academic goals.

The board approved a contract with Med-Brook from West Virginia for drug testing of the bus drivers and mechanics.

It also approved the receipt or accelerated reading money from the state. The amount received for each student is based on the average daily attendance.

The board approved the KETS matching offer of assistance. The offer this year totals $28,155 and is used for technology and technical equipment. The board must match that amount for that purpose.

The board approved a change order for the project. A masonry wall is being installed in the library, and a small hodge podge of other little things must be done. With the adjustments in the changes the work on the change order totals $726.80.

he board approved the 2005-2006 indirect rate cost. The school board helps pay for the overhead in the school cafeterias and then gets reimbursed by the state at a set rate, about 10.53 percent.

The board approved the bids totaling $1712 on some surplus property that was sold. That mostly involved some old vehicles, and the mechanics felt that the prices bid were fair.

The board approved the application for a Striving Readers grant. Instructional Supervisor Diane Johnson said that the school board was applying for the maximum of ten million dollars. That money would cover the entire program and would provide salaries for several teachers to help in the reading program.

Riley told the board that LCMS has a school wide reading program in place. Every student is involved in that reading program. He said that the school’s scores were up in math due to the success of the connected math approach, but science is a problem area that the school is working on.

He pointed out that the gap between free and reduced lunch students is closing quite drastically.

Riley also said that gains were being made in social studies, writing portfolios and in arts and humanities as well.

Jamie Weddington, principal at the high school gave a similar report to the board. He said that the high school has made its Annual Yearly Progress goals for the past three years.

Weddington added that the high school is ahead of the curve as far as the index is concerned and that the school is ahead of the state mean in all areas except reading and math.

Teachers are using the data from the CATS scores to help individual students set and achieve their goals.

Riley related that the Middle School has been making steady progress and said that Paula Lewis and Kevin Duff, his predecessors, deserved credit for much of that progress.

Winter brings colder weather and when temperatures drop all creatures seek shelter.

This includes rodents as well as farm animals. Because of the potential spread of disease, when rats and mice infest barns and feed bins it is important to keep rodent problems to a minimum.

To keep the spread of these rodents there are several options to consider: keep food off floors, grains should be in covered containers, store nesting place off the ground (things like lumber, old equipment and boxes). Do not allow garbage, trash and weeds to accumulate. Seal up holes and cracks where they might enter.

Rats can crawl through an opening no larger than 1/2 inch wide. They can jump. Climb and swim, therefore keeping them out can sometimes be impossible.

Because farms have open feed bins and sealing up a barn or storage building is difficult, farms are very prone to have rodent problems. Sometimes poisons are necessary.

Therefore, free rat bait is now offered to Lewis County farmers. The bait will be distributed in one-pound bags.

The Lewis County Health Department, along with other sponsors, will make this available as follows: Rip's Farm Supply in Tollesboro on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to Noon; Big Barn Farm supply in Garrison on Nov. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.; Southern States (Howe Farm Supply) Nov. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m.; and Roe's Grocery at Camp Dix from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more information, call Jill O'Cull at the Lewis County Health Department at 606-76-0465.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last Monday the Lewis Count Fiscal Court moved to renew the property and liability insurance with St. Paul Insurance represented by Ron LeMaster Insurance Company.

Tim Perry, Vice-President of LeMaster Insurance, said that the premium for the next 12 months was decreased by about $3600 from last year’s cost. The total package comes to about $72,834.

In quick succession the court approved two appointments.

Myrtie Carpenter’s appointment to the Firebrick Volunteer Fire Department Board was approved. His term will expire on October 31, 2009.

Maxine Kamer was approved as a Community Representative on the Licking Valley Community Action Program Board. Her term also expires October 31, 2009.

The court approved the construction of an entrance sign to the Tollesboro Industrial Park. The low bid of $3100 came from Bob Moore Block and Brick. The court tabled the transfer of the location of Fuller Branch Road until next month’s session. County Attorney Clayton “Buddy” Lykins, Jr. told the court that the regular advertising and public hearing procedure should be followed regarding relocation of the road.

The court approved the bid of $1,149,064 from R.J. Construction, Inc., Vanceburg for the construction of the new Lewis County Health Department building.

The court approved the treasurer’s report and the claims and transfers for the General Fund, Road and Bridge Fund and Jail Fund accounts.

County Judge Executive Steve Applegate announced that the next regular session of Lewis County Fiscal Court will be conducted on Monday, December 12 at 9:30 a.m. in the third floor courtroom of the courthouse. The meeting is open to the public.