Headline News

Liberty, Ky. – Troopers and Detectives from Post 15 have been involved in a death investigation since Wednesday night, September 26th. KSP was notified at approximately 10:04 PM EDT by the Casey County Dispatch that a body had been found at the Tarter Gate Company off of US 127 in Casey County. 50-year-old Wendell Pyles of Columbia was identified as the deceased and foul play is suspected. KSP is asking that if anyone saw any suspicious vehicles, persons or activity around 10:00 PM EDT in the vicinity of Tarter Gate on US 127 to please contact them at 1-800-222-5555. Callers may remain anonymous. The investigation is ongoing and additional details will be released at a later time.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a possible armed robbery at a country store and a home invasion by two masked males.
Adair County 911 dispatch received a call Monday at 5:08 a.m. that someone had forcibly entered a residence on Rose Lane by breaking the door frame.
Sheriff deputy B.J. Bray responded to the scene where the homeowner reported that the two males entered his residence and he confronted them with a firearm before they fled on foot.
A white Scion TC was seen in the area a few minutes after the incident. The two white males were described as being 5’8” slender, and wearing ski masks and jeans.
Deputy Aaron Rainwater is now investigating the case. Anyone with information relating to the incident is urged to contact the sheriff’s department at 384-2776.

The sheriff’s department is also investigating a robbery that occurred on Thursday night.

Adair County 911 dispatch received a call on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 7:24 p.m. that Hwy. 206 Grocery and Grill had been robbed. Deputy Rainwater and a Kentucky State Police Trooper Casey Wethington responded to the scene. It was reported that two white males had entered the business.

One of the males apparently pointed an unknown weapon from under his shirt at the store employee demanding money. A witness was able to identify the getaway vehicle as a four-door white Chevrolet SUV.

The vehicle was found a short time later on Hwy. 127 in Casey County occupied by David Allen Haley, 32, of Campbellsville.

The sheriff’s department reported that Haley identified himself as Danny Wayne Haley and was later charged for giving a false name to police.

Deputy Rainwater arrested Haley and charged him with robbery, 1st degree, two counts of terroristic threatening, 1st degree, giving a false name to police and identity theft of another person. He was lodged in Adair County Regional Jail on $100,000 cash bond. Charges against the other male are pending.

METH CHARGES
The Columbia Police Department executed search warrants at two residents on Waterworks Street on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.
Search warrants were issued at 105 Waterworks St. and 115 Waterworks St. Officers located a one-step meth lab, the drug methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
CPD arrested four people on drug charges:

• Karen Judd, 38, of Columbia, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Mark Mowers, 37, of Burkesville, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Mary Ann Hoover, 22, of Columbia, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Ryan D. McQueary, 32, of Russell Springs, possession of a controlled substance ­– meth, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All were lodged in Adair County Regional Jail. The case is still under investigation by CPD and more charges are expected.

Local emergency services are conducting a Medication Take Back Program on Saturday.

The Adair County Ambulance Service, coroner’s office, judge’s office, Solid Waste Management, Adair County Regional Jail, sheriff’s department, city police and A.C.T.I.O.N Generation will be set up in the parking lot of Taco Bell from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jamestown Street.

The Kentucky State Police will also be set up at Post 15 for anyone who wishes to drop off any medications.

 Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box that will be located at the drop off site.

• All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted.  Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.  The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

•  Intra-venous solutions, injectibles, and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.

• Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.

(Columbia, KY.) – Cell phone users in the Adair County area are receiving phone calls from an unidentified source claiming to be Publisher’s Clearing House. The caller is advising people that they are to receive a prize of 1.1 million dollars IF they go to the local Wal Mart and purchase two Green Dot cards. They are then advised to meet with someone in the parking lot to be escorted to a local bank by the Kentucky State Police to cash their winning check. The call is a hoax and should be disregarded.

Report from Kentucky State Police Post 15, Monday, September 24 at 1:25 p.m.

Release on:
Monday, September 24, 2012

UPDATE

The Preliminary autopsy results from the State Medical Examiner’s office indicate that James F. Perdue died as a result of blunt force injuries to the head, neck and chest area and multiple stab wounds. Phillip M. Roberts and Thomas A. Roberts turned themselves into the Clinton County Sheriff on Friday, September 21.

Release on:
Friday, September 21, 2012

UPDATE
(Albany, KY) – Phillip M. Roberts and Thomas A. Roberts surrendered to Kentucky State Police at approximately 7:15 PM EDT Friday. Detective Russell Decker executed arrest warrants on the two brothers for the murder of 73-Year-old James F. Perdue.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Murder warrants have been issued for 2 brothers from Albany in Clinton County. 33-year-old Phillip M. Roberts of 1009 South Monticello is a 6’3″, 245 pound, white male with blue eyes and brown hair. His brother, 38-year-old Thomas A. Roberts, of the same address, is a 5’9″, 155 pound, white male with brown eyes and brown hair. The two brothers are believed to be in a 2000 black Chevy S-10 with damage on the driver side of the vehicle. The KY registration number is 802-MXV. The direction of travel is unknown. The two men should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. If anyone has contact with these men, contact local law enforcement at 911 or the Kentucky State Police at 1-800-222-5555.

The two men are wanted in connection to the death of 73-year-old James F. Perdue. Post 15 units responded to a residence on Perdue Road in rural Clinton County near the Wayne County line on Wednesday, September 20th. Perdue was found dead at his residence by a friend at approximately 4:30 PM CST. Details of the investigation are not being released at this time and the cause of death will be determined following an autopsy scheduled for later today at the State Medical Examiner’s office in Frankfort. KSP Detective Russell Decker is investigating.

The Columbia Police Department executed search warrants at two residents on Waterworks Street on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.

Search warrants were issued at 105 Waterworks St. and 115 Waterworks St. Officers located a one-step meth lab, the drug methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

CPD arrest four people on drug charges.

• Karen Judd, 38, of Columbia, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Mark Mowers, 37, of Burkesville, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Mary Ann Hoover, 22, of Columbia, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Ryan D. McQueary, 32, of Russell Springs, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine, 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All were lodged in Adair County Jail. The case is still under investigation by CPD and more charges are expected.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a robbery that occurred on Thursday night.

Adair County 911 Dispatch received a call on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 7:24 p.m. that Hwy. 206 Grocery and Grill had been robbed. Deputy Aaron Rainwater and a Kentucky State Police Trooper Wethington responded to the scene. It was reported that two white males had entered the business.

One of the males, later identified as David Allen Haley, 32, of Campbellsville, apparently pointed an unknown weapon from under his shirt at the store employee demanding money. A witness was able to identify the get away vehicle as a four-door white Chevrolet SUV.

The vehicle was found a short time later on Hwy. 127 in Casey County occupied by David Haley. The sheriff’s department reported that Haley identified himself as Danny Wayne Haley and was later charged for giving a false name to police. Deputy Rainwater arrested Haley and charged him with robbery, 1st degree, two counts of terroristic threatening, 1st degree, giving a false name to police and identity theft of another person. He was lodged in Adair County Regional Jail on $100,000 cash bond. Charges on the other male are pending.

The Adair County Sheriff’s department is investigating a home invasion on Rose lane that occurred at 5:30 a.m. this morning.

Adair County 911 Dispatch received a call this morning that someone had forcibly entered a residence on Rose Lane. The homeowner reported that the two males entered his residence and he confronted them with a firearm before they fled on foot. The homeowner stated that a white Scion TC was seen in the area a few minutes after the incident. The two men were described as being 5’8” slender and Caucasian.

Deputy BJ Bray is investigating the case. Anyone with information relating to the incident is urged to contact the sheriff’s department at 384-2776.

It is National Farm Safety Week across America and Adair County FFA students and 4-H participants showed students in Adair County Elementary School ways to stay safe on the farm and in the community.

As of 1:55 p.m. on September 19, 2012 the boil water advisory for customers on Knifley Road, J.Wethington Road, Ray Miller Road and Mt. Tussell Road has been lifted by the Division of Water Columbia office. This means your water is safe for human consumption. You no longer have to boil your water.

ACT scores at the local high school have been a hot topic over the past month.

The Greensburg Record Herald reported in its Sept. 5 issue that Adair County is ranked 189th out of 230 high schools in the state.

The Community Voice analyzed ACT data from the Kentucky Department of Education that aligns with the same results released by Green County. There are no official state rankings from the Kentucky Department of Education as of yet.

Out of 230 high schools (169 school districts), Adair County’s ACT composite score ranked on the low end at 189 with a score of 17.5.

Six other high schools in the state have the same score, including Bullitt Central High, Fleming County High, Harlan County High, Magoffin County High and Perry County Central High.

The No. 1 ranking school is Dupont Manual High with a composite score of 25.7 and the lowest ranking school is Iroquois High with a composite score of 14.7. Both schools are in the Jefferson County Public School District.

Adair County High School scores were 16 in English, 18.2 in math, 17.4 in reading and 18 in science with a 17.5 composite score for the 2011-2012 school year.

Scores in each subject dropped compared to previous years…

To read more, get this week’s issue of the Adair County Community Voice. Newspapers will be in news racks throughout Adair County this afternoon and in mailboxes on Thursdays.

By Allison Cross-Hollon
allison@accvonline.com

The Westlake Regional Hospital Health Fair returns this year in a scaled-down version but will continue to offer the ever-popular health screening.

The health screening will be available for $12 and will provide more than 30 different analyses, including a complete blood count, chemistry profile and cholesterol and thyroid profile. Blood will be drawn from a person’s arm for the tests, with tests valued at more than $300. In addition, a PSA cancer screen is available and recommended for men over 50 or men with a family history of prostate cancer, who have had a vasectomy or are African American. The PSA costs an additional $8.

Due to time constraints, exhibits will not be set up this year.
Dave Rasmussen, CEO of Westlake, said the schedule didn’t allow for putting together a complete health fair but hospital officials want to make sure the community has the opportunity to have the health screening. Thousands of people take part in the annual blood draw.

“We didn’t think we would be able to pull it off and get everything done for a complete health fair but we intend to bring it back next year,” Rasmussen said.

The Health Fair blood draws will be held from Tuesday, Oct. 16 through Friday, Oct. 19, and Tuesday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 27. Screenings will be conducted at Westlake Regional Hospital each day from 6:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. except on Saturday, Oct. 27, when hours will be extended until 10:30 a.m.

More details will be provided in next week’s edition.

It’s Bingo time for Adair County. The Adair County High School Marching Band is re-opening the old bingo hall for business beginning Oct. 9.

The band boosters will hold bingo nights at the old bingo hall, which used to be operated by the rescue squad, at 50 Shady Ln. on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 5 p.m.
Band boosters president David Herbst said the bingo nights will help provide fundraising for the music education program for the Adair County Band. It will help provide funds from year to year, he said.

Although the boosters plan to use the bingo nights as a large portion of their fundraising, they will still host events such as the Mark Twain Festival and still offer raffles throughout the year.

Prices for bingo cards vary depending on why type of bingo card someone buys, according to Herbst. Prices range anywhere from $5 to $15 a card. That card can be used all night.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with the early bird bingo beginning at 6 p.m. and regular bingo at 7 p.m.

They will also have different payouts at the end of each night depending on attendance. With attendance over 125, the payout begins at $3,800 for the entire night and with attendance under 125, it tops out at $2,400.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY
Date Issued 09/18/12
Time Issued 8:45 a.m.
A BOIL WATER ADVISORY is in effect for consumers of Columbia Adair Utilities District for customers on Knifley Rd, J. Wethington Rd, Ray Miller Rd, and Mt. Tussell Rd.

The advisory has been issued due to main line leak.

Following such an event, the potential exists for bacteriological contamination of the water supply therefore this Boil Water Advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure.

Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking, bringing the water to a rolling boil for three minutes before using.

This advisory will remain in effect until the situation has been corrected and test results have shown the water to be of an acceptable quality.

For more information concerning the Boil Water Advisory, contact Lennon Stone at Columbia Adair Utilities District, 270-384-2181.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Russell Springs, Kentucky man was indicted by a federal grand jury meeting in Bowling Green, Kentucky yesterday on a single charge of conspiracy to engage in contraband cigarette trafficking announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

David B. Cooper, age 46, is charged with knowingly conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by means of possession and receipt of contraband cigarettes. According to the indictment, between March 2007 and August 2007 in Russell County, Kentucky and elsewhere, the defendant Cooper, as owner and operator of DS Marketing, LLC, knowingly possessed contraband cigarettes in quantities greater than 10,000, which bore no evidence of the payment of the applicable state excise tax stamps.

Further, from March of 2007 to August 2007, Cooper’s company, DS Marketing, located in Russell Springs, Kentucky, was an unlicensed tobacco distribution company that sold and shipped unstamped cigarettes to retail customers primarily through mail order and telephone. The indictment further alleges that from March 2007 to about August 2007, Cooper and his co-conspirators defrauded the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and other states, of approximately $97,487.80 in state excise, sales, and use taxes, including approximately $43,241.97 that involved the sale of unstamped cigarettes manufactured by Cooper’s company Tantus Tobacco, LLC, located in Russell Springs, Kentucky.

If convicted at trial, Cooper faces no more than five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a three year period of supervised release. He is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl, in Bowling Green, on October 9th at 11:00 a.m.
This case being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Micah R. Reyner and was investigated by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Anyone wishing to adopt a pet from the local animal shelter will soon be required to have the animal spayed or neutered before taking it home.

The fiscal court voted Tuesday night to establish the new policy at the request of the Green River Animal Welfare League.
The court originally heard the request last month but tabled any decision until local veterinarians could be polled to see what they would charge for spay and neutering services. Three veterinarians responded and magistrates were given their offers without the name of the animal clinic being identified.

Magistrates vote to tentatively accept an offer that included $62 to spay or $45 to neuter a dog and $45 to spay or $25 to neuter a cat.
The court discussed a request to discount its current adoption fee but noted that the county is already contributing money to operate the shelter.

The adoption fees are currently $50 for dogs and $30 for cats. That fee will be added to the spay and neuter fees, which means a female dog will cost $112 to adopt, a male dog will cost $95, a female cat will cost $75 and a male cat will cost $55 to adopt.
The county will now finalize an agreement with the veterinarian and County Judge Executive Ann Melton said the new policy would take place sometime after Oct. 15.

Shelter manager Sandy Ford voiced concern that adoptions numbers would drop if fees exceeded $100.

In August, the animal shelter took in 95 animals, adopted seven, sent 12 to rescues, and euthanized 77. In July, the shelter took in 129 cats and dogs. Nine were adopted and 11 rescued, with 122 being euthanized.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@duo-county.com

There will be no school on Wednesday, Sept. 12 in honor of the two young boys who recently died in a fire. Below is a media release from Superintendent Alan Reed.

“I have decided that we will cancel all classes tomorrow in honor of four-year-old Hector Aaron Curry who was a Pre-school student at Adair County Elementary School, along with his friend, four-year-old Haydon Oseguera-Paxtian. There will be no school in our school district tomorrow, Wednesday, September 12, 2012.

Any time we lose a student, it is always a very emotional time for students and faculty. The situation surrounding the deaths of Hector and Haydon is particularly upsetting, and all of Adair County grieves for the boys and their families. I join Mr. Harmon along with the faculty and students at ACES who are among some of the most impacted.

Funeral services for both young boys will be at 1:00 p.m., CDT, in the Adair County High School gym.”
Alan Reed, Supt.

Two four-year-old boys who died in a mobile home fire in Russell Springs Saturday will be remembered during a funeral at the Adair County High School gymnasium Wednesday.

Hector Aaron Curry, the son of Randy Curry & Rosa Lopez of Columbia, and Hayden Aaron Oseguera-Paxtian, the son of Juan Matias Oseguera-Mandujano & Maria C. Paxtian-Fiscal, of Russell Springs, died after a fire broke out in the room where they were playing following a birthday party. Officials have said they believe the fire started in the fuse box.

Hector Curry was a pre-school student at Adair County Elementary School. Visitation for Hector will be held after 5 p.m. Tuesday at Grissom-Martin Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held for both boys at the Adair County High School gymnasium at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

OBITUARIES

Hector Aaron Curry, four year old son of Randy Curry & Rosa Lopez of Columbia, died Saturday, September 8, 2012 in a mobile home fire in Russell Springs.

He was born April 30, 2008, in Somerset, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Leonard Earl Curry. He was a preschooler at Adair County Elementary School.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by:
Four sisters – Misty Curry of London, KY, Latisha, Kimberlee & Jazlyn Curry all of Columbia
His paternal grandmother – Dorothy Curry of Russell Springs
His maternal grandmother – Fidelia Guillen of Columbia
Numerous uncles, aunts & cousins

Funeral service – Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at Adair County High School Gymnasium with Bro. Ralph Foster & Pastor Alajandro Velasques officiating

Burial in Free Union Cemetery

Visitation after 5:00 P.M. Tuesday at Grissom-Martin Funeral Home

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation to the Hector Aaron Curry & Hayden Aaron Oseguera-Paxtian Memorial Fund at First & Farmers National Bank which may be left at the funeral home

Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements

Hayden Aaron Oseguera-Paxtian, four year old son of Juan Matias Oseguera-Mandujano & Maria C. Paxtian-Fiscal, of Russell Springs, died Saturday, September 8, 2012 in a mobile home fire in Russell Springs.

He was born January 18, 2008 in Somerset, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Manadel Socorro Mandujano Perez & Gregorio Oseguera Navarro. He was a preschooler at Russell Springs Elementary School.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by:
His maternal grandparents – Jose Paxtian Temich & Manuela Fiscal of Mexico
Three brothers – Jobany Alejandro Oseguera of Russell Springs & Carlos Eduardo Oseguera & Jose Fernando Paxtian both of Mexico
Three sisters – Lizeydy Rocio Oseguera, Gabriela Yarely Oseguera & Carolina Elizabeth Oseguera all of Mexico

Funeral Service – Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at Adair County High School Gymnasium with Pastor Alajandro Velasques & Pastor Rudy Montalvo officiating

Burial in Free Union Cemetery

Visitation after 5:00 P.M. Tuesday at Grissom-Martin Funeral Home

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation to the Hayden Aaron Oseguera-Paxtian & Hector Aaron Curry Memorial Fund at First & Farmers National Bank which may be left at the funeral home

Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements

(Columbia, KY.) – Tpr. Bryan Shepard is investigating a collision that occurred on Thursday night, September 6 at 10:08 PM CST approximately 9 miles north of Columbia on KY 551.

18-year-old Caleb A Capps of Edmonton was traveling north on KY 551, operating a 2004 Chevy truck. The truck left the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned several times. Capps was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Adair County Coroner David Taylor.

A passenger, 18-year-old Jessica Mikel of Louisville, was flown from Westlake Regional Hospital to University of Kentucky Hospital and is in stable condition.

A passenger, 17-year-old Jessica Burba of Louisville was flown from the scene to University of Louisville Hospital and is listed in serious condition.

A passenger, 18-year-old Antonio Simmons of Radcliff was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.

Mikel and Burba were not wearing seatbelts. Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor.

COLUMBIA, Ky. — Art with a musical theme was a natural one for Ev Niewoehner to paint.

The retired teacher lives in Nashville, Tenn., the epicenter of country music. So his current show at the Lindsey Wilson College Lucretia C. Begley Art Gallery, “The Art of Music,” plays on that theme.

“I’ve lived in Nashville, the ‘Music City,’ my entire life so it seemed natural to do a show with a music theme,” Niewoehner said. “A majority of the work I do has been music influenced and based. Music is a universal language that people of all cultures are drawn to.”

Niewoehner’s “Art of Music” show at LWC, which runs through Sept. 28, features 26 oil paintings of instruments and musicians in either colorful settings or in impressionist scenes that reflect instruments’ shapes, sounds and moods they create. Musical influences depicted in the paintings include classical, country, jazz and Latin sounds.

A public reception will be held for Niewoehner at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 13 in the Begley Gallery.

“I’ve always had interest in art since I was a kid,” Niewoehner said. “My mother saw something in me and encouraged to pursue art. Art class was my favorite in high school and college. I’ve worked on art as a side project for most my life, until I retired from teaching in 1992, where I focused all my attention onto my art.”

Niewoehner, who will also speak to LWC classes on Sept. 13, said he hopes his work can inspire and instruct aspiring artists at the college.

“I hope to give these kids some insight and the chance to talk to someone who is the field of art,” he said.

LWC Professor of Art Tim Smith said it is important to expose students to professional artists.

“A lot of students think of art as either a avocation or as a vocation, and they need to know how to go about getting their work out there,” said Smith, who is also director of the Begley Gallery. “Most students don’t understand how important it is to get their work out there for public viewing and receive feedback from it. It gives the students a chance to work with and talk with other working artist and gather new perspectives on art.”

“The Art of Music,” by Ev Niewoehner, is on display through Sept. 28 in the Lindsey Wilson College Lucretia C. Begley Gallery. A public reception for Niewoehner will be held 3:30 p.m. CT Thursday, Sept. 13, in the Begley Gallery. For more information, contact Tim Smith at smitht@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-8079.

LWC NIEWOEHNER — Jazz Combo is one of 26 oil paintings by Ev Niewoehner on display through Sept. 28 in the Lindsey Wilson College Lucretia C. Begley Gallery.

September 5, 2012
As of 11:00 a.m. on September 5, 2012 the boil water advisory for customers on Burkesville Street and Lancaster Drive has been lifted by the Division of Water Columbia office. This means your water is safe for human consumption. You no longer have to boil your water.

Thank you
Columbia Adair Utilities District

BOIL WATER ADVISORY
Date Issued 09/04/12
Time Issued 10:00 a.m.
A BOIL WATER ADVISORY is in effect for consumers of Columbia Adair Utilities District for customers on Burkesville St and Lancaster Drive.

The advisory has been issued due to main line leak.

Following such an event, the potential exists for bacteriological contamination of the water supply therefore this Boil Water Advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure.

Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking, bringing the water to a rolling boil for three minutes before using.

This advisory will remain in effect until the situation has been corrected and test results have shown the water to be of an acceptable quality.

For more information concerning the Boil Water Advisory, contact Lennon Stone at Columbia Adair Utilities District, 270-384-2181.

There will be a bug run on Saturday, Sept. 15 in order to help raise construction funds for the McGuffin family.

The run will begin at 10 a.m. at Rex’s Cycle Shop. Mary McGuffin and her six children recently lost their home in a fire. Entry fee is $15 per bike. It will begin at Rex’s Cycle Shop on Hwy. 55. Ride ends at Plum Point Church. Lunch will be provided, drawing for door prizes and a small auction.

Proceeds will go towards household items.

Call Roger Burton at 384-5427 for questions.

(Due to rain predictions for Saturday, Sept. 8, the bug run has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15. All times and locations are the same.)

The annual Homeplace Fall Heritage Festival promises a day of good food, live music, hay rides and more on Saturday.

The festival will feature activities such as demonstrations, hiking, live music, arts and crafts exhibitors, a quilt show and photograph workshop.

Admission is free for the event. However, there are $1 tickets for activities for pony rides, hay rides, a barrel train, pedal tractor pull face painting and more. All events and rides are free to active duty military, National Guard and their families with proper identification.

The annual festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Homeplace on Green River, four miles north of the Taylor/Adair line on Hwy. 55. Last year’s festival drew a crowd of more than 1,200 people from Taylor, Green and Adair counties.

Homeplace on Green River borders on the Green River and State Highway 55. Watch for signs and festival flags.

Homeplace has been a working farm for over 200 years. The original home was built in 1804. It has been added to over the years, but is still standing and in use for farm activities. The farm has been owned by just three families in all its years—the Tates, the Buchanans and the Halls. In 2001
Homeplace on Green River was established by Adair, Green and Taylor counties.

The farm is operated by a foundation directed by a governing board with representation from the three counties. Funding for initial purchase of the property was provided by The Farmland Protection Program.

A major effort is underway to renovate the house as well as a Civil War era bank barn and several other historic outbuildings. Once developed, Homeplace will also include nature trails, picnic areas and other opportunities for family activities.

For additional information about Homeplace and the Festival, go to www.homplacefarm.org.

Adair County will get a chance to see one of the top gospel groups in the nation perform locally this weekend.

The Perrys will sing during a free concert on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Adair County High School gymnasium.

The Perrys are 2012 Dove Award winners and have over 40 years experience singing across the country. The concert is sponsored by Jones Chapel United Methodist Church. A love offering will be taken.

The city of Columbia is proposing a tax rate that will reflect a 4 percent revenue growth for 2012.

The city will hold a public hearing on Friday at 1 p.m. to receive public comments about the tax rate proposal. The 4 percent increase is the highest a local government entity can propose without being subject to a recall.

The 2011 tax rate was .2542 (25.42 cents per $100 assessment), which produced revenue of $439,659. The proposed rate for 2012 is .2625, which will produce revenue of $453,718.
Revenue from new property and personal property at .2625 would generate $88,000.

Friday’s public hearing will be held at city hall at 116 Campbellsville St.

To read more, get this week’s issue of the Adair County Community Voice. Newspapers will be in news racks throughout the county this afternoon and in mailboxes Thursday.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@duo-county.com

The second annual Sparky’s Crusade Concert will offer a full day of area bands and good food for a worthy cause.

Activities for the day include a corntoss  tournament, five area bands, activities for children and more. Concessions will also be available throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The band lineup will begin with Southern Protocol then continue with Brent and Brandy Thompson, In the Middle of Nowhere, Salvage Town and No Deceit.

Robin Spoon and Brandon Lewis donated a quilt for the event. Tickets will be sold at the concert and entered into a drawing.

Although the concert is free, donations will be accepted for the WHAS Crusade for Children.

The concert is held in memory of the late Charles Sparks, who was involved in the WHAS Crusade for Children chairity.

The event will be held at the Adair County Fairgrounds beginning at 1 p.m. Pre-registration for the corntoss tournament is available. Call Charlie Crawhorn at 634-3512. Seating is limited at the event, so concert goers need to bring their own lawn chair.

In a matter of one week, David Rasmussen went from being CEO at the Russell County Hospital, to unemployed, to attending his first meeting as CEO for the Adair County Hospital District.

Rasmussen learned last Tuesday at a special called meeting by the Russell County Hospital Board that a new management firm was being hired and he was immediately out of a job.
By the end of the week, he received calls from Columbia and on Saturday the Adair County Hospital District board hired him.

He started his new job on Monday.

Board members were encouraged by the sudden opportunity.

“It’s divine intervention,” said board member Richard Grant with a laugh. The hospital board held a special called meeting Saturday. All current board members, chairman Jim Evans, Grant, Craig Pyles and Bruce White, were present and voted to hire Rasmussen.
He started his first day on the job Monday meeting with department managers then went “floor by floor, department by department and just listening,” he said.

He met with County Judge Executive Ann Melton and by 3 p.m. was ready for an initial meeting with the local press.
By then, Rasmussen had already penciled out a 100-day plan, featuring around 10 priorities with details under each topic.

The plan considers cash flow, revenue cycle, physician clinics, a plan to visit with doctors, and possibly a public forum or a focus group from the community.

By the end of day one, Rasmussen was already talking about bringing back swing beds to Westlake Regional Hospital and redesigning the ICU to locate it near the nursing station and upgrading the emergency room. He was also looking into the possibility of bringing back Critical Access status.

Rasmussen said he has stayed informed through local media plus the board was straightforward with him so he knows the situation he is walking into. Westlake has borrowed $3.2 million from the local county government to stay afloat and just last week approved a layoff of 24 people. The hospital district is around $20 million in debt.

“We’ve been knocked against the ropes, but I don’t think it’s not fixable. It will be a challenge and it will be hard,” he said. “I think that brings some excitement to the job.”
During the press conference, Rasmussen said more than 30 full-time equivalent positions have been reduced from the hospital staff. Of that total, seven voluntarily resigned. He said he could not say if the layoffs are complete.

“The goal is to get salary and benefit costs less than 50 percent of your net revenue,” he said.
The goal of the board is to stabilize the hospital and hopefully develop an affiliation with a hospital or group, Rasmussen said.

“They are not trying to get me to turn it around so they can sell it on the street,” he said. “The discussion has been, ‘we need to get it strong, we want to be here for the community.’ And if we can affiliate with somebody to bring in extra services, that’s what we want to do. We want to take care of our people, locally.”
Rasmussen, who said he has 21 years of CEO experience in health care, will receive $9,500 a month for a six-month probationary period then his salary will increase to $11,000 a month, according to board members. He will be an employee of the hospital and not under contract.

Board members would not discuss the relationship with Spectrum Health Partners, who resigned from a contract that provided a CEO. The contract ends Sept. 14 and board members would not comment about whether the transition is a friendly one. Spectrum was receiving $25,000 a month for providing the CEO position.

Former CEO Rusty Tungate received $16,250 monthly, with the salary evenly split between each of the three hospitals that were being managed through Westlake.

BRIEF BOARD MEETING
During a brief board meeting Tuesday night, board members heard some preliminary figures from interim CFO Tammy Curry.

Curry said the hospital will show a loss of $3.6 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. For July, the hospital showed a net loss of $211,000.
A discussion was held about cash flow, with Curry stating that the transition to a new digital health records system has slowed the billing process. Rasmussen said he has already been on the phone with the company providing the system to solve the problem.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@duo-county.com