July 17, 2008

Local softball league's efforts are paying off for kids
By David J. Griffin, Times Reporter

It seems like it has been in Powell County a long time, but girls fast pitch softball was revived about three years ago. Due to the number of girls who came out and the lack of pitching knowledge, slow pitch was the only way the summer league could prepare young ladies for the next level. That level was middle and high school fast pitch game.
Then a decision was made to start over, a remake of sorts, to help better prepare the girls. That step was the first that has helped lead Powell County to sending their first ever Little League All-Star team to the Kentucky State Tournament.
“We started out by using a spring-loaded pitching machine, which we still use for the younger division today,” league president James Cook said, as he helped the 11-12 year old team prepare last week for the tournament. “Then we moved them along to part of the game on a pitching machine, part live pitching. Now the older divisions’ use live pitching only and we are seeing a lot of improvement. That has always been our goal, to help them improve. Winning is not as important as learning the game and having some fun with it. That is more important.”
The league has adopted the philosophy that before you learn to win, you have to learn how to play the game. Former baseball players and coaches have quickly found out that many aspects of girls fast pitch softball is completely different than what they know. From the various defensive positioning of players, covering bases, pitching techniques and even hitting – it is a whole new world for everyone in the league.
“We love the opportunity to play and teach the girls,” Cook said. “I believe, and most of the league believes, we can move these girls in the right direction and not only give them a game they can play for many years to come, but also we are able to help their futures. Who knows, maybe one of them will go on to play college ball?”
The Powell County Girls Summer Softball League has been in existence for nearly 15 years. Kay Shepherd and some very important volunteers helped to start the league. Ricky “Birddog” Willoughby also ran the league for a few years. Cook took over after being coxed into it at the beginning of the 2006 season. “I was ready to just sit back and watch my daughter play, but they needed someone and I was told if no one took it it would fall apart. The girls would have no softball and I could not let that happen. Not to my daughter or anyone else’s.”
This season, Cook and the league board of directors, decided to join Little League International. Known mostly for baseball, Little League started a softball program over 20 years ago. But that side of the organization has been slow to reach their full potential. “We decided to join them because of the many benefits, the structure it would provide and the opportunity to play in summer tournaments,” Cook added. “This year we could have sent two teams to the state tournaments if we had enough of the 13-15 year olds. Hopefully next year we will see an increase in all the age groups and we can send more teams.”
Usually teams have to play in District Tournaments to see who advances to regional or state tournaments. But the newly formed Red River Little League Softball program got a straight ride to the tournament, played in Ashland this past weekend. “We thought Clark County would have a team to enter, but they did not,’ Cook said. “Woodford County was supposed to play us for the District 3 Championship, a best two out of three games, but they backed out. That gave us the free ride. There were at least three other teams at the (state) tournament that got there the same way. If we can go, we will take that trip anytime.”
The team is comprised of players from the Knockouts, Chargers and Lady Chillers. They are, Timara Crabtree, Brooke Farmer, Sarah Trent, Laryn Puckett, Miranda Miller, Torilynn Howard, Journey Holliday, Allison Trent, Erika Tipton, Taylor Rogers, Whitney Cook, Megan Miller, Kylie Dunn and Shawnda Maynard. The team is managed by Mike Asher and his assistant coaches, Donna Perkins and Christina Cook.
“The league has done some good things to help get these girls ready for the next levels,” Asher said as he watched his team get ready to take on North laurel at the tournament. “We are still learning, but we are coming along. I’m proud of them and the way they play.” Perkins, who is also the league’s vice president, believes the league is doing some of the right things to improve softball skills. “I think the clinic we held earlier this season really has made an impact. You can see the difference and everyone’s play has improved,” she said. The clinic was held by the league with the Lady Pirate’s coaching staff and players teaching the kids about the skills they can work on.
“They got to see how some of the state’s teams looked, they got the experience we hoped they would get and they had some fun”” Cook said. “They got to meet Kelly Pickler from ‘American Idol’ and got the chance to play in a state tournament. I believe they are hungry and want to go back next year.”
The team will return to help finish out the season here and their own post-season tournament. “They played great, had a few jitters and made a few mistakes,” Cook said. “But I and the coaches believe that they now know what they have to do to compete at the next level and they would have never got that experience sitting at home. So we are thankful we got to go and look forward to this being a yearly trip. I am hoping to send teams in age group next year, but we need to get more players involved, more parents involved and the type of coaches that put winning behind teaching. We have that started now and we can keep it going. I look for good things to happen.”

Barnett trial goes to the jury
By James Cook, Times Editor

After working diligently for the past few weeks tweaking the city’s budget, the Stanton City Council finally unanimously passed the second reading of the budget for 2008-2009. The total receipts will be $2,550,297. A copy will be published in the Times.
The council also passed a resolution to undertake construction of a water system improvement project. Steve Caudill of Bell Engineering explained, “HUD has committed $750,000 for the project and the city has a Rural Development grant/loan package totaling $224,000.” The city will build a new 600,000 gallon tank at Bowen and refurbish the tank at Hatton Creek. Three tanks located at Bowen, Pendleton Street, and Morris Creek will be removed. Caudill also noted that the city has not had a water rate increase since 1998. “The State may want the city to increase the rate by 10 percent,” he said.
Treva Montgomery was present to address the council concerning the dust on Industrial Drive. She said, “I have made an agreement with Glynn Salyer and he will take on the up-keep of the road. I have no vehicles using the road at this time, and the only traffic will be Salyer’s trucks.” Home owners have complained about the dust created by vehicles using the road for several years.
Mayor Dale Allen reported that he has been in contact with a company in Montgomery County concerning the installation of bonded speed bumps for Washington Street, Bright Street, and Railroad Street. The city approved the installation of the speed bumps at a previous meeting. Allen has not received the bid, so the council took no action at this time.

Stanton passes 2008-09 budget
By David J. Griffin, Times Reporter

With the seemingly never ending increase in food costs growing a garden only makes sense. Plus when you add in that kids may not have a lot of things to do and get them involved, the opportunities seem endless. At least that was the goal of the Happy Hearts Christian Day Care Center in Clay City. Next to the playground, in a fenced area, the kids have their own garden that looks to be doing fairly well.
The idea came to the kids and staff of the day care center earlier this spring. “We were sitting around during spring break and discussed it,” center director Matthew Creech said as he watched the kids pulling out weeds and grass from around the plants. “So we put the idea together. The kids came up with a seven stage picture story on how to grow a garden and then we put it in action.”
The kids have helped with all stages of the garden, except the tilling. “No, I handled the tilling,” Creech said with a smile. “But they have helped with planting, watering and even picking the weeds and grass out of the garden. They would rather do this most days, than play on the playground.”
The older kids were digging small holes to plant tommy-toe tomatoes while the Times was there conducting an interview about the project. The younger ones were helping with watering the plants, checking for any storm damage from the storms the night before and pulling weeds. As a group they all worked on the potato plants and watched as Creech got the corn that was laid down by the winds to stand back up.
The garden has items like corn, tomatoes, beans, watermelons, cucumbers and potatoes. “We are also going to try growing a couple of those giant pumpkins later,” Creech said. The plan is for the kids to take some of their bounty home with them when it comes time to harvest it. “They worked hard on it so they will get some of it,” Creech said. “The rest we will set up in a booth and take donations for items. Not really selling them, just taking donations, so we can do this again next year too.”
“Too many times today you hear about kids doing the wrong things,” staff member Gertie Oliver said. “It is good to see kids doing a good thing and I though people should know about it.”
“We just wanted to give something to do that they would be proud of and it is a good thing to learn,” Creech said. “Plus they are having fun and that is worth it.”

Quick thinking helps save local businesses
By James Cook, Times Editor

When Al Campbell came to the door to see who was knocking at 8:30 a.m. last Wednesday morning, he had no idea what to expect. Standing on his porch was CSEPP Director Danny McCormick. McCormick was there to let Campbell know that there was smoke coming from his pet store in Stanton.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got there, but I have to give the fire department’s credit for acting so quickly,” Campbell said.
As he was making his way to his store, Stanton Police Sgt. James Watson and some EMS personnel were already in action. After receiving the call, Watson and an ambulance crew were nearby so they checked the area. Smoke was visible from the back of the building, which sits next to the China King restaurant on College Avenue.
Watson and he first arriving fire personnel broke out the front glass doors to help resuce the animals inside. With the exception of a few fish, all of the animals were safe. The fire was already extinguished, according to Watson. “It looked like an aquarium may have cracked or something and the water leaking out hit an outlet,” Watson guessed. “The fire was out, but I guess it may have still been smoking up pretty good in there.”
Campbell agreed. “We are cleaning up here. It was an electrical fire, but we are open,” he said. “We will be closed a few days to make some repairs but no animals were lost. I’m just glad the fire departments responded so quickly. I could never express my gratitude enough to their work. I really appreciate it.”
Members of the Stanton, Clay City and Middle Fork Fire Departments responded to the scene. The situation was cleared in less than an hour and a half.