Ohio County Times

Dressed in their St. Patrick’s Day attire, members of the Ohio County Extension Office, walk their first ceremonial lap during last Friday’s Relay for Life on the Ohio County High School track. This year’s theme was “Cancer Never Takes a Holiday.”

Relay for Life raises $68,000

The seventh annual Ohio County Relay for Life surpassed its goal of $60,000 after hosting its annual event Friday and Saturday on the Ohio County High School. Debi Puckett, chair-woman of the local Relay for Life, said $68,000 was collected through corporate sponsors and by the teams that participated in the fundraiser. “It was a huge success,” said Puckett who is in her third year chairing the event. “It was the best team-wise we’ve had in a few years.”

Ralph says she never had a ‘hidden agenda’ against Horse Branch

It was a matter of Superintendent Soretta Ralph clearing the air at a recent meeting of the Ohio County Board of Education. Ralph, who has come under considerable heat in dealing with the controversial Horse Branch Elementary school issue, took the time to address key elements in the ongoing controversy and to explain her position as superintendent. At stake is the future of a school that has been declared transitional by the Kentucky Department of Education and what its role in the Ohio County school system will be. A transitional classification means that only a limited amount of money can be spent on the facility. Not included in those restrictions would be areas involving health and safety. Ralph focused her defense on charges that she has a “hidden agenda” to close the school, that she does not care about Horse Branch Elementary, and that she has not kept the school board properly informed about certain information and her recommendations.

Macs benefitting students, cancer research: Grant made 169 Macs possible for school system

Kim Farris, the school system’s director of technology, stands with Chad Alward, technology resource teacher, computer lab of 21 Macs at Ohio County School that only had six Macs at the beginning of last year. The Macs will be used by students and collect data for cancer research.

The Ohio County School System has found a way to provide an educational tool for its students and advance cancer research at the same time. A grant through the Kentucky Dataseam Initiative made it possible for 169 new Macintosh (Mac) computers to be ready for the upcoming school year. This program places state-of-the-art computers in the classrooms while using them to power research data for state universities. Chad Alward, technology resource teacher, brought the grant to the school system’s attention. Once he received the OK from his boss Kim Farris, Alward said he made it his mission to get as many Mac computers as he could. “We applied for 150 computers,” Alward said. “But if we were approved 50, we thought that would be great.”

Lewis horse classic ‘impacting’ lives of handicapped riders

Jessie Smith, a 10-year-old equestrian, raises his fist in the air as he reacts to finishing the poll bending event at Saturday’s Megan Lewis Memorial Classic.

Kim Smith and her family have been coming to the Megan Lewis Memorial Classic for the past three years. Smith’s son, Jessie, a 10-year-old equestrian, competed in the pole bending and relay categories. Smith, who apprenticed with the Leaches on their farm for a few years, opened up her own ranch in Booneville. This is the first year they have opened their independent ranch called Helping Hand Ranch. Smith said that she loves coming to the Megan Lewis Memorial Classic because every member is allowed to take part in the activities. “Anytime you get on a horse it impacts your life for the better,” Smith said.

12th annual Taste of Ohio County set for June 26

The 12th annual Taste of Ohio County will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday, June 26, at the Ohio County High School’s gymnasium. The event, which began in 1995, is an annual fundraiser for Tamarlane Industries. Restaurants and local food distributors participate in professional and amateur competitions, and provide food for the community to enjoy. All ticket donations go to Tamarlane Industries. Richard Goodall and Chef Anthony Tong began Taste of Ohio County as a benefit for Tamarlane Industries, which is a non-profit, sub-contract workshop.