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.

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 10^th 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.

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.

A picture is worth a thousand words

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.