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Corinna Hughes has learned a lot in her young 19 years, and she hopes to use her life experiences to help others.
“Everyone has adversities to go through,” Hughes said. “Mainly, I just want to be a role model.”

HER ROLE MODELS
Hughes said she has had many positive influences from an early age including her mother Alvina Burton.
Her father, Savannah Hughes, died when she was only a year old and her mother raised her as a single mom.
Hughes said she was greatly influenced by her mother because she was able to accomplish so much on her own.
“She is very inspiring,” Hughes said. “I don’t see how she did that. She taught me to be a phenomenal women.”
Hughes enjoys the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou because it reminds her of her mother.
“It (the poem) really touches home for me,” Hughes said. “She is my cheerleader. She has always supported me. I thank God that she is so supportive.”
She also looks up to her grandmother, Della Hughes.
“That is where my sternness comes from,” Hughes joked.
Because of the influence from her mother, Hughes worked hard to be a well-rounded individual.
“Having that independence at a young age, I really knew who I was,” Hughes said. “I knew what I wanted to do. I put myself in a better position where I could become a better person.”
She graduated from Adair County High School in 2011. While in high school, she was senior class president, involved in band, SADD, science club, BETA, NHS, 4-H and the student council.
However, nothing could compare to what she accomplished her senior year of high school. Hughes, who has been in the pageant circuit since she was 13 years old, won the crown for Miss Kentucky County Fair.

MISS KENTUCKY COUNTY FAIR
After she was crowned Allen County Fair 2011, Hughes continued on to the state level last January.
“I was very surprised,” Hughes said. “I was balling and crying like someone had passed away…I thought ‘You overcame an obstacle and adversities. You are Miss Kentucky County Fair.’”
Hughes said in her experience with pageants, there aren’t a lot of biracial women and that can be an obstacle when it comes to winning.
“I think (winning) is empowering for someone of a different race,” Hughes said.
She prides herself on being an individual and having her own voice.
“I am Corrina Hughes,” she said. “I have a name and I have my own personality…I just want to get my opinions out there, to flourish. This is just the beginning for me.”
Hughes takes her individuality and work ethic and hopes it can influence other people.
“I have met so many little girls,” Hughes said. “I really just want to be a role model to them.”
In her six years in the pageant circuit, she has learned an important lesson.
“Never let the word can’t get in the way,” Hughes said. “You have to have tough skin. You can’t let things get in the way.”
Hughes will pass on her crown for Miss Kentucky County Fair this Saturday. During her rein, she appeared in many events throughout the state including the opening ceremony of the State Fair where she met the governor and state representatives.
Hughes participated in the Miss Kentucky County Fair pageant representing the Allen County Fair, but she got her start right here in Adair County where she grew up.
Her first pageant was in the Adair County Fair when she was 13 years old, where she placed in the top 15.

HER FUTURE
Hughes just finished her first semester at the University of Kentucky with a 4.0 GPA. She is working towards getting her nursing degree. She was to be a women’s health practitioner.
“I really enjoy helping people,” Hughes said. “I am just in love with the fact that women are empowering.”
Hughes is also very serious about her education. She said she practically lives in the library at UK. She never goes to parties or does anything that would prevent her from being a good role model.
“I had a goal in mind and I went for it,” she said.
Hughes said she is not finished with pageants. She wants to compete in more pageants and volunteer, but not before she finishes her college education.
“I want to focus on education,” Hughes said. “That comes first.”
Hughes said her ultimate goal in life is to not just become successful but to live happy and not let anything get in the way.

By Allison Hollon
[email protected]

Six drug-related indictments involving both meth and cocaine were handed down in Adair Circuit Court recently.

• Heaven L. Sutton, 24, trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree, 1st offense—cocaine, firearms enhanced; possession of a controlled substance, 1st degree, 1st offense—cocaine, firearms enhanced; carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

• Adrian Victor Morales, 24, fleeing or evading police, 1st degree; trafficking in a controlled substance, 1st degree, 1st offense—cocaine, firearms enhanced; possession of a controlled substance, 1st degree, 1st offense—cocaine, firearms enhanced; carrying a concealed deadly weapon; operating a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration of or above .08 or while under the influence of alcohol or other substances, aggravating circumstance, 1st offense; no operator’s license; failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance/security; speeding.

• Megan A. Swartz, 22, unlawful distribution of a meth precursor, 1st offense.

• Alesha A. Morrison, 39, possession of a controlled substance—cocaine, 1st degree, 1st offense; possession of a controlled substance, 1st degree, 2nd offense; possession of a drug paraphernalia; failure to or improper signal.

• Shanda M. Loy, 29, manufacturing methamphetamine, 1st offense; possession of drug paraphernalia; license to be in possession.

• Dustin Todd Brown, 31, manufacturing methamphetamine; persistent felony offender, 2nd degree.
An indictment is a legal accusation and does not imply guilt or innocence. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Columbia Police Department responded to an injury accident on Burkesville Road on Friday morning.
Mary Grant, of Columbia, was operating a 2008 Chevrolet Impala when she pulled out in front of Timothy Akins, of Jeffersonville, Ind. Akins was operating a 1987 Ford F250.


Grant along with a passenger were transported by ambulance to Westlake Regional Hospital where they were both treated for injuries and released. Grant, her passenger and Akins were all wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

CPD Sergeant Junior Murphy and CPD officer Drew Conn investigated the accident.

After Kentucky legislation called for reorganization in public schools, the Adair County School District has spent the past semester implementing major changes in its curriculum.


Teachers and administrators have been working nearly two years in preparation for the changes brought forth by SB 1—a complete overhaul of Kentucky’s K-12 curriculum.


Legislators aimed for SB 1 to have tougher curriculum at younger levels, more accountability for both students and teachers, an emphasis on college and career readiness and many other requirements.


Instructional Supervisor Phyllis Curry and teachers throughout the school district began in 2009 revising standards and assessments based on national benchmarks for K-12 education.


Now, halfway through its first year of SB 1, everything seems to be on track according to Curry.


Curry said since August they have completed the following:


• Implemented new standards in reading/ English/ language arts and math at all grade levels.


• Revisited subjects and realigned curriculum.


• Implemented common assessments at grade levels. Example: Every student in the first grade takes the same exams in each subject level.


• ACHS students take end of course exams in Algebra II, biology, English II, and U.S. History.


• Teachers develop program review for writing plans and collect evidence to determine progress across the board at all grade levels.


• The state is performing a random audit of 106 schools throughout the state regarding the writing programs in February. Col. Wm. Casey is one of the schools selected.


• Implemented a more rigorous curriculum.


• No more general math classes at the middle school. 7th grade now takes Pre-Algebra and 8th grade takes Algebra I.


• Teachers have more professional development hours to work on curriculum alignment and writing assessments.


• Transitional math classes implemented at the high school to help students achieve higher ACT scores.


• Students can take the COMPASS test in English and math if they do not meet their ACT benchmarks.


• Students can receive certification in different vocational subjects and take various dual credit and AP classes.


• RTI is narrowly targeted on individual students rather than a group.


• Students can take a program focused on reading to help them improve their reading fluency. It helps students learn how to read and comprehend faster. Assessments such as the ACT exam has time limits on reading exams.


• Students can be involved in virtual programs focused on enrichment and remediation.

COLLEGE AND CAREER READY
A lot of focus is being put on college and career readiness. Students have different opportunities to prepare for life after graduation including the dual credit and AP classes, ACT preparation and other assessments such as the COMPASS exam and RTI programs.


Curry said the Adair County School District began RTI programs long before SB 1. However, the RTI programs are now centered more on each student rather than as a whole.


“You don’t look at them as a group anymore,” Curry said. “You look at them as individual students.”


SB 1 aims to increase the percentage of students that go to college after graduating. Currently, 64 percent of the Adair County students that graduate pursue a four-year degree. The state average is 62 percent.


“The community is trusting that we will direct more of our efforts towards getting students ready for the kinds of jobs that are available now and into the future,” said Superintendent Darrell Treece. “It’s not just college readiness we’re talking about, its career readiness.”


The drive for postsecondary education has often been labeled P-16 education or Grade 13.


This means “being productive functioning members of society,” Curry said.


“Grade 13 can mean a lot things,” Treece said. “All of us have to keep in mind that the workplace has changed forever. Some of the greatest job opportunities out there demand skills in technology. We have to prepare students for all those opportunities.”

By Allison Hollon
[email protected]

Adair County residents are facing a 20 percent rate increase in their water bill, pending approval from the Public Service Commission.


The Adair County Water District is submitting a petition for a rate increase to the PSC tomorrow. The funds from the rate increase will help pay for different projects throughout the county including downtown Columbia, Knifley and Sparksville, according to Adair County Water District manager Lenny Stone.


The amount of rate increase will depend on a customer’s water meter size. Around 90 percent of the water district’s customers (residential) have the same meter size (5/8’’ x ¾’’). Those customers will see at least a $4.55 increase in their bill.


Some farms and commercial property use a slightly larger meter size (2’’), which would results in at least a $22.35 increase in their bill.


Stone said this is the first time in two years and third time in 15 years they have increased rates.
“We want to keep our rates as low as possible,” Stone said.


They are encouraged to increase rates every year, but have decided in the past to only raise rates when they needed to, he continued.

THE PROJECTS


The rate increase will help cover costs for four major projects including the Sparksville project, Breeding project, downtown project and generator project.


The Sparksville project includes adding a 12-inch line and a new water tank near the old Sparksville school.
In Breeding, Stone said they plan to add another water feed into the community. Currently Breeding only has one feed.


If something were to happen to that one line, the community wouldn’t have access to any water. A second line would provide backup.


Stone said they also plan to tear down older water tanks in Sparksville, Breeding and on Jones Chapel Road.
Other construction projects include the purchase and instillation of a generator at the water plant and replacing waterlines in the city limits of Columbia.


The water lines in the city have not been replaced and are more than 50 years old. Stone said they are being repaired on a daily basis because they are so old.


The water district has already received approval from USDA Rural Development. Once the PSC picks up the petition, they have 30 days to approve or deny the rate increase.


The PSC will consider if the rate increase is enough to cover costs or if the increase is too high.
The water district has been able to receive grant money through USDA Rural Development over the years, but grant money isn’t as readily available as it has been in years past.


Stone said a lot of the construction will be throughout the county, but it will appear as if they are working more on the downtown project in the city of Columbia.


“The city will be more noticed because it will be condensed,” Stone said.


Construction on the downtown project is set to begin in March depending on weather and the Breeding project is set to begin in the fall.


The Sparksville and generator projects are near completion.

By Allison Hollon
[email protected]