Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Fox contests removal from Council

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Fleming County native Virginia G. Fox, the former head of Kentucky Educational Television and the education secretary for former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, has challenged her removal from the state Council on Postsecondary Education.

Gov. Steve Beshear, in an executive action, removed Fox from her council seat after her appointment was not approved by the state House of Representatives in the recently concluded legislative session.

Fox, in an April 29 letter to council chairman John Turner, said the Kentucky Constitution requires only that her appointment be approved by the state Senate.

Fox said the state law requiring approval by both the House and the Senate violates the state Constitution as well as the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“I believe that I was confirmed, am still a member of the council and that no vacancy exists for my position,” Fox said in her letter.

It's history

A trackhoe tears down the back part of Harmon's Pool Room  Monday, April 28, 2008. 043008PoolRoomDemo03The building was destroyed by fire in March. The building will go down in history, not only as a pool hall, but also as the first movie house in Flemingsburg. The city bought the property and plans a parking lot on the site.

Be sure to pick up the latest edition of the Flemingsburg Gazette, in news stands today. Included this week are photos of all of the Fleming County Little League teams.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Services for Mrs. Grimes

Mrs. Stephanie Rae Fizer Grimes, 40, of Flemingsburg, died April 23, 2008, at the Fleming County Hospital emergency room in Flemingsburg.
She was born May 26, 1967, in Fayette County, the daughter of Sam (Marita) Fizer of Flemingsburg and the late Sharon Kay Henderson Fizer.
Mrs. Grimes was a member of the Mount Carmel Christian Church and co-owner, secretary and office manager of Fizer Dairy Supplies, Tyler Electric and Four Star Storage.
In addition to her father, she is survived by her husband, Matt Grimes; a son, Tyler, at home; and her mother-in-law, Alma Grimes.
She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Gerald Grimes.
Services are 1 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2008, at the Denton-Workman Funeral Home in Flemingsburg. Rev. Layne Wagner and Rev. Clint Stricklin will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Visitation is after 5 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to a trust fund for Stephanie Grimes at Community Trust Bank, N. Main Cross, Flemingsburg, Ky. 41041 or the Fleming County Little League in Stephanie's memory at Box 28, Flemingsburg, Ky. 41041.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Interstate 64 closed at Carter-Rowan line

Detours at Morehead and Olive Hill

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – An accident involving an overturned tractor-trailer at the Rowan County-Carter County line has closed all four lanes of Interstate 64 at mile marker 149.

Westbound lanes are closed temporarily; however, eastbound lanes are likely to remain closed throughout the day.

At this time, motorists should take the following detours:

EASTBOUND TRAVELERS: Exit 137 at Morehead to KY 32 east to US 60 east to KY 2 east at Olive Hill, and re-enter I-64 at Olive Hill Exit 156.

WESTBOUND TRAVELERS: Exit 156 at Olive Hill to KY 2 west to US 60 west to KY 32 west at Morehead, and re-enter I-64 at Morehead Exit 137.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Upload your Yesteryear / Looking Back Photos

Flemingsburg Gazette website users can now upload old photos and or news clippings to the Yesteryear Gallery of our website. The same rules apply for "Your Best Shot."

Our first registered gallery user Tom Hunt just sent us this one sonnys_boys2along with a newspaper clipping, so be sure to check out the gallery. Thanks Tom.

Yesteryear photos and your best shot photos may from time to time even appear in the print edition of the Flemingsburg Gazette, so be sure to pick up a copy at newspaper stands around town.

Your Best Shot

Hey everyone! You can now upload your shots to the "Your Best Shot" gallery on our website. Just click on this link and then click on register and follow the directions.

Your Best Shot Gallery

You must use a valid email address in order to register. Once your photo is approved it will appear in the gallery. You may even see your photo here on our blog. Like this one sent to us from Clydia L. Hyatt of Hillsboro, Ky.

pic 2

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Fleming students held in NY

Students from Fleming County high School were held against their will in a store in New York City.

About 60 students from Fleming County High School spent the week in New York City for their senior trip. When they went inside one store Monday afternoon, they claim the owners wouldn't let them leave.

One student told 27 NEWSFIRST they were trying to find some designer handbags at low prices. The student said a woman ushered them through a back alley and into a warehouse full of the bags, then closed the door. They were told "to shop," but 45 minutes later they were still not let out.

That's when one student text messaged another outside, who alerted a school official, who contacted police.

Soon officers kicked the door in, let the students out and arrested those operating the illegal business.

None of the students were hurt.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Asst. Superintendent Terminated

Jeff Burke, Assistant Superintendent, Finance Officer, for the Fleming County School District Office has been terminated according to information released by the Fleming County Schools district office.

Superintendent Kelley Crain said that Burke, who had been suspended with pay since March 28, had been under investigation by the district office.

“In recent weeks I have been provided information which warrants adverse personnel action against Assistant Superintendent Jeff Burke. On Monday, April 21, 2008, I determined to terminate Mr. Burke’s employment contract. Under state law, this termination decision is not yet final and Mr. Burke has the right to request an administrative hearing before a tribunal,” Kelley said.

The tribunal is three member panel consisting of a current or former school administrator, a current or former school teacher, and a lay person, none of whom resides in Fleming County. The panel is presided over by a hearing officer assigned by the Office of The Attorney General. Burke has the exclusive statutory right to determine whether the hearing is open to the public. No documents or additional information relating to this issue will be made public until the administrative process is concluded, according to Crain.

Barker Wins Kentucky Literary Award for Fiction

Fleming County author Garry Barker’s latest book, “Kentucky Waltz,” won the 2008 Kentucky Literary Award for fiction presented by Western Kentucky University and the Southern Kentucky Book Fest.

The award and $1000 honorarium were presented during the Book Fest April 19 in Bowling Green. Other first place winners were Davis McCombs for “Dismal Rock” for poetry and, for nonfiction, Robert Morgan for “Boone: A Biography.”

Two other Wind Publications authors were finalists in the fiction competition: Normandi Ellis for “Fresh Fleshed Sisters” and Billy C. Clark for “To Find a Birdsong.”

“Kentucky Waltz,” a collection of short fiction, was published by Wind Publications in Nicholasville in late 2007. It is Barker’s 10th published book, and will soon be followed by “Head of the Holler: Volume 1,” a collection of newspaper columns dating back to the late 1980s.

“Kentucky Waltz” can be ordered from online booksellers such as Amazon.com or directly from Wind Publications, www.books@windpub.com.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Was that an Earthquake?

Yes, that rumble many of you may have felt this morning was really an Earthquake. The 5.2 magnitude quake that was felt as far away as the eastern part of Kentucky was centered around West Salem, Ill. According to an AP news story a total of 6 aftershocks have been felt, including one around 11:15 a.m. EDT with a 4.6-magnitude. No serious damage or injuries have been reported according to local news stations.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Getting started

A "blog" is a new trick for an old dog, especially one who cannot remember all the passwords now in use on the home and office computers. The big advantage, for us and you, is that we can post from home evenings and weekends, meaning you will have access to breaking news while it's breaking.

Learning all the tricks may take a while, so we ask you to be patient. Thanks you.

Fleming County Hospital Ladies Auxiliary

By Danetta Barker

Editor

Every year the women of the Fleming County Ladies Auxiliary work hard to earn money for Fleming County Hospital. Their efforts were recognized April 7 with a dinner.

It was the first time new CEO David Sirk spoke to the group. He talked the importance of volunteering.

  When Sirk was a young boy his family took camping trips throughout the country. The family enjoyed the vacations so much that they continued to use the camping trip as a form of staying in touch after Sirk and his brothers and sisters grew up.

“Thirteen years ago Mother said she couldn’t make the Memorial Day camping trip,” Sirk said. “She said she didn’t feel up to it.”

After a checkup it was discovered that Sirk’s mother had cancer. After surgery at a Pittsburg hospital, Sirk met a volunteer. He and his wife brought homemade treats and gifts. The volunteer, George, became a friend. When Sirk’s mother talked about camping and how much the family loved it, George made a tiny wooden camper to sit by her bed.

“The little wooden camper reminded us of good times,” Sirk said.

The family used the camper as reminder of happier days throughout the mother’s four-month battle with cancer. After his mother passed away, Sirk realized how important the kind act of George had been to the family.

“Volunteering is giving of yourself,” he said.

Faith Lee provided several songs, including numbers originally recorded by Patsy Cline.

The Ladies Auxiliary gave the hospital a check for $15,000 to go to the new building fund.

The women were recognized for the hours they have served with the auxiliary. New officers were sworn in and are: President, Jennifer Harrington; Honorary President, David Sirk; First Vice President Janice Wasson; Second Vice President, Sue McIntyre; Recording Secretary, Connie Vandewarder; Correspondent Secretary, Wanda Jo McKee; Treasurer, Polly Hurst; Assistant Treasurer, Phyllis Harmon; Directors Jan Johnson, Betty Miller, and Paula Hyatt.

Hospital Dietician Vickie George and her staff provided the evening’s meal.

Justice Center Site Selected

The Project Development Board, responsible for locating and building the new Fleming County Justice Center, met April 15 at the Fleming County Courthouse to review two property appraisals and to vote to proceed with the site at the corner of Main and Water Streets.

The site will be recommended to the Fleming County Fiscal Court during their next meeting.

Some property negotiations are still incomplete, and progress with the site is contingent upon purchase of the site within budgeted funds.

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