Above is what was left of the home where Jamie and Christa Hughes lived. It was destroyed by fire on Friday, January 25. Four-year-old Billy Hughes was trapped inside the burning home. Photo by Jackie Vaughn.

Deadly fire claims life of 4-year-old

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

A house fire that gutted a Butler home at 283 Highway 177 and destroyed the house next to it claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy and sent his father and mother to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The boy's father, Jamie Hughes, was burned on over 50% of his body, while trying to find his son. He was airlifted by U.C. AirCare. His mother Christa Hughes was not injured.

BILLY JOSEPH HUGHES

"Jamie had grabbed a blanket and tried to find his son. His hair was burned, his arms, hands and other areas," said sister-in-law Amanda Hughes. His condition was upgraded from critical to stable condition on Sunday. He probably will be in the hospital for a few weeks.

The remains of little Billy Joseph Hughes was found around 11:45 p.m. Saturday evening in the partial basement of his home, after an extensive search.

Searching for the body was not easy, the second floor of the house collapsed and fell into the basement leaving several feet of ashes and debris that had to be searched through.

Amanda Hughes was feeding her 4-month-old daughter when she smelled smoke. "I got up and went to the front of the house and looked out. I could see my brother-in-law's house was on fire. I also saw Jamie and Christa Hughes jump from an upstairs window," Mrs. Hughes said. "I could hear my sister-in-law Christa screaming, 'My baby! 'My baby.'"

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

Pictured above is the architectural rendering of what the Pendleton County Judicial Center will look like when it is completed.

County to break ground for new judicial center

The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the planned Pendleton County Judicial Center on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. EST. The event will take place at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Building at 45 David Pribble Drive in Falmouth.

The Kentucky General Assembly authorized the Pendleton County project in 2005 and approved its funding in 2006. The total project cost is $11.7 million. The building will be 35,373 square feet and is expected to be completed in July 2009. Construction will begin soon after the groundbreaking ceremony.

"I appreciate the legislators who supported improved judicial centers for Pendleton and other counties," said Chief Justice of Kentucky Joseph E. Lambert. "Kentucky citizens generate more than 1 million court cases each year. Our citizens deserve safe, efficient facilities in which to conduct their business before the courts."

Because the new judicial centers often replace older, vastly inadequate facilities, the new buildings greatly increase the efficiency of services and public flow, said Garlan VanHook, general manager of the Department of Court Facilities for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

"All new judicial centers are equipped with the modern infrastructure to support data, computer, video and networking technology," he said. "They also provide the highest level of Kentucky court security through a single-point entry with magnetometers and security personnel."

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

Attorney addresses City Council regarding ordinance

By Roger McKinney, Reporter

Pendleton County Joint Planning Commission Attorney, Tim Theissen, addressed the Falmouth City Council in their regular scheduled monthly meeting on January 17, 2008. Attorney Theissen introduced himself and gave the lawmakers a synopsis of his experience with the process of zoning. He talked about the Planning Commission and what it had accomplished.

Theissen explained why it was a good idea for the council to pass a zoning ordinance specifically tailored for the City of Falmouth. Mr. Theissen recommended that the lawmakers hire a consultant to assist with the drafting of the ordinance. He also suggested that a committee be formed to research the zoning needs of the city.

After Attorney Theissen's presentation was complete Councilman Mark Hart made a motion that the city proceed toward the creation of a Falmouth zoning ordinance. Councilman Jason Gregg gave Hart's motion a second and a roll call vote was taken: Rick Mineer-(Yes), Mary Ann Pittman-(Yes), Darryl Am-merman-(Yes), Kim Myers-(Yes), Mark Hart-(Yes) and Jason Gregg-(Yes).

A community steps up to help

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

So many in the Butler community and other areas stepped up in a time of need on Friday, January 25, 2008.

"The temperature was frigid but when the 911 reverse call from the Pendleton County Dispatch Center went out that Friday to search for a little 4-year-old in the area and in the woods, it was amazing to see the turnout of volunteers," said Pendleton County Search and Rescue member Mark Hart. "I was expecting 20 or 30 people and it was overwhelming to see the number that turned out."

Northern Elementary Assistant Principal Janet Stahl and Michelle Caldwell opened up the gym at the school to provide a place for volunteers and firemen and others to come get warm, get food, drinks, and to form for the ground search.

Both ladies had called other Northern Elementary staff, and Sharp Middle School staff to come and help. In an hour and a half the gym at Northern was filled with people waiting to help.

"Michelle had contacted David Bay with Lee's Chicken, Brad Faulkner at Snappy Tomato Pizza and Christine Sanderfer and Teresa Caswell at Edwardo's Pizza to bring food for the volunteers," Hart added.

Each restaurant went above and beyond with their donation of food.

Falmouth Fire Chief David Marquardt said, "There was well over 300 people, counting firemen, that came to help do anything they could."

Pendleton County Judge Henry Bertram was present as was Falmouth Mayor April DeFalco. A magistrate helped direct traffic.

Search and Rescue Member Mike Martin called Pendleton Dispatch to do the 911 reverse call.

'We, Pendleton Search and Rescue, just want to make sure that everyone that showed up knows how much we thank them," Hart added. "Without their help we couldn't have done the search."

"The Pendleton County School systems should be very proud of their employees, Janet Stahl and Michelle Caldwell, for stepping like they did and for calling for additional school staff to come help," said Hart.

Marquardt said that Grant County Search and Rescue, Campbell County Search and Rescue and Northern Harrison Fire Department, Pendleton Red Cross members, Pendleton County Water District Manager Red Jones, Pendleton Emergency Management Manager Mike Moore, District 7 Emergency Management Director Rick Watkins all came to help.

Griffin Industries sent lights. Rumpke of Kentucky brought a portolet, the highway department brought salt for the road to make sure the water did not freeze the roadway and we're sure there are others that came that we don't know of that also need to be thanked.

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

State budget cuts raise concerns for schools

The state's current budget problems could have a serious impact on Pendleton County Schools in 2008-09 according to Superintendent J. Robert Yost at the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education on January 17, 2008.

As a means of reducing spending in the Kentucky Department of Education, proposed cuts in state Flexible Focus funds will reduce funds to Pendleton County Schools from $325,804 to $139,617, a reduction of $186,187. Areas impacted include Safe Schools, Extended School Services, Professional Development and Textbook funds. Should these funds be cut, reductions in student services, instructional materials and staffing could occur.

Concerns also exist for the district general fund. Discussions about a reduction in the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding formula would have a devastating impact on schools and students.

Superintendent Yost reported that even no increase in SEEK funding is actually a reduction to schools when mandatory expenses increase, lower enrollment this year will result in lower funding next year, current employee salary step increases total about $175,000, fuel costs are up 20% this year, and the impact on morale due to potential budget cuts and program losses due to reduced funding.

Local boards of education are required to approve a draft budget for 2008-09 (fiscal year 2009) by January 3, of the preceding year. Approval will be sought at a Special Board meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2008.

In other board actions: Approved construction costs of $607,768 and change orders totaling $19,191 on the Pendleton High School Addition/Renovation project.

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

PCHS Cheerleaders win 10th Region Title

Pendleton County Cheerleaders are pictured after they won the 10th Region Title. Pictured above front row: (l-r) Whitney Davidson, Brittany Bishop, Lauren Jones. Middle Row: (l-r) Gaby Peyton, Kayla Wolfe, Bradie Griffin, and Kendall Wolfe, Kelsey Yelton. Back Row: (l-r) Noel Combs, Peyton Barnes, Alex Logan.

See this week's Falmouth Outlook for photo and story.

Special needs registration form

The Pendleton County Emergency Management team will help residents with special needs who require assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation due to tornado, fire, flood, power outage or some other unforeseen disaster.

The information provided on the form will be kept at the Emergency Management Office and used by Emergency Services Agency only during times of need.

To sign up for special needs assistance, see the Needs Registration Form on Page 8 of this week's Falmouth Outlook.

2008 Burley Tobacco buy-out payments made

The USDA Farm Service Agency in Pendleton County just completed the 2008 payments to landowners for the Burley Tobacco Buyout. $1,972,755 was deposited into producer's bank accounts January 14, 2008 and represents the fourth payment of such amounts. There remains six annual payments on the ten year contracts to be completed.

The Livestock Compensation Program for 2005 drought/excessive heat has resulted in $73,699 to local livestock producers. If you have not made application for the number of animals you owned in 2005, you have a short time left to sign up.

For more information, contact the Pendleton County FSA Office at (859) 654-3374.

Additional articles this week:

Looking Back at the First National Bank Robbery of 1958

"Start Your Own Small Business " Workshop

State Senator Katie Stine's Frankfort Report

A Legislative Perspective on the Ky General Assembly

and more!!