January News…Although it took a week or two longer than average time, WANY’s 2012 Treasure Hunt, “Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree,” finally came to an end last Friday, December 26. A trio of local, and for the most part, “experienced” hunters shared the prize worth of $2,100 in cash and prizes. The hunters were Penny Duvall, her brother Jerry Denney and Donnie Ferrill.

The Clinton County Lady Bulldogs gave themselves, their coaching staff and their fans a late Christmas present last week when they earned back-to-back-to-back victories to pick up the championship title and trophy to their own Best of the Lakes Holiday tournament.

Tragedy struck Clinton County late Friday night as word spread about the death of Clinton County High School teacher and Boys’ Head Golf Coach Mike Anders. Anders was apparently on his way from Knoxville, Tennessee, from Florida, when his plane went down in Flagler County, Florida around 2:19 p.m.

The ninth annual Christmas at Home food and toy drive wrapped up just shortly after Christmas day 2012. When all totals were in, a total of 229 homes were assisted, and more importantly, 491 children benefitted from the program this year.

The various types of flu that is almost to an epidemic proportion across the country, especially in several states, finally caught up to Clinton County late last week when a drop in attendance in all schools prompted the closing of classes for a two-day period earlier this week. Then, following low attendance Friday of the same week that classes resumed, school was cancelled again the first two days of the following week before finally resuming on Wednesday, January 16.

Paula Key was selected the new Clinton County School Board chairperson at a meeting held January 14. Junior Cecil was chosen as co-chair for the 2013 calendar year.

For the third time in seven seasons the Clinton County Bulldogs were crowned champions of the 4th Region in the Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic basketball tournament. Clinton County picked up a 45-41 victory last Saturday night in the championship game against Glasgow. In the opener of the Sweet 16 All “A,” the Bulldogs lost to Knott Central, 52-37.

January Birth…Kamryn Noel Rains, daughter of Megan and Michael Rains, Albany.

January Deaths…Elsie Walker Wilson, 87, Albany; Leroy Winningham, 58, Albany; Terry W. Tallent, 45, Albany; Juanita Foster Lyons, 73, Albany; Grady Cope, 74, Burkesville, KY; J.C. Watson, 81, Burkesville, KY; Mary Irene Fairchild, New Castle, IN; Barbara Ann McDonald, 66, Albany; Stevie Kendall Flowers, 50, Byrdstown, TN; Grace V. Glidewell, 92, Albany; Lonnie Bee Thrasher, 58, Albany; Gloria Jean Asberry, 79, Byrdstown, TN; Millard G. Murphy, 81, Albany; Harlan “Doc” Cope, 76, Byrdstown, TN; Letha Polston, 85, Albany; Evie Jane Stinson, 85, Albany; Mary Clara Smith, 87, Albany; William “Bill” Ron Perdue, 78, Anchorage, AK; Susan Lynn Flowers, 56, Pall Mall, TN; Ruth Carlton Bayne, 87, Harold, S.D.; Dorothy Lewis Radford, 87, Burkesville, KY; Eddie Allen Tuck, 46, Albany; Holli Theele Robison, 39, Albany; Cindy Ann Feekes, 52, Radcliffe, KY; Barbara A. Matthews, 71, Albany; Robert Shelley, 91, Albany; Opal Cummings Ford, 87, New Castle, IN; Hulen A. Riddle, 77, Albany; William Riley Combest, 91, Albany; Norman Eugene Melton, 74, Albany.

February News…Clinton County finally experienced some actual winter-like weather late last week and over the first weekend of February. However, it turned out to be mild compared to a lot of areas across the country, but was bad enough to cause a couple of days of hazardous travel conditions and forced several cancellations over a three-day period. One more school day was missed, bringing the total number of school days cancelled to five this year.

Tony Sell and his band, “Blind Peace” will be performing at the Learning Center Saturday at 6 p.m. A two-man acoustic band, “Blaze Valley” from Somerset will open the show, which is in honor of Sells’ late wife, Kathy, who recently lost her battle with lung cancer. Proceeds from the concert will go toward cancer research and provide a medium for a planned video.

Surrounded with a still struggling economy in and around Albany and Clinton County, last week’s Clinton County High School Basketball Booster Club/WANY Radio Auction was a little off the mark from the record setting effort of last year, but still produced roughly $8,500.00.

Principal Sheldon Harlan recently received an email from the Kentucky Department of Education stating Clinton County High School would be recognized as a Model KSI/RtI service site due to the reading, writing and math intervention plans implemented four years ago. Each year, students take tests to determine their progress throughout the course of their high school career. Last year, Clinton County’s score was 60.9, which places the school above 79 percent of all other high schools in the state.

The projected county employee health insurance rates, coupled with still more questions than answers about the new federal health care laws, often referred to as ‘Obama Care,’ has put members of the Clinton County Fiscal Court in a position of having to “explore all options” prior to the current health plan expiring at the end of March.

February Deaths…Corine Pendleton Walker, 84, Murray, KY; Mervin V. Jones, 80, Albany; Vera Carlene Shelton Bell, 77, Albany; Gladys L. Cable, 96, Albany; Jean Williams Beaty, 82, Albany; Sarah “Evelyn” Roberts, 83, Indianapolis, IN; Shelia Jean Willis Stearns, 54, Burkesville, KY; Ann Louise Dick Parrish, 77, Albany; Donald “Don” Tallent, 64, Albany; Khaleesi Danielle Orton, infant, Albany; Lurie Flynn Taylor, 92, Albany; James Hugh Agee, 86, Anderson, IN; Wilma L. Pierce, 83, Cincinnati, OH; Barbara Garrett Walker, 69, Byrdstown, TN; Bill D. Irby, 84, Albany; Mary E. Duvall Jarvis, 66, Albany; Johnny K. Conatser, Jr., 44, Albany; Paul L. Stone, 61, Albany.

March News…Central Daylight Savings Time officially returns Sunday morning, March 10 at 2 a.m.

Clinton County farmers will see a new face when they visit the local University of Kentucky Extension Office. Colby Guffey was recently hired as Extension Agent for Clinton County with his first day on the job coming Friday, March 1. He replaces long-time agent Phil Smith who recently retired.

Governor Steve Beshear has announced $500,000 to support the construction and design of a new fire station for the City of Albany and Clinton County. The new facility, to be located adjacent to the EMS building and Wellness Center, will replace the city’s existing fire station and improve the fire department’s response times and training capabilities.

As has become tradition since the inception of PRIDE several years ago, more than 40 counties in eastern and southern Kentucky will take part in the annual PRIDE Spring Clean-Up program that runs throughout April. Two Clean-Ups in Clinton County are held each year, in spring and fall, and volunteers are needed to help keep local roadways as litter free as possible.

The Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center had its second anniversary on March 16 and has now entered its third year of operation for 2013.

Clinton County’s unemployment rate jumped by more than a full percent between January 2013 and the previous month, December 2012. Clinton County recorded a 10.3 percent jobless rate for January 2013, compared to 9.2 percent in December 2012.

The status of the Clinton County Jail remains unclear following a lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of closing the facility or keeping it open at last Thursday’s regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court.

County employees will continue to have the option of having health insurance, but at a higher weekly rate and deductible amount. Clinton Fiscal Court took the action to switch insurance carriers and save enough money to offer the coverage.

Two brothers already facing murder charges, Thomas A. Roberts, 39, and Phillip A. Roberts, 33, in connection with the alleged beating and stabbing of a local man last September, have been indicted on an additional charge of complicity to commit burglary-first degree, a Class B felony, by a Clinton County Grand Jury.

Jacob Williams, son of Mike and Teresa Williams and a junior at Clinton County High School, has been a part of the Academic Team since he was in the fourth grade and finished third in this year’s state competition in Social Studies category. It marks the first student in at least the past five years at CCHS to finish at that level in state competition.

March Birth…Skylan Elizabeth Garrett, daughter of Allison Dean and Anthony Garrett, Albany.

March Deaths...Dorothy L. Stearns, 87, Albany; Vina Smith Neal, 75, Byrdstown, TN; Junior Corbin, 39, Bowling Green, KY; Thelma Riddle Murley, 96, Burkesville, KY; Lonnie Scott, 53, Burkesville, KY; James Robert Smith, 72, Albany; Patsy J. Polston, 74, Albany; Reva Chastine Poore Sloan, 81, Albany; Herbert Keith Conner, 79, Albany; Harry Lee Clark, 77, Albany; Eula Ozell Griffin, 84, New Castle, IN; Mary Rebecca “Becky” Stockton, 74, Albany; Barbara Pyles, 44, Monticello, KY; Geneva Victoria Stearns, 74, Albany; Raymond Delk, 87, Albany.

April News…The Clinton County Rec/Park Board held its regular monthly meeting Thursday, March 28 and was able to vote on several items of business to get the earliest portions of its busiest seasons underway for 2013, including the appointment of Gina Poore as new board treasurer.

A new program within the Clinton County High School Agriculture Department took another step forward this week when students returned to class following a week-long spring break. The new project is aimed to teach both agriculture students about one of the newest vegetable growing methods–hydroponics–as well as a secondary advantage of supplying the Clinton County School District with tomatoes for consumption by students and faculty during the summer and early fall months.

The two men charged with murder in connection with the death of Frank Perdue, 73, at his home last September, will be tried together on two grand jury charges. Clinton Circuit Judge David L. Williams has set aside a two-week trial date of October 1-15 for Phillip Roberts and Thomas Roberts.

For at least the second time within a year, the local cable television provider, Mediacom, has announced an adjustment in rates, including a new charge to its customers. Effective May 1, a local Broadcast Station Surcharge of $1.71 will be added and Family Cable will go from $69.95 to $71.95, for a combined increase of $3.71 per month.

Hope for Heroes hosted its first annual Cast and Blast Tournament and according to founder Mitch Serlin, it was a huge success. With the start of turkey season Saturday morning, April 13, Serlin wanted to combine two aspects of the outdoors that are prevalent in this area, hunting and fishing.

The seven-year, nearly $600 million project that has stopped serious seepage through and underneath the nearly mile-long structure that forms Lake Cumberland has been completed successfully and the government agency in charge of the endeavor now wants to celebrate. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be hosting the general public this Friday morning at the Wolf Creek Dam barrier wall completion ceremony.

Tire Amnesty Days in Clinton County will be held at the state highway garage on Hwy. 2063, also known as State Garage Road, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 25, 26 and 27 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. Tire Amnesty Days allow local residents to rid themselves and their property of old, unused tires.

April Deaths…Curtis L. McWhorter, 72, Albany; Edward Lewis Norris, 79, Hillsboro, OH; Vernell Albertson, 85, Albany; Carlton Rice, 91, Albany; Don Peters, 93, Albany; Clarence H. Bray, 94, Albany; Helen B. Pack, 59, Albany; J.O. Phillips, 66, Albany; Sarah Pearl Ferrell Brown, 92, Indianapolis, IN; Scott Edward Miller, 50, Greenwood, IN; Rhonda Cross Young, 44, Albany; Lura Shelton, 87, Albany; Donnie Warren Barber, 80, New Castle, IN; Bonnie Massengale, 89, Byrdstown, TN; James Winfred Cross, 79, Albany.

May News…Devastation rocked South Albany Thursday when an oil tank exploded at the BWI lot located behind Lee’s Famous Recipe. According to Kentucky State Police, Kenneth E. “Buddy” Brown was grinding on a 210 barrel tank when sparks ignited the fumes and caused an explosion. Brown suffered severe burns and was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.

“Will the Clinton County Jail Close?” That’s a question yet to be officially answered. However, the public had the opportunity to voice their opinions, concerns and ask questions at a public meeting Friday, May 3. The session, hosted by Clinton County Fiscal Court, saw well over 30 people come out to the courthouse to ask questions of court members.

Clinton County farmer Greg Beard will represent the District 5 area of South Kentucky RECC that includes Clinton County and a portion of southern Wayne County after being elected in an election that saw new directors chosen in four districts. Beard was chosen by co-op members across the seven districts in an election that was held this spring.

The final totals for Clinton County’s 2013 Relay for Life are in and they are even better than earlier projected right after the event was held in late April. A total of $73,668 was raised locally for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. This exceeds the goal of $70,000 set for this year and also is about $6,000 above the amount raised in 2012.

Voluntary fire membership dues will soon be going up for those who wish to have fire protection in Albany and Clinton County. The monthly fee, currently at $1 per month, will increase by an additional $3 per month, making the monthly rate for paid fire memberships $4 per month when the change takes effect in July.

During the past several weeks, the Albany Post Office has been promoting the Letter Carrier’s annual effort of collecting food throughout the county in order to supply people in need, known nationally as Stamp Out Hunger. Monday morning, May 13, postal employees helped load more than 1,600 pounds of donated food that will go to the Good Shepherd of Hope ministries food bank.

Albany City Council voted to annex approximately 1.9 miles of roadway along the 127 Bypass. The area, which would apparently not affect any property owners, would begin around Clinton County Hospital on Hwy. 1590 for about a half-mile and then from the stoplight, take a northerly direction for about 1.4 miles on new 127 to behind the Clinton County Middle School.

A packed house crowded the upstairs courtroom and spilled out into the hallways last Thursday evening, with the majority of the close to 100 on hand being there to show support for the Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center, which was on the agenda for the regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court. The court also once again took up the issue of the Clinton Jail and again voted to table action on a vote to keep it open or close it, but did vote to make a one-time $10,000 donation to assist the Wellness Center in paying down its debt.

The 96th Clinton County High School commencement program will take place Friday night, May 24 at the CCHS gymnasium where approximately 95 high school seniors will say farewell and receive diplomas. This year’s Valedictorian is Kiley Hoppe with a 4.165 grade point average. Troy Butler is Salutatorian with a 4.106 gpa and Historian is Ryan Beard with a 4.089 grade point average.

After its first full year in existence, transforming the older model of an alternative school,” Clear Creek Academy is much more than a setting for high school students who have made mistakes and been placed in an alternate setting. The Academy is now a setting that offers a positive atmosphere, along with hard work in education and a heavy emphasis on parent involvement, to assist any referred student in need of both behavioral and academic help to reach their goals.

Repairs to Wolf Creek Dam are complete and the water level in Lake Cumberland is rising. To celebrate the occasion, Clinton, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne counties have joined forces to create the Lake Cumberland 360 Challenge Motorcycle Tour, a regional event planned for June 7-9. This brand new annual event will showcase the splendor of the Lake Cumberland area.

May Deaths…James Oscar Huckelby, 76, Albany; Stanley A. “Jake” McIver, 85, Albany; Edwin Bruce Norris, 77, Belfast, OH; Carolyn Jean Daulton, 66, Albany; Reba Elsie Franklin, 80, Albany; Jerry Michael Ballow, 72, Burkesville, KY; Opal Hunter, 91, Albany; Andrew Levi Duncan, infant, Albany; Ina Lucille Mason Halcomb, 86, Somerset, KY; Gleema Pearl Tallent, 84, Albany; Arnold Jackson Cool, 86, Wilmore, KY; Glen Stovall, 91, Dallas, TX; Joyce Massengale Carnes, 72, New Castle, IN; William Dewayne “Bill” Conner, Sr., 74, Madison, TN; Willie Ned Davis, 73, Albany; Jack G. Keen, 69, Burkesville, KY; James A. Burchett, 60, New Castle, IN; Danny C. Allen, 48, Burkesville, Kentucky.

June News…The final status of the Clinton County Jail remains fully unresolved, but for now, the facility will remain open after Clinton Fiscal Court again failed to take a vote on whether or not to close the detention center at its regular meeting on June 20.

County government officially has a budget in place for the 2013-14 fiscal year, but it literally took three votes–including one to rescind a motion–to get the just under $4.9 million document passed. All three votes on the budget were “split.”

The Clinton County Industrial Development Authority has voted to sell the remaining property in the county’s industrial park on KY 90 north to Tommy Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Trucking out of Crossville, Tennessee. The sale is expected to lead to a new trucking related industry coming to the county to provide several jobs. The property consists of 21.48 acres with a sale price of $107,400.00. The IDA also voted to show its support for the Twin Lakes Wellness Center by donating $1,000 to help pay down the facility’s debt.

The Clinton County Rec/Park Board’s first attempt to begin raising money to purchase new playground equipment for Mountain View Park–thanks to the weather–got off to a somewhat slower start than the park board had hoped for. However, while taking donations from visitors last Thursday evening, the board was able to raise almost $750.00.

Clinton County now has ties to one of the most popular reality shows of the summer. America’s Got Talent recently contacted a group of weight lifters, Omega Force Strength Team, an organization that Albany native Clint Poore belongs to. The team will be featured on the show on June 18.

It’s back already! The 2013 version of the Clinton County Fair will run for eight days of events over a nine-day period, which officially kicks off Friday night, June 14 with a horse show at 6 p.m., then the baby show on Saturday morning. On Monday night of the fair, Chelsie Carol Martin of Russell County was crowned 2013 Miss Clinton County Fair.

The Twin Lakes Wellness Center remains center stage in the news these days as the facility’s Board of Directors continue to work to find ways to dig itself out of financial debt and at the same time increase membership, thus increasing revenues to operate the fitness center. The Wellness Center again was discussed at length last week by a few board members and handful of supporters–this time at a meeting with Albany City Council. During the meeting, the council also adopted the $4.4 million 2013-14 fiscal year budget.

The two recycle bins located at the City of Albany maintenance building in east Albany and used by city and county residents as a way to recycle materials, is again in danger of being lost due to trash, furniture and even household garbage being dumped into the bins.

Several members of the Clinton County Healthy Hometown Coalition met briefly at the Clinton County School Board conference room to hear Clinton County Assistant Superintendent Paula Little make the announcement that Albany and Clinton County and the Clinton County Schools had been selected for a first round grant that will enable the group to take the program to the next level. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has chosen Clinton County schools as one of its seven community partners for the new Investing in Kentucky’s Future (IKF) initiative.

Trooper Island Camp, Inc., a youth camp in southwestern Clinton County on Dale Hollow Lake, began its 49th camping season this week for underprivileged and at-risk boys and girls in Kentucky who are chosen by sworn officers to attend a free week of summer camp. Prior to the start of each camping season, camp officials, Kentucky State Police officers and their families and a host of private citizens gather at the camp for the annual Trooper Island Appreciation Day.

June Births…Caylie Marie Tucker, daughter of Tosha Flowers Tucker and Tim (T) Tucker, Albany; Emma Lucille Burchett, daughter of Richard and Ginny Burchett, Calvert City, Kentucky.

June Deaths…Rosenell Norris, 84, Albany; Barbara E. Hybner, 78, Albany; Clara Ann Burchett, 68, Albany; Juanita M. (Clark) Lyons, 85, Richmond, IN; Stanley Wayne Jones, 51, Albany; Everett Mackey, 94, Nicholasville, KY; Dorothy Shelton Drumwright, 86, Nashville, TN; Ethel (Cheek) Smallwood, 72, Albany; Diana L. Stearns, 51, Albany; Delmer “Shane” Ferrell, 82, New Castle, IN; James Claborn, 37, Cookeville, Tennessee.

July News…

Overall attendance rates, enrollment and daily membership in the Clinton County schools this past year was up slightly to 93.45 percent, compared to 93.30 in 2011-12 and enrollment increased by 23 students, from 1,699 last year to 1,722 in 2012-13. However, due to state SEEK funding being cut, the school district received $108,000 less than the previous school year.

With nearly five inches of rain being recorded here during the first week of July, not only did the area swamps overflow, but so did everything else, resulting in a soaked group of tourists and local boating enthusiasts hoping for a weekend of sun and fun on the two local lakes, the postponement of the annual Albany-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce fireworks show and the potential problems now as well as on down the road for the local agriculture community.

Clinton County Middle School students will begin the 2013-14 school year with a somewhat new, but familiar face in the principal’s chair, as Teresa Scott was recently hired for that position. Scott has been teaching for 25 years and considers herself the “mother figure” of the teachers on her staff.

On Wednesday of this week, the Clinton County Extension Office will welcome a new 4-H Youth Development agent to the staff. Brandon Pharis, a 2005 Clinton County High School graduate, will begin his career after spending the last three years in the South Warren School District in Bowling Green.

It’s here again already. The “World’s Longest Outdoor Yard Sale,” better known as the U.S. 127 Yard Sale, is set to begin next week, including throughout Kentucky and here in Clinton County. This will mark the 26th year of the event, held annually the first weekend in August.

July Deaths…Phyllis Radar Price, 94, Alpha, KY; Raymond Cash, 89, Albany; Leta Wallen Appleby, 77, Albany; Knoxie Olean Lackey, 84, Indianapolis, IN; Roy Junior Davis, 72, Albany; Georgie Lee Collins, 90, Albany; Donny Carl “Buck” Owens, 62, Albany; Dorleen (Cross) McWhorter, 89, Bowling Green, KY; Annie Mae Clark Norris, 78, Albany; Samuel Everett Shelton, 77, Albany; Arnold K. Denney, 81, New Castle, IN; Kenneth Douglas (Bowlyguard) Conner, 47, Albany; Paul H. Rayborn, 65, Albany; Millie Jane Clark, 85, Alpha, KY; Curtis Jones, 67, Albany; Carlos Edward “Eddie” Wells, 71, Denison, TX; Maggie Thomas Ferguson, 93, Westerville, OH; James Britt, Jr., 87, Albany; Karen McKinley Gibson, 63, Greenwood, Indiana.

August News…The calendar days are still in the middle of summer, but that season for around 1,700 children and young adults in Clinton County will come to somewhat of a close next week as classes will resume in the Clinton County school district. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, August 6.

Clinton County Fiscal Court, meeting in special session Friday, August 2, has paved the way for a new industry to locate in the Albany/Clinton County area. Cobb-Ventress, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, will now make final plans to locate a poultry feed manufacturing facility just west of Albany near Gaddie-Shamrock and WANY radio station and will employ 17 people.

A crisis response exercise held Friday, August 2 at the high school was geared toward one primary goal–making our school students as safe as possible. Kevin Groce, former School Safety Coordinator, organized the mock disaster event that involved close to 200 individuals, including about 145 school faculty and administrators.

Another U.S. 127 Corridor Sale is now in the books and although traffic flow seemed to be heavier this year around Mountain View Park, revenues generated from the sale for the park board was down significantly from years past. Total receipts was around $2,500 compared to around $4,200 in 2012.

A production team with 12 Forward Entertainment, a Dallas, Texas television filming company, along with three two-person teams unloaded at various spots in Albany last Friday during the U.S. 127 Sale to begin filming for the Home and Garden TV show Endless Yard Sale. The show, which has featured portions of the 127 Sale for the past several years, will likely air on HGTV on September 29.

Jase Boils competed in the Archery Shooters Association Classic in Cullman, Alabama this past weekend, finishing in first place in the youth plus division. Boils shot 20 3D style targets, shooting 18 up. He also shot 20 targets, finishing six up for the round giving him a 424 final score.

Brian D. McKnight, author of “Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia,” will be speaking at the Clinton County Public Library Saturday, August 10 at 10 a.m. Long a topic of discussion in Clinton County, Champ Ferguson has many descendants still living in Albany and surrounding areas. The discussion surrounding Champ Ferguson seems to be whether or not he was a hero or a criminal.

Albany City Council, meeting in regular session August 6, approved floor plans for the new Albany fire station, which may be under construction by fall and voted to keep city tax rates unchanged, at 18 cents per $100 of assessed value on personal property and 20 cents on tangible property.

The Clinton County Healthy Hometown Coalition hired April Speck as Project Coordinator last Wednesday, August 7, to be in charge of the effort to identify and act on health concerns of the community’s youth. In relation, the Industrial Development Authority voted to supply the coalition office space in the IDA-Welcome Center to conduct business for both the Healthy Hometown project and Chamber of Commerce.

Governor Steve Beshear has announced that Clinton County is one of 75 unemployment offices that has been overhauled and renamed the Kentucky Career Center to better serve Kentucky’s businesses and job seekers.

Local law enforcement has been alerted of a phone scam, apparently coming from out-of-country, in which perpetrators of the scam are using the Publishers Clearing House name and money cards that can be purchased at Wal-Marts, as a means to try and rob people of their money.

The fourth annual Crusin’ on the Square was once again another huge success for Albany, filling the courthouse square area with customized, antique vehicles from the region, as well as a large crowd of vehicle enthusiasts. Almost 100 vehicles were estimated to have been in the event.

A proposal for the county to accept funding from the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund to acquire property that may lead to a recreation or nature preserve area, took up most of the conversation at last Thursday morning’s special meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court. The go-ahead to proceed with the first steps of the project narrowly passed 3-2 when put to a vote, with judge/executive Lyle Huff having to break a tie vote in favor of the measure.

After nearly a two-year long battle that eventually ended up in the court system, the two bodies of Kentucky legislative government appear to have re-drawn district boundaries in such a manner that is likely to remain in place. For Clinton County, the results of the new boundaries will mean that local residents will still be calling Monticello’s Sara Beth Gregory their Kentucky State Senator and Jamestown’s Jeff Hoover their Kentucky State Representative. Both Gregory and Hoover are Republicans.

August Births…Cali Marie Johnson, daughter of Courtney Guthrie, Albany; Sara Jo Thrasher and Jeremy Edwin Thrasher, twin daughter and son of Renee Davidson and Jeremy Thrasher, Albany.

August Deaths…Virginia Riddle Groce, 84, Byrdstown, TN; Ida Morgan, 79, Destin, FL; Wayne Shelley, 68, Celina, TN; Joe D. Felkins, 77, Albany; Norma Stalcup Long, 96, Burkesville, KY; Junior Wayne “Pete” Catron, 39, Albany; Golda Flowers, 91, Gallatin, TN; Robert L. Guinn, 88, Albany; Makenna Faith McIver, infant, Albany; Carol Thomason Price, 60, Albany; Danny Hugh Holsapple, 65, North Charleston, N.C.; Ronnie G. Goodman, 59, Louisville, KY; Charlie Coop, 63, Albany.

September News…As the old saying goes, “the show must go on.” Despite the heat of the day and some heavy rains at night on Saturday, August 31, the events–including the fireworks display–at Mountain View Park went smoothly and had some coming away saying this year’s fireworks show was the best so far.

Clinton County Fiscal Court voted to set the tax rates for the county at 6.3 percent on real property, the compensating rate and 7.8 percent on motor vehicle and watercraft. They also accepted the lone bid of $186,000 from Green Mechanical of Glasgow to do the upgrades on the Wellness Center, including switching from propane to natural gas.

It’s been a long road, but after losing the past 38 games dating back to September 2009, the Clinton County Bulldogs football team put one in the win column Friday night, August 30, against Trimble County, 13-6.

Clinton County’s Special Operations Response Team (S.O.R.T.) was called twice last week for domestic cases and both ended without anyone getting hurt or killed in incidents that occurred on Monday and Friday, September 2 and 6.

Clinton County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Bernard received a four-year extension to her current contract and the Board of Education proposed increasing the tax on real and personal property from 38.4 cents per $100 assessed value to 40 cents at its regular meeting September 9.

Ira B. Dyer, III, originally charged with murder in relation to the vehicle accident death of Ina Edwards in April of 2011, entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter second degree enhanced by persistent felony offender second degree for a recommended sentence of 20 years. The defendant also pled guilty to three counts of wanton endangerment first degree for a recommended sentence of five years to run concurrent. The 20 year sentence and five year sentence will run consecutive for a total of 25 years. Sentencing was held on September 16.

About 50 people were on hand last Thursday, September 5, to meet, greet and listen to a brief series of comments made by U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield at the Welcome Center in Albany, sponsored by the Albany-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce.

When dove season officially kicks off each late summer, outdoor enthusiasts gather in fields throughout Kentucky to engage in the afternoon traditional hunts and for the past 20 years, the sounds of shotgun blasts in the Brown’s Crossroads Community bring to mind the sounds of battlefields. Three special hunters last Wednesday, September 4 on the Steve Peddicord property were a part of the local Hope for Heroes Project that is based out of Cumberland County and provides veterans and first responders who have been wounded and/or disabled with the opportunity to learn how to get back into the “great outdoors.”

Monday night, September 16, marked the fourth year the Lady Volley Dawgs have hosted a “Pink-Out” night and this year, Clinton County hosted the Glasgow Lady Scotties, putting a special emphasis with this year’s special effort and focus going toward breast cancer awareness. The event raised some $1,148.00.

Beginning Monday, September 30, driver’s tests, both the actual driving skills road tests and written tests, will be given on Mondays instead of the long-time day of Friday.

A Clinton County man and long-time employee at a local rock quarry was killed last Wednesday after he became covered in rocks inside a large hopper at the quarry. The incident that resulted in the death of Lonnie Ferrell was the center of a rescue effort at the quarry that lasted well over an hour and had at one time over 50 people working frantically to remove Ferrell from the hopper.

Pastor Charles Tone, who was called to preach at the age of 14, began his ministry in the Nazarene church, although he grew up as a Methodist. Tone announced his retirement after 41 years behind the pulpit, the last 10 years and four months as pastor of Land’s Chapel and Pine Grove United Methodist Churches in Clinton County. His official retirement as a full-time minister will be September 30.

September Deaths…Joel S. Vickery, 47, Albany; Bill Ben Groce, 71, Albany; Nora Gayle Claborn, 54, Grinnsville, TN; Lorena Marie McFall, 85, Albany; Billy L. Miller, 84, Byrdstown, TN; Hilda Hatche, 71, Albany; Oren Dale Nicholas, 75, Albany; Joyce Vitatoe Koontz, 72, Cookeville, TN; Mary Wanda Hood, 60, Albany; Ralph D. Crabtree, 75, Whitley City, KY; Doris Ann Graham, 70, Albany; Rebecca (Poindexter) Patino, 69, Knoxville, TN; Exie Richardson, 99, Albany; Lonnie Earl Ferrell, 56, Albany; Edwin Jesse Wolcott, 92, Prattville, AL; William Ben York, 66, Byrdstown, TN; Hazel Goad Wehrley, 79, Albany; Paula Helm, 88, Burkesville, KY; James Earl Wray, 77, Albany; Lloyd D. Key, 73, Byrdstown, TN; Elsie Monzell Lowhorn, 90, New Castle, Indiana.

October News…Clinton County Board of Education officially set the tax rates for 2014 at 40 cents on real and personal property and opted to propose a tax on watercraft, at a combined special call meeting and public hearing held September 26. Motor vehicle taxes will remain at 53 cents per $100 assessed value as well as the three percent utility tax.

Lamon Tyler Hubbs was selected to participate at the Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum in Erlanger, Kentucky on September 16, as a member of the youth panel discussing policy solutions with KET’s Renee Shaw. Hubbs, a senior at Clinton County High School, was contacted by Paula Little, who has been working with the Healthy Hometown Coalition about doing the panel discussion.

Results of the K-PREP accountability tests for 2013 were released September 27 and revealed that both Albany Elementary and Clinton County Middle School were listed in the “needs improvement” category. However, once again, Clinton County High School received a “proficient/progressing” status and just narrowly missed, by one tenth of a point, being named “distinguished,” the highest level obtainable. As a whole, the district was deemed “needs improvement/progressing,” meaning the district is moving forward.

What started out as a class project in Melissa Tallent’s senior Advanced Placement class has quickly turned into a district-wide project. The name of the project is “No Kid Hungry” and it was introduced at the district-wide pep rally held on September 24.

The anticipated full completion of the 127 Bypass around Albany to the Tennessee state line is nearer, now that yet another section of the roadway, to the state line south of town, officially opened for traffic on Monday, October 14.

Clinton County property tax bills will be mailed out next week and according to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, they will have a new look. Now property owners in Clinton County won’t receive the yellow tax notice in the mail, but will however, be seeing a tax bill printed out on a normal sized sheet of paper with the tax information on it.

Since the opening of the new section of bypass on September 30, there have been six major accidents, none fatal, at two different intersections, Ky. 738 and Ky. 553, that have raised alarm for locals. On Tuesday of this week, the Department of Transportation issued notice that yet another section of the Albany Bypass is set to open Monday, October 28.

Alan Cash and his eight-year-old son Luke went four-wheeling on Bald Rock Mountain on Tuesday, October 15 and due to the many trails in the area, became lost, according to Emergency Services Director Lonnie Scott. After a five-hour search by various rescue personnel, the two were found safe at an area near the mountains sand mines.

Albany lost two long-time members of the local business community last week, both considered to be fixtures in the downtown area. On Wednesday, October 16, long-time Albany pharmacist James Franklin “Big Jim” Dyer passed away after a long illness at the age of 78. On Friday, October 18, long-time hair stylist Linda Sawyers Ray, 57, passed away after a battle with cancer.

On Wednesday, October 23, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a missing person in the Wells Bottom area that resulted in a search and discovery of the tragic death of Quinton Collins, 28, of Albany. The body was found about 30 feet from the bank of the Cumberland River in about four feet of water. No foul play is suspected.

Two Clinton County residents were arrested and charged with the murder Sunday, October 27 of 19-year-old Jimmy Sidwell Jr. of Alpha. Andrea M. Byler, 21, and Michael E. Thompson, 52, both of Albany, were charged with murder, according to a report issued by Kentucky State Police. Sidwell, who had been stabbed multiple times, was found underneath an unoccupied mobile home on Cody Lane in Albany on Saturday, October 26.

October Birth…Sawyer Alexa Tallent, daughter of Andrew and Paige Tallent, Albany.

October Deaths…Cordell Thrasher, 87, Albany; Mary Eva Brown, 88, New Castle, IN; Eartle B. Reneau, 91, Albany; Anthony Byler, 42, Burkesville, KY; Cecil Daniel, 86, Albany; Judy Burton, 61, Collinsville, AL; Clara Mills Burchett, 69, Albany; Ricky Clarence Davis, 53, Albany; Robert Kirby Stearns, 78, FL; Howard Beaty, 81, Albany; Linda Sawyers Ray, 57, Albany; James Franklin “Jim” Dyer, Jr., 78, Albany; Eric Scott Hutchins, 48, Albany; Owen Leslie Franklin, 59, Burkesville, KY; Alice Stalcup, 87, Burkesville, KY; Kathleen Gibson, 65, Albany; Albert Hardin, 72, Burkesville, KY; Billy “Doug” Boils, 46, Albany; Quentin Elvis Collins, 28, Albany; Ronald Lee Acello, 56, Burkesville, KY; Bobby E. Shelton, 55, Albany; Gleah M. “Sis” Cope, 83, Akron, OH; Patricia Nell Allen James, 64, Louisville, Kentucky.

November News…Cobb-Ventress, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, is well into the first stage of building a poultry food manufacturing facility just west of Albany near Gaddie-Shamrock and WANY Radio Station. During the past several weeks, construction crews have worked on the initial stages of the project in order to hit the projected finishing date of December 4, 2014.

On Tuesday, November 12 at the Clinton County Library beginning at 5:15 p.m., World War II will come to life. In a Veterans Remembrance Program, the library will host Hugh Ridenour, who will present a unique narrative of Clinton County’s own World War II hero, Garlin Murl Conner.

The always popular holiday program aimed to help those families and children less fortunate is already underway once again. This year will mark an anniversary of sorts for the Christmas at Home event, which is now underway for the 10th year.

The downtown Albany business community suffered the loss of another long-time business owner last week. Bill Upchurch, 74, who owned and operated Bill’s Sunoco along with an adjacent business, Bill’s Tackle Shop, passed away at his Pall Mall, Tennessee home Wednesday, October 30 following a lengthy illness.

Two local residents charged in last month’s murder of an Alpha, Kentucky man, Jimmy D. Sidwell, Jr., has been indicted for murder or complicity to murder, first degree robbery or complicity to robbery and tampering with physical evidence. During a special session of the Clinton County Grand Jury on Monday, November 4, Michael E. Thompson, 52, and Andrea M. Byler, 21, both of Albany, were named in the true bills.

Last Friday night, November 15, kicked off the basketball season for both the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs with its annual “Meet the Bulldogs” night. Three new members were inducted into the “Wall of Fame,” including former Bulldog Kaye Flowers; former Lady Bulldogs player and girls varsity head coach Jennifer Lee Preston; and long-time public address announcer, Al Gibson.

The “No Kid Hungry” project was first announced during Clinton County’s school system district-wide pep rally on September 24 and since then the project has taken off and will truly be something the community can be proud of. This Thanksgiving holiday, more than 200 people will be fed a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal, including cornbread dressing, green beans, corn, biscuits, gravy and, of course, turkey.

November Births…Whisper Faith Scott, daughter of Steven Scott and April Patterson; Eli Cole Jones, son of Roy and Brandy Jones, Albany.

November Deaths…Willie Kyle “Bill” Upchurch, 74, Pall Mall, TN; Cindy Jo Compton Foust, 62, Albany; Alice Marie Adams, 65, Russell Springs, KY; Jack E. Clark, 78, Albany; Chrystell Witham, 88, Albany; Barbara Ann Aaron, 61; Morgan Layne Walburn, 26, Byrdstown, TN; Minnie Ann Duvall, 92, Byrdstown, TN; Faye R. Burchett, 63, Albany; James Allen Cash, 44, Louisville, KY; Edna J. Brown, 81, Albany; Fronnie Wood, 95, Albany; Barbara “Susie” Stonecipher Duvall, 64, Albany; Viola Flowers Braswell, 72, Albany; Charles O. Beaty, 70, Albany; Billy Kaye Stonecipher, 74, Alpha, KY; Pearl Shelton, 94, Albany; Guy Decker, Sr., 92, Monticello, KY; Mark Garner, 45, Alpha, Kentucky.

December News…An estimated 600 people had a very happy Thanksgiving last Thursday, solely due to the efforts of Mrs. Melissa Tallent and a band of volunteers, including students, teachers and other adults. The project “No Kid Hungry” coordinated a community Thanksgiving meal and passed out about 600 meals to people in the community.

Local and state authorities were searching for a local man at press time Tuesday who had escaped from officers at the Clinton County Jail on Monday night. According to Clinton County Jailer Gene Ferrill and the Kentucky State Police, Bobby Wayne Pillar, 33, of Albany, escaped from the Clinton County Jail around 9 p.m. Monday, December 2.

The Celebrate My Drive contest sponsored by State Farm Insurance announced the winners of several prizes being given away. On Wednesday, December 4, Albany’s State Farm Agent Lisa Beard stood front and center at an assembly at Clinton County High School and announced the school was a winner of $25,000.

A Clinton County man who spent five days on the lam last week after escaping jail, is back behind bars and faces new and additional charges. Bobby Pillar surrendered himself to Kentucky State Police Trooper Jason Warinner on Saturday, December 7 at 9:25 p.m.

A tragic one-vehicle accident last Thursday night, December 12 has claimed the life of an Albany man. Shaun Brodbeck, 34, was killed in the wreck on Hwy. 738, Wolf River Dock Road, about three miles south of Albany.

In record time, the grand prize in the annual WANY Treasure Hunt was discovered just three days after the hunt began. Pegan Madison, 17, of Albany, found the “partridge” which represented the grand prize at the stop sign at the corner of Washington and Wood Streets. She was the winner of $1,200 cash.

Two Clinton County residents charged in the October murder of Jimmy Sidwell, Jr. of Alpha, appeared last week in Clinton Circuit Court before Judge David L. Williams. Michael E. Thompson and Andrea Byler both entered pleas of not guilty to charges of murder, first degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence. A pretrial conference was scheduled for February 14, 2014 for both defendants.

December Deaths…Kenneth Paul Brown, 82, Albany; Nora (Flowers) Cash, 96, Albany; Jack C. Baker, 80, Albany; Sammy Kaye (Ayers) Lynch, 65, Arcadia, IN; Carson “Jack” Bell, 85, Albany; Shaun Phillip Brodbeck, 34, Albany; Bennie K. Amonett, 66, Albany; Doris Sidwell Vineyard, 80, Lexington, KY; Louise Thomas, 86, Hodgenville, KY; Jason Cummings, 36, Albany; James (J.T.) Owens, 81, Albany.