Providence Fire Department short staffed

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

The Providence Fire and Ambulance service has struggled through the holiday season shorthanded. At full staff the department would have a complement of 10 full-time  firefighter/ambulance crew members on staff, but currently the department is working with just four. There have been days in the last few months where that number has been as low as two.

This is particularly troublesome considering that regulations require two crew members on an ambulance.

Library scores high in statewide rankings

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

While the local school system is concerned with the literacy of local students, our local public libraries have been doing their part at promoting reading throughout our local communities. In fact,  according to the 2014 Statistical Report of Kentucky Public Libraries, the Webster County Public Library placed in the top ten in three categories against all 119 library systems in the state.

The report provides a top ten and bottom ten ranking for 16 categories that rate all public libraries in the Commonwealth against their counterparts.

In the words of Twain....

New Years is here, and 2015 is laid out before us, with all of the bright, new, fresh promise that a year yet to be lived has to offer. Before we go to making resolutions for the coming year, let me share a quote.

“Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath.

City of Sebree settles with contractor

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Sebree City Council passed a resolution on Monday, December 22, 2014 to enter into a settlement agreement and release with Grimes Construction Company of Paris, KY. Grimes failed to meet the November 15, 2014 deadline to complete the $1.2 million dollar project.

Flu-like illness hits area schools hard late in semester

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Many area schools were hard hit by illness during the last two weeks of the semester. Students in Webster County managed to make it to Christmas Break in better shape than most, but not without some problems.

Providence Elementary was the hardest hit by illness with absences getting as high as 93 during the last week of the semester. There were also a number of teachers and staff members off sick as well.

Still time to enroll through Kynect

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) got underway on November 15, 2014 and will run through February 15, 2015 Although December 15, 2014 was the last day residents could enroll and be guaranteed health care coverage on the first day of 2015, it’s still not to late to sign up for coverage.

Weather

Health First recieves $30,927 in grant funds

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Officials at Health First CHC in Providence announced last week that they would be the recipients of $30,927 in grant money during the upcoming year. This quality improvement grant is part of $36.3 million in Affordable Care Act funding being awarded to health centers across the country by Health and Human Services (HHS).

“We didn’t realize we were going to get it,” said Shelley Gobin, a RN and Director of Quality Improvement for Health First. “It’s not something we applied for.”

Providence Council officially adopts Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

by STEVE SHOOTS

The Providence City Council met Monday evening with Mayor Eddie Gooch presiding.  

Council Members present were, Tom Skinner, Shannon Cole Layton, Doug Hammers, Scott Frederick and Delores Overby.  City Attorney Richard Peyton and Clerk Kay Travis were also present. Absent was Councilman Keith Farrell.  After a prayer by Councilman Frederick, Mayor Gooch opened with the reading of past minutes, and a motion to accept them was approved.  

Leonard withdraws motions; Rogers to be next Family Court Judge

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

The race for Family Court Judge officially came to an end last Tuesday when Providence attorney Ben Leonard entered a plea for the withdrawl of motions that were currently active.

Providence Fire Department Toys for Tots distribution

Toys for Tots

  The Providence Toys for Tots toy distribution will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19 at the Providence Community Center. All families on the list need to pick their boxes up at that time. There will be no deliveries. For more information call Keith Farrell at 270-667-3801.

Fiscal Court Approves Flood Variance Board

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

On Monday, the Webster County Fiscal Court approved the second reading of an amendment to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance that was approved earlier this year. 

Sebree Council considers litigation against contractor

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Sebree City Council met in a special called meeting on Wednesday night for the purpose of holding a closed session to discuss possible litigation against Grimes Construction Company, INC. of Paris, KY, the firm handling the city’s $1.2 million waterline rehabilitation project.

On May 15, 2014, the city entered into a contract with Grimes to replace 35,000 feet of outdated and often leaky water lines within the city, and replace 160 water meters with new ‘radio read’ meters. The total bid on the project was $1,174,734.50 and was supposed to be completed within six months.

Sebree Council discusses renewal of KU Franchise

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Sebree City Council met in a very breif session on Monday night with only one item on the agenda.

That item is the pending experation of the city’s twenty year franchise agreement with Kentucky Utilities (KU). This is the agreement which allows KU to sell electric power within the city and allows the city to collect tax revenue from that sale.

Providence Council to adopt Title IV of Civil Rights Act

by STEVE SHOOTS

The Providence City Council met Monday evening with Mayor Eddie Gooch presiding.  

Council Members present were Keith Farrell, Tom Skinner, Doug Hammers, Scott Frederick and Delores Overby.  City Attorney Richard Peyton and Clerk Kay Travis were also present. Absent was Councilwoman Shannon Cole Layton.  Prior to the start of the meeting, the Mayor and Council members, who were all re-elected last month, were sworn into office for their next term.