Ohio County Times

Fletcher draws crowd at chamber lunch

Nobody was expecting Gov. Ernie Fletcher to have his hand in his pocket when he visited the Ohio County Senior Center Tuesday at the invitation of the Ohio County Chamber of Commerce. But, he pulled that hand out prior to leaving the noon luncheon and with it came a $250,000 check to improve the county’s broadband system. Fletcher, speaking before a packed meeting and activities room at the center, cited the importance of broadband in helping to achieve Ohio County’s economic goals and providing a faster and more efficient internet service to all of the county’s residents. “This was a very welcome surprise from the governor,” said David Moore, president of the Chamber. “We just wanted to thank him for all he’s done for our county and here he comes with even more.”

Local wheat crop destroyed by cold:

Estimated loss statewide over $40 million

Spring-like conditions have made their way back into Ohio County and the surrounding area but not before a second bout of winter did some serious damage to selected crops and a lot of trees and shrubs. The trees and shrubs, perhaps, will rebound but winter wheat took it on the chin and the county’s fruit trees will have to wait for another year and another spring to produce. “We had four days in a row of freezing temperatures and a toll certainly was taken,” said County Extension Agent Greg Comer. Comer said winter wheat’s growing point — that part of the plant that actually produces the grain — was hard-hit by the freezing temperatures and most of the crop likely will be rendered useless. “We’ll be getting back to some warmer temperatures this week and that will give us a chance to get into the wheat fields and see exactly where we stand,” Comer said. “But right now it looks like wheat farmers will simply have to cut down their crops and look to planting something else.” Dr. Chad Lee, a grain crop specialist from the University of Kentucky, inspected the county’s wheat and corn conditions, giving local farmers an idea of their losses. Lee said the two weeks of 80-degree temperatures in late March and early April caused the wheat to grow rapidly, exposing it to frost from the freezing temperatures that came over a four-day span.

HANDS program guiding new parents

The Health Access Nurturing Development Services of Kentucky is in its 15th year of involvement with Ohio County Health Department. Also known as HANDS, the program follows first time parents from the early stages of pregnancy up to the child’s second year. The pilot program for HANDS was developed in Hawaii. There is now a similar program in almost every state. HANDS is a service provided by the local health department and is free to those who qualify. “Nothing we tell families is earth shattering; it’s not rocket science,” said RN Linda Ballard who supervises the HANDS program in Ohio, Hancock and McLean counties. “HANDS tries to help educate the parents because they don’t have a manual.”

Hartford man turns 100, celebrates anniversary

Ida Magan, left, watches as Maggie Maden wishes Stanley Magan a happy 100th birthday last Thursday. The Magans also celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary the same day.

Who turns 100 years old, celebrates a wedding anniversary, receives the Hartford Sorehead Award and becomes a Kentucky Colonel in the same day? That distinction belongs to Hartford resident Stanley Magan who greeted guests with his 93-year-old wife, Ida, starting at 7 a.m. last Thursday until late into the afternoon. “We’ve been partying since we woke up,” Ida said. “I’m wore out. I wouldn’t want to do this everyday.”