County Ag Agent Mike Reed

Mid Life Crisis

For those who know me well, you know I have driven a white Dodge truck for several years-going on ten. With that old truck, I have carried out ten field days, ten county fairs, and traveled through many fields and farms throughout the county. 

I have hauled many tables and chairs for events, several loads of pumpkins, wood, wire and metal, and numerous loads of junk from here to there. My daughters have referred to the white truck as the junk truck, more than once.  They often were completely embarrassed by being dropped off in the front of school in the “junk truck” loaded up while headed toward the transfer station.  

While it may not look like much, over the years, it has served me well. There are a few dents, bumps and rust spots, on the exterior, but it still is in fairly good running condition. Mike Lockard and the good Lord, have kept it running for years. 

This month, the white truck will be put in semi-retirement as I will be driving another vehicle. 

My dad always loved a red truck.  I remember at least three that were parked in our driveway growing up.  He just liked the color. His most recent was a RED 2005 Chevy Silverado.  It was nice with heated leather seats, On-star and all the bells and whistles that a new truck could have at that time. He drove it regularly with his old dog Reese, from one farm to the other. It was his pride and joy.

When he died in February, my mother could not stand to part with his truck.  That vehicle was his second home, escorting him from field to field as he daily checked the conditions of the hay fields, beef cattle and wild turkeys which daily grazed the hillsides of home. It belonged in his driveway.

But time has a way of healing, somewhat and my mother and my brother talked during the Labor Day weekend and decided to sell Dad’s truck to me. I was in the market for one any way. It only had 21,000 miles on it and he was the original owner. It has been taken care of-except for the dog riding side saddle.  

Driving his truck down the roads of Powell County now has somewhat of a bittersweet feeling. I certainly did not want this or any other truck this way. I wish he were still driving it instead of me, but I know he would want me to have it. I am proud to be able to drive it in his memory.

As everyone in the community knows now, I turned 50 last week. They say that all men have to have a mid-life crisis. I guess for mine, I will simply drive a red truck.  

Beekeepers have additional funds

The Powell County Beekeepers Association met last month and have a few funds left in this year to assist beekeepers or beginning beekeepers this fall. Applications for up to $150 per producer cost share will be available on Monday, Oct. 19 at the Powell County Extension Office. 

Funds for this program will be for the purchase of beekeeping supplies, and or medicines to treat bees with this fall. The cost share will be for $150 (you spend $300/ get half back).

Applications will be available on Oct. 19 through Oct. 26. All applications must be post marked and mailed by Oct. 26.  For more details contact me at 663-6405. 

Beef Producers Invited

All Powell County beef producers are invited to attend a beef cattle meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.  This meeting will feature Mr. Joe Sparrow from Alltech and will deal with winter feeding and the necessary vitamins and minerals beef cattle need to stay healthy. 

Meal reservations are necessary by calling the Powell County Extension Office at 663-6405 by noon on Oct. 22. 

 Winding Down

Last Sunday and Monday’s visit by Jack frost in the valley has put an end to the 2009 growing season, but there may be a couple of days left to redeem your farmers Market coupons.  All coupons must be used for some type of fruit or vegetable by Oct. 30, 2009.  All Farmer’s market vendors have until Nov. 2, 2009 to sign and place their farm number on each coupon and redeem them at their local bank.  This has been a trying and troubling growing season for our farmers this year, so each coupon is valuable. Don’t forget to redeem them this week!

 Kentucky Beef Conference 

“Planning Today for Tomorrow’s Markets” will be the theme for the 2009 Kentucky Beef Conference to be held next week-Oct. 27 at the Fayette County Extension Office.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and will feature Mr. Randy Blanch, Executive Vice President of Cattle-FAX, a widely received and well know distributor of cattle market information across the world. 

Other University of Kentucky beef cattle specialists and economists will present programs concerning the future of the beef industry in Kentucky and prices beef cattle producers can expect in the near future. 

Any Powell county beef cattle producer who would like to attend with me should call me by Monday morning to let me know that they are interested in going along for the day. The registration for this meeting is $10 which includes the noon meal.  All beef cattle producers are welcomed to attend.

Kentucky River Foothills is encouraging senior citizens on fixed incomes, individuals dealing with short-term financial difficulties, and low-income persons who may need help paying their winter heating bills to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  LIHEAP is intended to assist low-income families with managing their energy costs.

Foothills will begin taking LIHEAP applications alphabetically based on the first letter of the head of household’s last name on Monday, Nov. 2at the Foothills Outreach Office located at 176 Twelfth Street in Clay City.  Eligible participants can apply for assistance to help with energy cost. Applications will be taken through Dec. 11, 2009.

LIHEAP is a statewide initiative sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Community Action Inc. in partnership with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).  The program provides annual grants to states operating home energy assistance programs that serve needy households that are facing significant price increases for heating oil, natural gas and propane.  

To apply, participants must bring a picture ID, proof of income for all family members, the names, birth dates and social security numbers of all household members.  Participants must bring proof of housing type (lease, Section 8 certification, Housing Authority statement, deed or rent receipt).  Participants must also bring their most recent heating bill or verification from their landlord that the heating expenses are included in their rent. 

Individuals who are unable to apply for themselves may send an authorized individual to apply for them.  If this is the case you should contact Foothills at 663-2659.  Both homeowners and renters who are responsible for their heating bills and have a low or fixed income are eligible. 

Applications will be taken Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.  The office is closed from noon – 1 p.m.  Applications will be taken in alphabetical order based on the first letter of the head of household’s last name using the following schedule:

November 2 A November 16 F, G December 1 N, O,P

November 3 Staff Day November 17 H December 2 Q,R

November 4 B November 18 H December 3 S

November 5 B November 19 I, J December 7 S

November 9 C November 23 K, L December 8 T

November 10 C November 24 M December 9 U, V,W

November 11 Staff Day November 25 Staff Day December 10X, Y, Z

November 12 D, E November 30 M December 1 OPEN

 

If you have a disconnect notice or are unavailable to come in on the day your last name falls on, you can come on another day.  Qualifying participants will receive an energy assistance voucher.  Energy services include electric, gas, kerosene, propane or wood. Eligible participants do not need to have an unpaid energy bill or be out of fuel to receive energy assistance in the subsidy portion of the program.    

The benefit amount that each household receives will be based on its level of poverty and the type of fuel used for heating.  All eligible households will receive a benefit.  Benefits will be made payable to the household’s primary or secondary heating fuel vendor.  

LIHEAP has established income guidelines to determine eligibility. For the 2009-2010 program year, the income guidelines are:

Household Size – Gross Monthly Income

 1-$1,174

2- $1,579

3 –$1,984

4 –$2,389

5 –$2,794

6- $3,200

7 –$3,605

8 – $4,010

 

* Add $406 for each additional family member

Interested energy customers can find out more how to apply for LIHEAP/heating assistance by contacting the Powell County Outreach Office at 663-2659.

IMPORTANT: If you are sick or have the flu, please call the Outreach Office first to make other arrangements.

Special to the Times

Locals appear and work on new Disney Movie, Secretariat

 

 

 

Robert Stokley and son Keegan recently appeared and worked on the new Disney motion picture file, Secretariat, at Keeneland Raceway, one of several locations where the film is being shot.  Keegan’s dad, Robert was cast as a press reporter extra, along with other extra reporters; appear in a scene with John Malcovich playing Secretariat’s trainer and Diane Lane as Secretariat’s owner.  

 

The characters were being asked questions concerning Secretariat and the horse Sham, which had been running a close second to Secretariat in the past two races.  Robert stated, “Malcovich is one of my favorite actors, and no I did not get his autograph for it is kind of unprofessional on set, but I wanted to!”  

Keegan Stokley, however, worked on the film/movie as a Grip which has to do with the lighting of the sets.  Keegan worked on the Keeneland and Churchhill Downs location shoots here in Kentucky and is currently in Louisiana continuing with the rest of the film’s shooting locations.  Robert and Keegan both hold a degree in film production and attended the same college together in Orlando, Florida.  

Both Robert and son Keegan work on independent films from time to time, Robert as a second assistant director and son, as mentioned earlier, a Key Grip, with grip and lighting.  This was the first major motion picture film where both, father and son have worked together on.  

Robert and Keegan both say it’s great working on films, and they had rather work on motion pictures then eat.  Keegan wants to have his own production company some day and Robert wants to finish a script/screenplay he’s writing on and hopefully get produced someday.  

Keegan is the grandson of David and Lorna Baker of Stanton, and the late Earl and Florene Stokley of Clay City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRANKFORT — The Department of Revenue will be holding a statewide Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) exam for anyone interested in running for PVA in 2010 in any county in the Commonwealth.  The test will be on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Eagle Lake Convention Center, 1000 Eagle Lake Drive, Lawrenceburg.  Individuals who pass this exam will be eligible to seek election in the 2010 primary and general elections.

The PVA exam is based on vocabulary, reading comprehension and mathematical questions.  All materials necessary to take the examination, including calculators, are supplied.  The maximum time limit for the written exam is three and one half-hours.  All applicants will be notified of test results within two weeks.

Individuals interested in taking the exam must be at least 24 years of age, have resided in the state for at least two years, and in the county in which they are seeking office at least one year preceding the election or appointment.  A driver’s license or other ID with a recent picture will be required as evidence of identification.  

This is the only time the PVA exam will be given for the next four years unless an opening occurs due to a vacancy.

There is no fee for taking the exam.  For more information on the PVA exam go to http://www.revenue.ky.gov/taxnews.htm.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park will host the 47th annual PhotoScenic Kentucky Workshop the weekend of Oct. 24-25.

The weekend includes a series of workshops for “serious amateur” photographers in one of the best known natural settings in the state. The workshops are free, but advance registration is requested.

Leading the workshops will be former Courier-Journal and Detroit News photo director C. Thomas Hardin and current Courier-Journal photographer Bill Luster. All photographers at the workshop will shoot digital.

The weekend will include guest speakers and a critique of the work that is produced. 

Anyone interested in attending the free workshops is asked to register in advance. To register or for more information, call Hardin at 502-452-9491 or Luster at 502-558-0722. Or email billluster@mac.com

Natural Bridge State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, the Sandstone Arches Restaurant, gift shop and hiking trails. For more information or for room reservations, phone 1-800-325-1710. The resort near Slade is 52 miles southeast of Lexington off the Mountain Parkway on KY 11.

Because of the popularity of Natural Bridge at this time of year, availability of rooms may be limited. Guests may want to consider other state resort parks in the area such as Buckhorn Lake or Jenny Wiley. For more information, visit www.parks.ky.gov