The photo above of Former Falmouth Mayor Max Goldberg was taken at a parade where the veterans participated by having a float. File photo by Debbie Dennie.

Former Falmouth Mayor Max Goldberg dies in a hospital in Morehead at the age of 94

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

Former Falmouth Mayor Max Goldberg loved the city of Falmouth and its people. He showed that love for over 33 years as the city's Mayor. His job as Mayor was only a part-time position but he worked at it as if it were a 40 hour job.

Mr. Goldberg died on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at the Life Care Center in Morehead. He had been a patient there for a couple of weeks. His nephew's residence was nearby. Max had gotten ill and his nephew came and got him and took him to his home to take care of him. He was 94 years old.

Mr. Goldberg may have been born to a Russian immigrant family in Falmouth, but he was well-known in Frankfort, Washington D.C., other states across the United States, England, Mexico and a host of other places where he owned property or visited over the years.

He was born in April 1913 the son of the late Sol and Jenny Goldberg. He was the sixth of seven children.

His family owned and operated a general store in Falmouth but Max never seemed interested in continuing the family business. "He loved excitement and adventure and that's how he lived his life," said his nephew Steve Goldberg. He loved to race his cars, boats, and fly airplanes earlier in his life. The paper has been told that he was a regular at the Falmouth Fair and on the race track there. He didn't need a mechanic, because he did the work himself and then went on to work on jet engines during the war and teach other mechanics to work on them.

He was a very dedicated veteran having served in the Royal Air Force in England and then served four years as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps. Goldberg flew planes having fought in the Battle of the Bulge and WWII. He was shot down twice and injured, coming home with a metal plate in his head.

He was a member of the American Legion Hardin-Browning Post 109 in Falmouth and was very active in that organization. If there was a parade the veterans had a float and Max was always there smiling and waving to residents along the parade route. "He was so very proud of his country and proud to fight for it," said Falmouth City Clerk Terry England.

He traveled back to many military reunions and went back to Normandy during the 50th Anniversary of D-Day.

At the Legion monthly meetings he and other veterans would sit and talk about what they had done during the war and where the war took them.

"Max was quite a gentlemen," England said. "He was very supportive of city hall employees and would take our part when he needed to. He was a very dear friend."

He was first elected as the Mayor of Falmouth in 1948, served 1949-1952, elected back as Mayor in 1965, served through 1989. Then he was re-elected mayor again and served from 1994-1998. It's possible he held the record in Kentucky as the longest serving mayor.

Max traveled the world, as a jetsetter. "He had visited everywhere he ever wanted to go and done everything he wanted to do," said Steve Goldberg. "He lived a full life."

Goldberg dabbled in a lot of things. He owned quite a bit of rental property in Falmouth, and owned property in Knoxville, Tennessee.

For quite awhile he ran a movie theatre, upstairs, in the Assembly Building on the corner of Shelby and Main St. He owned that building at one time.

He operated a theatre at the old theatre building on the corner of Fourth and Chapel Streets. Then he moved the theatre to the building on Shelby Street, where it is located today. He had a marque built and it was called the Pastime Theatre. He ran the theatre for years and and in later years leased it out to several people to operate.

Beside Falmouth, he owned and managed theatres in Maysville and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Mr. Goldberg worked long and hard with former newspaper editor Warren Shonert and others to try and build the Falmouth Dam. Their efforts never materialized and it was a bitter fight.

"He was my hero," said Steve Goldberg. "He was a very caring person. Some people never saw that side of him. He gave me my first car at age 16. It was a 1943 Studebaker. I kept that car for a long time."

"Max was as solid as a rock and he was always there for me," he added. "No matter where he traveled his great love was the city of Falmouth to which he was dedicated to for so many years," said Goldberg.

Max was always very frugal with the city's money.

"He lived in the same apartment for the past 70 years or more. He had the same furniture and cooked on a stove that his mother used. It was probably over 100 years old," said his nephew.

When he rented people apartments or houses he never raised their rent all the time they lived there, the paper was told by a close friend.

The devastating flood of 1997 took its toll on the former mayor. "After the flood I remember driving him through the streets of Falmouth," his nephew said. "As we drove along we saw kids toys and beds pitched out and I looked over and saw tears running down his cheeks. I told him that he had lost half of his property and he said to me 'I have enough to last me the rest of my life, but what are these people going to do, they have lost their homes, their belongings and jobs. How in the world are they going to survive and how can I help them?'

"Max was a very strong and independent person. He never wanted to have to answer to anyone. When he got ready to go somewhere, he got up and went," said Steve Goldberg.

Steve's dad was Harry Goldberg. "Max and my dad were really close," he said. "You never had to ask Max twice for help, he was always there when you needed him. He will be missed."

"He was a man of his word. He didn't need a signed contract. If he told you he'd do something, he did it," said his nephew.

Max had made friends with the residents and higher-ups of Falmouth, England, where he visited several times.

His longtime friend and schoolmate 93-year-old Virgiline Moore served for many years as a council woman on Falmouth City Council. "Max was the one that got me to run for the seat," she chuckled. "I told him I didn't know anything about being on council and he laughed and said, 'Oh you'll learn.'"

Mrs. Moore served approximately 18 years on council and worked right along side of Max. "We were the best of friends and he was like a family member we always invited him to our family reunions. He was close friends, like brothers, with the late Junior Showalter, who served on city council for several years.

Mr. Goldberg was 85-years-old when he decided he would not seek the office of mayor any longer.

After retirement he continued to travel and visit friends. He also was a member of the early morning coffee club at McDonald's. There he discussed the problems of our city and numerous other topics.

Max and his sister established the Sol and Jenny Goldberg Award through the Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce several years ago in honor of their mother and father.

"He always had time to talk and tell his stories and was quite the ladies man in his day," said Falmouth Outlook Editor Debbie Dennie. "He was a good friend." Max Goldberg will be buried in the veteran's section at Riverside Cemetery in Falmouth on Sunday, December 23, 2007 with full military honors; of which he would have been so proud.

Flags were flown at half-mast in the city of Falmouth in honor of Mr. Goldberg.

5000 Christmas wreaths donated for all veterans graves at Arlington National Cemetery

Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- were donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one of the poorest parts of the state.

Fiscal Court finishing up matters for end of year

By Roger McKinney, Reporter

The Pendleton County Fiscal Court met in regular session December 11, 2007 and conducted the following business:

Three houses in DeMossville were said to be leaking raw sewage onto the street. In addition the sewage was contaminating water meters. One DeMossville citizen dug a ditch in an attempt to divert the flow. Judge Executive, Henry Bertram, said the Health Department and the East Pendleton Water District would issue notices of violation to the owners of the houses. The property owners would be given a short amount of time to fix the problem.

The magistrates voted to give Judge Bertram the authority to sign an agreement that would start the process of closing the road beyond the Pendleton County Animal Shelter.

Magistrate Gary Veirs made a motion to approve the Pendleton County Clerk's budget with changes as presented to the court. Magistrate Alan Whaley gave Veirs' motion a second. Magistrate Stacey Wells asked for a roll call vote. Magistrate Wells said that changes to Line Items 48, 50 and 55 should have resulted in excess fees of $20,000 instead of the $10,000 presented. The following vote resulted: Bobby Fogle-(Yes), Stacey Wells-(No), Alan Whaley-(Yes), Gary Veirs-(Yes) and Judge Henry Bertram-(Yes). Thus, Magistrate Veirs' motion was passed by a vote of four over one.

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

Little one's visit with Ole Santa

Little Brayden Nicholas Marquardt of Falmouth was not the least bit scared of Santa. He sat on Santa's lap and posed real cute for the camera. He looks as if he is fixing to tell Santa to look his way. Brayden is the son of Kym Marquardt and the grandson of David and Lisa Marquardt. Photo by D. Dennie.

Hammond retires as county bailiff

Mr. James Hammond officially retired from his duties as Pendleton County Bailiff/Deputy on Wednesday, December 19. In recognition of his retirement, Sheriff Craig Peoples presented him with a Dedicated Service Award which read: "This certificate is hereby awarded to you for your dedicated service to Pendleton County and the Pendleton County Sheriff's Department. Your devotion and dedication is to be commended and it's an honor to award you with this distinction." The certificate was signed by Sheriff Peoples, Chief Deputy Sheriff Paul Vater and Pendleton County Judge/Executive Henry Bertram. "I've enjoyed my stay here. It's been excellent," said Mr. Hammond. "It's been a privilege to work with such a fine group of individuals." When asked what his future plans were, Mr. Hammond quickly responded, "Take it easy." Pictured above: Pendleton County Sheriff Craig Peoples (left) and James Hammond (right) are shown after the presentation of Mr. Hammond's Dedicated Service Award. Article and photo by Jackie Vaughn.

Pendleton County Deputy Todd Dennie is pictured with the boy he took shopping on December 20.

Pendleton County Chief Deputy Paul Vater helped a child do some Christmas shopping.

Sheriff's department sponsors children shopping with a cop

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

The Pendleton County Sheriff's Department took 15 local children shopping with a cop on Thursday, December 20, 2007.

Proceeds for this annual project are raised from the "Shop With A Cop" Golf Tournament held each year in August and from a horse show at the fairgrounds that the sheriff's department holds. Some people have made cash donations to the fund.

Law enforcement officers from the Falmouth Police Department, Butler Police Department, Pendleton County Sheriff's Deparament, Kentucky State Police, Send Parole and Probation volunteered their time for this most memorable shopping trip.

The children are assigned to an officer and off they go in the cruisers with the lights flashing to the stores that the children choose.

"I want to thank all the businesses and people that have donated money throughout the year and for their support," said Pendleton County Sheriff Craig Peoples. "I also want to thank all the police officers who have donated their time to come and help us do this night of shopping."

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

Additional items this week:

Christmas greetings from your local businesses

Shop With A Cop pictures

Butler City Council meets in regular session

Planning Commission approves Zoning Ordinance

A salue to United States Veteran James Sharp

and more!!