Falmouth Fire Department Chief David Marquardt, dressed in dark clothing, and firefighter Ryan Marquardt talk as they look over the damage done to the school bus by the dump truck. The emergency door was ripped off, windows ripped out by the truck bed and the top dented in. Pendleton School Resource Officer Todd Dennie, who is also a Deputy Sheriff, can be seen looking over the damage to the school bus. Photo by Jackie Vaughn, Staff Photographer.

Deadly bus crash

By Jackie Vaughn, Reporter and Debbie Dennie, Editor

Dina Dennie stepped out on the side porch of her home on KY 22 West around 7 a.m., May 1 when she heard a horrendously loud bolt and a scraping noise just up the road.

"I walked out in the yard, looked up the road and could see a school bus with its side caved in," said Dina. "All I could hear was the awful sound of children screaming and crying 'Help me.'"

What Dina witnessed was the terrible aftermath of a collision between a fully-loaded dump truck and a school bus with children onboard. The tragic accident injured 10 children and the drivers of both vehicles while claiming the life of a 16-year-old Daniel Wood, the son of Dwight and Toni Wood of Highway 1054. He was a sophomore at Pendleton County High School.

Dina ran back into the house and yelled for her 17-year-old daughter Sadie. She sent Sadie to help with the accident victims while she notified 911 and the high school. "I also called some other neighbors to come help," said Dina.

"Mike Halcomb, a neighbor, arrived at the accident scene to help about the same time Sadie did," continued Dina.

"When I got there, Sue Simpson, the bus driver, was getting the last student off the bus," said Sadie.

According to police reports, Francisco Yulfo, 32, of Wellington, Kentucky, operating a 1993 Mack dump truck was traveling west on KY 22, a road well-known for its many bends, when he crossed over the double yellow line in a bad curve and struck the school bus in the driver's side starting from the buses emergency door on back.

Speed has not been determined to be a cause in the accident. Some neighbors said they didn't think the truck was speeding, but they felt he was just going to fast for the road. The posted speed for the extremely curvy road and the hairpin turn is 35 m.p.h.

The photo above shows some of the black marks on the road left by the dump truck after it skidded 100 feet and finally landed on its side dumping large stone gravel quite a piece. The driver of the truck only sustained minor injuries. Photo by April DeFalco, Staff Photographer.

The heavy black marks at the scene indicated that the dump truck skidded 100 feet on the roadway before overturning and spilling its load of rock for quite a distance.

For more of this story + additional photos, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

DANIEL WOOD

Daniel Wood looked after his family even at a young age

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

Sixteen-year-old Daniel Wood was the son of Toni and Dwight Wood. He and his family live on Highway 1054. He was your average teenage boy. He loved to hunt, swim and most of all spend time with his family.

His young life was abruptly ended around 7 a.m. May 1 shortly after he boarded the bus for school.

"There is so much I can say about Daniel," said his mother Toni Wood as her voice choked up and tears welled up in her swollen eyes. "He meant so much to me. He was my rock, my strength and my protector."

"To his younger brother and sister he wasn't just a big brother he was their best friend and protector," she said.

Mrs. Wood went on to talk about her son. "Daniel had a million dollar smile that could light up a room the minute he walked in. He didn't like to see people sad," she said. "He would talk to them until he made them laugh."

"One of his teachers told me during visitation last Saturday that she was having a bad day at school and that Daniel came up to her, got her to talk and he made her smile."

Toni went on to say that Daniel was a very loving son. If he liked you he never thought one minute about giving you a big old hug.

"When Daniel was a baby I would cradle him in my arms and just hug him. He would often come up to me and cradle me in his arms and give me a big old hug."

"He volunteered to help anyone with anything. There wasn't a selfish bone in his body."

Daniel and two of his friends, Chris Scroggins and Jeremy Beane, had planned a camping trip later this summer.

"Daniel had the most beautiful blue eyes. They were the color of pretty blue water," said Toni.

Family members said all the kids in the neighborhood called him their big brother.

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Crisis Response Team helps people deal with their loss

By Jackie Vaughn, Reporter

Members of the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board (KCCRB) were at Pendleton County High School on May 1 to assist family members, friends and others who were mourning the loss of 16-year-old Daniel Wood following his tragic death which occurred earlier that morning. First responders and emergency personnel who worked the terrible school bus/dump truck collision were also on hand to talk and cope with the devastating experience.

"It's an open forum, a time for people to come together and discuss the circumstances of such a terrible tragedy," said Falmouth Fire Chief David Marquardt, who was one of the first responders in attendance.

Crisis response workers talked with many individuals and gave valuable advice on how to deal with the loss. They passed out several brochures explaining normal reactions to abnormal events, incident stress, and adapting well in the face of adversity. They explained how tragic events can trigger physical, mind, spiritual, emotional and behavioral problems and offered tips on how to combat them.

"Our goal is to help people take better care of themselves during extreme events such as this," said one crisis response worker. "We try to help them understand what to expect and how to deal with it."

The KCCRB provides psychological first aid through multi-component crisis intervention service statewide, and is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Regular incident responses include responding to crises impacting first responders, schools, businesses or community organizations, as requested. These services are at no cost. They can be contacted at their office by phone at 502-607-5781. For more information, visit their website at http://kccrb.ky.gov

Pendleton County Sheriff Craig Peoples, right, and Deputy Jared Brewer watch as Independence Police Chief Shawn Butler inspects the trunk of Brewer's cruiser.

Pendleton Sheriff's Department receives Accreditation

Pendleton County Sheriff Craig Peoples ran with three goals in his campaign. Last week he accomplished one of those goals that makes his sheriff's department one of only four in the state of Kentucky to receive their Kentucky Accreditation.

"This department and the community has a lot to be proud of," said Independence Police Chief Shawn Butler. Chief Butler and Alexandria Police Chief Mike Ward did the final inspections for the Accreditation.

"Sheriff Peoples you and your department have placed yourselves in an elite group. It's very important that the practices of your department are what is required to be the norm," said Butler.

"There are 120 sheriff's departments across the state," said Ward. "That makes it less than 2% as being accredited. Getting the Accreditation is not easy, both accessors said. These departments have to pass more than 150 standards."

The Accreditation program itself has been in existence for over 15 years. Kentucky has been recognized nationally and has helped several other states reach accreditation.

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Telephone call for Stimulus money is a big scam; beware

Pendleton County Judge/Executive Henry Bertram warns county and city residents of Falmouth and Butler to beware of a telephone scam that is being done.

People are calling the elderly and identifying themselves as employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and trying to get the person to give them their bank account number so their Stimulus money can be deposited directly to their bank account. The thieves say this information will help to speed up the refund that the President has granted.

This is a scam and they are making the calls in our community at this time.

Beware of anyone that calls you and ask for your bank account number.

Come help Habitat for Humanity tear down house to move it

Farmers Bank, Falmouth, has purchased the old home that sits behind the downtown branch office. President and CEO of Farmers says they are donating the house to Habitat for Humanity. "I have done some work with Habitat for Humanity and I hate to see the house be torn down and go into the landfill when someone can use it."

If anyone would like to come by and volunteer their services on taking down the home you can contact Ron Sheetz, (513) 608-8367. They will show you what to do.

A "FAN"tastic Opportunity!

Mark your calendars! The Kannapolis Intimidators (the Chicago White Sox - Single A Division) will be playing the Lexington Legends at Applebee's Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday, June 1.

The Intimidators have a very special player on their roster this year as many are aware, Nathan Jones - 2004 Pendleton County High School graduate. Nathan is the son of Bill and Debbie Jones.

To help show Nathan our support and how proud we are of him the Pendleton County Varsity Cheerleading Program is selling tickets to this particular game. Tickets can be purchased for $8 by contacting Cheri Griffin at 859-391-0101 - cheri.griffin@pendleton.kyschools.us or Larry Carlisle 859-322-1757.

The game starts at 6:05 p.m. and the gates open at 5 p.m. The first 1,000 fans in the gate will receive a Lexington Legends seat cushion. Also that evening there will be a short "performance" given by the new Pendleton County Varsity Cheerleading squad between innings. Be sure and bring the youngsters because after the game children 12 and under can run the bases at the stadium.

This is truly a wonderful opportunity to have a "fan"tastic time with family and friends and show a hometown boy how proud Pendleton County we are of him!

Baby photos needed for Senior Tab

Parents now is the time to gather up that special baby photo for your seniors.

The deadline to have the baby photos into the newspaper is 5 p.m. Monday, May 12. The special senior edition will appear in the Tuesday, May 27 issue. Get your photos into today. See advertisement elsewhere in this issue for cost and wording.

Falmouth Flea Market opens

The Falmouth Flea Market kicked off this past weekend and will be open every Saturday until the end of October.

Here's a great place to pick up bargains. For booth space or for more information contact Ernetta Turner (859) 462-0187 or (859) 654-8408.

The flea market is located just across the blue bridge in Falmouth in Shoemakertown on Highway 22 East.

Butler Fire Department Open House

The Butler Volunteer Fire Department will hold an Open House from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at the firehouse.

There will be free hot dogs, coffee or tea. Come see Butler's new fire truck. The firefighters will show you around and tell about what they do.

Additional items this week include:

Special Mother's Day ads

The History of Morgan - The Lost Colony of Callensville

Ashley Pugh the spark in Ladycats win

Three-vehicle accident on US 27 injures four

Locals attend Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training Course

Chamber of Commerce holds Awards Banquet

School extended 10 minutes per day