August 16 , 2007

Powell receives over $330,000 for schools and cops
by James Cook, Times Editor
With two of Powell County’s priorities being police protection and education, last Friday was a good day to meet those needs. Congressman Ben Chandler (D) visited Stanton and announced two grants that will help meet some of the needs in both areas.
While visiting the Powell County War Memorial and being honored with a plaque that is placed there, Chandler announced a $30,000 grant to aid the three local police agencies. Chandler also announced that the anti-drug group UNITE was coming to Powell County to help in the War on Drugs.
“Powell County has faced a terrible tragedy recently with the loss of Randy Lacy,” Chandler told the crowd. “Because of his hard work, service and efforts, I have helped to secure a grant that will help continue his work. The new budget has allotted $30,000 for Powell County to obtain mobile data terminals for the police and sheriff departments.”
Mobile data terminals are computers placed in a police cruiser that helps police to gather information. They will be able to check license plates, identification numbers, local, state and national data bases for warrants, just to name a few of the functions. Larger cities and counties, including Montgomery County, are already using the terminals and consider them to be a great tool for law enforcement. It helps to cut down on response time and gives officers the information they need quicker, so they can make life saving decisions faster. According to one police source, who asked to remain anonymous, the terminals cost about $14,000 each.
Chandler then paid a visit to the Powell County School Central Office to announce another grant. “It is great to be excited about education and I can see that Powell County is excited about that too,” Chandler said just before announcing the grant. Through the United States Department of Education’s “Improving Literacy Through School Libraries” program, Powell County was awarded $309,064. Of the 72 such grants awarded nationwide, this total was the third highest in the country. Of the five such grants awarded to Kentucky, this amount was the most in the state.
The program’s purpose is to improve literacy skills for students and academic achievement by providing up-to-date materials, better equipment, advanced school library and media centers and well-trained, professional staffs. Powell’s grant requests were a combination of work and efforts of Powell County District Resource Teacher Sarah Wasson and Stanton Elementary Principal Susan Hayes.
The grant will provide each of the three elementary schools in the district many new resources. Each elementary school will receive 30 wireless laptop computers, two carts of 15 laptops each, which will then be used in any two classrooms at any given time. Each school will also receive a Smartboard, which is a large computerized projection screen that enables an entire class to review books or even Internet web sites. Stanton and Clay City Elementary will each receive $27,000 of the grant money for new books and material, with ten percent of that money to be used on e-books which can be shown to and shared with an entire class on a computer screen. Bowen Elementary will receive $20,000 for the new books and e-books. The grant will also cover the hiring of two instructional assistants to work in the elementary libraries, allowing the school’s media specialists some time to work on literacy activities with teachers.
The grant will also help to provide extended library services. Once it is in place, the elementary school libraries will be open on Tuesday and Thursday after school hours to help students and parents to check out books, research subjects and learn or practice their new literacy skills. As the program progresses, plans are for the at least one of the libraries to be open on the second Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for learning activities. Parents will be able to take a two hour training course on topics such as researching on the Internet, how to find homework help on the Internet and how to work with Microsoft Office products such as Word, Publisher and Power Point. While the parents are learning, their elementary age children will be have learning opportunities in the library.
“We are pleased to receive such a grant and I know it will help our students greatly,” Powell Superintendent Lonnie Morris said. Some of the schools have opened either new or expanded computer labs this year. “Adding this technology to our system can only be better,” Morris added.
As for Congressman Chandler, he seemed pleased to be helping Powell County as much as he could. “I love Powell County,” Chandler said. “This little county is one of the first places I came to after losing the governors race and started running for Congress. Everyone welcomed me; they were so good to me. I considered it an honor to represent the people of Powell County and I want to help them anyway I can.”

Vandals creating problems for city, county and postal officials
by James Cook, Times Editor
Have you ever been driving down a road and wonder exactly what road you are on? Even worse, ever come to an intersection and wonder if you’re supposed to stop or not? Worse yet, can the police, fire and ambulance workers find your house if they are not sure if they are on the right road?
According to Stanton’s Postmaster Glen Chapman, the county’s road signs are disappearing at an increasingly rapid pace. The missing signs create a particular problem for the Post Office because of the difficulty it creates when the mail carriers have automobile trouble.
The theft of road signs also creates problems for city and county officials and for police and ambulance service. Powell County Judge Executive Darren Farmer noted, “We have replaced many road signs since I have been in office at a cost of approximately $50 per sign. We have budgeted $1,500 for this expense in the fiscal court’s budget.”
Stanton Mayor Dale Allen is concerned about the loss of street signs as well. “We have replaced 30-40 signs in the past year,” said Allen. He estimated that the signs cost about $30 each to replace. “This is an ongoing problem for the city,” he added.
Chief of Emergency Services Danny Allen explained, “The theft of road signs in the county can be a real problem for the ambulance service when they cannot locate a specific house when making an ambulance run.” When asked what has happened to the signs, Allen speculated, “Most of the missing signs are probably hanging in some teenager’s bedroom.”
In addition to the theft of signs, mailboxes in the city and in the county are also being vandalized. Postmaster Chapman noted, “Mailbox vandalism is on the rise this year.”
Chapman explained that vandalism is a misdemeanor and that, when it occurs, the Sheriff’s office should be contacted. He added that it becomes a felony if mail is also destroyed or stolen. In that instance, the Postal Inspector is called to investigate.
Anyone witnessing either a sign being removed or a mailbox being vandalized may contact the local sheriff’s office or a local police officer. City and county officials agree that funds being used to replace these items could be spent for street repair or some other needed city or county project.

Stanton tackles zoning and sewer
by David J. Griffin, Times Staff Writer
The proposal for a zoning change on Blackburn Street and recent sewage issues in Stanton drew another large crowd on Thursday night at the regular meeting of the city council. But it appeared that the zoning change was the agenda that was mostly on the crowds mind.
The request had been made by Matt Benningfield, who owns a couple of lots on the street, to change the city’s zoning from residential to light business.
The Stanton Planning and Zoning Commission had previously approved the requested change. However, twenty-three home owners on the street signed a petition against the change which was sent to the mayor’s office.
Katherine Watson, who lives on Blackburn Street, asked the council, “Why would anyone want to put a business in the middle of a residential street?”
She and several other homeowners present said they had lived on the street for over 20 years. Benningfield was quick to reply, “I would never put any business on the lots that would not benefit Stanton.”
“The only reason we voted to approve the change was to help Stanton,” explained Planning and Zoning Commission member Jim Potts. Council member Dustin Meadows agreed, “We have this opportunity, and I think it could help the city in the long run.”
Council member Mariam Smallwood said she had called the League of Cities for its opinion about the change. “The League of Cities suggested that the city could possibly name an additional zone classification for the street.”
The council then asked City Attorney Scott Graham what the options for the city were. “We have three options. You can take no action, and it will become law after 90 days. You can vote yes, or you can vote no.” he said.
Following an extended discussion, Meadows made a motion to accept the recommendation of the zoning commission. Danny McCormick seconded, and Smallwood also voted yes. Council members Mike Lockard, Pam Tipton, and Jenell Brewer voted not to accept the recommendation.
With the council deadlocked, the proposed zoning change stood as voted by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Scott Graham explained, “It shall take a majority of the legislative body (city council) to override the planning commission; therefore the zone change stands.” The residents of Blackburn Street thanked the council members for their consideration in the ruling.
In other business, Teresa Adams appealed to the council concerning the sewage back-up at her residence on Promenade Drive approximately two weeks ago. According to Adams, most of the first floor of her home was flooded.“The problem I have now about the sewer back-up is my kids are getting sick,” she said. She told the council that she recently had to place her son into a respiratory facility. “I am asking the city to put us up in a different home until the problem is resolved,” she requested.
Mayor Dale Allen explained the city’s response to the situation: “The city has put a check valve in Mrs. Adams’ line, and the sewer did not come into her house during the last rain.” He said that other check valves could also be installed on Promenade Drive because, “This is not a new problem. It has been on going for the past 16 years.”
The damaged home has been reported to the insurance company, along with estimates for its repair. Adams was upset about not having received claim checks from the insurance company. City Attorney Scott Graham replied, “We cannot make the insurance company write the checks.” Mayor Allen said, “I apologize for the problem the residents have had, and we are doing everything we can to assist with the problem.”
Maxine Smith and other neighbors of Adams also had a complaint. “Since you put that valve on her (Adams) line, she didn’t get the back up, but we sure did. Can we get one of those as well,” Smith asked?
Mayor Allen explained that he had enough of the check valves for the five other homes in the area. “We have them, we just need your permission to put them in,” Allen told the neighbors. “Well, you have mine,” Smith quickly responded. Other neighbors, who were not identified, also asked for the check valves. Council member Mike Lockard then asked if the placing of check valves on the lines could be implemented into the plumbing codes for the city. No action was taken on that, but several members seemed interested at looking into that issue later.
Another group of homeowners also appeared before the council. Its members reside in Homestead Sub Division at the base of Furnace Mountain. They expressed concern that Judy Creek is eating into some of the owners’ property and asked the city to install some guard rails and to assist in dealing with the deterioration of the land.
Homeowner Jim Potts expressed another concern: “Stanton has not accepted the street into the city’s road system.” The Homestead property was annexed by the city before any houses were built. Homestead Developers Harold Hurst and John Brewer were also present and responded, “We have done everything the city wanted us to do to the road. We paid for the sewer, water, and the road. We will fix the problem of the erosion as well.”
Brewer went on to inform the council that they had been before them in the past showing them a plat of the subdivision and how it was going to look. Council member Lockard spoke up, “I believe we decided back then that they would maintain the streets for one year, and then we would take them over. How long has it been?” Brewer quickly answered, “Three years.”
Attorney Graham suggested that the road be inspected to determine if it meets the city’s requirements. “If the road meets the specifications, then it should be incorporated into the city,” he said. Mayor Allen said he would send the city engineer to appraise the situation.
The city’s new budget was scheduled to be discussed and finalized at the meeting. However, since the meeting lasted for nearly four hours, the council decided to rule on the proposed budget for the new fiscal year at their next meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 13. All city meetings are open to the public.

John Cox: A real "hometown" hero
by Brittany Stewart, Times Staff Writer
Powell County is fortunate to have people that appreciate what their country and community has done for them. So many residents are finding ways to give back to the place they call home.
John L. Cox Jr. is one of those grateful members of the community. He has proudly served in the United States military and local organizations as a way to show appreciation to the country and county he calls home.
Cox was born on October 11, 1921 in Campton Ky. When he spoke at the veteran’s memorial dedication last Friday he best described his relationship with Powell County. “I may not be a Powell Countian by birth, but I darn sure was by force,” he said laughing. The truth is, he is proud to be a resident of Powell County and he shows that through his actions.
In 1940, Cox graduated from Alvin Drew High School in Pine Ridge, and then took of for college. At the age of 21, Cox entered the U.S. Army Air force. He was inducted in Fort Thomas Ky., and went to basic training in St. Petersburg. In the fall of that same year, 1942, he was shipped to Chicago to attend radio school and then to Atlantic City, NJ to receive overseas duty training. Late in the summer of 1943, Cox was shipped to England to be in the 94th bomb group in the eighth Air force.
Like many other of the young men that were joining the military at the time, Cox enlisted to defend the freedom that he believes everyone deserves.
“Hitler was in my estimation, a mad man,” Cox said, “I thought there would be no more freedom as we knew it unless he was defeated.”
When he went in, he was assigned as a radio gunner on the B-17, Flying Fortress. Their mission: to bomb occupied Europe, including Germany. They carried out calculated attacks on oil refineries (synthetic and real), and rail junctions. Cox’s specific job was to send and receive messages from their base in Germany. His training to be a gunman in case of an attack on their aircraft came in handy, but was eventually overpowered. On the morning of January 11, 1934, Cox and his crew prepared for a usual day of bombing. They got up at 3 a.m., ate breakfast and went to a briefing of their mission and then they were on their way. When they were about 100 miles away from their target, the city of Brunswick in Germany, many of the aircrafts involved in the mission received a recall to head back to the base. They had decided that it was too dangerous. Although many turned around to go back, others continued on their way including Cox’s crew. This made the mission even more dangerous being that they went in with only half of the support that they were supposed to have. Cox said that day was the second bloodiest air battle that occurred in that war, they lost about 600 men that day. Fighting with half the manpower and scared for their lives, Cox and his crew’s B-17 were hit by a missile. They had no choice but to evacuate. They jumped and pulled their parachutes, hoping to land on the ground safely, but they were not fortunate enough. They had landed on the German-Belgium border in a town with a population of about 15,000. German soldiers from a large army camp there were waiting for them and took them as prisoners of war as soon as they hit the ground.
Cox was a prisoner of war (P.O.W.) for approximately 16 months. On Easter Sunday of 1945 the prisoners were put into four groups of 5,000 and were made to march for six weeks straight through rain and snow with very little to eat. Each day he received two pieces of rye bread and a cup of soup, which consisted of water, a few cabbage leaves and some cinnamon sprinkled on top. When Cox’s aircraft was shot down, he weighed about 272 pounds, and when he was released from his P.O.W camp he weighed around 140 pounds. Cox said that his treatment as a prisoner was not bad. He said that they were not abused much, but they just didn’t get much at all.
When Cox returned to the states he decided to finish his college degree. Before he went o war, he had two years of pre-law at the University of Kentucky. After the war, he finished his legal education. He graduated in 1948 from the college of law. In July of the same year he began practicing law, and is still practicing law today in Powell County. From 1950 to 1954 he served as Powell County judge. Cox was elected for Powell County attorney in 1958 for the first time and served for 32 years. He says his interest in law was peaked by his grandfather, Greenburry Stamper.
Cox has been married to his wife, Kathryn, for 59 years. He says his wife has been the stabilizing and driving force in his life. Together they have two children, Lawrence Cox, who is a teacher at Clay City Elementary, and Cheryl Goodwin who is a guidance counselor. Cox is a member of Amvets, the Lion’s club, the Masonic lodge and the shriners in Lexington. He as been a member of the board of directors of Natural Bridge Resort State Park and has been a member of Stanton Christian Church for many years. Being involved in the community is Cox’s way of showing his appreciation to the members of Powell County. He said that he would like to thank the people of Powell County for the way that they received him into their community. He said that even though he was an outsider, they took him into their hearts. “For that, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the people of Powell County,” he said, “whom I think are among the best people on earth.”