Laker Country

Rescue Squad Rook Tournament March 20th

Laker Country — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:08:46 +0000

The Russell County Rescue Squad will be holding their final rook tournament of the season Saturday, March 20th with registration beginning at 5:00 p.m. Games will begin around 6:00 p.m. All proceeds will go to benefit the Rescue Squad. Concessions will be served. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers.

Russell Recycles Day Saturday, March 27th

Laker Country — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:06:00 +0000

The Russell County Conservation District and the PRIDE Middle School club will be hosting a Russell Recycles Day on Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. at Kroger in the Northridge Center in Russell Springs. Bring in your recyclable plastic, paper, cans, cardboard, cell phones, and batteries and receive a recycling container or bag. “J.W. the PRIDE Frog” will also be on hand to give you tips on recycling.

Partial Suspension of Work On Wolf Creek Dam Ordered; Instrumentation Indicates Movement

Laker Country — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:01:45 +0000

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District announced Wednesday a partial suspension of work on the Wolf Creek Dam Safety Major Rehabilitation Project in Jamestown.

Instrumentation used to monitor the foundation has indicated movementand increased hydrostatic pressure since work began in the area adjacent to the concrete section of the dam, which includes Critical Area 1.

“As a precautionary measure, we have suspended construction in Critical Area 1 while we evaluate the most recent monitoring and instrumentation data,” stated Barney Davis, Chief of Engineering and Construction Division for the Nashville District. Critical Area 1 is the portion of the dam where the earthen embankment ties into the concrete section and has been the major source of seepage during the history of the dam’s operation.

“We want to ensure that our treatment methods are effective and that we can safely install the remainder of the concrete barrier wall,” Davis continued. The suspension affects only 600 feet of the 4400-foot long, 275-foot deep concrete barrier wall, which is the major structural component of the $584 million rehabilitation project. Work is continuing in the non-critical areas of the dam, and Davis indicated that the Corps does not foresee any changes to the lake operation plan at this time.

Instrumentation used to monitor the dam’s foundation is one of the Interim Risk Reduction Measures (IRRM) in place at Wolf Creek. IRRM are designed to minimize risk to public safety in the short term while pursuing long-term permanent fixes, such as the ongoing rehabilitation project.

“Wolf Creek Dam is one of the most heavily monitored dams in the country,” stressed Davis. “Our instrumentation is doing its job and giving us the information we need to protect public safety and effectively rehabilitate the dam.”

WJRS NEWS will have more on this story including an exclusive interview with the Corp of Engineer’s Wolf Creek Dam Rehabilitation Project Manager David Hendricks during our local newscasts Thursday morning at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30.

RCEMS Director On Leave While Being Investigated By State For Making Runs Without Certification

Laker Country — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:17:47 +0000

The Director of the Russell County Ambulance Service has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by state EMS officials and the local ambulance board. That announcement came after an executive session during Tuesday night’s ambulance board meeting. According to Acting Board Chairman David Withers, EMS Director Joe Flanagan is being investigated for responding to about a dozen ambulance runs although Flanagan has yet to obtain certification in Kentucky allowing him to make ambulance runs. Flanagan, who is originally from Russell County and worked at the local ambulance service during the 1970s, moved away and was a licensed paramedic for over 20 years in the state of Georgia before being hired to run the local ambulance service just over one year ago. Withers stated that when Flanagan was chosen as EMS Director in February of 2009, he was chosen to manage and oversee the agency’s operations….he was not hired as a paramedic although the EMS Board would have preferred that he be certified. According to Withers, Flanagan was expected to obtain certification in Kentucky although Withers could not recall if a specific time period had been outlined for Flanagan to do so. It should be noted that a few months after being hired as Russell County EMS Director, Flanagan was diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing treatments over the past several months. EMS Paramedic Troy Walters told the Board members last night that he had reviewed the 12 runs in question which Flanagan responded on along with other EMS personnel and according to Walters, Flanagan’s role during 9 of the runs was performing duties of “on scene commander” during wrecks and other serious calls while other members of the ambulance service treated the injured. On at least one other occasion, according to Walters, Flanagan responded with Walters to a call of an unconscious person in the Eli area with Walters driving to the scene and Flanagan driving from the scene to the local hospital. Walters stated that when that call came in, two other EMS crews were on other runs, so Flanagan decided to make the run with Walters, rather than waiting the time it would have taken to call another crew in to respond. State law requires that all persons responding on ambulance runs at least be certified as a “first responder”….trained in basic first-aid and life support measures. Acting Board Chairman David Withers said that he and fellow board member Steve Bunch, as well as all EMS personnel would cooperate with the state’s invest-igation. In the meantime, veteran EMS employee Terry Hancock will serve as “Acting EMS Director”. Hancock was appointed by the Board after their executive session.

Other Action By Fiscal Court Monday Night

Laker Country — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:25:17 +0000

In other matters taken up during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Russell County Fiscal Court….

The Court approved for County PRIDE Coordinator H.M. Bottom to put-together a “free trash disposal day” on April 21st as part of PRIDE’s annual Spring Clean-Up. Most, if not all of the cost for the free-dump day will be covered through a $10,000 PRIDE grant

Russell County Sheriff Larry Bennett turned over $11,300 to the Fiscal Court from the 2009 final settlement of the Sheriff’s Office “fee account”. The Sheriff also reported that his office recently paid off loans early which were obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture to purchase several new patrol vehicles just over a year ago.

The county will be applying for a “Land and Water Conservation” grant, which if approved, will be used to construct new bathroom facilities at what was formerly Alligator Dock #1. The Fiscal Court hopes to lease that property from the Corp of Engineers for public use. New, public bathroom facilities will cost approximately $18,000. The county’s 50% match for grant funds can come from “in kind contributions” such as using county equipment and employee labor on the project.

The Fiscal Court got an update during its meeting last night on the progress of construction of the new detention center. David Mylam of Branscum Construction Company told the court members that everything is going well….90% of the interior footing has been poured….the block foundation is being laid….and the initial electrical work will begin soon.

Richard Bennett with the Russell County Babe Ruth Baseball League came before the Fiscal Court requesting a “road sign” be erected along U.S. 127 near the high school recognizing the local Babe Ruth baseball team which has won the state title the last two years and advanced to regional play last year in Illinois. The Court unanimously approved Bennett’s request.

Monday night’s Fiscal Court meeting last just under 2 ½ hours.

Fiscal Court Removes Itself From Newspaper Controversy; At Least For Now

Laker Country — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:55:27 +0000

County Attorney Mark McGaha reads KRS and an Attorney General's Opinion to the Fiscal Court and Derek Helm, attorney for The Russell Register.

The Russell County Fiscal Court, meeting Monday night, voted 5 to 1 to rescind last month’s decision to utilize The Russell Register newspaper for publishing all legal notices. Last month’s vote by the Fiscal Court came after numbers were provided by The Russell Register to County Judge-Executive Mickey Garner, claiming The Russell Register passed The Times Journal during a reporting period last October. That vote by the Fiscal Court declared The Russell Register newspaper to have the largest number of “paid subscriptions” based on the numbers submitted. In cases of more than one local newspaper, state law provides that a county’s Fiscal Court can decide which paper to use for publishing legal notices based on which paper has the “largest paid-subscription circulation”. Following last month’s move, The Times Journal filed suit against the Fiscal Court and The Russell Register, alleging, among other things, that the numbers provided to the Fiscal Court were not accurate. A lengthy discussion took place during Monday night’s Fiscal Court meeting….both in open session and for nearly half an hour in executive session. After concluding their private meeting to discuss the pending litigation, the Fiscal Court re-convened its public meeting. Times Journal publisher David Davenport reported The Times Journal’s “paid subscriptions” total 4,110 with The Russell Register’s being 2,722. Davenport and County Attorney Mark McGaha both stated the numbers to be used for determination are to be derived from a 12 month average, according to state law, not from any particular week. The discussions also included members of the Fiscal Court and attorneys for both newspapers. All in all, nearly an hour was spent on the matter. Upon advice of County Attorney Mark McGaha that the Fiscal Court remove itself from the controversy to reduce liability on the county, 1^st District Magistrate Greg Popplewell made a motion that the Fiscal Court rescind its vote from last month and the Court not declare one newspaper to have a larger circulation over the other. 3^rd District Magistrate Ronald Johnson seconded the motion. All five magistrates voted in favor of the measure with County Judge Executive Mickey Garner casting the only “NO” vote. The Times Journal’s attorney, Harlan Judd, stated that as a result of the Fiscal Court’s vote The Times Journal would file court papers Tuesday to drop its lawsuit against the county.

Joe L. Harris, 84, of Russell Springs

Laker Country — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:09:12 +0000

Joe L. Harris, age 84, of Russell Springs, died Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Medco Center of Campbellsville. He is survived by:

His Wife

Mavadene Harris

Four Daughters

Debra Edwards, Nelda Beard and Tonya Young, all of Campbellsville
Lisa Land of Louisville

Three Step-Daughters

Regena Antle, LaDena McGowan and Vanessa Antle, all of Russell Springs

One Brother

Junior Harris of Edmonton

Two Sisters

Louise Easterof Dickinson, TX
Louella Cassidy of Edmonton

Other Survivors

6 grandchildren
3 great-grandchildren

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Bernard Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Campbellsville Memorial Gardens with military honors. Friends may call for visitation after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Bernard Funeral Home in Russell Springs.

Nioma Gaskins Kean, 84, of Russell Springs

Laker Country — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:05:15 +0000

Nioma Gaskins Kean, age 84, of Shawnee Avenue, Russell Springs, died Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset. She is survived by:

Three Children

Carolyn Holt of Russell Springs
Wayne Gaskins of Russell Springs
Warren Gaskins of Moorsville, IN

Two Brothers

David Holt of Jamestown
Arvis Ray Holt of Russell Springs

Other Survivors

6 grandchildren
12 great-grandchildren

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the H.E. Pruitt Memory Chapel with burial in the Russell County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call for visitation after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at H.E. Pruitt Memory Chapel in Jamestown.

Laura Johnson, 78, of Russell Springs

Laker Country — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:00:18 +0000

Laura Johnson, age 78, of the Eli community, died Saturday evening, March 6, 2010 at the Russell County Hospital. She is survived by:

Four Children

Donita Lawless of Jamestown
Karen Hislope, Michelle Stearns, and Barren Johnson, all of Russell Springs

Two Sisters

Katie Hiedel and Bernice Hennessee, both of Wartburg, TN

One Brother

Clayton Brown of Harriman, TN

Other Survivors

8 grandchildren
5 great-grandchildren

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Bernard Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Johnson Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation after 5:00 p.m. Monday at the Bernard Funeral Home in Russell Springs.

Project Development Board To Meet Monday Afternoon; Judicial Center Construction On Schedule

Laker Country — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:44:18 +0000

The Russell County Project Development Board, which oversees construction of the new judicial center, will meet Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Russell County Courthouse. PDB members tell WJRS NEWS that construction of the new judicial center is on schedule. In recent days, several large metal beams have been erected, providing noticeable progress in the construction. The “Russell County Judicial Center” is expected to be completed in early 2011 and will contain Circuirt and District courtrooms, offices for all Judges, as well as the Circuit Clerk’s offices. The new facility will be approximately 40,000 square feet with a projected cost of $8 million.