Pictured above: Chase Watson, 3, son of Travis and Christina Watson, proudly displays his stringer of fish.

Pictured above: Mary Mounts, 2, daughter of Monica and Danny Mounts, shows off her little stick pole which she caught two bluegills with.

Children enjoy Joey Wells Memorial Fishing Tournament at Kincaid Lake

Early morning showers and overcast skies didn't stop approximately 168 kids from showing up early Saturday morning, June 14 to participate in the 23rd annual Joey Wells Memorial Fishing Tournament. The kids lined the banks of Kincaid Lake State Park in hopes of catching the "big one" and taking home a first-place trophy. Nobody went home a loser though as each little fisherman received a participation trophy, t-shirt, and other miscellaneous prizes that were raffled off after the tournament. Anthony Schanding was the lucky winner of a $500 gift certificate to Plapp's Pro Outdoors while Dallas Hutchison received $83 in a Split the Pot raffle. "It was another good tournament," said Stacey Wells, son of the late Joey Wells. "I'd like to thank everybody who was a sponsor and the Kincaid Bassmasters who worked really hard to organize this event. I appreciate the parents bringing their kids out. It really touches me. That's what it's all about though - the kids. I look forward to seeing everybody again next year." Winners pictured on Page 7 of this week's Falmouth Outlook.

Petitions to lower speed on KY 22 and take steps to make the road safer
Billboard dedication for Daniel June 26

By D. Dennie, Editor

A letter to Gov. Steve Beshear along with over 1,000 names on a petition to lower the speed limit on KY 22 and take measures to make the road safer were mailed on June 20.

Dwight and Toni Wood and their attorney Phil Taliaferro composed this letter asking the governor and other local and state officials to join in and make this action for increased safety happen.

A neighbor of the Wood's family on KY 22, Tammy Wessel, has gotten the use of a billboard on the road, which is located about a half-mile away from Hwy 1054. The billboard dedication is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, 2008. It will have a picture of Daniel and an aerial shot of the school bus. The billboard is being done in memory of Daniel Wood.

The Wood family and other residents living on KY 22 and its side roads want to have the legal speed limit of 55 mph reduced to a much safer speed and have a ban on through truck travel on KY 22.

"My main accomplishment with this petition and other petitions that will come is to save another child's life from being taken on this curvy and dangerous road," Mrs. Wood said. "I don't want other parents to have to go through what we have."

The Wood's 16-year-old son, Daniel, was killed while riding a school bus on May 1, 2008. The bus was hit when a loaded dump truck came around a curve on KY 22 on the wrong side of the road and slammed into the side of the bus killing Daniel.

The letter states how dangerous KY 22 is and how much truck traffic is on the road going to and from Williamstown for access to I-75. It also stated the number of vehicle accidents on the road. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, since January 1, 2005, 96 accidents have occurred between the counties of Pendleton and Grant.

The Wood's family and Taliaferro are aware of the budget constraints the state has, but they have talked with retired Engineer for District 6 of the Kentucky Transportation Department. He has made several recommendations that he believes could be implemented at a relatively low cost.

His recommendations are as follows:

1. The Transportation Department should identify the dangerous areas of KY 22 on a priority basis.

2. The Transportation Department should make spot improvements on the most dangerous areas of KY 22 by:

A. Widening sharp curves, which would allow trucks and school buses more roadway width to pass safely;

B. Eliminating blind spots, soft shoulders and drop-offs, to help prevent cross-over crashes;

C. Removing trees and telephone poles from the highway right of way area;

D. Installing rumble strips along the centerline of the roadway;

E. Placing an overlay of a motor skid-resistant surface on the roadway.

Meyers said the above measures would improve the most dangerous areas of KY 22 without the need for major design work and could be done at a reasonable construction cost.

Taliaferro stated that a similar project has been done in Louisville on KY 22. "If it was done there, why can't it be done here?" he said.

Fiscal Court resolution honors former magistrate

By Roger McKinney, Reporter

At the conclusion of the June 10 meeting of the fiscal court Judge/Executive Henry Bertram read a resolution honoring the late magistrate Jack Sumpter as an esteemed public servant and a valued friend of the Pendleton County Community. The court was then adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory and life of Magistrate Sumpter.

Other business conducted by the court:

Pendleton County Planning Commission Chairman Owen Collins presented a history of the organization and its role in creating subdivision regulations and the currently proposed Zoning Ordinance.

A public hearing was held regarding the new zoning ordinance.

A first reading of the zoning ordinance was performed.

The 2009 winter salt contract was awarded to Morton Salt.

The court approved the recommendations of Tim Antrobus regarding the reinstatement of a road department employee. The vote to approve was not unanimous.

Thomas Hardy was awarded the nature preserve mowing contract for the summer of 2008.

Magistrate Stacey Wells said the Library Location Committee was looking closely at the old Fuller Building site as a possible place to build the new proposed library.

The 2008-2009 county budget was approved.

Randy Nordheim was appointed to the Northern Pendleton Fire District Board.

Gene Kerns was appointed to the Northern Kentucky Regional Tourism Committee.

Discussed KRS 65.125 as a possible funding mechanism for emergency services.

Discussed magisterial road areas as opposed to road quadrants.

High School construction enters final phase
District gears up for Appreciation Celebration

There remains about 6 weeks left for contractors to finish the $16.6 million addition/renovation work at Pendleton County High School. Superintendent J. Robert Yost reported results from the Monthly Management Meeting conducted by Codell Construction, construction managers for the project.

Since graduation on June 6, the wood floor in the gymnasium has been removed and installation of the new floor should begin in the next week. One issue in this part of the work was the uneven surface as of the result of sleepers (underlayment for the wood floor) in the mastic adhesive as well as a soft concrete layer that was applied when the gym floor was initially poured.

Removal of the old wood floor and its subfloor left a very uneven surface that will have to be addressed before the installation of the new floor. Blanton Coates from Codell, Gabe Jones from the architectural firm of Sherman Carter Barnhart and Superintendent Yost will be meeting to determine a solution to the issue.

Painting in the new multi-purpose gym is nearly complete with new basketball goals to be installed the week of June 23 and floor installation to start July 7. The old library has been vacated and work continues to convert it into two classrooms and a computer lab. The new administrative offices are open; visitors to the school should enter the school at the new entry (formerly the covered canopy). Floor tile installation in the final renovated classrooms will also start the week of June 23. Ceiling grid is going up in the hallways and installation of tile will start in early July. Most all work is targeted to be finished by August 8. The first day for students is August 12.
The Board approved contractor claims in the amount of $753,084.37 and reimbursements to the school district totaling $7.200.93 for additional work or materials for the project.

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

What are those purple boxes hanging in the trees?

The newspaper has had several calls from residents asking what the purple boxes hanging in the trees are? So we are printing the following information collected from the Kentucky College of Agriculture.

Bright purple 1-foot-by-2-feet triangular objects resembling box kites are being used to detect adult emerald ash borers in northern Kentucky starting in mid-to-late May. Individuals working for the Kentucky State Entomologist's staff placed the traps in trees on both public and private land. These traps are baited with a manuka oil beetle attractant and glue to lure and capture emerald ash borers. They will remove the traps in late August.

The half-inch-long, metallic-green beetles have killed more than 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Mary-land and Ontario, Canada. These purple boxes have been placed around the state. There have been no borers caught in the traps so far, so the web site states.

More information about the emerald ash borer is available online at http://www.emeraldashborer.info.

Contest Horse Show, June 29
Enter raffle to win saddle

There will be a Contest Horse Show sponsored by the Pendleton County Sheriff's Department, Sunday, June 29 at the Pendleton County Fairgrounds. Warm-ups begin at 10 a.m. and the show will begin at 1 p.m. Classes offered will be Pee Wee Poles; Youth 2-D Poles; Open 3-D Poles, Pee Wee Barrels; Youth 3-D IBRA Barrels; Adult 2-D Barrels; and Open 3-D IBRA Barrels. All classes must have a minimum of 10 horses for added money to apply.

Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the horse show and can also be purchased at the Pendleton County Sheriff's Department.

All proceeds from the show and saddle raffle will go to the "Shop With A Cop" program. Also, the Sheriff's Department will be taking donations for this program during the show.

For more information see the Horse Show advertisement on Page 2 of this week's Falmouth Outlook.

Pendleton County Summer Parade Saturday, June 28

The Pendleton County Summer Parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 28. This year's theme will be called "Summer Fun."

All interested clubs, organizations, churches, groups and individuals are encouraged to participate by making a float, decorating their vehicles, riding horseback or just walking. Anyone interested in joining the summer parade may call Falmouth City Hall at (859) 654-6937.

Judging for the event will begin at 10 a.m. and the parade entries will be lining up on Woodson Road by the ball field at Southern Elementary and the Pendleton Athletic Park.

The parade will turn left onto Ridgeway Avenue, then right at the traffic light onto West Shelby Street and continue through downtown Falmouth.

This is an annual event you don't want to miss! Everyone is urged to come out and enjoy the "Summer Fun" parade whether you're participating or watching!

Additional articles this week include:

The Rabbi: Morgan History, Installment 8, The Economy

Falmouth Citizen Academy trainees take a wild ride

Puppy gets a chance for better life in North Carolina

Phoneix Ramsey nabs pair of second place finishes

Winners from Joey Wells Memorial Fishing Tournament

Kerry Chevrolet sponsors the Ky Regional Pole Bender Association Show

and more!