Providence Council holds brief five minute meeting

By CHARLIE HUST

Providence City Council zipped through a brief, five-minute regular session Monday night in the council chambers.

The council heard reading of a “re-do” of the newly-approved bucket brigade and charitable solicitation ordinance. In the last meeting of the council, there was a bit of confusion in one part of the ordinance according to councilman Keith Farrell. He pointed out that the document stated that solicitation could only be held on Sunday.

So the council decided to “start from scratch” and re-word parts of the ordinance to clarify the interpretation problem.

School board challenges legislators to honor commitment to KY students

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

The Webster County School Board passed a resolution on Monday night challenging the members of the Kentucky General Assembly and Governor Steve Breshear to honor the commitment they made to Kentucky Students when they passed the bill that created “Unbridled Learning,” the KDE’s current educational system.

The resolution, approved and signed by all five members of the board said, “in the Webster County School district, the lack of funding has forced us to postpone facility maintenance, close an elementary/middle school, absorb an under performing and insolvent neighboring district, eliminate health services at two of our schools and drop three vocational programs, among other things...”

Clay man arrested by KSP in “Black Friday” drug sweep

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

On Friday the Kentucky State Police (KSP) conducted a statewide drug round-up entitled “Operation Black Friday.”  After months of extensive, covert investigations, arrest warrants were issued for individuals throughout the state of Kentucky. Every available sworn unit within the agency was put into action to arrest 479 individuals in what is the largest one-day drug round-up in agency history. All KSP Posts, the KSP Drug Enforcement Special Investigations (DESI) Branch, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, along with assistance from local law enforcement, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshal’s Service began arresting individuals before daybreak.

Altercation at Webster County Jail sends one inmate to hospital

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

The Kentucky State Police are investigating an altercation between two inmates at the Webster County Detention Center which sent one inmate to an Evansville hospital.

Providence Students raise money for Food Bank

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

AmeriCorps member Rhonda Cruce recently challenged Providence Elementary School students to a “Penny War” in honor of Make a Difference Day, which was October 26.

“All classes in K-8 participated,” said Cruce. “The money donated will go to the Food Bank in Providence.”

The Penny War turned into a serious competition for some students, with several of them bringing in pennies by the bucket load.

“The real reason it was called a penny “war” was because any silver that a student threw into another class’s bucket counted as a negative,” Cruce added.

Ultimately the winner was Jennifer Roland’s class. Students in her class will receive an ice cream party in celebration.

Greg Shouse appointed agency manager of WC Farm Bureau

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance (KFB) announced on Tuesday that Greg Shouse has been appointed as the new agency manager for Webster County Farm Bureau (WCFB).

Shouse, a native of Webster County, has been with Farm Bureau for nearly 13 years. He attended the University of Kentucky and the  Mid-America College of Funeral Service, and prior to joining WCFB he served as a funeral director and embalmer. He and his wife have two daughters.

WC Board Attorney to run for family court judge position

Webster County School Board Attorney Brandi Hagan Rogers announced today she will be a candidate for Family Court Judge of Crittenden, Union and Webster Counties (Circuit Five) in the election to be held next year. The seat is currently held by Judge William E. Mitchell, who is retiring.  

Rogers, age 32, has been a partner in the Marion law firm of Frazer, Rogers & Peek since 2010.  She was admitted to practice law in Kentucky and in U.S. District Court in 2006.  

Additionally, she serves as Master Commissioner for the Crittenden County and as attorney for both the Crittenden County School District and the Webster County School District.  

While earning her law degree, Rogers clerked for Circuit Judge Rene Williams and for Kentucky Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert.  Rogers is a graduate of Crittenden County High School, Western Kentucky University (Magna Cum Laude) and Salmon P. Chase College of Law.    

Rogers revealed that she possessed an unusual qualification for the job, beyond her legal experience.  She grew up in Crittenden and Union Counties, the child of a broken home, and found stability only when she was finally allowed to live with her grandparents.  

Steamport Dock makes a big impact on Sebree Mining operation

JE photos by Matt Hughes.

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

Webster County is known for coal, and when we think of coal, we often think of the long coal trains that have passed through our communities for as far back as we can remember. But train and truck haulage aren’t the only ways coal is transported in our county. One Webster County mine ships it’s coal by water.