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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Governor awards bids for Sebree interstate interchange


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Webster County is now one step closer to getting it’s Interstate 69 shielding as Governor Steve Beshear announced last week the awarding of a contract for improvements needed to bring the Highway 56 interchange near Sebree on the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway up to interstate highway standards.

Kids' Wheels program continues to grow


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
After less than a year in operation, a local charity called ‘Kids’ Wheels’ has really begun to make a difference in the lives of local young people by putting them on their very own bicycle.

Local church to celebrate 200 years of ministry


Event Kick off Saturday, August 2 with meal

by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Two hundred years of history will be celebrated at a small country church on the outskirts of Providence over the next two weeks.

Ambulance board okays purchase of new location on US 41A


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Judge Executive Jim Townsend confirmed on Friday that Webster County EMS will eventually have a new home on U.S. 41A south of Dixon.

Clay Kid's Day (VIDEO)

Candidates slow to file as Aug. 12 deadline nears


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
With the filing deadline for non-partisan races in the November general election quickly approaching, the Webster County Clerk’s office has seen a surprising lack of activity. All city council/commission positions, as well as each mayoral positions in the county are up for election this November.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Clay prepares for new Fire Department


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
While Clay officials planned on being in their new fire station almost two months ago, they continue to wait for the building contractor to hand them the keys. 

‘Quilt Trail’ project starting to spread beauty across the county


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Motorist around Webster County have probably noticed several brightly colored quilt block designs hanging on the sides of various buildings, but many of those people still don’t know the story behind those blocks. They also don’t know that blocks just like those have gone up all across the state of Kentucky and throughout many other states as part of Quilt Trails.

Moser withdraws motion to rezone Sebree property


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
The city of Sebree sent out notice on Monday afternoon that Mark Moser, the owner of JEM Development, had withdrawn a motion to rezone a 6.5 acre lot in the city from manufactured housing to multi-family housing.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Staff Stuff - 7/16/14 "Just the facts ma'am."


In the words of Joe Friday, "Just the Facts ma'am."

In today’s world, perception means a lot. What other people perceive about you, your ideas or your actions often packs more weight than the truth does. While I can’t say that this is fair or good, it is the reality in which we live.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Turning the ship around: WC Schools begin working towards change


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Last Tuesday night Webster County School District’s administration  officially kicked off the beginning of the school calendar year with a Leadership Summit. The theme for that meeting, and for everything the district does this year, ‘Turning the Ship Around’.

OSHA hands out $69,300 in fines to Providence busines

CORRECTION: The J-E originally reported the fines as $85,000. That number was incorrect, the actual total was $69,300. We apologize for the miscalculation.

by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Providence-based S&S Salvage, owned by Tim and Tammy Smith, and Rising Point LLC, which is co-owned by the Smiths, now face a total of $69,300 in fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Shrinking coal severance funds limit county’s spending ability

Judge Executive Jim Townsend swears in new Dog Warden
Aaron Richmond at Monday's meeting

by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Webster County Fiscal Court was feeling the burden of shrinking coal severance funds on Monday when magistrates were asked to approve a priority list of projects for Local Government Economic Assistance (LGEA) funds to be used in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Cats becoming a hairy problem for Dixon residents


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Mayor Linda Frederick told members of the Dixon Commission on Monday that cat’s were becoming a growing problem in their city, stating that at least four families had lodged complaints with the city.

Middle School progressing on schedule


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Webster County Middle School is on track to be opened and ready for students in time for the start of the 2014-2015 school year. According to Middle School principal Cyndi Boggs, everything is currently progressing as planned.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Police Chase suspect gets 15 years in jail


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Tommy R. Branson, 61 of Sebree, appeared before Webster County Circuit on Thursday, July 3, 2014 to face charges from an incident that took place on Tuesday, February 25, 2014. At that time he entered a guilty plea on all charges, reversing the plea he had entered before the Grand Jury.

Water District looks at cost of production numbers


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Webster County Water District continues to beat 2013 production numbers. Production has been higher in five of the first six months of the year. The lone drop in production came in April, where production dipped only 193,725 gallons lower than the same period last year.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Providence Council votes to keep pool open in August


Mayor Gooch says measure not feasible


By CHARLIE HUST
Providence City Council breezed through a short agenda with just four council members on hand during regular session Monday night in the council chambers.
Mayor Eddie Gooch was also absent from the meeting.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Staff Stuff 7-9-14/ Minimum Rage


by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
I’m not a financial genius, but I do believe that I have a little bit of common sense. It’s with that in mind that I want to tackle an issue that has been a real hot topic over the last year. Minimum wage.
This is one of those issues that exists in a gray area. Of course I would love to see people make more money, and on the surface raising the minimum wage to $10 per hour will do that. But consider for a moment the domino effect that will have on our society.

Slaughters commissioners discuss ‘Tractor Day’


New festival expected to draw crowds on August 3


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Slaughters city commission met last Tuesday night for their regularly scheduled meeting. Among other items on the agenda was a discussion of ‘Tractor Days’, a new festival the city has planned to hold in conjunction with Independence Bank’s annual Tractor Ride.

Webster schools named finalist for math/science grant


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
The Monsanto Fund announced last week that Webster County Schools had been named a finalists for this year’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grants. The grant, in the amount of $25,000, gives eligible farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their community to compete for one of two merit based grants, either $10,000 or $25,000.

Emotions run high as Sebree rezoning ordinance vote delayed by two weeks


 “You are not going to get to talk tonight.” -          Dorin Luck, Sebree City Attorney


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Sebree residents hoping for a conclusion to the debated rezoning of a parcel of land in their community will have to wait at least another two weeks. On Monday night the council met before a capacity crowd in the city council chambers, most of whom signed a list signifying that they wished to address the council, but at the urging of city attorney Dorin Luck, members voted to delay any discussion of the rezoning ordinance until a public hearing can be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24 at Sebree Elementary School.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Webster County escapee captured in West Virginia


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
According to Webster County Jailer Terry Elder, escaped inmate Marcle Jenkins, 29 of Kenova, WV, was arrested on Monday by authorities in West Virginia.

Trans American Bike Trail brings cyclist through Webster County


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Hundreds, if not thousands of cyclist pass through Webster County every year, following a path that leads through the county from Wheatcroft to Sebree. Most of the time they are just people most of us see pedaling along the side of the road and never give a second thought. 



Friday, July 4, 2014

Staff Stuff - 7/2/14 Hobby Lobby


I think Monday’s Supreme Court ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby might be one of the most important court rulings in decades, and I think that most people will never even realize it.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Kentucky’s exported soybeans bring value back to state


Farmers Rely on Roads, Rails 
and Rivers to Move Their Crop


Kentucky soybeans are already popular among customers both inside and outside the state, and that popularity is expected to grow. Without improvements to the state’s transportation infrastructure, however, Kentucky soybean farmer Keith Tapp says continued shipments of this lucrative commodity could be threatened. 

Vehicle causes damage to traffic lights in "uptown" Providence


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Providence authorities are looking for information on a driver who damaged traffic lights and took out a fire hydrant  on Wednesday, June 25 between 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Sebree council to hear rezoning ordinance on Monday


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
When Sebree’s city council members meet on Monday night they will be considering an ordinance that will rezone a piece of property on Sellers Street to multi-family residential. That rezoning, which was approved by the planning commission last month, has come under fire from a number of local residents who oppose the development of an apartment complex at that location.

GRADD program to help grandparents who raise grandchildren


Green River Area Development District (GRADD) has announced that they will have financial aid available through the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program (KFCP) during the new fiscal year (which began July 1, 2014). KFCP is designed to assist area grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

Water district $580,000 project get’s high priority


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
A water rehab project for the Webster County Water District (WCWD) was placed third on the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority’s (KIA) loan priority list of drinking water projects for the next fiscal year. Being on the list does not guarantee the district will receive money, but being listed as the third most important project does make it likely that this will happen.

4th of July celebrations in Providence, Sebree planned


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Webster County residents are prepping for this Friday’s 4th of July Celebrations. 

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

New WCHS assistant principal named


by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
On Wednesday, WCHS’s new principal, Tara Howard, released the name of the high school’s new Assistant Principal. Lesia Whitaker brings 24 years of experience with her to the job.