Driver hits abutment of bridge

A 51-year-old California man was arrested and taken to jail after he smashed his car into the concrete abutment of the blue bridge on Highway 22 east around 11:30 p.m. May 17. Daniel Wait of Redding, California, was operating a 2008 Mercury Marquis west on Highway 22 when his wheel dropped off the side of the roadway causing him to slam head-on into the concrete entrance to the bridge. After a breathalizer test Wait was arrested for DUI and taken to the Boone County Detention Center. His wife, Judy Wait sustained leg injuries and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Falmouth Police Officer Shannon Clem investigated the accident. Pendleton County Deputy Sheriff Eddie Quinn responded to help at the scene. Officer Clem said the couple had left Kincaid State Park. Speed was also a contributing factor the officer said. Photo by April DeFalco.

Highway 22 claims life of motorcyclist

A 28-year-old man from Cincinnati, Ohio was killed on Sunday, May 18 in a motorcycle accident at 3:33 p.m. near Hogg Ridge Road on Highway 22 in Pendleton County. Charles R. Dick was traveling east on KY 22 on a 1995 Honda motorcycle. Carla D. Florence, 42-year-old female of Walton, Ky., was traveling west on KY 22 in a 2006 Toyota Corolla. According to the police report Mr. Dick failed to negotiate a sharp curve and crossed the centerline striking Ms. Florence's vehicle. Mr. Dick, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle. Pendleton County Coroner John Peoples pronounced Mr. Dick dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by Kentucky State Trooper Edward Kuehne. Pendleton County Ambulance Service, Pendleton County Fire and Rescue, and Pendleton County Coroners office assisted the Kentucky State Police on the scene. Mrs. Florence was not injured. This is the second fatality on Highway 22 since the May 1 dump truck and school bus hit and a 16-year-old student was killed. Photo by April DeFalco.

Court creates new animal control ordinance
Lawmakers limit dog ownership by felons

By Roger McKinney, Reporter

The Pendleton County Fiscal Court held a public hearing that allowed citizens the opportunity to express their opinion regarding the newly proposed animal control ordinance. This legal document forbids the ownership of any dog in excess of twenty pounds by convicted felons.

Certain restricted canine breeds must be registered annually by all county citizens. These breeds include: American Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweilers. The restricted dogs must be registered with an identification chip inserted under their skin by a licensed veterinarian or certified animal control officer. The owner must provide proof of rabies and other vaccinations. The owner must be 21 years of age. The owner must, at his own expense have the animal spayed or neutered after its first 24 weeks of life. The owner must show proof of a $50,000 insurance policy that covers the restricted dog.

Judge/Executive, Henry Bertram, said that the court wanted to make the ordinance as constituent friendly as possible. "We don't want to ban the breeds," he said, "We want the good dog owners to keep their animals."

Citizen Gary Wedding said it was unfair to punish responsible dog owners for the behavior of criminals.

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

US 22 accidents

There were 96 accidents between 1/1/05 and 4/15/08 from US 22 (Grant) to US 27 (Pendleton). Of these 96 accidents, 51 accidents were in Pendleton County and 45 accidents were in Grant County. From US 27 to the Grant County line the mile marker is 0 - 10.3. From the Pendleton County line to US 22 in Williamstown the mile marker is 15.5 to 11.7 (3.8 miles). The 96 accidents included all mileage for both counties (14.1 miles) not 96 accidents in the one mile section where the bus accident happened and now the motorcycle fatality in Pendleton County. The above figures are the actual figures from Nancy Wood at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

TPR. CHRIS STEWARD

KSP Troopers honored

Two troopers from Kentucky State Police Post 6 in Dry Ridge were among those honored at the KSP Awards Ceremony in Louisville on May 8. Tpr. Dennis S. Mabry was awarded the Citation for Bravery. A Paris resident and Morehead native, Mabry is a 1993 graduate of Elliott Co. High School. He is the son of the late Richard Mabry and Beatrice Mabry of Elliott County. Tpr. Christopher D. Steward (above) was named Trooper of the Year for Post 6. A native of Burlington, Ky. and a resident of Independence, Ky., Steward is a 1996 graduate of Conner Senior High School and a 2000 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University.

Brigitte Blom-Ramsey, pictured second from the left is shown as she was sworn in by Franklin District Judge Reed Rhorer as one of the newly appointed Kentucky School Board members.

Brigitte Blom-Ramsey named to Kentucky School Board

Governor Steve Beshear appointed four new members of to the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE). New members were sworn into office on May 13 during the first day of a two-day strategic planning retreat for the body that sets state policy for elementary and secondary education in Kentucky. Franklin District Judge Reed Rhorer administered the oath of office.One of those four was Pendleton County's School Board member Brigitte Blom-Ramsey. She will serve a four year term.

Pendleton County Superintendent Bob Yost, Curriculum Coordinator Pam Harper, and District Assessment Coordinator Betty McKinney attended the swearing in ceremony held at Berry Hill Mansion in Frankfort.

The focus of the KBE Frankfort retreat is on steps necessary to help Kentucky schools reach the goal of proficiency by 2014.

Mrs. Ramsey has served 10 years on the Pendleton County Board of Education. She had to resign her position on the local school board to take this appointment to the state board.

She is a Public Policy Analyst with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

"I'm absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed at the opportunity to have a positive impact on all the children in the Commonwealth," she said. "I'm also excited to represent Pendleton County."

"We (school board members) hate to see her leave the Pendleton School Board," said Pendleton School Superintendent Robert Yost. "But we know at the same time that she will do a great job representing boys and girls across the state. It's a historical moment for our county."

"I have done some research and as far as I can see there hasn't been anyone from Pendleton County appointed to a state wide committee for at least 20 years or more, and she may be the first," said Pendleton Judge/Executive Henry Bertram.

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

Alcohol not involved in truck/bus crash

Pendleton County Sheriff Craig Peoples said that he received the blood alcohol test back from the crime lab and alcohol was not a factor in the dump truck versus school bus. He is still awaiting drug tests results and the finding of the Kentucky State Police accident reconstruction team. He expects that they should be here maybe by the end of this week.

This is the accident where the 16-year-old boy was killed when the bus was hit by a dump truck.

Schools cut eight positions, adds more funds for fuel

A moment of silence, an empty seat and several number financial matters were among the issues facing the Pendleton County Board of Education at their Monthly Meeting on Thursday, May 15.

Board member Daryl Mullins asked for a moment of silence as a remembrance for Pendleton County High School student Daniel Wood who was tragically killed in the May 1 bus accident.

The empty chair was the former seat for Brigitte Blom-Ramsey who resigned her position on May 8 to accept an appointment by Governor Steve Beshear to the Kentucky State Board of Education.

The May agenda is typically focused on financial matters as a Tentative Working budget for FY09 [2008-09] was presented to and adopted by the Board of Education.

"The state budget crisis has had a significant impact on our school budget," reported Superintendent J. Robert Yost. Struggles among state lawmakers to cut Kentucky's budget deficit have caused the school district to reduce its budget for Extended School Services [ESS] from $131,120 in the draft budget to $48,691; contingency funds have been decreased by $308,853 and the Safe Schools program sees its funding drop from $45,508 to $18,552.

Eight General Fund teaching positions and two grant funded teaching positions have been cut for the upcoming year as well as a couple of instructional assistant positions. Title II money which had been carried over for class size reduction teachers [formerly known as Clinton money from when President Clinton was in office] has finally dried up. Both Southern Elementary and Northern Elementary lost one teaching position.

More information on the May Board meeting will appear in next week's article.

KRT's summer season opens June 14th with "Big River"

Kincaid Regional Theatre's Opening Night Gala promises to be as big and spectacular as the "Big River" musical itself. Plans and preparations started long ago to make this summer's productions more exciting and entertaining than ever. Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical telling of the Story of Huckleberry Finn, "Big River", has captivated every audience that has ever seen it, and Roger Miller's toe-tappin, hand-clappin, heart warmin country songs and ballads only add to its enjoyment.

Everyone has been amused and enjoyed Huckleberry Finn's adventures as portrayed in Mark Twain's infamous novel for years, and you will definitely find this musical just as entertaining.

"Big River" begins June 14 with an Opening Night meal at 5:30 p.m. followed by a wonderful production at 7:30 p.m., featuring a cast of 27 very talented actors and actresses. Local and regional talent make up our cast, and you won't want to miss seeing how their many skills play out on Kincaid's stage in "Big River". This production will continue with matinees on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and every other Friday, and evening performances on Saturdays and every other Friday through July 19.

The summer entertainment season is upon us, and with the cost of gasoline, please keep in mind that you can find top-notch, professional, theatrical entertainment right here in your own community. This year Kincaid Regional Theatre's summer productions are truly a bargain. Please call our office, (859) 654-2636, for Opening Night Gala reservations. This is a great way to start your summer fun. The cost for Opening Night Gala including a great meal of baked fish, fried chicken, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, hush puppies, tossed salad and fruit cobbler, and an Opening Night ticket will be $30. Come and join the fun with us as we all enjoy the adventures of Huck and company in Kincaid Regional TheatreÕs production of "Big River".

Additional articles this week include:

The Rabbi - Morgan History - Morgan Schools II

Pendleton Soldier will be welcomed home on May 22

Jones gets first pro win

Ladycats compete in District Tournament

PHS Student Council holds end of year banquet

and more!