A Russell County man is dead after an early morning three-car crash Tuesday November 15, in Taylor County, according to Taylor County Deputy Sheriff Mark Dickens.

Steve Smith, 29, of Russell Springs, lost control of his Chevrolet Impala around 5:15 a.m. last Tuesday while traveling south on Ky. 55, resulting in his vehicle going into a spin, then crossing into the northbound lane, colliding with a 1968 Ford Galaxy being driven by Robbie Anderson, 23, of Campbellsville.

Anderson’s car was then hit from behind by another vehicle operated by Whitney Judd.

All three involved in the accident were transported by ambulance to Taylor Regional Hospital where Smith was pronounced dead.

Anderson and Judd were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Slippery, wet road conditions likely contributed to the fatal wreck, according to the police report.

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

Two of three ambulance board members have submitted their resignations to Judge/Executive Gary Robertson before their terms were set to expire in June of next year.

At last Monday night’s regular meeting of the fiscal court, both ambulance board members Mike Popplewell and Leslie Simpson resigned their positions via letters addressed to the court, effective immediately. Both had served on the board since June 2010.

Robertson said he had to fill the vacant positions with two newcomers and chose Chris Ferguson, an employee of Duo County Telephone, and Vickie Shivel, who recently retired from the U.S. Postal Service, to take on the positions.

The remaining member of the ambulance board, Chairman Joe Gray, also spoke to the court as he gave an update on where the ambulance board currently stands.

“The most recent board has made more positive changes in the last year and a half than probably the last 15 or 20 years,” Gray said. “I say this because we have dealt with several issues that hadn’t been dealt with in several years and in many cases, ever. There’s probably never been another board appointed that came into more legal issues, controversy and turmoil than this one.”

Gray said both Popplewell and Simpson always looked at the facts and didn’t rely on rumors or “coffee shop talk” and made decisions they felt were in the best interest of the ambulance service, even though some of them may have been unpopular.

“When we first came on we had some sanctions against us from the Kentucky EMS Board for things that had happened during the past,” he said. “We also had several lawsuits.”

Gray said they had hired a new billing and collection agency that came on board and began using the services of the county attorney rather than a private legal counsel, restructured bank loans and updated the employee handbook and policies and procedures manual.

“We implemented the employee evaluations every six months and we developed an entry level pay scale for personnel and completed financial audits for the past three years,” Gray said. “We’ve been posting all our meeting minutes on our website for the public to look at if they want to.”

He also talked about the unpopular choice of having to raise taxes recently and the tough choices they had to make for the betterment of the service

“I think now, moving forward, that if we take the compensating rate every year we’ll be in good shape for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Gray finished by saying he was looking forward to serving with the new board members but didn’t want anyone to forget the strides the service had made in the last 18 months with Popplewell, Simpson and himself on the board.

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

The new Enhanced 911 Dispatch Board voted to advertise for a full-time 911 director and a full-time 911 dispatcher at their second-ever meeting two weeks ago Friday, November 11.

Board Vice Chairman Kevin Shearer said it would be the best route to go in opening up the position for director and taking applications for the job, which has been filled on an interim basis for several months. Chairman H.M. Bottom and the rest of the board agreed.

“We’re a new board and I think it’s just good perception,” Shearer said of advertising the positions.

Applications can be picked up at the 911 Center and all interested parties may turn in their application by Friday, November 25 at the 911 Center.

Lee Ann Roy, Russell County 911 Dispatch’s interim director, has served in that position since Tera McQueary resigned earlier this year. Roy also currently serves as secretary of the new 911 Board as well.

If all goes as planned, interviews could be held late this month with hopes of having the positions filled by the first of the year.

The board also agreed that any new part-time workers hired must attend a five-day class sponsored by the Criminal Justice Information System.

They also talked about getting a policies and procedures manual up to date before any new hires are made.