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Firefighters have busy week

Area firefighters responded to two calls last week in the Vanceburg area, resulting in the loss of a garage/workshop and a home, along with the contents of each.
Firefighters were first called to Halbert Avenue in Vanceburg on Tuesday when a building there was reported on fire.

The building, a garage/workshop, was destroyed by the fire, although a few items were removed from the building before the fire got too intense.

The building did not have electric service but did have a small wood-burning heating stove, according to a neighbor.

The second call was early Saturday morning when a flue fire was reported at a home at Charters, west of Vanceburg.

Firefighters responded to find flames shooting through the side of the two-story home.

The fire eventually spread throughout the home and destroyed nearly all of the contents. Family members were able to salvage a very few items before the fire spread, hampering further attempts to remove anymore items from the home.

Debbie Knell, who rented the house, located on old Route 10, her two daughters, son and companion, lost nearly all personal belongings, furniture and the Christmas gifts opened only two days earlier.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

Vanceburg firefighters battled a blaze last week at this garage/workshop on Halbert Avenue in Vanceburg. The fire is thought to have been started by a heating stove.

Donations of clothing, household items, and money are being sought for the family.

Mary Thurman said clothing is much needed along with other household items and money to help the family get back on its feet. Thurman may be contacted at 606-796-9017.

Further information on the needs of the family may also be obtained by contacting Carol Edington at 606-796-0238.

Industrial Authority meets

By Tiffany Stamper
The Lewis County Industrial Authority met December 23 at Vanceburg City Hall.

Amy Kennedy, Buffalo Trace Area Development District, called the meeting to order and read the minutes of the November 7 meeting.

The authority approved a contract change for Mountain Inc., which included a $6,265.60 increase in the budget. This was requested by Mountain Inc. and suggested to approve by Phil Kennedy.

Kennedy mentioned that the company had to use heavier stone than they had planned and this was necessary because of the amount of traffic flow expected through the area.

Tram Construction Inc. requested that the company's retainage be reduced to $15,000. The contract is complete except for some minor corrections. The authority approved the change.

According to Amy Kennedy, the utility changes made due to the extension of the industrial park were considered substantially completed by the engineers.

The request to pass the substantial completion for Contract 2 was approved.

FDIC, Premier Financial reach agreement

(Dow Jones/AP)
Premier Financial Bancorp Inc. said its Farmers Deposit Bank in Eminence signed an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) consenting to a cease and desist order, effective January 1.

In a press release Wednesday, the bank holding company aid the FDIC order required it to end operating with "management whose policies and procedures are detrimental to the bank and jeopardize the safety of its deposits."

In July, Premier Financial said it had uncovered a "systematic disregard for its loan approval and credit administration policies" at Farmers Deposit, following an internal investigation.

The company said then that it promptly informed regulatory authorities after finding problems at Farmers Deposit, and the bank's president resigned in June.

Premier said its investigation showed the bank's former president engaged in conduct that subverted the bank's internal controls and credit administration policies, which the company believes was designed to avoid detection by independent reviewers.

In November, Premier Financial named Carroll Yates president and chief executive of Farmers Deposit Bank, and hired an undisclosed chief financial officer for the bank.

The company said then it also reviewed all loan relationships exceeding $25,000 and hired experienced collectors and attorney.

Premier Financial Bancorp Inc. is also the parent company of Citizens Deposit Bank & Trust in Lewis County and Bank of Germantown.

Photo Catch

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