Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 01	January 2, 2008

Meade County Messenger Year in Review - 2007

JULY
Chuck Fentress, an employee of Arch Chemicals, took dieting to a new height. Not only did he lose 55 pounds, he earned $6,000 in the process, with the proceeds being given to the Relay for Life event. It took Fentress three months to shed his weight and for a celebration after the loss, he enjoyed a cheeseburger and some smoked chicken.

Adrian Whelan, Levi Mattingly and Jordan Benock are still spending time on the basketball court, having all decided to attend Campbellsville University. They originally were scattered throughout the United States, but due to different circumstances, managed to find themselves back at the same school.

Members of the Meade County Fiscal Court were chastised by local businessmen during a packed house. Members earlier had accepted a heating, ventilation and air conditioning bid from an out-of-town firm, leaving Muldraugh-based Lusk Mechanical out of the process. Lusk had submitted the lower of two bids, but the motion to accept the higher bid was approved, 4-3.

The Meade County Relay for Life generated a record $77,500 in donations and decided to make a request to utilize the county fairgrounds site in 2008. Area coordinator Russell Schuman told the organizing committee that the local relay was “by far, the best one he has worked with.”

Sarah Adkisson was crowned Miss Meade County Fair for 2007. Her court consists of first runner-up Julia Powers, secorunner-up and People’s Choice winner Betsy Bruington and third runner-up Kaelyn Burnett. Megan McGehee was named Miss Congeniality.

The Meade County Fair set attendance records on five of their seven days and total for the week once again, despite the fact rain dampened the grounds one day. The final tally was 41,879.

AUGUST
Solid waste bids were rejected by the Fiscal Court after one bidder requested a clarification on the process, prompting that area to be re-opened. The process eventually ended in late November, with the award being given to an Elizabethtown-based firm.

The classic rock sound of the band Flashback came to Riverfront Park in historic downtown Brandenburg for the second of four free concerts, presented by the Meade County Museum & Arts Council and the Meade County Public Library.

An update on the Derby Tank Car property on the outskirts of the city of Ekron was held, with officials developing a remedial design based on an environmental inspection of the property. Work was expected to begin in the fall, with completion expected sometime in 2008.

School started for Meade County youngsters, with enrollment figures predicted at 4,880. Enrollment was up in nearly all buildings, according to an early August count.

Several antique autos and other relics were destroyed in a four-alarm fire on the outskirts of Muldraugh. Firefighters from Meade County were assisted by Muldraugh, Ekron and Flaherty stations. Upon arrival on the scene, firefighters saw flames shooting from the garage, where the items were stored. Crews were on the scene about three hours and also had to battle humidity as well as the flames.

SEPTEMBER
Members of the Meade County Fire Protection District celebbrated their 50th anniversary during special ceremonies at Otter Creek Park. The department’s first fire truck was acquired by the Fiscal Court for $13,300.

The Meade County Board of Education set the tax rates for real and tangible property, with the real tax rate showing a decrease and the tax on tangible property showed a slight increase.

Members of the Meade County Fiscal Court opened the debate on whether the county code enforcement officer should carry a weapon, for which he has the neccessary permit, when performing his duties. The discussion dominated the Sept. 17 meeting.

Chico the chihuahua was attacked by a vicious pit bull, which has resulted in a change in emergency dispatch protocol. The original emergency call was sent to the animal control department, but future calls are being sent to both animal control and the sheriff’s department.

OCTOBER
The Brandenburg Station branch of First Federal Savings Bank was robbed Oct. 8 and the suspect escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. Assisting in the investigation were the Meade County Sheriff’s Department and the Kentucky State Police.

Firefighters from throughout the area converged on Meade County for the annual firefighter’s training school. About 30 instructors were present to train participants both in the classroom and on-the-field.

A mistrial motion was denied by special Judge F. Kenneth Conliffe midway through a trial alleging former magistrate Jamie Staples, his son, Justin, his parents, Ralph and Barbara Staples and a grandson, Brandon T. Vowels, were accused of tampering with physical evidence and cultivating five or more marijuana plants at the family’s farm near Andyville. A jury acquitted Jamie and his son, Justin, and found Ralph and Barbara Staples guilty of cultivating five or more plants.

A F1 tornado struck Meade County, packing a powerful punch as it uprooted trees and caused structural damage to at least two Flaherty-area businesses. The winds were part of three storms which moved through the county, Oct. 18, county Emergency Management Director Ron Dodson said.

Discussions on schematics for a new fire station were started by the Meade County Fire District board. The initial information, including pictures of possible structures, was presented by board Chairman Martin Bosemer.

A case of staph bacteria, also known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was confirmed for a Brandenburg Primary student. The bacteria can cause skin infections that may resemble a pimple or a boil. They can be red, swollen, painful or have pus or related drainage.

NOVEMBER
Midway farmer Nicholas Hardesty won the coveted FFA Star Farmer Award, the first state farmer to do so. The award, given yearly since the 1930s, recognizes the student with the best production agriculture-based Supervised Agriculture Experience program nationally. The honor included a plaque and a $4,000 cash prize.

A proposed Payneville chicken farm raised the feathers of citizens attending an informational meeting at the Wolf Creek Fire Hall. Sierra Club associate director Aloma Dew presented information to attendees on how to counteract the operation. Following the meeting, construction on the facility was suspended.

Veterans of the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and National Guard were honored at Meade County High School in celebration of Veterans Day. The event is marked on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Payneville poultry farmers Mike and Tambra Greenwell, bowing to pressure placed on them by facility opponents,

stopped plans to build a poultry operation. Had the operation succeeded, the Greenwells would have been the eighth poultry farmer locally. The operation now resembles three county fair mud bog tracks, was in a former alfalfa field.

The Greenwave football team defeated Louisville Male, 13-3, to catapult them into the state semifinals. The ‘Waves have performed admirably late in the season, despite a slow start at the beginning.

DECEMBER
Casino gaming and budgetary issues are likely to dominate the 2008 General Assembly, Meade County officials learned during a state conference in Lexington. Officials also heard Gov. Steve Beshear speak and from several top Cabinet officials.

Local farmers and students had the opportunity to experience the Monsanto Mobile Technology Unit as it made a stop at the Meade County Fairgrounds. The 53-foot-long traveling unit, with 1,000 square feet of exhibit space and enough computer and robotics inside to make cyber-freak dizzy, visits rural communities throughout the United States. It took over a year to entice the firm to visit locally.

Long-time Riverport Authority board member and chairman Don Bewley resigned his position at year-end, moving the vice chairman, Joe Wright, to the top spot.

Bewley cited his extensive work travel schedule as his reason for resigning. He hasn’t attended board members for several months.

County attorney employee Kathy Wyatt resigned from her employment under the terms of a plea bargain. Wyatt also worked under a previous county attorney and also in the clerk’s office as well.

The Meade County Fire Protection District board started the process of erecting a new fire station with the creation of the Meade County Fire Protection District Holdings, LLC. The board, comprised of the same members as the fire board, is responsible for the construction and related details for the new station, located off Armory Place Road.

Costs to complete the LLC paperwork are expected to be $3,000.

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