Falmouth firefighters respond to blaze on Hwy 22 East

Falmouth firefighters were dispatched to the scene of a structure blaze at 6519 Hwy 22 East on Sunday, November 11. The residence of Tim Tipton and his daughter erupted in flames just before 9 p.m. and the backside of the home was quickly engulfed before firefighters arrived. The Bracken County and Butler Fire Departments were called to assist at the scene but Bracken County was already battling a barn fire when they got the call. They did manage to deliver a load of water though and then returned to the barn fire. Butler responded with a pumper and tanker to help battle the blaze. Members of the Pendleton County Sheriff's Department, Pendleton County Ambulance Service, and the Red Cross also aided at the scene. No one was home at the time of the blaze. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The home was a total loss. Article by Jackie Vaughn. Photo by April DeFalco.

16-year-old girl airlifted from accident

A 16-year-old Falmouth teen remains in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. She was airlifted there on November 10 from a one-vehicle accident on KY 159. Ashley D. Wright was operating a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire when she went to round a sharp curve, the vehicle left the roadway and the driver over corrected causing the vehicle to flip over at least two times. A juvenile from Alexandria was a passenger in the vehicle. She was taken by Pendleton County EMS to St. Luke Hospital East where she was treated and released. Family members report that Ashley sustained a skull fracture, a damaged artery, a couple broken vertebras and 40 stitches. The Falmouth Fire Department responded to the accident and had to extricate both girls from the vehicle. "Both were wearing their seat belts," Tpr. Scott Lengle said. "This saved them from being ejected from the vehicle." Tpr. Lengle also said that a resident, Brenda Higgins, was on her way home and saw the accident happen in her rear view mirror. She got out and called 911 from her cell phone and stayed with the girls comforting them until the ambulance arrived. Photo by April DeFalco.

Mary K. Hoerlein-Vennerman's car was eventually stopped on Highway 10 in Campbell County

Woman leads police through two county chase

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

A 54-year-old Butler woman was arrested on November 11 in Alexandria after she led police in Pendleton and Campbell on a chase.

Mary K. Hoerlein-Venneman was taken into custody after a short chase on foot. She was lodged in the Campbell County Detention Center. The slow moving chase started Sunday afternoon around 3:54 p.m. when Kentucky State Trooper Scott Lengle observed her green 2007 Ford Focus he was searching for. She has pumped gas from BB's this past Saturday and Sunday and both times failed to pay for the gas.

Tpr. Lengle tried to get her to pull over, but she kept right on going. The slow moving chase went from KY 609 on to Flour Creek Road and then on to KY 177. At the intersection of KY 177 and U.S. 27 she turned right and headed north into Campbell County. Tpr. Lengle said a Campbell County Officer was filling up his cruiser at the BB's station at Butler and he proceeded to help Tpr Lengle stop the vehicle.

Tpr. Lengle had attempted to put down two stop sticks, one at the intersection of KY 159 and KY 609, and one again on KY 609, but she managed to avoid both.

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

Real Estate Agent Kathy Colvin, right, gives Mr. Charley Herron his plaque for winning the Biggest Tree Contest in Pendleton County. His tree measured 25 feet 9 inches in circumference. Photo by Don Lee.

Herron winner in Biggest Tree Contest

By Don Lee

Poet Joyce Kilmer wrote, "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree". The people of Pendleton County must feel the same way about their trees. The response to Big Tree articles in the Outlook recently have stirred much interest in big trees, so much so that Kathy Colvin of Rural Route Reality decided to sponsor a contest to find the biggest tree in Pendleton County. The quest was for the tree with the biggest circumference and there were free gas card prizes for first, second and third place. The contest ended on November 1 and the largest tree of record has been found.

The first place winner was Charley Herron who entered a large maple tree that measured 25 feet 9 inches in circumference. The tree located at 8450 Milford Road sits atop a flowing spring next to an old spring house and is awesome to look at. Charley says the spring house was used in the old days to cool their milk. The tree is close to the road and Charley invites everyone to drive by and look at his champion tree. He was given a plaque commemorating his tree.

The second place prize went to Don Roseberry who entered a Sycamore that measured 24 feet 6 inches in circumference. Third place was for a Cottonwood, entered by Tom Pettit, that measured 18 feet and 6 inches.

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

Kelsey McCain's time posted for the race, 3.2 miles, was 19 minutes, 22.2 seconds. She is the first girl in Pendleton County High School's history to win an individual cross country state championship title. Photo by Lori King.

Kelsey McCain, Class AA Individual Cross Country State Champion

First girl in Pendleton County High School's history to win individual state cross country championship

Just keep those history books open because Pendleton County Cross Country is filling up the pages! Saturday, November 10th, 2007 marked the day of the KHSAA Cross Country State Championships - a day that the Ladycat and Wildcat cross country teams worked so hard to be a part of - a day of nervous anticipation and excitement - a day to be remembered in Pendleton County history.

The Girls 5k Class AA Race (3.2 miles) started at 11:30 a.m. with 197 runners on the line from all over the state of Kentucky. The Ladycats got a good start when the gun went off but were quickly lost in the crowd as all 197 runners surged forward to gain their spot in the race. Pendleton County's Kelsey McCain wasted no time in working the crowd and making her way to the front. Hearts were pounding and cheers were at high volume as fans, family and friends watched Kelsey leading the way down the last stretch to the finish with a smooth pace. She glided across the line taking 1st place with a time of 19:22 minutes, winning the race with a 17 second lead over Whitney Maurer of Elizabethtown who had a finishing time of 19:39. Kelsey is the first girl in Pendleton County High School's history to win an individual cross country state championship title. Coach Marcia Hatfield said "Kelsey ran a fabulous race, especially after dealing with injuries during the last part of the season." It was a great comeback for Kelsey and she proved that hard work along with determination and commitment does pay off. Way to Go, Kelsey!

Coach Hatfield also stated how proud she was of the girls team finish. The Ladycats finished 15th out of 24 teams and remain consistent with their results from past years. The girls' team does not have any graduating members this year and Coach looks for them to be a stronger team next season. Bethany King was the Ladycats second team member across the line with a time of 21:37 minutes, followed by Anna McDonough (22:08), Chelsey Hill (23:38); Courtney Steadman (23:52), Sydney Bardua (25:07), and Caitlin LeCrone (26:45). Good job, Ladycats, keep up the hard work!

Next up was the Boys 5k Class AA Race and the Wildcats stood on the line with 24 other teams and several individual runners making a race total of 203 runners. Wow! After tying for first place at last week's Regional Meet and losing the tie breaker with a margin of just 10 points, the Wildcats took the line with a determination to make a statement and prove their ability. And that they did. Everybody's first expectation was to see Corey Hatfield leading the way for the Wildcats, but still trying to overcome some health issues, Corey had fallen back some in the race and had to rely on his teammates to show the way. They did just that. Kurtis King came flying down the last stretch of the race as the Wildcats scoring lead man. Kurtis gave it his all to the line and had the best race of his season with a time of 16:59 minutes finishing 15th overall as an individual state medalist. Great job, Kurtis!

Kurtis King placed 15 for the Wildcats with his best time of 16 minutes, 59 seconds as an individualist medalist Photo by Lori King.

The remaining Wildcats weren't far behind ensuring a low score for the team. Cameron Turner was the team's second scoring runner with a time of 17:18 minutes, followed by Corey Hatfield (17:28), Kyle Gosney (17:37), Austin Wolfe (17:40), Jeff Edwards (18:43), and Tanner Howell (18:57). All five scoring team members finished in the top 25% of the race. Cheers roared from fans, family and friends when the announcement was made that Pendleton County boys took State Team Runner Up with 125 points. Owensboro Catholic took 1st place with 65 points giving them their 3rd win in a row as Team State Champion. The Wildcats set a school record as the first boys' team to finish 2nd and to take home the title of State Runner Up. Coach Hatfield stated she was "very proud of how the boys stepped it up when they realized that Corey was struggling". This just shows how hard work and team work go together. With the Wildcats only losing one senior runner off the top seven, Coach Hatfield looks to coming back next season with another strong team. Excellent year, Wildcats!

Until next season - congratulations Pendleton County Cross Country . . . . Keep on running!

Boys Cross Country Team - Class AA State Runner-ups: (l-r) Head Coach Marcia Hatfield, Matt Thompson, Aaron Owens, Jeff Edwards, Kyle Gosney, Cameron Turner, Tanner Howell, Austin Wolfe, Kurtis King, Corey Hatfield, Neil Bardua.

Click here for additional cross country pictures

Homemakers Winter Wonderland this Saturday
Santa will be there for children

The Pendleton County Extension Homemakers will sponsor their annual Winter Wonderland from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, November 17 at Southern Elementary.

Proceeds from this event enables the Pendleton County Homemakers to be able to give a scholarship to a deserving senior from Pendleton County High School.

In addition to the many craft booths there will also be chili, hot dogs, pimento cheese sandwiches, soft drinks, chips, and coffee available to purchase. Santa Claus will also be available for pictures to be made. Please mark this date on your calendar and come and have an enjoyable time.

Additional articles this week include:

Butler City Council meets in regular session

Pendleton High School presents "Once Upon A Mattress"

Thoroughbreds end Cats season with 48-14 loss

Keaton Belcher and the Bruins overcome U.C. Bearcats

Celebrate Homemakers Week

General Election Recapitulation Sheet

and more!!