Snow covers downtown Beaver Dam on Friday night. The county received close to 5 inches from the winter storm that started Friday evening and lasted into Saturday morning.
Ralph worried about state coming
after reserves
The Ohio County School System is preparing itself to go on a spending spree.
However, it will only be done if the state comes calling for the extra money that county school districts have in reserves — such as money used for local construction.
Ohio County Superintendent Soretta Ralph told school board members last Thursday night that the state could go after the reserve funds to help balance its $1.5 billion budget shortfall over the next two-year cycle.
Ralph said she thought the state had backed off the idea but House Speaker Greg Stumbo is keeping the school money-grabbing option alive.
“They politely say the school districts have $800 million among 174 of us,” Ralph said. “They obviously know where to get the money. I think that, as board members and as a superintendent, we need to be thinking about things in the district that need to be done. I don’t want to spend money but one thing worse than spending it is letting someone just take it away after we’ve collected it.”
The Ohio County school system has $2.7 million in construction funds that could be targeted by the state.
Ralph threw out a list of items the board could submit to the Kentucky Department of Education as a BG1, earmarking money for certain projects. Once the BG1 is filed, the school board has up to a year to start the proposed projects before the request expires.
Possible projects included awnings for Beaver Dam and Wayland elementary schools (estimated at $100,000 for both), upgrade heating and cooling system for Ohio County High School (estimated at $500,000), new heating and air controls for Ohio County Middle School (estimated at $80,000), auxiliary gym, a practice area for wrestling team and pay raises for staff.
“We have saved to do these things over time so we’re not having a big expense,” Ralph said. “We can say that our money is set aside for this. If they’re going make a move at the state level, it’s not going to occur until the very end of March.”
No-snow day decision based on safety,says superintendent
What’s good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander.
The goose, in this case, would be students who enjoy sacking in on class-free snow days.
The gander, conversely, would be those school administrators whose job it is to keep a pulse on potentially adverse weather conditions — conditions that could compromise the safety of students.
Ohio County School Superintendent Soretta Ralph is one of those empowered with the authority to say when it’s safe or not safe for school buses loaded with children to traverse the county’s highways and byways.
And it was Ralph, last Friday, who ended up questioning her own judgment in calling off classes long before the first drop of snow from a predicted severe winter storm ever fell.
Jason Crabb wins first Grammy for debut solo album
Beaver Dam native Jason Crabb won his first Grammy at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards pre-telecast ceremony held Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
He won music’s top award for Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album for his self-titled debut recording.
Crabb’s album was up against four other nominees — Ernie Haase & Signature Sound for “Dream On,” Tracy Lawrence for “The Rock,” Barry Scott & Second Wind for “In God’s Time” and the Triumphant Quartet for “Everyday.”
The album was released on June 30, 2009, and debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Christian/Gospel Retail chart.
The first track on the album, “Somebody Like Me,” is receiving airplay at country stations, while “Walk On Water” reached No. 1 on The Singing News southern gospel chart.
Crabb is a 1996 Ohio County High School graduate who honed his singing skills with his siblings as part of the southern gospel group, the Crabb Family.
Train hits car, driver charged with DUI
A Beaver Dam woman, charged with a DUI, avoided injury after her car was struck by a train on Friday night.
According to the Kentucky State Police report, Christina Moore, 37, was traveling on Highland Drive in McHenry when she lost control of her vehicle while trying to slow down for a stop sign at Kentucky 1245.
The vehicle slid across the railroad tracks and into a guardrail.
Moore was unable to remove the car’s back end off the tracks before it was hit by a CFX train that was being operated by 50-year-old Gary D. Maxie of Princeton.
Hartford woman files civil rights suit
against Owensboro community college
A civil action has been filed against Owensboro Community and Technical College by a Hartford woman who claims her civil rights have been violated, along with her efforts to assist a disabled student.
Linda L. McCollum, a former full-time employee at the college, is seeking unspecified damages in the suit filed in December in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green.
McCollum’s job description at OCTC was instructional specialist in the Teaching and Learning Center. Her primary duties included providing academic support by tutoring English, maintaining the Teaching and Learning Center Web site, determining the placement testing areas for students, providing remediation and preparation for Compass testing and helping to administer Compass testing, providing TLC reports, and workshop advertisements as needed.
The suit cliams it was her attempts to provide accommodations and enforce a disabled student’s civil rights that led to her problems with the college and personal distress.
In January 2008, the civil action states, a blind student, heretofore referred to only as K.A., enrolled at OCTC and immediately experienced difficulty locating classrooms and restrooms because of the absence of Braille signs required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
02-04-10
Jackie Wayne Sebastian
Jackie Wayne Sebastian, 71, of Beaver Dam, passed away, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at Owensboro Medical Health System in Owensboro. He was born Oct. 9, 1938, to the late Harold Sebastian and the late Lucille Heflin McDaniels in McHenry. He was a truck driver for Smith Brothers Logging.
He is survived by three sons, Richard Sebastian of Fremont, Ohio, Terry Sebastian of Stevensville, Mich., and Bobby Sebastian of Hot Springs, Ark.; one daughter, Misty Smith of Fremont, Ohio; one brother, Roger Sebastian of Eau Claire, Mich.; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam. Burial will be in Central Grove Cemetery near Centertown. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence can be made at www.danksfuneralhome.com.
Louis M. Baxter
Louis M. Baxter, 73, of Pleasant Ridge, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center.
He was born Feb. 5, 1936, in Owings Mills, Md., and was retired from Zielinski Construction. He was presently employed at Ken-Way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Erna Baxter; three brothers; and four sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, June McKinley Baxter; daughter Teresa (Bob) French of Whitesville; son Kevin (Michelle) Baxter of Owensboro; sisters, Carolyn (Jerry) Fuller, of Winterville N.C., Joshphine (Tom) Zissomis of Woodruff, S.C., Linda Powell of Pleasant Ridge and Sherry McKinley of Owensboro. Also surviving are Kody Vanover, who was like a grandson, and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. at Cecil Funeral Home in Whitesville. Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to St. Jude’s.
Phillip Darrell Hedden
Phillip Darrell “Pappaw” Hedden, 65, of Owensboro, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at his home. He was born Feb. 8, 1944, in Fordsville to the late Ira Lee and Bertha Wells Hedden.
He worked for Texaco, Inc. for 20 years and was a Kentucky Colonel. He was a member of Owensboro Christian Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, C.L. Hedden and Richard “Dick” Hedden; and a sister, Sherry Dianne Kelly.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Corine Harley Hedden, whom he married on Aug. 13, 1960; his children, Dianne Lynn Hedden, Brenda Faye Whitaker, Lisa Ann Storm and Phyllis Kaye Nies; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, David Hedden; and a sister, Linda Boswell.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Chapel of James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro. Entombment followed in Owensboro Memorial Gardens.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Owensboro Christian Church, 2818 New Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303, or to Owensboro Regional Recovery Center, 42301 Veach Road, Owensboro, KY 42303.
Online messages of condolence may be made at www.davisfuneralhome.com.
Lois Davison Mann
Lois Davison Mann, 89, passed into eternal life on Jan. 31, 2010, in Louisville where she moved from Warner Robins, Ga., in 2007 to be with her niece, Sharon Edge and her husband, Denzil Edge.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry McHenry Davison and Ora Milam Davison; her husband, Colonel (Air Force Retired) Olin Mann; brothers, Russell Davison, Maurice Davison, Preston Davison; and sisters, Mabel Davison Midkiff (Bayard) and Hathaway Davison Stone (Ernest).
She is survived by her cousins, Betty Davison and Buda Patton; nephews, Bobby Davison and Darrel Stone; and nieces, Sharon (Midkiff) Edge, Merlene (Davison) Mattingly and Denise (Stone) Hopson.
She was a member of Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Ga. She was a graduate of Fordsville High School, Owensboro Business College, and Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga. She was an avid golfer and gardener, and was a member of the Heart of Georgia Quilt Guild and the Robins Officers’ Spouses’ Club. She dealt in small antiques and collectibles and enjoyed her cats.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Geary Funeral Home in Fordsville. Prior to burial with her beloved husband, a graveside service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 4, at Andersonville National Historic Cemetery in Andersonville, Ga.
Memorial gifts in honor of Lois Mann’s life may be made to Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Ga., or to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Pattiville.
Randall Lee Dowell
Randall Lee Dowell, 46, of Powell, Tenn., formerly of Ohio County, passed away at his residence in Tennessee on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. He was born June 20, 1963, in East Chicago, Ind., to James Dowell and the late Sharon Kay Blackman Dowell.
He was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Beaver Dam and worked in construction for Bryan Turner Construction in the Knoxville area.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Sharon Kay Dowell; and his brother, James Randall Dowell.
Survivors include his father, James Dowell of Beaver Dam; and one brother, Steve Dowell of Alexandria, Ky.
Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 1, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Rev. Glenn Armstrong officiating. Burial was in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam.
Online messages of condolence can be made at www.danksfuneralhome.com.
Jean Slack Phillips
Jean Slack Phillips, 79, of Fordsville, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at Owensboro Medical Health System. She was born in Ohio County and was retired from Kimballs. She was a member of Black Lick Baptist church.
Survivors include two sons, Raymond Patterson and Kenny Patterson and wife Tina, all of Fordsville; one grandson, Joshua Patterson of Owensboro; one brother, Jessie Slack of Owensboro; and three sisters, Elizabeth Green of West Louisville, Nanette Matingly and Dimple Puckett, both of Fordsville.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 31, at Geary Funeral Home in Fordsville with burial in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Pattiville.
Hubert N. Warren
Hubert N. Warren, 88, of Beaver Dam, passed away, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at Owensboro Medical Health System in Owensboro. He was born Sept. 4, 1921, in Cleaton, Ky., to the late Loarn and Mollie Miller Warren.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, a member of Beaver Dam Church of Christ, and a maintenance supervisor for U.S. Naval Air Station in San Diego, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Guyton Warren; his second wife, Ellen McBride; his sisters, Lena Johnson, Zelma Leisure, Dorothy Wilson and Iva McNutt; and brothers, Wendell Lee and Dayton Warren.
Survivors include his daughter, Nancy Warren of Mesa, Ariz.; brother, Farrell Warren of Beaver Dam; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 1, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam. Burial was in Warren Mill Cemetery in Butler County.
Online messages of condolence can be made at www.danksfuneralhome.com.
Winnie D. Ellis
Winnie Dean Ellis, 82, of Hartford, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. She was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Ohio County to the late Cecil Westerfield and Lora V. Hoover Westerfield.
She was a retired ward clerk for Ohio County Hospital and caregiver to several families of Ohio County. She was a member of Living Faith Baptist Church in Hartford and enjoyed knitting, crochet, gardening, mowing the yard and playing with her dog, Fred.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hansford W. Ellis, who died Sept. 26, 1996.
She is survived by her son, Allen “Bud” Ellis and his wife Sue of Beaver Dam; daughters, Carol Lamar and Ann Carter and husband Roger, all of Beaver Dam; grandchildren, Darren Porter, Latrisha (Richard) Sampson, Raymond (Cyndi) Lamar, Jeff Porter, Cindy (Robbie) Sandefur, Lori (Matt) Stewart and Kimberly Carter; great-grandchildren, Nikki Porter, Erica Lamar, Darren Michael Porter, Jacob Sampson, Janeanne Porter, Bo Sandefur, Jessica Sampson, Blake Sandefur, Emily Porter, Julia Stewart and Dallen Stewart; a brother, Java “Jake” Westerfield of Beaver Dam; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 29, at Miller-Schapmire Funeral Home in Hartford with Brother Kenny Rager officiating. Burial was in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam.
The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Living Faith Baptist Church Building Fund, 6515 U.S. Hwy. 231, Hartford, KY 42347.
William D. Hedden
William Denton Hedden, 90, of Ballwin, Mo., formerly of Fordsville, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, in Ballwin. He was born in Fordsville and was retired from Chrysler. He was a WWII veteran, having served in the Army,
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Anola Hedden.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Sue Hedden of Ballwin; four sons, Jerry Hedden of Robards, Darrell Hedden of Central City, Gary Hedden of Ballwin and Stuart Hedden of Pacific, Mo.; three daughters, Lora Hicks of Euriek, Mo., Linda White of Alexandria, Ind., and Toni Sue Braun of Mehlville, Mo.; one brother, Pete Hedden of Fordsville; one sister, Marion Young of Fordsville; 16 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 30, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Pattiville, with burial in Pleasant Grove Cemetery with military honors.
Betty J. Powers
Betty J. Powers, 81, of Orange City, Fla., formerly of Mantanzas, passed away Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010. She was born in Lubbock, Texas, the daughter of Boyd S. and Pearl Gallemore Collett.
She married Jesse Powers of Matanzas on Feb. 8, 1946, in San Angelo, Texas, while Jesse was stationed at Goodfellow Air Base. They were blessed with over 63 years of marriage and a wonderful family which includes: her husband, Jesse; children, Linda Johnson (Kevin) of Bunnell, Fla., Jesse Mike (Juanita) of Deltona, Fla., George (Denise) of Jonesboro, Ga., and Judy Turner of Bunnell, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 28, at Baldauff Family Funeral Home in Orange City, Fla. Entombment was in Deltona Memorial Cemetery in Florida.
02-04-10
Hagerman inks pact with Campbellsville
OC Lady Eagle senior goalkeeper Brandie Hagerman officially signed to play soccer for Campbellsville University last Thursday at the media center at Ohio County High School. Pictured L-to-R sitting: Hagerman and her mother Becky Baird. Standing: Campbellsville University women’s head soccer coach Thom Jones, father Chris Baird and OC Lady Eagle head soccer coach Chuck Adams.
Ohio County Lady Eagle standout goalkeeper Brandie Hagerman signed a national letter-of-intent last week to play collegiate soccer next year at Campbellsville University. Hagerman signed the scholarship offer with Campbellsville coach Thom Jones last Wednesday, Jan. 27, surrounded by family, coaches, teammates, and school administrators in OCHS’ Media Center.
Despite having to bide her time for two seasons, backing up former Lady Eagle goalkeeper Jordan Cummings while getting some playing time in the midfield (2 goals and 1 assist), Hagerman put together an impressive resume in her two full seasons minding the Ohio County goal. The Lady Eagles put together identical 17-4 records in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, winning the Third Region championship in ‘08 and going undefeated and untied against Third Region in the regular season.
Eagles shoot down Marksmen 67-59 Monday night
The Ohio County Eagles used excellent defense and a balanced scoring attack to beat host Tell City 67-59 in a game played Monday night at Tell City, Indiana. Monday’s win pushed Paul Decker’s Eagles to 14-5 on the year.
This Tuesday, Feb. 2, Ohio County’s boys were scheduled to face Apollo in the nightcap of a girl/boy varsity doubleheader at the OCHS gym. This Friday the Eagles host Meade County, and next Tuesday, Feb. 9, play host to Edmonson County to complete their final three-game homestand. Tuesday’s game will also be Senior Night as five Eagles will be playing their final home games at Ohio County High. The seniors – Jeremiah Baxley, Raines Evans, Kellen Fleener, Heath Garner, and Zach Geary – will be honored prior to the tipoff of the Eagle/Wildcat game.
Local weather playing havoc with basketball schedule
Last weekend’s snow and cold weather forced the cancellation of an Ohio County High boys’ basketball game as well as one Lady Eagle contest. Ohio County’s boys were slated to travel to Tell City, Ind., Friday night, Jan. 29, while the OCHS girls were set to visit Webster County on Saturday. It was not known at presstime this week if either game will be rescheduled.
This Tuesday night, Feb. 2, Ohio County High was scheduled to host a unique girl/boy varsity doubleheader – unique in that the two contests were against different opponents. Tuesday’s girls’ game pitted the OCHS Lady Eagles against Madisonville-North Hopkins while the Ohio County boys were to take on Apollo.
Coach Ted Hill’s girls have a busy week planned as they travel to Daviess County this Friday, play host to 10th District rival Muhlenberg County on Saturday, and next Monday, Feb. 8, prepare for a visit by Owensboro Catholic’s Lady Aces – fresh from a semifinal appearance in last week’s “All A” state tournament.
This Friday, coach Paul Decker’s Eagles are slated to host Meade County and next Tuesday, Feb. 9, welcome in Edmonson County to the “friendly confines” of the OCHS gym.
OC Eagle wrestling team falls to DC Panthers
Ohio County High School’s wrestling team took four of the seven matches contested last Tuesday at Daviess County, but fell as a team to the host Panthers as the Eagles were forced to forfeit six weight classes. The “walkovers” gave Daviess County a final 45-30 win in team points.
Ohio County’s appearance in last Saturday’s Fort Knox Invitational was cancelled due to bad weather and treacherous road conditions. The Eagles are slated to return to action this Saturday, Feb. 6, at the annual Blue and Grey Invitational at Fort Campbell, with the Ohio County Middle School grapplers scheduled to compete in the State Middle School championships that same day.
OC collegiate roundup
Catching up with Ohio County alumni in the collegiate basketball ranks:
*University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (senior guard Matt Karn) – season record 13-8, 1-5 in Big 12 Conference; beat Oklahoma 63-46 at home last Saturday; hosted Kansas State this Tuesday, Feb. 2, at UN’s Devaney Center gym; Matt is averaging 1.0 ppg. in nine appearances, hitting 60 percent from three-point range (3 of 5).
*DePauw University Tigers (junior guard Lauren Goff) – season record 17-3, 10-1 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference; beat Colorado College 81-66 last Saturday; play at Centre College this Saturday, Feb. 6; Lauren has played in all 20 games, averaging 6.9 ppg. (sixth-best on team), with 35 three-point baskets (second on team), 31 steals (team-best), and 32 assists (fourth-best).
Sports Briefs:
Lady Eagles making up varsity game at OCMS
Ohio County High’s Lady Eagles will host the Hopkins County Central Storm next Saturday evening, Feb. 13, in a game to be played at the Ohio County Middle School gym. Junior varsity action is set to tip off at 6 p.m. with the Lady Eagle/Lady Storm varsity matchup at around 7:30.
The game is a make-up of one postponed from Jan. 7, due to hazardous weather conditions. The move to the OCMS gym was necessitated by Ohio County High School’ hosting of the Region I Wrestling Championships that same day.
GRVC Conference title game slated for tonight
The local middle school basketball season is quickly drawing to a close, with the Ohio County Middle School Eagles competing in the Green River Valley Conference post-season tournament. The GRVC tournament was scheduled to start last Saturday, Jan. 30, and run this Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at Butler County Middle School in Morgantown. Both the seventh and eighth grade conference championships were to be played Thursday, but last weekend’s hazardous weather forced the postponement of opening-round play.
Revised tournament pairings were unavailable this week at presstime.
OC Youth Baseball early bird sign-ups Saturday
The Ohio County Little League will be having its “early bird” sign-ups Feb. 6 at the Beaver Dam and Wayland Elementary schools.
The sign-up sessions will be from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and those signing up will be doing so at a discounted price.
Anyone wanting more information can call: 270-274-8213 or e-mail: boardmembers@ocyouthbaseball.com.
02-04-10
For News Tips call 270-298-7100 or email ohio.co.times@octimesnews.com
Cost of newspaper .50 cents
Display Advertising- Ad Manager 298-3338, ads@octimesnews.com
Per column Inch (11 picas or 1.75" wide) $5.25
1/4 page -------------$165.38
1/2 page advertisement---------- $330.75
FULL PAGE advertisement------ $661.50
Spot Color------------------$100.00 per color
4 Color $200.00
Classified Advertising
30 words or less $6.75 Additional words 10 cents each
Pre-Prints
Four Pages (8 Page Tab) or Less $375.00
Five Pages (10 Page Tab) to 16 $475.00
Over 16 Pages - - - - Call for Price
12 month subscription rate
Ohio County -------------- $25.94 plus $1.56 sales tax $27.50
Out of county-- $28.02 plus $1.68 sales tax $29.70
Outside of State----------- $32.00
For Subscription call 270-298-7100. We take Visa and Mastercard
The Ohio County Times-News is published weekly on Thursday.
Deadline for receiving advertising is 12 noon Tuesday.
For subscription call 270-298-7100
