A final look back at the events that shaped our lives during the past 12 months

Life in a small, rural southern Kentucky town may seem to many outsiders to be a boring existence, but those of us who live here are well aware that our little community can be one filled with happenings and important events.

As has long been the tradition with the Clinton County News, before we close out the books on the year that was, and get off and running on the year ahead, we would like to offer you, our readers and advertisers, a quick trip down memory lane – at lease for the year that we have just put behind us – 2015, with this annual offering of – The Year In Review.

Whether it be news of the political nature, crime, sports, birthday, weddings or deaths, these were the events that shaped our lives in Albany and Clinton County.

We said hello to some new public officials, and we said goodbye to some familiar old friends. Our sports teams brought home some proud championships, and shed a few tears during that final loss.

As is always the case, it has been our pleasure to be your main source of news and happenings in and around our home county, and we hope all of our readers enjoy a happy prosperous 2015.

Please enjoy our annual look back at the news and events that we brought to you during the past 12 months in the Clinton County News . . . The Year In Review.

January, 2015

The Clinton County Lady Bulldogs will be able to ring in the new year as the only undefeated team in the 4th Region with its perfect run through the Best of the Lakes Classic, winning the championship December 28 against Wayne County 53-49. The four-game run left the Lady Bulldogs with an impressive 14-0 record, already besting a school record of 9-0 by two teams, 2000-01 and 2003-04.

Clinton Fiscal Court, meeting for the first time in 2015, with a new judge/executive and one new magistrate, dealt with county employee hiring and rehiring and the sheriff’s revenue bond. During the meeting it was acknowledged that Clinton County Sheriff Jim Guffey had been successful in securing the necessary bonding insurance that was needed for him to assume the duties of the office.

An anonymous tip that was made to the Kentucky State Police over the weekend has resulted in the discovery of an illegal cockfighting operation and the arrest of 15 individuals. KSP Trooper Jason Warinner and Clinton County Sheriff Rick Riddle were dispatched and responded to the location on Lee’s Chapel Road. During the investigation, 23 chickens were taken by the Clinton County Animal Control agency and 15 arrests were made.

The health and well-being of Clinton County residents, and especially that of the younger residents in our county, may have received the most significant news ever last week. At a meeting of the relatively new group that has taken the initiative to try and improve the health of people in Clinton County, the Clinton County Healthy Hometown Coalition would receive the second phase of grant funding from The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. The grant will be in the amount of $400,000 over a three-year period and will be used in a host of programs and projects.

A two-vehicle accident just outside the Albany City Limits has resulted in the death of an Albany man. According to the Kentucky State Police, Jackie Lynch, 35, of Albany, was killed when the 1993 Plymouth four-door vehicle he was operating wrecked on Ky. 350, the Old Monticello Road, Monday, December 29, 2014.

CCHS Senior guard Kiefer Dalton was honored January 6 for breaking the all-time scoring record done against Montgomery County in late December. He broke the 1,887 point total held by Kenneth Conner since 1962.

When all was said and done, following countless hours of volunteer work and generous giving by the community, the annual Christmas at Home food and toy drive in 2014 served some 266 homes and more importantly, reached 564 children.

The suspect in the killing of a father and son last summer at their package store business in Static, Tennessee has been indicted by a Pickett County Grand Jury. Joshua C. Pyles of Monticello was formerly indicted on two counts of first degree premeditated murder in relation to the shooting deaths of Dannie Dowdy, 58, and Cody Dowdy, 22.

Minds in Clinton County are turned to basketball as we continue through the 2014-15 season, and two milestone numbers were reached and surpassed in recent games. New all-time boys’ basketball scoring leader Kiefer Dalton continues to add to his scoring total, surpassing the 2,000 point mark in the All “A” regional tournament 79-43 win against Todd County Central. In the Bulldogs 68-45 win at Cumberland County last week, head coach Todd Messer led his team to his 200th career victory, 165 which came here during his seasons in Clinton County.

The Clinton County Lady Bulldogs are headed back to the Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic this week after battling through the brackets in the 4th Region Tournament. The Lady Dawgs defeated Todd County Central, 71-50, Cumberland County in the semi-finals, 58-40, and Glasgow in the final, 54-43.

On Thursday, January 22, police officers from several different agencies came together and served multiple warrants, putting 11 people in jail with about 34 drug related charges filed.

An emergency weather system capable of alerting all county residents on pending tornadoes and other severe weather, Code Red, is now available to all residents who have either land line or cell phones.

January Deaths… Randy Shelton, 57, Albany; Ruby L. Cash Coomer, 96, Albany; Janice James New, 70, Science Hill, KY; Melvin W. “Cuggie” Stockton, 72, Albany; Pauline Brown, 87, Albany; Ray Choate, 83, Albany; Timmy Jay Harris, 44, Burkesville, KY; Mintie Basham, 83, Albany; Maggie G. Warinner, 92, Albany; Rosie L. Melton, 75, Albany; Leah Lucille Millen, 89, Piqua, OH; Vernon Arnold, 82, Albany; Vinson Richardson, 71, Albany; Mary Dean Abston Troxell, 83, Albany; Glenn H. Dalton, 84, New Castle, IN; Abbie Maedean Craig, 85, Burkesville, KY; Myrtle Beaty Brown, 86, Pall Mall, TN; James Paul “Jimmy” Edwards, 83, Albany; Matthew Wayne Chaplin, 43, Monticello, KY; Floyd Marshall Stearns, 66, Albany; Mary Katherine Arnold, 82, Albany; Dorlese Shelley Stockton, 88, Albany; Sharon Polston Lee, 53, Albany; Mary E. McWhorter, 77, Albany; Sidney “Ned” Alley, 77, Brandon, MS; Emma Kathryn Jones, 27, Lexington, Kentucky.

February News…Adam Smedberg, RFL Central Kentucky Division Specialist, presented Clinton County’s Relay For Life Committee with a banner for the local program being in the top 10 percent per capita in Kentucky for the most money raised for the American Cancer Society in 2014.

The virus Crystowall 2.0 is what has been labeled as ransomware and to date it has successfully collected 2.5 million dollars out of some major companies like Yahoo. Ransomware has been labeled as the new threat of cyber-terrorists. One of the systems the ransomware hit in Clinton County was the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Jim Guffey said his office was lucky because the computer Crytowall 2.0 was found on didn’t have any files the office couldn’t do without.

Senate Bill 97, also known as “Graduate Kentucky,” cleared the way for each school district to adopt a policy raising the drop-out age from 16 to 18, amending the school attendance law created in 1934. The board of education in all 173 school districts, including Clinton, have now approved such a policy that will take effect in the 2015-16 school year.

A recent report made available to the Clinton County News indicates that the measles vaccination rate for children here who are kindergarten age is well above what is considered an acceptable percentage. That data, which reflects vaccination rates for the 2011-12 school years, shows that Clinton County had 96 percent of kindergarten students who had received the measle vaccination.

“Canceled, postponed, closed, opening late, closing early.” Those were the most common words and phrases around Albany and Clinton County this week as a winter storm blanketed the area with snow that ranged from six to eight or more inches of snow and ice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Clinton County man charged with a codefendant in relation to the murder of Jimmy Sidwell, Jr. in October 2013, has agreed to accept a 35 year sentence for his alleged role in the crime. During a pretrial conference in Clinton Circuit Court on January 8, Michael E. Thompson entered a plea agreement with the prosecution to plead guilty to complicity to murder and truthfully testify against his codefendant, Andrea Byler, in her upcoming trial.

Last week’s winter storm that dumped between eight inches and a foot of snow across the county, coupled with the frigid temperatures that followed and later the freezing rain, has played havoc with schedules including everything from schools to churches to deliveries and businesses and, of course, the task of clearing city streets, county and state roads. Several buildings and structures were reportedly damaged from the weight of the snow and the worst hit were floating structures at the three marinas in Clinton County on both Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow.

February Birth……….Madelynn Grace Witham, daughter of Jarred and Stephanie Witham, Albany.

February Deaths……J.B. Crawford, 74, Byrdstown, TN; Andrew Gleason Butler, Sr., 73, Albany; Leah Massengale Marcum, 95, Albany; Charles Nathan Goodman, 37, Albany; Henry Theo Stonecipher, 69, Albany; Kathy M. Holsapple, 57, Albany; Lenora Sue Southwood Reed, 53, Albany; Dorothy Helen Mullinix, 87, Cookeville, TN; Bro. Carl Michael Watts, 77, Atlanta, GA; Willie Ray Stover, 71, Albany; Linda Jean Dicken, 70, Albany; Johnnie Dallas Sheckles, 71, Albany; Clifton Otis Hagan, 71, Celina, TN; Osceola Sloan, 92, New Castle, IN; Ethel Mae York, 75, Albany; Tressa Sherry Derryberry, 57, Albany; A. W. “Arthur” Upchurch, 85, Albany; Willard Murl Gibson, 68, Albany.

March News…Two individuals who allegedly had involvement in a deadly incident that occurred last November resulting in two deaths, including a murder and another death, have been indicted by a Clinton County Grand Jury in relation to those fatal incidents. On February 12, the grant jury returned true bills against 22 year-old Randall Wilkinson and 20 year-old Diesrea P. Riddle in relation to their alleged involvement in the murder of Anthony Hargis, 26, and the subsequent death of James D. Polston 38, both of Albany.

Citizens of Clinton County and surrounding counties have been keeping an eye on the newly constructed Cobb-Ventress feed mill for more than a year now and although minor construction is still going on, the plant is fully operational and producing between eight and 10 trucks of finished feed product per day.

The new occupational license tax fee, which raises the tax rate from .75 to $1.25 per $100 earned by employees that work in the county, is now a done deal with the passage–on a 4-2 vote–of the amended ordinance last Thursday, March 5 by Clinton Fiscal Court.

A second winter storm in as many weeks left area residents reeling again last week, digging out from under yet another several inches of ice and snow. Snow fall measurements between four and six inches were reported. Schools and many businesses remained closed following the latest round of winter weather.

After considerable waiting, making revisions and hard work, school officials are hopeful that a “final” revised school calendar is in place. The most recent version shows the last day of school for students, as well as Clinton County High School graduation, to be Friday, May 29, with the last day for staff June 3.

The Clinton County Emergency Services picked up a new and much needed ambulance on Friday, March 13. The 2014 Chevy will replace an outdated model. The cost of the truck was $91,650 with $71,000 being funded with grants.

Three Georgia residents were arrested in Clinton County on Thursday, March 19 by Sheriff Jim Guffey and Constable Rick Stearns in connection with stolen credit cards that had been transferred to gift cards that had been used to make purchases of large amounts of items, including cigarettes for re-sale. A cache of items, including 48 credit cards, 34 of which had the numbers altered, were seized. Arrested were Belane Girmachew Makonnen, Star Ann Brown and Sarr Taibou Babacar. All were charged with 20 counts each of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument and one count each of Theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 but under $1,000,000 and Engaging in Organized Crime. All were lodged in Clinton County Jail under $100,000 cash bond.

March Deaths…Ralph “Web” Byrd, 73, Albany; Randy Kay Hicks, 59, Albany; Robert “Bob” Sheehan, 78, Byrdstown, TN; Bobby Dale Wallace, 66, Albany; Blanch Bilbrey, 94, Byrdstown, TN; Genelva Thrasher, 77, Albany; N. Carl Cross, 84, Raleigh, NC; Eva Judy Shelton, 80, Albany; Homer Smith, 89, Albany; Roy D. Farmer, 89, Cincinnati, OH; Linda Faye Thrasher, 64, Elizabethtown, KY; Nellie Melton, 87, New Castle, IN; Janie Louella Tweedy, 62, Monticello, KY; Roger Gayle Duvall, 59, Albany; Anna Francis Guinn, 74, Albany; Madison Hope Crabtree, infant, Albany; William A. “Bill” Kidd, 87, Louisville, KY; Nina Mae Cooksey 80, Albany; Anna R. (Albertson) Stephens, 64, Muncie, IN; Betty Lee Piercey Ward, 82, Somerset, KY; Brian A. Thompson, 67, Albany.

April News…The Healthy Hometown Coalition and Recreation Park Board held a lengthy joint meeting at noon last Wednesday, March 25 and each body voted unanimously to award the playground equipment bid for Mountain View Park to David Williams and Associates of Alliance, Ohio at a total cost of $74,449.00. A total of six bids were received.

During the previous seven months, Clinton County has had to deal with two bomb threats. The first came in September when a threat was called into the Clinton County High School. A second threat, and one that ended up being more credible, earned the attention of local and state law enforcement this past Saturday night, April 6 when a pipe bomb was discovered in a pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Shell Station in Albany.

The Leo Club at Clinton County High School, with the help of the American Red Cross and Albany Fire Department, is in the midst of an important service-oriented project–that being the hope of seeing all homes and residences in Albany and Clinton County have an operable smoke alarm in their home.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and the Kentucky State Police responded to a disturbance call on Davis Chapel Road Monday morning, April 13. A truck had hit the wall in the parking lot of Davis Chapel Untied Methodist Church. A search of suspects was conducted at the Deana Bell residence where an indoor marijuana growing operation was found. She and two other suspects, Joseph Paul Coop and Randall G. Hicks, were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and cultivation of marijuana more than five plants.

The trial of a local woman accused in relation to the October 13 murder of Jimmy Sidwell, Jr. has again had her scheduled trial date delayed. During a pretrial conference in Clinton Circuit Court Tuesday, April 9, Circuit Judge David L. Williams continued the trial of Andrea Byler, who is charged with murder first degree, robbery and tampering with physical evidence.

A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection to the break-in at Dyer Drug Company, located on the Albany square. Danny Shawn Brown, 43, of Albany, was arrested Saturday, April 18 at his home. He was charged with burglary third degree, and criminal mischief first degree. The break-in occurred early Thursday morning, April 16.

The 2015 “A Carnival of Hope” Relay For Life is now history and was another tremendous success. When all was said and done, a total of $55,437.56 was raised. The total exceeded the local committee’s goal of $51,000 and was $5,000 more than the 2014 total of $50,000 raised.

The completion of the new 127 Bypass has brought about another needed round of address changes to several residents along the route that were literally “split” and will require new road names and specific address changes in the future. According to 911 Mapping and Addressing Coordinator Andy Davis and Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott, all residents should be reminded of the need to post their specific address where visible to emergency personnel and others.

April Birth…Millie Reese Lowhorn, daughter of Daniel and Brandi Lowhorn, Byrdstown, Tennessee.

April Deaths…Billie A. Cowan, 82, Albany; Eugene Brown, 87, Albany; Johnny Kenneth (Cat) Conatser, 68, Albany; David Alan Sholes, 81, Albany; Jimmie Frances Cash, 78, Blue Mound, IL; Justin (Guinn) Burchett Glidewell, 87, Albany; Jason Brian England, 33, Burkesville, KY; Anthony C. “Tony” Haggard, 67, Albany; Monrie Lowhorn, 90, Albany; Doris Katherine Perdue, 76, Monticello, KY; Hugh Groce, 75, Albany; Sandra Kay Dishman, 46, Albany; Ernest Paul Melton, 77, Burkesville, KY; Johnny Wayne Williams, 65, Albany; Nellie Mae Brown, 66, Albany; Orval K. Tuggle, 71, Fairfield, IL; James A. Cummings, 78, Bowling Green, KY; Willie Rigney, Jr., 86, New Castle, IN; William Ronald Marcum 74, Albany; Dean Burchett, 86, Albany; Ruth Owens, 72, Albany.

May News…Clinton County Board of Education has opted to try out a new internet-related plan that is still in the pilot stages that could further assist school districts in making up missed school days at the end of the year. The board voted to approve the “non-traditional” school day plan which would go into effect January 1, 2016.

A horrific two-vehicle accident Friday morning, May 1, has left an entire community in shock and mourning as six members of a Wayne County family, including four children, died at the scene of the accident on KY 90 about three and-a-half miles east of Monticello.

The long-awaited and much worked for playground equipment project at Mountain View Park is now complete and in full use, thanks to a lot of work from individuals, and the collaboration of different groups. After the new playground equipment arrived last week, project organizers went “old school” so to speak in order to get the massive playground put together, putting out a call for volunteers and organizing an effort that was reminiscent of an old-fashioned “barn-raising” event at the park, which saw the playground put together in a two-day period.

About 23 percent of registered voters in Clinton County took the time to vote Tuesday, May 19 in the state primary. Current Attorney General Jack Conway carried Clinton County and the state to become the Democrat nominee for governor. In the Republican race for governor, Monroe County native and current Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer carried Clinton County by a wide margin over three opponents but lost statewide by only 83 votes to Matt Bevin of Louisville, prompting a state re-canvass of votes with Bevin of Louisville eventually being declared the winner.

The on again off again proposed new commercial marina at Rowena Landing on Lake Cumberland is “on again,” according to a notice issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. With the latest announcement the size of the proposed facility has also apparently grown more than two-fold from it’s original plan that was initially 126 acres, including 48 acres of water and 114 acres of land. Last week’s announcement notes that the proposed facility, which will be referred to as the Watagua location, now is made up of 353 acres of land and an additional 54 acres of water for a total project of 407 acres.

The 2015 Clinton County High School graduation ceremony will revert back to “old school” in a way this week, as two nights of graduation related ceremonies will return. The graduation program will begin Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at the Clinton County High School gymnasium with what is being billed as “Awards Night” at CCHS. The 98th Commencement program, in which 105 graduates will complete their high school education, will be held Friday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the CCHS gym.

Clinton County Fiscal Court narrowly approved first reading of the 2015-16 fiscal year budget, narrowly approved paying claims and bills and have apparently rejected the idea of a transient tax ordinance without a vote actually being taken. Those were some of the items of business taken up during the court’s regular meeting held May 21.

May Deaths…Sean Joseph Menimen, 61, Albany; Billie Gene Booher, 74, Columbia, KY; Glen Elwood Shelton, 73, Albany; Gary Wayne Kempton, 59, Albany; Pat Vitatoe Pierce, 69, Albany; Phyllis Guffey Albertson, 65, Albany; Donnie Ray Brown 54, Albany; Carolyn Sue Smith, 55, Albany; James F. McKinley, Jr., Louisville, KY; Arnold Dean Daniels, 57, Albany; Aaron “Warren” Tallent, 49, Louisville, KY; Betty Louise Creekmore, 68, Albany; Jacqueline Marie Price, 90, Albany; Melissa Carol Gibson, 43, Albany; Jacqueline Love, 86, Byrdstown, TN; Bobby Bullard, 67, Albany; Sandra Renee Mason, 32, Kokomo, IN; Herman Little, 85, Albany; Ida Mae “Charlie” Smith, 77, Russell Springs, KY; Marshall Abbott, 66, Byrdstown, TN; Kendra Sue Morgan, 50, Albany.

April News…The Healthy Hometown Coalition and Recreation Park Board held a lengthy joint meeting at noon last Wednesday, March 25 and each body voted unanimously to award the playground equipment bid for Mountain View Park to David Williams and Associates of Alliance, Ohio at a total cost of $74,449.00. A total of six bids were received.

During the previous seven months, Clinton County has had to deal with two bomb threats. The first came in September when a threat was called into the Clinton County High School. A second threat, and one that ended up being more credible, earned the attention of local and state law enforcement this past Saturday night, April 6 when a pipe bomb was discovered in a pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Shell Station in Albany.

The Leo Club at Clinton County High School, with the help of the American Red Cross and Albany Fire Department, is in the midst of an important service-oriented project–that being the hope of seeing all homes and residences in Albany and Clinton County have an operable smoke alarm in their home.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and the Kentucky State Police responded to a disturbance call on Davis Chapel Road Monday morning, April 13. A truck had hit the wall in the parking lot of Davis Chapel Untied Methodist Church. A search of suspects was conducted at the Deana Bell residence where an indoor marijuana growing operation was found. She and two other suspects, Joseph Paul Coop and Randall G. Hicks, were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and cultivation of marijuana more than five plants.

The trial of a local woman accused in relation to the October 13 murder of Jimmy Sidwell, Jr. has again had her scheduled trial date delayed. During a pretrial conference in Clinton Circuit Court Tuesday, April 9, Circuit Judge David L. Williams continued the trial of Andrea Byler, who is charged with murder first degree, robbery and tampering with physical evidence.

A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection to the break-in at Dyer Drug Company, located on the Albany square. Danny Shawn Brown, 43, of Albany, was arrested Saturday, April 18 at his home. He was charged with burglary third degree, and criminal mischief first degree. The break-in occurred early Thursday morning, April 16.

The 2015 “A Carnival of Hope” Relay For Life is now history and was another tremendous success. When all was said and done, a total of $55,437.56 was raised. The total exceeded the local committee’s goal of $51,000 and was $5,000 more than the 2014 total of $50,000 raised.

The completion of the new 127 Bypass has brought about another needed round of address changes to several residents along the route that were literally “split” and will require new road names and specific address changes in the future. According to 911 Mapping and Addressing Coordinator Andy Davis and Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott, all residents should be reminded of the need to post their specific address where visible to emergency personnel and others.

April Birth…Millie Reese Lowhorn, daughter of Daniel and Brandi Lowhorn, Byrdstown, Tennessee.

April Deaths…Billie A. Cowan, 82, Albany; Eugene Brown, 87, Albany; Johnny Kenneth (Cat) Conatser, 68, Albany; David Alan Sholes, 81, Albany; Jimmie Frances Cash, 78, Blue Mound, IL; Justin (Guinn) Burchett Glidewell, 87, Albany; Jason Brian England, 33, Burkesville, KY; Anthony C. “Tony” Haggard, 67, Albany; Monrie Lowhorn, 90, Albany; Doris Katherine Perdue, 76, Monticello, KY; Hugh Groce, 75, Albany; Sandra Kay Dishman, 46, Albany; Ernest Paul Melton, 77, Burkesville, KY; Johnny Wayne Williams, 65, Albany; Nellie Mae Brown, 66, Albany; Orval K. Tuggle, 71, Fairfield, IL; James A. Cummings, 78, Bowling Green, KY; Willie Rigney, Jr., 86, New Castle, IN; William Ronald Marcum 74, Albany; Dean Burchett, 86, Albany; Ruth Owens, 72, Albany.

May News…Clinton County Board of Education has opted to try out a new internet-related plan that is still in the pilot stages that could further assist school districts in making up missed school days at the end of the year. The board voted to approve the “non-traditional” school day plan which would go into effect January 1, 2016.

A horrific two-vehicle accident Friday morning, May 1, has left an entire community in shock and mourning as six members of a Wayne County family, including four children, died at the scene of the accident on KY 90 about three and-a-half miles east of Monticello.

The long-awaited and much worked for playground equipment project at Mountain View Park is now complete and in full use, thanks to a lot of work from individuals, and the collaboration of different groups. After the new playground equipment arrived last week, project organizers went “old school” so to speak in order to get the massive playground put together, putting out a call for volunteers and organizing an effort that was reminiscent of an old-fashioned “barn-raising” event at the park, which saw the playground put together in a two-day period.

About 23 percent of registered voters in Clinton County took the time to vote Tuesday, May 19 in the state primary. Current Attorney General Jack Conway carried Clinton County and the state to become the Democrat nominee for governor. In the Republican race for governor, Monroe County native and current Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer carried Clinton County by a wide margin over three opponents but lost statewide by only 83 votes to Matt Bevin of Louisville, prompting a state re-canvass of votes with Bevin of Louisville eventually being declared the winner.

The on again off again proposed new commercial marina at Rowena Landing on Lake Cumberland is “on again,” according to a notice issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. With the latest announcement the size of the proposed facility has also apparently grown more than two-fold from it’s original plan that was initially 126 acres, including 48 acres of water and 114 acres of land. Last week’s announcement notes that the proposed facility, which will be referred to as the Watagua location, now is made up of 353 acres of land and an additional 54 acres of water for a total project of 407 acres.

The 2015 Clinton County High School graduation ceremony will revert back to “old school” in a way this week, as two nights of graduation related ceremonies will return. The graduation program will begin Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at the Clinton County High School gymnasium with what is being billed as “Awards Night” at CCHS. The 98th Commencement program, in which 105 graduates will complete their high school education, will be held Friday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the CCHS gym.

Clinton County Fiscal Court narrowly approved first reading of the 2015-16 fiscal year budget, narrowly approved paying claims and bills and have apparently rejected the idea of a transient tax ordinance without a vote actually being taken. Those were some of the items of business taken up during the court’s regular meeting held May 21.

May Deaths…Sean Joseph Menimen, 61, Albany; Billie Gene Booher, 74, Columbia, KY; Glen Elwood Shelton, 73, Albany; Gary Wayne Kempton, 59, Albany; Pat Vitatoe Pierce, 69, Albany; Phyllis Guffey Albertson, 65, Albany; Donnie Ray Brown 54, Albany; Carolyn Sue Smith, 55, Albany; James F. McKinley, Jr., Louisville, KY; Arnold Dean Daniels, 57, Albany; Aaron “Warren” Tallent, 49, Louisville, KY; Betty Louise Creekmore, 68, Albany; Jacqueline Marie Price, 90, Albany; Melissa Carol Gibson, 43, Albany; Jacqueline Love, 86, Byrdstown, TN; Bobby Bullard, 67, Albany; Sandra Renee Mason, 32, Kokomo, IN; Herman Little, 85, Albany; Ida Mae “Charlie” Smith, 77, Russell Springs, KY; Marshall Abbott, 66, Byrdstown, TN; Kendra Sue Morgan, 50, Albany.

June News…A fatal two-vehicle accident occurred Friday, May 30, on Hwy. 449 near the Cumberland and Clinton County boundary, resulting in the death of a former Clinton County man. Donnie Thrasher, 57, of Burkesville and formerly of Albany, was pronounced dead at the scene by Cumberland County Coroner Gary White.

The 2014 edition of the Clinton County Fair is just days away and will feature six nights–Monday through Saturday, June 16-21–of main events as well as multiple programs that will have something for everyone to be entertained. This year’s fair format will be somewhat different in the area of program rotation. Usually, the fair begins with the annual beauty pageants, but this year, the first nightly event to kick off will be the always popular Family Night. Also missing from this year’s fair will be the long-running ticket sales and eventual tractor ticket drawing as no tractor will be raffled off at this year’s event.

The City of Albany has a new budget in place after action taken Tuesday, June 10 during a call meeting of city council. The total budget, which is approximately $400,000 under the 2013-14 year amount, is $3,954,317, with the bulk of that amount in the water and waste water areas of over $3 million.

Two local brothers, Phillip Roberts and Thomas A. Roberts, charged in connection with the death of 73 year-old Frank Perdue in September 2012, have been convicted on charges related to the death following a week-long trial in Clinton Circuit Court. Phillip Roberts was found guilty of first degree manslaughter and second degree burglary while Thomas Roberts was found guilty of reckless homicide and second degree burglary, with the jury recommending a 15year total sentence for both defendants.

A former Clinton County resident died Friday night, June 20, as a result of a one-vehicle accident on north U.S. 127 near Mountain View Park. The accident claimed the life of Frank D. Gregory, 69, of Monticello, Kentucky.

The occupational tax, or license fees, on employers and employees who have a business or work inside Cinton County, has been around for 15 years. However, many of the businesses and individuals who, by statute, are required to pay the tax to the county aren’t doing so–and some are apparently even still unaware they have to, according to Occupational Tax Administrator Virginia Conner, who is taking steps, along with County Attorney Michael Rains, to collect the tax, including back fees. Surprisingly, Conner estimates about 40 percent of those required to pay the fees aren’t doing so.

The “No Kid Hungry” project is now finishing up its third week with its newest project, ‘Bus Stop Cafe’ and according to project overseer Melissa Tallent, the rolling food truck is feeding around 500 children per week in Clinton County. The bus loads up at 7:10 a.m. at Clinton County High School and after breakfast, goes back to load up again for lunch deliveries.

June Deaths……….Roger Wade Flowers, 70, Jeffersonville, IN; Frances Brown, 67, Port Charlotte, FL; Rodell L. McFall, 89, Albany; Etta Mae Tweedy, 84, Burkeville, KY; Donnie G. Thrasher, Sr., 57, Burkesville, KY; Alfred Lee Thurman, 67, Albany; Peggy Sue Griffin, 55, Albany; Jennifer “Jenny” Scott, 47, Albany; Edna Rebecca Guffey, 81, Albany; Beatrice Hay, 86, Thousand Oaks, CA; Ruth Hagan Fletcher, 79, Burkesville, KY; Jesse L. Guffey, 95, Albany; Windell K. Cash, 80, Blue Mound, IL; Kenneth Cummings, 75, New Castle, IN; Henry Floyd Poore, 73, Byrdstown, TN; Judy Ann Davis, 55, Albany; Zelma Davis Higginbotham, 89, Louisville, KY; James E. Andes, 69, Albany; Lois Esmon Williams, 70, Albany; Shirley Ann Sheckles, 60, Albany; Frank Gregory, 69, Monticello, KY; Lynn Flowers, 71, Albany; Jessie B. Short, 67, Burkesville, KY; Inalene Vitatoe, 89, Albany; Cinda Stockton, 101, New Castle, Indiana.

July News…A fatal collision Tuesday night, June 24, around 10:47 p.m. on Ky. 90, about five miles north of Albany near the entrance to the Keystone Foods, LLC processing plant, claimed the life of an Albany man. Jerry Hadley, 34, of Albany and formerly of Russell County, was operating a 1994 Chevy 4-door vehicle and traveling east on Ky. 90 when his vehicle rear-ended a 2007 Mack semi-truck.

A highly well-known southern and eastern Kentucky attorney, and one familiar to all the legal community in the Albany/Clinton County area, was shot to death last Friday morning, June 27 in front of his Somerset, Kentucky office. Mark Stanziano, 57, of Somerset, was pronounced dead just over an hour after being shot multiple times by an apparent nearby disgruntled resident and acquaintance of the attorney, Clinton D. Inabitt, 40, of Somerset, who has been charged with murder.

The eighth annual fireworks celebration proved to be the biggest event in its history this year with thousands of people viewing the 9 p.m. spectacle from a host of locations at and surrounding Mountain View Recreation Park. With the 4th falling on a Friday and combined with absolutely picture-perfect weather conditions, the local Independence Day celebration was more than the success hoped for by organizers.

The latest boost for the new playground equipment project at Mountain View Park came this week when a $10,000 check was delivered to Paula Little, the chairperson of the now year-old Clinton County Healthy Hometown Coalition, the group responsible for getting the project off the ground. This weeks boost to the project came through the collective efforts of Clinton County’s newest agency, the Clinton County Community Foundation, along with a matching grant from the Foundation For a Healthy Kentucky.

The Clinton County Emergency Services Management has been working on a project for more than three years and is just now almost complete. More than 120 hours have been spent retrofitting and outfitting a bus that can be used in case of a catastrophic event. Mass Casualties 14 or CM14 is a bus outfitted with a product called AMBUBUS which is a type of support system that can support up to 12 stretcher patients during an emergency.

An effort that has been ongoing for many years now to secure a much deserved Congressional Medal of Honor for Clinton County native Garlin Murl Conner is apparently moving forward despite recent setbacks. In an article that appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader by staff writer Greg Kocher, it was noted that the effort has now moved to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. In this latest development, a pair of Lexington attorneys, Dennis Shepherd and Donald Todd, are hoping to convince the Court of Appeals judges that several errors in the past have prevented Conner from being awarded the medal.

Another meeting was held by Clinton Fiscal Court last Tuesday afternoon, July 22, to specifically discuss issues surrounding the Wellness Center and its debts. However, after much talk, no official action were voted on.

July Births…Jarvis Dale Fillingham, son of Jordan and Reshea Fillingham, Burkesville, KY; Easton Michial Conner, son of Michial and Jessica Conner, Albany.

July Deaths…James (J.G.) Craft, 79, Albany; Odis Pierce, 78, Albany; Franklin Junior Beaty, 75, Byrdstown, TN; Myrtie May Foster, 67, Albany; Jerry Dewayne Hadley, 34, Albany; Onie S. Elmore, 72, Albany; Grady “Moe” Cummings, 73, Albany; Helen Katherine Graham, 85, Albany; James Earl Jones, 72, New Castle, IN; Adeline L. Smith, 90, Albany; Carmel Ryan Jarvis, 82, Albany; Johnny K. Conatser, 56, Albany; Jeff A. Sampson, 55, Avon, IN; Larry Flowers, 63, Bowling Green, KY; Gary R. Cole, 61, Lancaster, KY; Robert “Bob” Lewis, 76, Burkesville, KY; Joseph Paul Butterfield, 66, Aaron, KY; Roger D. McAlpin, 62, Tompkinsville, KY; Charlene M. Phillips, 67, Albany; Hulen R. Brown, 80, Albany; Katherine Polston, 86, Albany.

August News…The new upcoming school year will see more than usual changes with different principals, and new added programs and services and the implementation of ‘non-traditional’ school days, but one aspect of the 2015-16 term that won’t change much is the school calendar which reflects the usual school breaks for students. The official opening day for school in Clinton County will be Wednesday, August 12 for staff only with the first day for students being Thursday, August 13.

Stacey Ferguson Evans will be the new principal at Clinton County High School beginning in the 2015-16 school year. Evans, who for several years has been an instructor at CCHS teaching in the history department, was chosen by the school’s Site Based Decision Making Council following a process of putting together questions and conducting interviews.

Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc. has announced the extension of its school based health centers in the coming 2015-16 school year through partnerships with five additional schools, including Clinton County. On-site services include acute care visits, well child visits, physicals and immunizations. Physical exams and immunizations are conducted by CFMC licensed healthcare providers during regular school hours.

A multi-vehicle accident Monday afternoon, August 17 has claimed the life of a Russell County Deputy Sheriff. Shawn Cook, 39, of Jamestown, Kentucky was operating a 1993 Nissan pickup truck in a north bound direction on the 127 Bypass. The accident occurred when Cook attempted to pass another north bound vehicle in front of him, pulling into the path of a south bound 2014 Freightliner dump truck, striking the dump truck head-on. Cook was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Clinton County inmate found freedom short-lived last Tuesday afternoon, August 11, following a brief escape from the facility. Larry Thompson was one of three inmates being returned to the jail after a court appearance and ran out the back door of the building after being unshackled at 3:42 p.m. He was apprehended less than a half-hour later on Abston Street at 4:04 p.m. by Deputy Jailer Jonathan Branham and was charged additionally with second degree escape, disorderly conduct and menacing.

Despite Clinton County Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong’s recommendation to take the over four percent compensating rate for county property tax, Clinton Fiscal Court voted 5-0 to set the tax rates the same as the previous year at 6.5 cents per $100 assessed value on real property and 7.8 each (state mandated rate) on personal, water craft and motor vehicle.

August Birth…Keisha Carolann Stockton, daughter of Nathan and Kimberly Stockton, Albany.

August Deaths……….Emmie Evelyn Jones, 81, Albany; Samuel Edd Stockton, 67, Albany; Mary Miles Crockett, 70, Albany; Stuart G. Hathaway, 73, Albany; Nell Ruth Tuggle, 91, Frankfort, KY; Johnny Earl Smith, 43, Albany; Clement Shelley, 72, Albany; Thelma Watkins Mercer, 93, Albany; Betty Sue Shelton, 66, Albany; Alice Ann Flowers, 88, Albany; Wendy Conner, 38, Albany; Ronald Garmon Cash, 60, Georgetown, KY; Wendell Ray Ferrell, 62, Albany; J.D. Simmons, 87, Albany.

September News…Kentucky Republicans made political history and altered the state’s election protocol on August 22 when the state’s GOP leaders voted 111-36 to switch from a primary election to a Presidential caucus for next year’s election.

Fire erupted late Sunday night at Spring Creek Airport, completely destroying the old office building and motel that sits on the property. According to Albany Fire Chief Robert Roeper, the only thing firefighters could do was make sure the fire was contained to the building initially involved.

The battle between same-sex marriage couples in Rowan County and Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has been in the national spotlight since the Supreme Court’s recent ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. During a hearing Thursday, Davis was held in contempt of court and jailed for her decision not to issue marriage licenses. Clinton County Clerk Shelia Booher wasn’t issuing marriage licenses in the beginning of the controversy, but now she is issuing licenses to people who live in Clinton County. Booher said that even though most counties are issuing the licenses, she believes many of the clerks still don’t want to do so.

Clinton County now has a new 4-H Agent for Youth Development, as Junior Cecil began those duties officially on September 1. Cecil is also a member of the Clinton County Board of Education and a member of the Albany Fire Department.

Clinton County was among one of 44 additional school districts across the state that was approved for the ‘nontraditional’ snow days, that can be used to educate students even during days when students can’t attend class due to weather. Tina Langford, Director of District Wide Programs, is in the process of educating faculty, students, parents, and the community about the new program.

A Clinton County businessman and oil driller was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg N. Stivers to six months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $283,385 (the tax due) to the Internal Revenue Service, according to a press release issued Tuesday. Steven Burchett was sentenced in an agreement that related to charges he failed to report approximately $386,183.67 in income and royalty income during a six-year period and for overstating business expenses of $581,519.91.

The upstairs courtroom of the Clinton County Courthouse will soon have a name, as Clinton County Fiscal Court, at its regular meeting September 17, voted unanimously to dedicate the courtroom to the late Judge Eddie C. Lovelace. Ironically, Lovelace passed away exactly three years prior, September 17, 2015, to the day that the honor was being bestowed in his memory.

September Deaths… Irene Latham Sholes, 89, Albany; June Marie Harvey, 78, Winter Garden, FL; Lilly Rains Tweedy, 56, Albany; Bennie “J.D.” Tallent, 74, Burkesville, KY; Garland E. Scott, 85, Anderson, IN; Jimmie A. (Tallent) Sloan, 84, Albany; Jeffery E. “Doddie” Wray, 52, Albany; David Larry McWhorter, 68, Columbia, KY; James M. Tuggle, 78, Albany; Keith Garrett, 63, Albany; Lyn Mitchell Gilbert, 66, Lookout Mountain, GA; Michael Lee Jones, 51, New Castle, IN; Gary Miller, Jr., 52, Albany; Betty Jean Stephens, 74, Albany.

October News…The Clinton County EPHECT Health Coalition was recently chosen to be one of six Kentucky counties to share in a $1.8 million program designed to allow local leaders and citizens to come up with ways to tackle the issues of high obesity rates and the chronic disease issues associated with it.

The Rollercoaster Yard Sale, touted as the world’s oldest and most authentic, will take place this weekend, Thursday through Saturday, October 1-3.

The Kentucky Department of Education released results of the Unbridled College/Career Readiness for All Accountability System test score report cards for each school district on Thursday, October 1. In 2014, the Clinton County School District overall was ranked 132nd amount 173 total districts statewide. This year, the local district ranks 106th among all the districts in the state, rising up some 26 spots and showing overall improvement this year.

After calendar year 2016, Clinton County and some 34 counties to our west will be represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a different person for the first time in over two decades as current First District Congressman Ed Whitfield, a Hopkinsville Republican, announced September 29 that he would not seek a 12th term. He was first elected in 1994.

The Clinton County Relay For Life has now officially kicked off another fundraising year to benefit cancer research for the American Cancer Society. This year, a fellow Clinton Countian will be leading the way for not only this county but five others as well, as Amanda Messer has been introduced as the new Community Manager for the area.

Albany City Council dealt with various items of business at its regular meeting on October 6. Albany Mayor Nicky Smith first presented council members some good news about the city’s ISO classification, which may mean lower insurance rates for Albany and Clinton County residential and business residents following a recent Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey, which reduced the city’s and county’s classification from a Class 5 to a Class 4 status.

With the setting of the sun this past Saturday night and the final musical act leaving the stage a couple of hours later, Albany and Clinton County put yet another chapter of the now 36 year long history of the Foothills Festival to bed for another year. From the children’s games and contests to the arts and crafts around the square to the crowning of beauty queens and the naming of a host of contest winners, the 2015 Foothills Festival brought fans into the downtown area for the two-day event.

Several law enforcement agencies from Tennessee and Kentucky spent last weekend and the early part of this week looking for Floyd Ray Cook, 62, of Lebanon, Kentucky. The manhunt, which began in Putnam County, Tennessee (Algood), and crossed the state line into Kentucky and centered around an area in neighboring Cumberland County, near Hendricks Creek Marina on Dale Hollow Lake, also involved Clinton County for awhile and saw law enforcement officers from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and Albany Police Department searching for Cook. According to Kentucky State Police, Cook was allegedly involved in a police shooting in Algood, Tennessee on Saturday afternoon, October 24.

October Births…Colton Conner Shelley, son of Nathan and Stacy Shelley, Albany; Joseph Lee Stockton, II, son of Joe and Rachel Stockton, Albany; Eden Grace Clunie, daughter of Joseph and Felicia Clunie, Albany.

October Deaths…Dennis Ray Denton, 81, Byrdstown, TN; Eudoxie York Bertram, 93, Asheville, N.C.; Wendell Lee Shelton, 85, Albany; Wanda Taylor Talbott, 73, Cleveland, TN; Reba Ledbetter Claborn, 81, Cookeville, TN; Hazel Reynolds Young, 74, Burkesville, KY; Michael Noe, 62, Rio Rico, AZ; Everett (Louie) Smith, 64, Louisville, KY; Mary Lucille Davis, 72, Albany; William Henry Blake, Sr., 69, Albany; Darrell Duvall, 55, New Castle, IN; Doris Marie Collins, 85, Albany; Eula Neal, 94, Byrdstown, TN; Mary Helen Castle, 84, Albany; Reba Madeline Jones, 94, Albany; George Grayer, 79, Albany; Melissa Barnes Amonett, 49, Burkesville, KY; Mary Dean Craft Anderson, 77, Albany; Stephen Lewis Cross, 62, Houston, TX; Wilma Colene Nuszbaum, 84, Albany.

November News…According to a release by Clinton County Hospital CEO J.D. Mullins, the hospital board of directors voted in a meeting to initiate discussions regarding a potential acquisition by Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). That company is a not-for-profit parent company of the Medical Centers in Bowling Green, Scottsville and Franklin. It’s been just over a year since the local hospital announced it was filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a contrast to what many of the most recent polls had indicated, including the most recent Bluegrass poll, Republican Matt Bevin was elected Kentucky governor, defeating current Democrat Attorney General Jack Conway statewide, winning with 52 percent of the vote compared to 44 percent for Conway. Republicans took four of the six state races that were on the ballot.

The search for Floyd Ray Cook ended Friday morning, October 30 around 12:21 a.m. when he was shot and killed by law enforcement officers. According to Kentucky State Police Public Affairs officer Billy Gregory, KSP Post 15 received communication from units at the search site in Cumberland County that shots had been fired. Cook had a handgun and gunfire was exchanged, when two KSP troopers one U.S. Marshal encountered Cook. Cook was wounded and pronounced dead at the scene by Cumberland County Coroner Gary White. No officers were injured in the incident.

Just in time for this weekend’s observance of Veterans’ Day, the family and friends who have been working for nearly two decades now to have the nations highest war military honor bestowed on Clinton County’s best-known soldier, Lt. Garlin Murl Conner, received news of the most positive development last week that they had heard in sometime. In late October, the Arm Board of Correction of Military Records voted unanimously, against the advise of its own staff, that the evidence was sufficient to warrant a recommendation that Conner receive the Medal of Honor.

The Clinton County Board of Education is seeking applications for one of the seats on the school board following the resignation of Junior Cecil, District 4 board member. Superintendent Charlotte Bernard said the main reason for Cecil’s resignation from the school board was because he was recently hired as the Clinton County 4-H Extension Agent through the University of Kentucky Extension Service.

Ricky Stearns, on a 3-2 vote, was hired by Clinton County Fiscal Court as the county’s new Solid Waste Coordinator. He was also hired as a member of the road department and will assist with the new recycling center, which is now up and running at its location on Clinton Street.

After a year off, the Albany area will once again be crawling with people in search of prizes, as the sidebar event to the Christmas at Home program, the Treasure Hunt, will return in 2015, kicking off the first weekend in December.

As of Monday, November 16, the Clinton County School District, primarily Clinton County High School, now has added security with the placement of an SRO (School Resource Officer) based at that facility. The new SRO, Russell Decker, is a retired Kentucky State Police officer and military veteran.

November Deaths…Ronnie Allen Thrasher, 42, Richmond, IN; Juanita Linder Cowan, 93, Somerset, KY; Robert “Bob” Hise, 67, Barbeton, OH; Amanda Marlow, 25, Albany; Lester Jospeh Baxter, Jr., 85, Albany; Pauline Lozano, 91, Summerfield, FL; Sallie Ann Thurman, 99, Albany; Randall G. Polson, 66, Albany; John Everett Mackey, 40, Nicholasville, KY; Shirley Ann Sidwell, 63, Albany; Tammy Renee Stearns, 52, Albany; Evoline Aaron Bell, 81, Florence, KY; Adele Raymer Lawson, 90, Albany; Tiffany Peters, 76, Albany; Audrey Conner Bell, 87, Albany; Robert E. Perdue, 73, Hickory, NC; Anna Louise Thompson, 83, New Castle, Indiana.

December News… After Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day was over and more than 1,600 meals were prepared and served to people in need in Clinton County with all credit going to those who gave their time and worked as volunteers to the Community Thanksgiving meal.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) has completed another extremely successful year of collecting donations for underprivileged children in impoverished countries. Although Clinton and Cumberland counties, which operate together as part of the Lake Cumberland area, didn’t quite reach its somewhat lofty goal of 2,000 shoeboxes, it did set yet another record for the number it did collect, donate, and ship, that being some 1,865 boxes, up 169 from the previous year and another new record for most boxes collected.

The Clinton County Industrial Development Authority approved its first loan in quite sometime, following a review of an application that had been submitted by Barry Cross. The board met in closed session to discuss the loan prospect for about an hour and upon returning to open session voted to approve a loan in the amount of $97,000 to Cross, who will be doing business as Cross Logging Company.

Two codefendants originally charged with murder in the stabbing death of Jimmy Sidwell, Jr. over two years ago have been sentenced by Clinton Circuit Judge David L. Williams. Michael E. Thompson received a 35 year sentence on the murder charge following a plea agreement, and Andrea Byler, also following a plea agreement, received a 15 year sentence on a plea of facilitation to commit murder.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Albany Police Department, responded to a call on Thursday, December 10 at 3:39 p.m. involving a school bus window that had been shot out on Division Road, just off Ky. Hwy. 1590. Sheriff Jim Guffey said the bus was shot with a BB gun and plastic BBs. A juvenile has been charged with wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.

Although the May primary election will remain unchanged for all other offices that will be on the ballot, the Presidential candidates in the Republican party will be voted on early. Republicans can cast a ballot for one of several candidates on the ballot for president on Saturday, March 5 in the first ever Kentucky Republican caucus.

Albany and Clinton County residents and sports fans here and region-wide, lost one of its most well-known figures last week as legendary WANY radio broadcaster and former Albany mayor Sid Scott died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Friday morning, December 18. He was 78.

Known as Truth or Consequences: The Choice Is Yours, the event has been held for the past several years at the Clinton County Fairgrounds community building and is an enrichment activity designed to show students the impact of getting involved with illicit and illegal substances. The Truth or Consequences program was the brain child of Christy Neutzman, who is Clinton County’s Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences at the local UK Extension Office, and earlier this month she was recognized for producing the event, among other accomplishments, by the University of Kentucky.

A grant program being implemented through the Kentucky Department of Public Health (DPH) has recently announced that Clinton County has been named for two separate awards in the amount of $3,000 each. The grants are part of several that were given to multiple counties across the state to help fight obesity and inactivity in their communities.

The Clinton County Bulldogs moved to the opposite side of the gymnasium Wednesday afternoon from their bench, to place the championship trophy of the Twin Lakes Classic adjacent to the “Sid’s Court” decal on the floor near the WANY broadcast booth. The team dedicated the tournament championship to long-time play-by-play broadcaster Sid Scott, who passed away last week.

December Birth…Ryan “Duke” Tallent, son of Andrew and Paige Tallent, Albany.

December Deaths…Jewell Riddle Ferguson, 84, Burkesville, KY; Mary Elvena McFall, 83, Albany; Lois Jean Jones, 78, New Castle, IN; Ruby Jean Martin, 84, Albany; Vernon Horace Hull, 88, Albany; B.F. Johnson, 88, Albany; Robert E. Perdue, 73, Hickory, N.C.; James “Freddy” Branham, 59, Albany; Tyler Randell Shelton, 20, Albany; Charles “Gene” Shields, 89, Nashville, TN; Grady Lewis Polston, 73, Burkesville, KY; Clara Pearl Campbell, 83, Albany; Shane McWhorter, 43, Albany; Gay H. Taylor, 81, Amariollo, TX; Otis Claborn, 78, Albany; Sidney H. Scott, 78, Albany; Dewey M. Aaron, 71, Albany; Opal Denney Burchett, 83, Albany; Mary Elizabeth Graham, 79, Albany; Charlotte Lee Riddle, 63, Albany; Floy Lucille White, 93, Lambertville, MI; Lorene Norris, 90, Albany; Ted E. Aaron, 83, Albany.