Tim Roy

WCHS principal

The following is the fourth in a series of monthly articles from Webster County High School regarding efforts to help students earn the distinction of College and/or Career Ready, which is a key component of the Kentucky Department of Education’s “Unbridled Learning” accountability initiative aimed at producing graduates that are better prepared for the rigor of college-level coursework and the increasing demands of the world of work and a global economy.  This month’s focus is COMPASS and ACT Work Keys testing for seniors.   

At the end of our students’ 11th grade year, we have the opportunity to pull together all of their testing and program data and determine where they are in relation to being College and/or Career 

Jury clears Jimmy Frederick of all charges

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

On Monday, a jury of Webster County residents cleared 76-year-old Jimmy Frederick of charges of assault, terroristic threatening and wanton endangerment, bringing an end to a drama that started in early August.

The events leading to the arrest of Frederick, on assault charges, are in one way or the other tied into a special called meeting of the Dixon Commission that was held early on a Tuesday morning in August.

At that meeting commissioners failed to support an ordinance that would give the Park Board authority to charge leagues and teams that wanted to use one of the city’s two parks to host events. People from across the county spoke out against the ordinance, stating that the parks should be free.

Two days later Frederick was seen driving his tractor on the town’s soccer field at Baker Park.

On August 8, 2013, the soccer fields at Dixon’s Bourland Park were damaged. Frederick’s wife, Mayor Linda Frederick reported that her husband was at the park with her approval to do tiling work. Some Dixon residents, however, believed that it was an intentional act of retribution aimed at a group of citizens who had opposed a proposed commission ordinance earlier in the week.

“An investigation of these complaints has revealed that Mr. Frederick had the permission of the Dixon City Mayor, Linda Frederick, to perform work on the fields,” said Prow.

The following morning residents once again saw Jimmy Frederick on the field driving his tractor.

“A number of citizens wanted him to cease until after the park board could meet,” said Sheriff Frankie Springfield, who responded to a call to the park. “David Frazier and Leslie Hill went on the field to confront him.”

Springfield said that a few minutes later Frederick came to him and ask that the two be removed from the field so he could finish working.

“I advised him to stop what he was doing until after the park board met the following Monday,” the sheriff said.

At that point Sheriff Springfield said that David Frazier reported having been struck by Frederick’s tractor. Webster County EMS responded, treating Frazier for a minor ankle injury.

At the request of the sheriff all parties left the scene.

Late that Friday afternoon the county attorney Clint Prow issued a press release stating that he had authorized an arrest warrant for Jimmy Lane Frederick, on the charges of Assault-4th degree, Terroristic Threatening-3rd degree, and Wanton Endangerment- 1st degree.

Bruce Kuegel, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit representing Daviess County served as special prosecutor in the case against Jimmy Lane Frederick.

“It’s not unusual for a special prosecutor to be appointed,” said Kuegel. “It’s really left up to the elected officials to make a decision on conflict of interest. (County Attorney) Clint Prow reported that he had a conflict in this case.”

The soccer field has since been repaired by volunteers.

Superintendant of Webster County Schools, issued a letter of resignation

Dr. James Kemp

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

At Monday night’s Webster County School Board meeting, Dr. James Kemp, superintendant of Webster County Schools, issued a letter of resignation to the board.

“I’ve been around 47 years, and you always know when it is the right time,” he told the board members. “I want to thank the board and the community for it’s support. It’s time for me to retire.”

Kemp has been the superintendant of Webster County schools for 12 years, a period during which many changes have effected Webster County students. Those include merging with the Providence School district and closing Slaughters Elementary.

Weather Forecast causes delay of Holiday Festivities

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

Due to severe winter weather forecasts for the next three days, the cities of Clay and Dixon have officially delayed their annual Christmas Parades until next week.

The Clay Christmas Parade will be held Friday, December 13, 2013 at 6pm.

Dixon will hold their Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 2pm.

Clay Elementary School has also announced that it will be canceling the annual Breakfast with Santa program which was scheduled to be held this Saturday morning.

Winter Weather forecast continues to develop

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

A winter storm watch is in effect from late Thursday, December 5 through the afternoon of Friday, December 6.

The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts the possibility of freezing rain and sleet overspreading the Webster County area late Thursday night into Friday afternoon. The precipitation is expected to gradually change to sleet and snow before coming to an end Friday evening.

Jim Gooch files for re-election

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

Webster County native Jim Gooch announced recently that he had filed for re-election to represent the 12th District in the Kentucky House of Representatives in Frankfort.

Gooch, 62 of Providence, has served as chairman of the House Natural Resource and Environment Committee for much of his career. He has been a member of the House since 1995.

Before beginning his political career in Frankfort, Gooch served four years as mayor of Providence (1982 to 1986) and three years as a member of the city council  in the early 90’s.

School board discusses future of technology

by Matt Hughes

J-E News Editor

Monday night the Webster County School Board was in session in the Media Center at Webster County High School for one of its monthly site visits.

Principal Tim Roy and the WCHS Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) council took board members on a tour of the facility, and presented them with a number of issues that needed the board’s attention.

Among these were a number of leaks in the facility and the need for a wall or fence that would allow students to freely use an outside area of the school between the math hall and the English hall. A sidewalk connects the two entrances, but both are secured doors that can only be opened with one of the security badges issued to faculty and staff.