By Dennis Brown

Jeffrey Himes has announced he is a Republican Candidate for Lewis County Sheriff in the May 2010 primary election.

“Serving as sheriff for the citizens of Lewis County would be an honor,” Himes said.

“I promise professional law enforcement and will be an effective voice within Lewis County. I will get back to the basics, focus on the people of Lewis County, be forthright and treat everyone fairly,” he said. “My focus is on Lewis County needs and concerns.”

Himes was born in Maysville and is one of three sons of the late Robert and Ruth Ann Barbour Himes. His parents taught school at Garrison for several years and later moved to Batavia, Ohio, where his mother continued to teach until her retirement 32 years later.

His father taught school then became a truck driver, continuing to farm his land at Burtonville.

He has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 30 years.

Himes is a former volunteer football, baseball, basketball and softball coach of more than 20 years. He has also served as an umpire and has been a bus driver with the Lewis County School System for 15 years.

“My mother always stressed the need to give back to your community and how important a job it is to work and volunteer in programs that support our youth,” he said. “We all make a difference to someone.”

Himes said he has given back to the community and as sheriff will continue to support and work on programs to make the children of Lewis County successful and better citizens.

“We expect a lot from our school system and teachers,” he said. “There are a lot of stresses on parents and we need to help them for the future of our kids and Lewis County.”

“Like my father, I believe in honor, respect, hard work and faith in God.” Himes said. “I strive daily to make this a part of my life.”

Himes is a member of St. Mary’s Masonic Lodge and is a Third Degree Mason. He attends Pine Valley Christian Church and is a graduate of Glen Este High School in

File Photo

Jeffrey Himes has announced he is a Republican candidate for Sheriff of Lewis County.

Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended the University of Cincinnati where he received his real estate license.

He is a nine year veteran Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy and says his performance as deputy sheriff have shown a track record of solving crimes, providing law enforcement and performing services for the Lewis County Fiscal Court and courts of justice.

He is a farmer and owns and operates Himes General Store and DirecTV in Tollesboro. He is a member of the Trinity Fish and Wildlife and Tollesboro Lions Club.

He has served as a commissioner on the Western Lewis Rectorville Water District representing communities in Lewis County and helping to secure government funding for two different water line expansion projects.

He is a member of the Republican Party and formerly served as Lewis County Republican Party Chairman.

“I am the candidate who will focus on Lewis County’s needs and concerns,” he said. “I humbly ask for your vote and support in the upcoming elections.”

By Dennis Brown

Vanceburg City Council met in regular session last week and discussed ways to help improve the appearance of properties in the city.

Patty Kennard, who serves as the city’s zoning enforcement official, said some of the properties inside the city limits could use a little cleaning up.

Kennard cited a nuisance ordinance passed by the city in 2000 and the zoning ordinance, which was adopted by council four months ago.

Kennard said there are properties in the city she drives past on a regular basis which appear to be in violation of one or both of those ordinances.

She told council members that there are some locations in the city where there are old or inoperable vehicles that have been parked for extended periods of time and in violation of the city’s ordinances.

“We have laws on the books that need to be enforced,” she said. “We have to do something about it.”

Kennard said there are homes in the city where household furniture is stacked outside and homes with trash around them. “We need to enforce these ordinances,” she told council.

She said some of the problems stem from absentee property owners. “Most of the people who own these properties (in violation of the ordinances) don’t even live here,” she said. “They are rental properties and they don’t keep them up. They just collect the rent.”

“I’m not going after the renter,” she said. “I’m going after the property owner.”

Kennard said some of the properties are owned by out of town mortgage companies and it is hard to locate who the property owner is in some cases. One of the solutions she suggested was to charge higher city property taxes on abandoned lots.

“Everyone should care about their own property,” Kennard said.

Kennard introduced some of the members of the zoning board of adjustment to council before they were sworn in by City Attorney John Holder. Kennard said the members are Danny McCane, Lisa Sartin, Duncan Aker, Tony Gaydos and Joni Pugh.

Kennard said board members would be meeting shortly to take up some business as outlined by the zoning ordinance.

In another matter council members discussed complaints received concerning cats in the city.

As far as being able to address the complaints, Mayor Angie Patton said there are no city ordinances on the books addressing cat problems and that no one from the city or county is designated as a “cat catcher”.

Tony Gaydos addressed council concerning a sinkhole on Second Street located west of his funeral home and a sewer smell coming from some of the drains in the vicinity.

Patton said she would contact state officials concerning the

sinkhole repair since that portion of Second Street is a state maintained roadway.

She told Gaydos that repairs to the city’s sewer system would be made, hopefully within a year, when the city’s utility company makes required repairs to the sewer lines.

Council approved the purchase of a 2006 Ford Explorer from McCann Auto Sales for the Vanceburg Police Department. Patton said the purchase price for the vehicle is $13,000.

Patton said the vehicle has 36,000 miles and is four-wheel-drive. Police Chief Joe Billman requested the purchase of the vehicle during the November meeting, citing a need for a four-wheel-drive vehicle during times of snow.

Patton said the vehicle is painted red and requested an additional $1,000 to repaint the vehicle. She said she had negotiated financing through Citizens Deposit Bank at about six percent.

Council approved a bid of $10,500 from Applegate Construction of Vanceburg to make repairs to the second floor of the building housing Hickle’s Pool Room. The city owns the second floor of the building.

Patton said Junior Sizemore had said it is difficult to heat the pool room area because of holes in the floor above the pool room and damage caused from years of leaks.

Applegate Construction proposed removing interior walls on the second floor, replacing flooring joists and stairs, and insulating the floor.

Council adopted a resolution to apply for funding through Kentucky’s Renaissance on Main program for roof repairs on the George Morgan Thomas Home. Patton said recent high winds had damaged the roof and resulted in some leaks.

Patton said she had received some requests to place gravel or make repairs to Clint Lane in the city. Patton said Clint Lane is not a city street but is a private drive for what was formerly Belmont Trailer Court. She said the property owners are responsible for the upkeep of the drive.

Patton said the drive received a name when E-911 addressing was taking place a couple of years ago but that it had never been adopted into the city street system.

Patton told council she had been assisting with some job readiness classes for Maysville Community and Technical College and Social Services for the Ready to Work Program.

Patton said one of the participants in the program excelled and would be working in the city offices for up to 30 hours a week at no cost to the city.

Patton announced the annual Christmas Breakfast for city employees would be held on December 23.

Council members approved the minutes of the previous meeting before adjourning.