December 20, 2007

Local restaurant becomes Toyland for a good cause
by James Cook, Times Editor

The restaurant is what every small town diner should be like. Quaint, good food and atmosphere served up with a smile. Kathy Reed, owner of Kathy’s Country Kitchen, would not have it any other way for her customers, who are like family.
But during this time of year, the restaurant becomes toy land, as donations of new toys pour in to help the Powell County Health Department’s HANDS Program. The acronym HANDS stands for Health Access, Nurturing Developmental Services. The program is set up to assist first time parents and at Christmas time, they can use a lot of help.
“Kathy approached me after we talked one day about the work I do,” HANDS director Lisa McIntosh said. “She wanted to help and she wanted to collect toys for this age group, birth to three (years old), other agencies tend to concentrate on older children and there was a need for this age group. We are now in our third year and it keeps getting bigger and better every year.”
Groups and private citizens donate the toys that will then be delivered by the HANDS staff during regular weekly visits. “We will start delivering them this week and the parents can put them under the tree if they like and say it’s from Santa,” McIntosh said. “In fact we have had some people donate money like Protek and the National Wildlife Turkey Federation, who donated $200 to go toward food vouchers, so they can have a meal this Christmas too.”
The program allows expecting parents to join anytime during the pregnancy and up to when the baby is three months old. “We provide information and referrals to organizations in the community that the family may need,” McIntosh explained. “We even make weekly home visits so we can see the entire circumstance or situation and get them the help they may qualify for and need. We are not income based and we even provide transportation services as well.”
The program currently has 40 families enrolled. “We would love to help more,” McIntosh said. “Our goal is to have a safe and healthy environment for the child for optimal growth and development.”
McIntosh is thankful for all the help they received so they could help the families. “Kathy has been great, she really believes in what she is doing. She really gets into it and is a real big help.”
If anyone needs assistance and is a first time parent call McIntosh at 663-6781.

Ramps meeting provides some answers; work could begin in 2009

By James Cook, Times Editor

At a public informational meeting last Thursday night, nearly 20 concerned citizens were on hand to learn more about proposed exit ramp construction at the Mountain Parkway Exit 18 in Clay City. The meeting, held by personnel of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s District 10 office in Jackson and engineers from Palmer Engineering, took place in the Clay City Elementary School lunchroom.
The meeting was set up so members of the public could see what the initial plans are for the construction, the various options and to receive any feedback from the people to be affected most. Several questions were asked about the impact the construction would have on the area and how much it would cost, as well as how long the construction would take.
The crowd got to see aerial photos of the area with the ramp construction plans superimposed to give them an idea of what the area would look like afterwards. In two of the plans the bridge over the Red River, just west of Exit 18, would have to have some form of widening construction. In one of those plans, both bridges would have to be widened, while in the other only the westbound side would have to be widened to allow for an acceleration lane.
The project also has plans that would include rebuilding the existing bridge, moving it westward and some restructuring of KY 1057, known as Hardwick’s Creek Road. That plan would also affect a portion of the property currently owned by the Mt. Park Dragway, a popular drag racing venue during the summer months. All of the plans would have to meet the approval of the property owners on each side of the highway, but officials believe that agreements can be arranged as there are only two property owners involved. This differs from the KY 213 widening project in Stanton which requires agreements to be drawn up with several different property owners.
Property and bridge widening or rebuilding is only a couple of factors involved in the plans. There is also a major gas line that runs through the property that would become part of the area used in the construction of the westbound exit ramp. All of the concerns are coupled with the cost of the project. The cost ranges from $2 million upward to $4.3 million, depending on the design of the ramps and the plan chosen.
“I believe that the choice they had listed as Alternate 1C would be a better choice, based on what I saw and heard at the meeting,” Powell Judge County Executive Darren Farmer said after the meeting. “I am concerned about the gas line in that area and the construction issues with that and if I understood the engineers right, they could actually take parts of different plans and piece together another plan. That may be a good idea, could then they could use the plan that has a minimal affect on the gas lines and widen out both of the river bridges.” Some in attendance were also concerned about the impact the construction would have on the flood plain. Engineers told the crowd that the flooding issues would also be taken into consideration.
Cost is also a concern for Farmer. “I probably should have asked, but they stated they figure in about four percent inflation each year and of course each plan is over what has been earmarked for the project, so I wonder who picks up the rest.” Congressman Ben Chandler had earmarked $1.5 million dollars for the project.
“If Chandler does not act on it and get some more money for the project from the federal budget, then the money would come out of the state funds,” District 10 Public Information Officer H.B. Elkins said. “Congressman Chandler has money earmarked for the project a couple of years ago and the amount was believed to be enough to cover the project. But the cost of things like the asphalt have gone up, especially due to the oil involved in the asphalt has gone up. But it is a state project and the difference would come out of the state funds.”
The meeting was just a precursor to the improvement project. Anyone who has a comment has thirty days from the date of the public meeting to mail in their concerns or questions to the District 10 Headquarters in Jackson. In January, preliminary alternates will be reviewed as well. If all goes as planned, the right of way plans will be reviewed and set up hopefully by August of 2008 and final plans could be decided by February of 2009. In that scenario, construction would then begin in June of 2009. However, all future dates are subject to change depending on the plans to be used, funding and weather conditions.

Judge Combs becomes part of Kentucky history
By David J. Griffin, Times Reporter

When the 61st Governor and Lt. Governor were inaugurated on December 11 at the Capitol in Frankfort it became a first. It was the first time in Kentucky history; two women judges administered the oath of office for the Governor and Lt. Governor.
Chief Court of Appeals Judge Sara Walter Combs was asked by Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo to conduct his oath of office at both the midnight session early Tuesday morning and at the formal inaugural event on Tuesday afternoon. Judge Combs and her late husband, former Governor Bert Combs, knew the Mongiardo family for years. “We have the same Eastern Kentucky roots. His family and ours are dear friends,” Justice Combs said.
Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Mary C. Noble conducted the formal oath of office for Governor Steve Beshear. “I’m gratified that women judges are conducting the swearing-in ceremonies,” said Governor Beshear. “As I have said before, my administration is committed to ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men.”
Although Judge Combs was pleased to mark another point in Kentucky history, the direction of her thoughts concerning her involvement in the investiture remained elsewhere: “We need rituals to remind us how blessed we are to witness a peaceful transfer of power. We are lucky to do by oath what less fortunate nations do by the sword,” she said, adding that she was “moved and honored to be part of such a ceremony.”
Referring to that portion of the oath of office in which one states that he has not fought a duel, Judge Combs remarked, “Our constitutional oath highlights in colorful language the need to refrain from violence and bloodshed.”
Judge Combs has received a number of calls from people in Eastern Kentucky congratulating her on this honor, but those from Powell County seem to be proudest. There was only one thing missing as far as Judge Combs is concerned. “It was one of those times that I really wish my parents and my husband were here to realize that such a wonderful thing happened to me,’ she said.