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County bows out of ConnectGRADD: Fiscal Court cites budget shortfalls

The Ohio County Fiscal Court decided Tuesday to bow out of the ConnectGRADD project after citing too many financial burdens that it’s now facing. By backing out, Ohio County is the only one of the seven GRADD counties to withdraw from the $2.3 million broadband initiative. “We have a bridge in the Fourth District that needs fixing,” Judge-Executive David Jones said. “It’s a school bus route and we don’t have any alternative but to replace it. I’m not saying ConnectGRADD isn’t a good thing but this bridge has to be a priority. I’m not going to have a bridge go out with a school bus on it. Not on my watch.” The Fiscal Court plans to replace the bridge with the $250,000 coal severance money that was delivered in April by Gov. Ernie Fletcher for broadband expansion. The county will now have to change the designation of the funds with the state before it can be applied to the bridge.

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Local Relay for Life sets $60,000 goal: Event set for June 8 at OCHS track

Want something to do this summer that merits good cause and helps a needy foundation? Come on down to Relay For Life June 8-June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Ohio County High School track. Debi Puckett, coordinator for this event, says this year’s theme is Cancer Never Takes a Holiday, and they have 28 teams already signed up.
Last year they surpassed their goal of $60,000 with $82,000, and this year they have the same. “It’s just a night full of activities and celebration,” Puckett said.

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Gas prices affecting government budgets

The high price of today’s gasoline is affecting more than just those of us who operate our personal vehicles. In fact, the painful experience is hitting some operators even harder and that is leading to a double financial whammy in the average household. By way of explanation. The average car owner with an average-size gasoline tank is spending about $50 to get that tank filled. That’s a nice chunk of change by any standard — especially when you think back to the early 1970s when some gas sold for about a quarter a gallon. But the costs do not stop there. After using some of the gas you just purchased to get you to your favorite grocery outlet, you find the groceries you wanted also are costing more because somebody else also had to pay more for gas.

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Crowd drawn to Strawberry Fest despite heat

The streets of downtown Beaver Dam were filled with people and the sweet smell of strawberries this past weekend during the Strawberry Festival. The festival opened up with some dancing and karaoke Friday by JAMCO Entertainment, which paved the road for the fun-filled weekend. Mayor Mary Pate welcomed all of Ohio County to the weekend’s events Saturday morning, Following Pate’s speech, a baby contest, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver Dam, and Young Miss Strawberry Queen were among the few contests that took place at the stage behind Kentucky Trust Bank. Cartwright Country & Ohio County Square Dancers also performed.

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School calender puts students in class Aug. 7

With the last school year just completed, the Ohio County Board of Education already has set the dates for the 2007-2008 calendar year. Spanning all or parts of 10 months, the calendar features one month — February — with no days off, and one month, September, with only one day off. And when all is said and done, 187 teaching days will be wrapped around spring break, Christmas break, four professional days, four holidays, and two activity planning days. The only hitch in the (git)-a-long would be the making up of days should more than 10 instructional days be missed because of inclement weather or other reasons. It all gets started again when school doors open on August 6, 2007, for teachers only. Students start passing through those doors on August 7.

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