Headline News

Strong support for Judy Vance in Adair County put her over the top and beyond in the race for 29th Judicial District Circuit Judge Tuesday. Vance took home more than 64 percent of the votes in Adair County to make up for a loss in Casey.

Vance received 4,457 votes in Adair and 2200 votes in Casey for a total of 6,657.

Her opponent, Brian Wright, received 2,425 in Adair and 3,378 in Casey, for a total of 5,803, falling 854 short of the win.

SCHOOL BOARD
In local school board races, two write-in candidates were unsuccessful but one incumbent was defeated.
Quinn Lasley defeated incumbent Marsha Walker for the 2nd District school board seat. Lasley received 565 votes to Walker’s 392. Charles Miller received 95 votes.

Incumbent Mike Harris received strong support in the 5th District, taking more than 70 percent of the vote. Harris received 935 votes to write-in candidate Bill Steele’s 389 votes.

Incumbent Floyd Burton received 696 votes and write-in candidate Rhonda Cox received 489 votes in the 4th Educational District.

CITY COUNCIL

Charles Grimsley was the top vote getter for six city council seats. Grimsley recieved 774 votes. Incumbent Craig Dean received 742, incumbent Robert Flowers received 725, and Ronald P. “Butch” Rogers received 717. Incumbent Linda Waggener received 669 and incumbent June Parson received 627.

Candidates who didn’t earn a spot on the council were incumbents Tony Grider, who received 593 votes, and Jim Hadley, with 536 votes; Craig Lasley, with 609 votes, and Joe Moore, with 427 votes.

You will find complete election coverage in Thursday’s edition of the Community Voice.

Judy Vance gets numbers from Casey County while waiting for returns to come in at the Adair County Courthouse Annex Tuesday evening.

The Adair County Fire Department is having its annual pancake breakfast this Saturday, Nov. 10 from 6 a.m. until noon. It is $5 all you can eat. Call in orders in town by calling 384-3278. All proceeds benefit the 2013 WHAS Crusade for Children.

UPDATE: Boil Water Advisory has been lifted.

Date Issued: 11/5/12

Time Issued: 9:30 A.M.

A BOIL WATER ADVISORY is in effect for consumers of Columbia Adair

Utilities District for customers from 516 Bomar Heights to 609 Bomar Heights,

Allen Street and Curry Street.

The advisory has been issued due to a 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.

Christena and Kevin Jones have been fighting for their lives since they were born.

Kevin and Christena, who live in Knifley, have both been battling a disorder called Cystic Fibrosis, or what is commonly known as CF.

Kevin was diagnosed shortly before his first birthday and Christena, originally from Bullitt County, was diagnosed at birth. The couple, who grew up living almost two hours away from each other, met in 2005 while they were both being treated at the same CF center in St. Louis, Mo.

CF is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestines. The disorder causes issues with proteins that allow a person to sweat or produce mucus.

“It’s the number one genetic killer of children,” said Debra Gabehart, Christena’s mother. “It affects all of the mucous producing organs.”

A major side effect of the disorder is the need for multiple organ transplants, such as the lung and liver. Kevin has had a double lung and liver transplant while Christena has had a double lung transplant.

CHRISTENA AND KEVIN’S STORY

Kevin, who grew up in Knifley, was diagnosed with CF just before his first birthday. After dealing with the side effects of the disease for nearly 10 years, Kevin was put on a transplant list. By the time he was 12 he received a double lung and liver transplant.

The recovery of the transplant was difficult at such as young age, and Kevin lived in the hospital for nearly four months after the surgery.

Christena keeps a blog about their journey with CF at the website www.christenasjourney.com. She writes that despite the fact that Kevin has CF, he doesn’t let it keep him from enjoying life. He still loves to hunt and fish, she writes.

In 2005, Christena received a double lung transplant at the CF center in St. Louis. This is where she met Kevin.
“We had heard his name around before,” Gabehart said. “When we found out they were in the hospital, we invited him and his parents in to talk with Christena.”

Both sets of parents along with Christena and Kevin met at the CF center that day, but their story as a couple didn’t begin until 2007.

In 2007, Christena added Kevin on Facebook. At the time, she was attending Western Kentucky University. Kevin also attended WKU. She asked him to meet her for dinner, but Kevin was no longer attending WKU. Even so, he still made the two-hour drive to see her.

Christena blogged about how Kevin changed the way she looked at life.

“I quit planning everything and began enjoying more, living more and actually breathing more,” Christena wrote. “I learned things I never thought I’d care to learn, like fishing and tracking animals and I began loving this life he showed me.”

The couple married in July 2010 and lived in Knifley up until a couple of months ago.

ANOTHER TRANSPLANT

Christena’s body rejected her original double lung transplant, so she is on the organ donor waiting list.

Christena and Kevin are now living in St. Louis where Christena is waiting for her second double lung transplant.
They both understand that life’s decisions often have to be made around their medical needs.

“If our parents were truthful with themselves, they’d probably admit that they didn’t see their children enjoying a normal life, graduating high school or attending college, and they definitely didn’t envision their children getting married,” Christena wrote.

“I grew up knowing that this was my life. I still enjoyed normal childhood things, but they always had a medical aspect. All of my favorite baby dolls went to the surgery with me. Each one got IVs and broviacs. I had more bags of medical supplies to play doctor than I had Barbie dolls,” she continued.

Christena’s mom said she even took her IVs to school.

“Because its all she’s ever known, she is okay,” Gabehart said.

When she was 16 she was put on oxygen full time. She couldn’t do much because of her lungs, Gabehart said.
It has been an uphill battle since Christena had her transplant.

“We almost lost her but she fought like crazy,” Gabehart said. “She is my hero. I’ve never seen anybody fight the way I’ve seen her fight.”

Since Christena’s body is rejecting the original transplant, she has no other option but to get another one, her mother continued.

The couple is currently in St. Louis awaiting the second transplant.

BENEFIT FOR CHRISTENA AND KEVIN

There will be a benefit for Christena and Kevin on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at the Adair County Elementary School. All proceeds from the event will go to the family.

By Allison Cross
allison@adairvoice.com

Attorney General Jack Conway reminds citizens that they can help ensure a fair and honest election on November 6 by utilizing his Election Fraud Hotline. The hotline is available throughout the year during normal business hours. On Election Day, investigators from the Attorney General’s Office will staff the hotline from 6 a.m. EST to 7 p.m. EST, while polls are open.

“My office is working hard to protect the integrity of the election process, but citizens also play an important role,” General Conway said. “We need voters to be our eyes and ears in polling places on Election Day and report any irregularities to our Election Fraud Hotline at 1-800-328-VOTE. Every complaint will be thoroughly reviewed and the appropriate enforcement action will be taken if any appear to be criminal in nature.”

In addition to the Election Fraud Hotline, General Conway will have investigators monitoring polling precincts across the state to immediately respond to voting irregularities and/or complaints.

The Office of the Attorney General has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute violations of the Kentucky Election laws. By law, the Attorney General administers programs to observe the conduct of elections, maintains the toll-free Election Fraud Hotline, investigates and prosecutes violations of Kentucky’s election laws and conducts post-election audits based on random selection in counties throughout the Commonwealth.

As a member of the Kentucky Election Fraud Task Force, General Conway’s office also works closely with the Secretary of State’s Office, U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, Kentucky Board of Elections, Kentucky State Police and FBI to prevent and investigate allegations of vote fraud during elections.

“Our efforts are making a difference,” General Conway said. “Working jointly with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, our investigations have resulted in more than a dozen convictions since 2010 related to voter fraud and vote buying.”

During the last presidential election in 2008, General Conway’s Election Fraud Hotline received a total of 450 calls, and/or complaints, during the primary and general elections. In the May 22 primary election earlier this year, the hotline received 38 calls from 18 counties. Two of the calls involved allegations of vote buying and selling.

The Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline is 1-800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683).

Members of the news media covering the election are reminded that they may be in the voting room for the limited purpose of filming the voting process. However, as per OAG 88-76, the media may not conduct interviews with voters inside the voting room, record the identity of voters, or disrupt the voting process, a Class A misdemeanor. See KRS 117.236.

With only days left before the November 6, 2012, General Election, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is reminding voters of Election Day “Do’s and Don’ts” that will help avoid surprises and ensure a smooth trip to the polls. “Every election matters, and every vote counts,” said Grimes. “I hope providing this information will prepare voters and encourage them to make their voices heard.”

• DO verify your voter registration status and the races in which you will vote before you head to the polls. Registration status is available through the Voter Information Center (VIC). Sample ballots are also available through VIC, and they are printed in newspapers and displayed in each precinct.

• DO know where you vote. You can find the address of and driving directions to your polling location through VIC.

• DO know the most convenient times to vote. Polls tend to be busiest during the morning and evening rush hours and at lunchtime.

• DO bring appropriate identification to your polling location. You must either be known by a precinct officer or produce a driver’s license, social security card, credit card, or other form of identification that contains both a picture and signature in order to cast a ballot.

• DON’T wait until the last minute to head to the polls or be discouraged by long lines. Remember, as long as you are in line by 6 p.m. local time on November 6th, you will be allowed to cast your ballot.

• DON’T campaign or solicit votes within 300 feet of a polling place. Electioneering in the immediate area around a polling place is illegal in Kentucky.

• DON’T record the identity of voters in the voting room, including through the use of cameras and cell phones.

• DO ask a poll worker for instructions on how to use the voting machine or other procedural questions if you are confused about the voting process.

• DO let officials know immediately if you encounter any problems at the polls. You can address issues with your precinct election officers, the county clerk, the State Board of Elections at 502-573-7100, or the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline at 1-800-328-VOTE.

• DON’T forget to thank your poll workers. This election would not be possible without them, and they deserve our appreciation.

• DO remind your friends and family to vote. Our democratic society is at its best when all Kentuckians’ voices are heard at the polls.

• DON’T forget that you can obtain election results in near-real time after the polls have closed by visiting www.elect.ky.gov.

ONE DAY ONLY! $7 subscription to the Adair County Community Voice. The Voice office is open until 7 p.m. Our office is located at 316 Public Square. Our phone number is 384-9454. $7 subscription makes an excellent Christmas present!

Mrs. Marr’s and Mrs. Flatt’s classes painted pumpkins to match storybook characters. These talented students have their pumpkins on display at the front lobby of John Adair Intermediate School. Pictured are 4th and 5th graders Hannah Brown, Carrie Smith, Kinley Darnell, Caroline Hardwick, Clay Giles, and Jadie Smith.

CVS Pharmacy, located on Jamestown Street had its ribbon cutting Friday morning with the Columbia/Adair County Chamber of Commerce. The business is open seven days a week and looks forward to serving the needs of the community.

The Kentucky Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday has accepted the letter of resignation of Rebecca Turner as school board member, District 1. The Adair County School District will start advertising for the position on Nov. 7. However, applications are available at the central office.

For more information, call Superintendent Alan Reed at 384-2476.

Lane Goodwin, the 13-year-old boy from the Beech Grove area who gave a powerful voice to childhood cancer awareness, has died. See details from his family on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/PrayersforLaneGoodwin?ref=stream

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department will be open for the next two Saturdays to collect taxes. The sheriff’s office will be open Saturday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be a two percent discount through Wednesday, Oct. 31.

A man with a story of desperation walked away with a substantial amount of cash at United Citizens Bank Monday evening after holding two bank employees at gunpoint and forcing one to leave the bank with him.

The thief, wearing blue jeans, a plaid jacket and camouflage hunting cap, entered the UCB branch at 1582 Campbellsville Rd. at 3:13 p.m. Monday and asked a teller to speak to a loan officer.

He went into the office of loan officer and branch manager Mike Curry then removed a semi-automatic pistol, held it in his hand as he laid it on the desk pointing at Curry, then told Curry he wanted a specific amount of cash. Police would not disclose the amount of cash the man demanded or the amount he got away with.

“He said, ‘I hate to do this but I need (a certain amount of cash),” Curry said the following day during an interview. “He said, ‘I don’t want to hurt nobody but I will start shooting if it gets loud. Be quiet.”
…
To read more of this story, get this week’s issue of the Adair County Community Voice. Newspapers are in racks throughout the county this afternoon and in mailboxes Thursday.

A photo taken from the bank video has been released and the man is described as being around 60 years old and weighing around 200 pounds.

City Police Det. Tracy McCarol is leading the investigation. McCarol said Tuesday he has received numerous leads about people who look similar to the suspect and is continuing the investigation. Fingerprints were retrieved from the truck and will be run through a criminal database.

If anyone has information about the case they are asked to call the city police department at 384-4119, dispatch at 384-6466 or any law enforcement agency.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@duo-county.com

United Citizens Bank was robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon and the branch manager was forced to leave the bank with the robber. The manager was left at a local restaurant unharmed.

Police were on the scene at the UCB branch on Campbellsville Road and at the Dollar General Store where the thief abandoned a vehicle shortly after the robbery.

Police on the scene said a single male entered the bank and asked for a loan officer. An official report of details is not yet available but officials did confirm that the robber was armed and forced manager Mike Curry to leave the bank with him. The robber used Curry’s pick-up truck to leave the scene. He told Curry to get out of the truck at Pablo’s Restaurant a short distance from the bank then turned back toward the bank and entered the Dollar General Store parking lot. Police found Curry’s vehicle in the parking lot but were not clear if the robber left on foot or had a vehicle waiting for him.

The thief did get away with cash but officials did not confirm the amount on the scene. Police say a one male was involved but they are not sure if a second person was waiting with a vehicle at the Dollar Store. The robber is believed to be around 60 years old and weighs around 200 pounds. He was wearing blue jeans and a camouflage hat. If anyone recognizes the man in the above photo, please contact Columbia Police at 270-384-4119 or Kentucky State Police or your local law enforcement.

More details will be provided later.

Branch Manager Mike Curry’s vehicle was abandoned at the Dollar General Store after a man held up the United Citizens Bank on Campbellsville Street at gunpoint.

The family of Jeff and Pam Meyer, Hughes Road, Columbia, lost their mobile home, contents, and clothing yesterday due to a fire. Their son was home and received minor burns on his arm. Pam is an employee at Summit Manor Nursing Home, and Jeff is disabled. If anyone has any household item, clothing, furniture, bedding, etc., to donate it would be appreciated and a benefit to the family. Donations may be dropped off at the Adair County Judge Executive Ann Melton’s Office, 424 Public Square, Ste 1, Columbia KY.

If you have a large item of furniture to donate, please call the office; 384-4703 or email acjudge1@duo-county.com . The following sizes of clothing are needed by this family:

Women’s 2x tops, 2x pants, 10.5 shoes.
Men’s large shirts, xlarge shirts, 2x shirts, 36×30 pants, 40×32 pants, 34×32 pants, size 10 shoes, 13 shoes, 10.5 shoes.

We would like to thank you in advance for your generous support to a family in their time of need.
Lisa Greer and Jerry Nixon
Adair County’s Contacts for Red Cross.

(Campbellsville, KY) – On October 3, 2012, Detectives from Post 15 arrested David Salyers, age 59 of Elk Horn, KY. Salyers was charged with Complicity to Commit Murder and was lodged in the Taylor County Regional Jail.
This charge is a result of a week long investigation by Post 15 Detectives into the murder of Wendell “Gleason” Pyles, who was shot and killed Wednesday, September 26, 2012, while working at Tarter Gate Company in Dunnville, KY.
In the early morning hours of October 4, 2012, Post 15 Detectives and Troopers along with the Kentucky State Police Special Response Team executed a search warrant at Salyer’s residence in rural Taylor County. Items seized during the search warrant are expected to lead to more charges and additional arrests in the near future.

The Adair County Circuit Court Clerk will now recognize veterans on driver’s licenses and state-issued IDs.

When renewing a driver’s license, veterans need to bring in their DD214 form in order to get the veteran ID.

Those who have already renewed their license or ID between July 22 and Sept. 24 can get their veteran ID reprinted for free until Dec. 31.

All others will pay the regular price for ID renewal.

The circuit clerk’s office will also begin issuing a new design on driver’s licenses and IDs in November.

For any questions regarding the veteran ID, call the circuit court clerk’s office at 384-2626.

The Adair County School District Local Planning Committee voted last week to reconfigure the Adair County School District.

Superintendent Alan Reed spoke to the LPC on Thursday about the possibility of reconfiguring the schools in order to save money in light of recent state fund cuts, impending federal cuts and the cost of building a new school.
Plans for a preschool wing had been included in the new school’s design. The district halted construction on the preschool wing two weeks ago in hopes of reconfiguration.

During the meeting, Reed suggested the district scrap plans for the preschool wing in the new school and restrict it to Adair County Elementary School, which already has a preschool wing.

“We’ve double checked, triple counted…it works,” Reed said. “It gets our school district out of a horrible financial bind.”

The new reconfiguration proposal for the 2013-2014 school year is as follows, while eliminating the use of John Adair Intermediate School.
• New school currently under construction: kindergarten, first and second grades.
• Adair County Elementary School: preschool, third, fourth and fifth grades.
• Adair County Middle School: sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
• Adair County High School remains the same with ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades.

CONCERNS
While supportive of the proposal, most of the principals in the district had concerns about the details of the reconfiguration, especially regarding the crowding of the schools by eliminating JAIS.

“All of our buildings are going to be crowded, but it’s what we have to do at this time,” Reed said.
ACMS principal Alma Rich had concerns regarding moving the sixth grade into the middle school. Rich said they would possibly have to clear out at least nine classrooms to make room for an extra grade.

Reed said he walked through the school with Assistant Superintendent to the schools Brenda Mann and Instructional Supervisor Phyllis Curry and is convinced the building could maintain sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

“In the end, it all does work,” Reed said.
Another concern was the number of students predicted to attend ACES next year. Mann predicted that, under the proposal, more than 650 students would attend ACES next year, while it was designed for 600 students.

JAIS principal Jane Branham was concerned about the student-to-teacher ratio if the student population reached that high. Mann said the student-to-teacher ratio is maintained by the state.
Also in the proposal, students in preschool would be placed at ACES and then transferred to kindergarten at the new school.

“I am worried about moving our smallest kids,” said ACES principal Robbie Harmon.
Reed said while they would be switching schools, the entire grade would be placed together while in the past pre-school was separated between ACES and Col. Wm. Casey.

Branham was also concerned about the staff at John Adair once they learn the school will be shutting down.

“I’ve got to have an answer to the people in my building,” Branham said.
Reed said most of the savings from closing JAIS would be through maintenance and utilities. Staffing decisions would be made when new site-based councils are elected.

THE BEST
SOLUTION
From a curriculum stand point, Curry said the teachers in Adair County have set high standards.

“Our teachers are out in the forefront of the curriculum and standards,” Curry said. “It’s going to make it difficult to do, but it’s the best solution at this time.”
The LPC voted unanimously after an hour of discussion to reconfigure the schools from five facilities to four, eliminating the use of John Adair Intermediate.

“In short we are taking control of our own destiny, instead of waiting for some government bailout or capital outlay (building) funds that are likely to be years out of there, if at all,” Reed said. “The actions of the LPC and the BOE are both fiscally and educationally sound. Taxpayers will also appreciate our efforts to streamline.”
Reed said he is pleased with the decision because it means students will be beginning the next year in either new or recently renovated facilities and save on operating costs by tearing down two of the state’s worst facilities with JAIS ranked No. 1 and Col. Wm. Casey ranked No. 8.

The reconfiguration would save the school district around $500,000 a year in operational costs. Reed said on the heels of a $170,000 cut in SEEK funds and expected federal cuts, the move will make an important impact on the school district.

Plans will include making principal assignments by Jan. 1, board will ask employees regarding placement by Feb. 1 and schedule interviews, attempt to assign staff by late February or early March 2013, work with principals and the central office leadership team, and all other decisions will come after new site-based councils are decided upon.
The school board met briefly after the meeting and approved the reconfiguration proposal from the LPC. Board members Mike Harris, Marsha Walker and Floyd Burton all voted in favor of the proposal.

Board members Joseph Payne and Rebecca Turner were not present at the meeting.

By Allison Cross-Hollon
allison@accvonline.com

UPDATE: District 1 school board member Rebecca Turner turned in her letter of resignation this morning. Superintendent Alan Reed said he has informed the Commissioner of Education Terry Holiday of the resignation. Reed is expecting to hear back from the commissioner by the beginning of next week regarding what the next step will be in finding a replacement.

*************************************

School board member Rebecca Turner, who was elected in 2010, moved last January and appears to be living outside the boundaries of the district for which she was elected.

Turner was elected as a representative of District 1 when she was living on Breeding Loop. Turner now lives in Bridgeport Circle, which appears to be in District 2.

The Community Voice went to Turner’s residence on Tuesday at Bridgeport Circle and Turner said she isn’t sure if she has moved out of her district. She assumed someone would tell her if she had, she told the Voice.

When contacted later that same day, Superintendent Alan Reed said he had heard the rumors but had not been officially informed on whether or not she had moved out of District 1.

After inquiries from the Voice, Reed said he would inform board attorney Jeff Hoover and determine if Turner is in fact out of the district in which she was elected.

If a resident who lives at Bridgeport Circle registers to vote, he or she is registered to vote in District 2, according to County Clerk Sheila Blair. School board member Marsha Walker currently represents District 2.

Blair said she couldn’t confirm the district boundaries 100 percent because Bridgeport Circle isn’t identified on her map. Bridgeport Circle connects to the Hwy. 55 bypass.

See more details in this week’s issue of the Community Voice.

As of 12:55 p.m. on September 27, 2012 the boil water advisory for customers on Cooper Ridge Road, Wethington Road, Martin Road and Barnetts Creek 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.

Thank you

Columbia Adair Utilities District