Firefighters respond to car blaze

A Bracken County woman was fortunate to escape serious injury after her vehicle left the roadway and caught on fire, Tuesday, July 10. Megan Jennings, 20, Milford, operating a 2005 Saturn Ion, was traveling west on Highway 22 when she was distracted by an object moving around in a wooded area ahead of her. She ran off the right side of the road, hit a concrete culvert, and came to rest in a ditchline. The vehicle erupted in flames and Jennings exited the car by herself without further injury. The Falmouth Fire Department was dispatched to extinguish the blaze while Pendleton County Ambulance Service treated Jennings for minor injuries at the scene. Kentucky State Trooper Scott Lengle worked the accident. According to Lengle, Jennings was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident which was evident by the injuries she sustained. The vehicle was a total loss. Article and photo by Jackie Vaughn.

McClanahan retiring as park ranger

Park Ranger Larry McClanahan will be retiring after 32 years of dedicated and faithful service to Kincaid Lake State Park effective July 31, 2007.

A reception will be held in his honor at 7 p.m., Friday, July 27 in the multi-purpose building at Kincaid Lake State Park. Come out and thank him for all his dedicated service.

Kenton County man flips vehicle on Bethel Hill

Pendleton County emergency personnel responded to a one-vehicle, injury accident on U.S. 27, near the bottom of Bethel Hill, at 7:17 p.m., Sunday, July 15. Paul Wickenhoffer, 69, of Kenton County, operating a Ford Focus van, was traveling south when he ran off the right side of the roadway, hit a rock embankment and flipped over. His vehicle came to a stop in near the middle of the highway. Deputy Sheriff Jeff Rice worked the accident. He was assisted by Pendleton County Ambulance Services, TransCare, Falmouth Fire Department, Butler Fire Department, and Constable Louis McCord. Wickenhoffer was transported to the hospital for injuries. His condition was unknown as of presstime. Photo by April DeFalco.

Pendleton Schools start date as scheduled

With just 25 work days left before the first day of school, construction at Pendleton County High School continues at a brisk pace. The question is: Will the building be ready for school to start?

Superintendent J. Robert Yost says yes.

"We're going to have it open on time," he said. "We will be ready for students to return on Tuesday, August 21st."

The addition and renovation project at Pendleton County High School will by no means be finished when school opens. The $16.6 million project has a work schedule that extends 18 months. The final work is not expected to be completed until October 2008.

While the project lost 21 days early due to rain and 9 days due to bad soil removal, the dry weather since school ended on May 24 has allowed contractors to make significant progress. There have been no days of lost time since mid-May and some contractors have worked on the weekend to stay within the revised schedule.

The bad soil problem dealt with organic matter such as trees that were buried under the top soil. In order to provide proper compaction to minimize settling issues, such soils were removed with clean fill brought in to meet proper construction procedures.

"This project is not for the faint of heart," Yost said. "It looks like a war zone but we'll get there."

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

Rachel Lonaker crowned Miss Pendleton County 2007

The Miss Pendleton County Pageant was held on Monday evening, July 9. Pictured above are the winners (l-r): Katie Utz, second runner-up and Peoples Choice winner; Kelsey Turner, first runner-up; Miss Pendleton County 2007 Rachel Lonaker; Brittany Bishop, third runner-up; and Terri Cooper, fourth runner-up. Rachel is the 19-year-old daughter of Wayne and Patsy Lonaker of Falmouth. She is a freshman at Northern Kentucky University. Photo by D. Dennie.

Miss Teen 2007 crowned at Pendleton Youth Fair

The Miss Teen Pageant was held on Tuesday, July 10. Pictured above are the winners of the pageant: (l-r) Ciara Utz, second runner-up; Michele Plummer, first runner-up; Miss Personality and Miss Teen 2007 Caitlin Bush; Peyton Barnes, third runner-up; Raven Jacob, fourth runner-up and the Peoples Choice Award winner Carrie Bishop.

Miss Pre-Teen Pageant Winners

The Miss Pre-Teen Pageant was held on Tuesday evening, July 10 at the Pendleton County Fairgrounds. Pictured above are the winners (l-r): Destiny Shackelford, fourth runner-up; Chyann Utz, second runner-up; Emilee Feltner, Peoples Choice Award winner and first runner-up; Miss Pre-Teen 2007 Jozi Steffen; Jennifer Walton, third runner-up; and Ronica Hutchison, Miss Personality. Photo by D. Dennie.

TPR. LARRY CAREY

Trooper indicted by grand jury

A Kentucky State Trooper was indicted by a Grant County Grand Jury on Wednesday, July 11 on three counts of first-degree assault and one count each of first-degree wanton endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without insurance as reported by the Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Crawford office.

Trooper Larry E. "Buddy" Carey, 38, was involved in a Fourth of July crash on Warsaw Road in Grant County which sent himself and four others to the hospital.

Reports state that Carey's vehicle, his personal car, a 1996 Acura, crossed the center line and struck a Nissan pickup driven by Edwin C. Gregory, 28, of Williamstown. Gregory's wife, Maria, 27, and children Lisa Ann Gregory, 10, and Jonathan Gregory, 3, were also in the vehicle. Both children have been released from the hospital.

Carey was seriously injured himself and has been transferred to Gateway Rehabilitation Hospital in Florence to recover.

He has been suspended with pay.

Reward offered for stolen John Deere Gator

The Kentucky State Police and Bowen Farm Supply and victim are searching for a missing John Deere Gator HPX 4X4. The gator was sitting on the lot at Bowen's Gardnersville location. The owner had brought it in to have repairs done on it.

There is a reward offered for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons taking the gator.

If you have any information, please call the Kentucky State Police at (824) 428-1212.

Reward offered for arson fire

Kentucky State Police Arson Investigator Curtis Combs announced on Monday, July 16 that there is a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons that set fire to a barn on Milford Road sometime around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 8, 2007.

The barn belonged to Donald Logan and set back off the road behind the barn that housed lumber. The barn had farm equipment in it.

Tips will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-27-ARSON.

Additional items this week:

Little Mister and Miss Pendleton County results

Baby Show results

Doll Buggy Parade winners

Toy Tractor Parade winners

Kiddy Pull winners

Mrs. Pendleton County results

Cutie Pie Pageant winners

GED graduates recognized

Smith Cemetery Board thanks everyone for their help

Butler City Council meets in regular session

PaddleFest 2007 sets new records again this year

and more!!