By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Dee Dotson is shown above with a campaign sign making her case for Powell County to approve alcohol sales

     Dee Dotson, 48, owner of Dees’ Barber Shop in Stanton and co-owner of Callie’s Lake and Campground in Bowen, says as a teenager and throughout the years has been asked the same question by tourists visiting our beautiful Natural Bridge area: “Where can we buy beer?”

   If Dotson had it her way, she would much rather send tourists to local businesses here in Powell County instead of neighboring wet counties where they buy their groceries, gasoline and alcoholic beverages.

  “When campers are staying with us at Callie’s Campground and ask where can they buy beer, we have to explain what “Dry” is and then direct them to Slade or Mount Sterling.

   Dotson says she believes in a “Powell County First” motto which led her to research the steps needed to get the vote put on the ballot May 22. Mary Sue Helm, with the Kentucky State Board of Elections, gave her step by step instructions on how to lawfully and thoroughly proceed. She needed to collect 1,254 signatures to get the vote put on the ballot and began her work, along with many others, on November 8, 2017. With overwhelming support from the community, she had the signatures needed by December 22, 2017, with people still stopping by her barber shop asking to sign the petition days and weeks after she had turned in the petition. With the Natural Bridge Lodge being wet has has had a huge impact in local restaurants. It’s a unfair playing field. As well as loosing Cattlemans almost 4 years ago due to them asking to help get the county wet. Without change Powell county will remain stagnant and will never be considered for new chain restaurants, new factories or hotels.

Brad Smith, Chief Of Police in Irvine, Ky. says they imposed a five percent Regulatory Fee which has generated over $60,000 for Administration and Enforcement.

“We have made purchases of Roadside Breath Testers, in car cameras and have made purchases of several vehicles in the last 4 years,” Smith said.

Third and fourth Class cities can pass a regulatory fee on the sale of alcohol that go to local law enforcement agencies.

Breathitt County similarly passed a vote to allow alcohol sales in July 2016 and the city of Jackson approved a five percent regulatory fee on malt beverages and six percent regulatory fee on liquor and wine that goes to it’s local law enforcement agency for the enforcement, regulation or administration of alcohol laws.

Jackson Police Department Chief of Police Kenneth Spicer says five percent of all beer sales and six percent of all liquor sales over the past year has went to his police department. He says that money amounts to around $5,000-to-$6,000 a month.

“I’m local Alcohol Beverage Control Administrator as well as the Chief of Police so they pay part of my salary and anything associated with it such as my retirement back to the city,” Spicer said.

Spicer says he has seen an increases in Driving Under the Influence arrests but he doesn’t attribute the increase in those in his community’s decision to allow alcohol sales.

“In Breathitt County we don’t have a drinking problem, we have a drug problem. There has been a few more increases in alcohol related DUI’s but I’ll be honest the ones we got are people from Owsley County. They went wet the same time we did and we got people coming to our hospital from Lee, Wolfe and Owsley Counties,” Spicer said speaking of the DUI’s. “They are not necessary our residents because we get a lot of traffic from outside of our community. What we see now is if people want to have a drink they stop at the local gas station buy a 12-pack and go home.”

Spicer says while he didn’t vote to allow alcohol sales it was a decision that has been a good thing for his police department.

“We used the regulatory fee to buy police cars and uniforms with the money, that money would have to come out of the city’s budget before so it frees up the city’s money they would normally spend of administration, enforcement and regulation of alcohol laws back into the general fund,” Spicer said. “They can use the money they would’ve spent for other things fixing roads, water lines or things like that. I can’t say that I voted for it but it has helped my department.”

I spoke to local pastor at Stanton Baptist Church Johnathan Lewis who says he had nothing but love and kindness for those who want to make Powell County wet however he didn’t know if the economic benefits would outweigh the social costs.

Powell County residents will decide whether or not to allow alcohol sales by voting in a countywide ballot measure on May 22.

The PCMS Varsity Academic team was recognized for going undefeated during it’s competitions during the season, the team was District Champions, Regional Runner-ups, and advanced to state competitions for the first time since 1989. Academic team members in the above photo are: Linsey Jones, Cailey Jones, Tanner Hunley, Matthew Mynk and Boone Chaney

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

The Powell County Board of Education held a regular scheduled meeting on Monday in the Powell County Middle Schools’ Library.

Students who were part of the Powell County Middle School Junior Varsity Academic team and the PCMS Varsity Academic team were both recognized by the board during the meeting.

The PCMS Junior Varsity team went undefeated during it’s competitions this past season. Team members recognized during the meeting were: Jared Abney, Hannah Angel, Aiden Berry, Austin Begley, Trevor Brown, Kaylee Blevins, Tyson Edwards, Caleb Epperson, Ava Deerway, Derrick Gill, Destiny Goodwin, Skyler Johnson, Derrick Meadows, L.W. Napier, Desiree Plavnek, Olivia Powell, Connor Tood, Ella Wilde and Emily Wireman.

The PCMS Varsity Academic team was recognized for going undefeated during it’s competitions during the season, the team was District Champions, Regional Runner-ups, and advanced to state competitions for the first time since 1989. Team member Boone Chaney went to the state competitions as a test taker in social studies where he placed in 18th place out of 125 fellow competitors.

PCMS Varsity Academic team members recognized during the meeting were: Daniel Boswell, Boone Chaney, Tanner Hunley, Cailey Jones, Lindsey Jones, Luke Marcum, Maddie Murray, Matthew Mynk, Katie Neal and Logan Sparks.

“Thank you to the staff and parents who made this possible, I know it involves a lot of back and forth to make sure the kids have everything they need to compete in those contests successfully,”’Interim Powell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Orr said. “Thank you again to the parents for helping to make all that possible for our students and the school.

Student Peyton Tubbs was recognized for being a 2018 Recipent of the Craft Academy Award.

Casey Borst with Energy Solutions CMTA, Inc was present at the meeting to present the board with news about four schools in the school district achieving Energy Star Ratings on behalf of Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Energy Secretary Charles Snavely, the Kentucky School Board Association and CMTA.

Borst had worked previously with the Powell County School District to upgrade facilities and infrastructure such as lighting, air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and light fixtures to save energy.

Four schools in school district were presented with energy star ratings awards meaning they were among the most energy efficient schools in the state. The schools awarded were Bowen Elementary, Stanton Elementary, Clay City Elementary and Powell County Middle School.

Virginia Todd gave a presentation about Gifted and Talented students.

Shana Bailey-Perdue delivered a presentation about Career and Technology Education.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Anthony Orr gave the board updates about things the school district has started taking action to address following discussions about school safety over the past couple of months.

Orr told the board the district has a safety assessment audit scheduled to be held at the beginning of the next school year. Orr says the district will hold an Emergency Personnel Mock Response Training that will be held during the upcoming summer.

Orr says that the district is in the process of getting a emergency radio in the hands of Powell County Dispatch to quicken a response from emergency responders in the event of a threat or emergency.

Orr told the board the district was taking action to use a construction class at Powell County High School to make outside entrance labels to be placed on the outside of windows at each of the schools in the district.

Orr says that the district has applied for a grant that would be used to cover a tip line that would include additional services such as putting callers in contact with mental health specialists directly from the tip line.

The board approved to set June 10 as the date for Powell County Senior Class to graduate. Graduation is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

The board approved a new position of School Technology Coordinator for each of the districts schools. The positions would be paid by stipend taken out of the technology departments budget.

The board approved the selection of Stiles, Carter and Associates as the auditor for the 2017 Fiscal Year. The board had received three different quotes from interested parties wanting to bid to complete the audit. Stiles, Carter and Associates submitted the lowest bid in the amount of $15,500.

The board approved a motion to table discussions to accept a recommendation to use RossTarrant Architects for the Powell County High School Security and Safety Renovation Project.

The project would include the addition of entrance security vestibule, exterior door panic bar and push plates, security gates for inside the building to be used during events, camera installation and upgrades, gym electrical wiring and installation of goal lift and the replacement of three Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Units. The board wanted to table the discussion for approving the project until a  presentation could be made by Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects. The board expressed they were pleased with the work completed by Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects during the Powell County Middle School Renovation Project and  wanted to see a presentation from the company before making a decision of whether or not to approve the project.

The board approved the Architectural Consultant Selection of Sherman Carter Barnhart for Local Planning Committee for the District Facility Plan.

The board approved an application for the district to use non-traditional instructional days as needed for inclement weather.

Casey Borst with Energy Solutions CMTA, Inc was present at the meeting to present the board with news about four schools in the school district achieving Energy Star Ratings on behalf of Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Energy Secretary Charles Snavely, the Kentucky School Board Association and CMTA.

Borst had worked previously with the Powell County School District to upgrade facilities and infrastructure such as lighting, air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and light fixtures to save energy costs.

“Four schools achieved Energy Star Ratings which means they are in the top 25 percent of the schools in Kentucky for being the most energy  efficient,” Borst said.

The four schools in the school district awarded with a Energy Star Rating were: Stanton Elementary School, Bowen Elementary School, Clay City Elementary and Powell County Middle School.

Virginia Carpenter presented the board with updates about the Gifted and Talented Program in Powell County

According to state regulations for gifted and talented programs, a gift ed and/or talented child is defined as one who is identified d as possessing demonstrated or potential ability to perform at an exceptionally high level in one or more of the following areas:

• general intellectual aptitude

• specific  academic aptitude

• creative or divergent thinking

• psychosocial or leadership skills in the visual or performing arts

Carpenter told the board 99 students had been selected as part of primary talent pool that  would be recognized as gifted and talented.

Carpenter says there are 203 students district wide are recognized as the Gifted and Talented. She says that 39 students who noticed as Gifted and Talented are in elementary schools, 79 students are in middle school and 85 students attend high school.

Shana Bailey-Perdue gave the board updates about the Career and Technical Education Department at PCHS.

Bailey-Perdue told the board the CTE center is Locally Operated Vocational Educational Center and is funding based off enrollment and because they don’t send kids out of the county all of the money stays in the county.

“If we were to send our kids to Montgomery County’s Area Technology Center they would get that money,” Bailey-Perdue said. “We are very fortunate to keep our money here in Powell County .”

Bailey-Perdue says that enrollment belt to fund salaries and other Career Technical Education expenses such as salaries for principals, counselors, custodians, CTE clerks, District Technology Technicians, technology such as computers, textbooks and education consultants.

Bailey-Perdue says that every five years the CTE adopts new technologies such as computers, she says when the department gets new computers they redistribute the old computers throughout the school district.

Bailey-Perdue told the board the department recently met with Maysville Community and Technical College to offer nine different career pathways with dual-credit opportunities.

“We wanted to offer dual-credit to our students in all nine of our pathways, we set down with them last Fall and they were very aggressive with us and told us they would offer two intro classes,”  Bailey-Perdue said. “If you look at our new accountability model with the state department it says we will get our accountability points if students take two approved dual-credit classes. We are the only school in the state, we have been the model school for the state and that’s pretty impressive.

Bailey-Perdue says that CTE center’s construction class has partnered with the Powell County Industrial Board on a tiny house project and recently the center partnered with the Powell County Farmers Market for the Agriculture class to build portable farmers markets meanwhile business classes are working to come up with a successful marketing strategy for the portable farmer markets.

Bailey-Perdue says the center is also working on becoming a certified AWS certified welding testing center.

“That means when a student goes though our agriculture department and they select our welder pathway they can pickup their welder certification and leave PCHS with a certification and are able to get ample employment, this program is brand new,” Bailey-Perdue said.

Bailey-Perdue also gave the board updates about clubs in the CTE Center. She told the board four students with Family, Career, Community Leaders of America are going to national competitions, Distributive Education Clubs of America despite being a brand new club has had two students who qualified for nationals and Future Businesses Leaders of America has 30 students who will be going to that organizations state competition.

Jennifer Kincaid spoke to the board about recommending approval a brand new Certified Evaluation Plan.

A local Certified Evaluation Plan (CEP) outlines procedures and contains forms needed to evaluate certified personnel below the level of superintendent in Kentucky public schools.

Other action taken by the Powell County Board of Education during April 9 meeting:

Approval of minutes for the Regular Meeting held March 12 and approval of minutes from special meeting held on March 28.

Approval claims and authorization to make payment of claims

Approval of bus request trips

Approval of monthly financial report

Approval of orders of the Treasurer for March

Approval of bond of depository for Powell County Board of Education with Whitaker Bank, Inc. and Sun Trust Company.

Approval of 2018-2019 Certified Evaluation Plan

Approval of out of state trip request for the Clay Elementary fifth grade class to travel to Mason, OH to Kings Island on the last day of school.

Approval of overnight trip request for the Powell County High School FFA to travel to Lexington, KY on June 5-7, for their state convention.

Approval of overnight trip request for the Powell County High School FCCLA to travel to Hardinsburg, KY on June 5-7 for their training for regional and state council.

Approval of out of state trip request for the Powell County High School FCCLA to travel to Atlanta, GA on June 27-July 2 for their national convention.

Approval of personnel action

Approval of medical leave for Stephanie Ritchie for the 2018-2019 school year

Approval of medical leave for Donna Willoughby from March 20-until further notice.Technology Coordinator for each of the districts schools. The positions would be paid by stipend taken out of the technology departments budget.

The board approved the selection of Stiles, Carter and Associates as the auditor for the 2017 Fiscal Year. The board had received three different quotes from interested parties wanting to bid to complete the audit. Stiles, Carter and Associates submitted the lowest bid in the amount of $15,500.

The board approved a motion to table discussions to accept a recommendation to use RossTarrant Architects for the Powell County High School Security and Safety Renovation Project.

The project would include the addition of entrance security vestibule, exterior door panic bar and push plates, security gates for inside the building to be used during events, camera installation and upgrades, gym electrical wiring and installation of goal lift and the replacement of three Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Units. The board wanted to table the discussion for approving the project until a  presentation could be made by Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects. The board expressed they were pleased with the work completed by Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects during the Powell County Middle School Renovation Project and  wanted to see a presentation from the company before making a decision of whether or not to approve the project.

The board approved the Architectural Consultant Selection of Sherman Carter Barnhart for Local Planning Committee for the District Facility Plan.

The board approved an application for the district to use non-traditional instructional days as needed for inclement weather.

Casey Borst with Energy Solitions CMTA, Inc was present at the meeting to present the board with news about four schools in the school district achieving Energy Star Ratings on behalf of Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Energy Secretary Charles Snavely, the Kentucky School Board Association and CMTA.

Borst had worked previously with the Powell County School District to upgrade facilities and infrastructure such as lighting, air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and light fixtures to save energy.

“Four schools achieved Energy Star Ratings which means they are in the top 25 percent of the schools in Kentucky for being the most energy  efficient.

The four schools in the school district awarded with a Energy Star Rating were: Stanton Elementary School, Bowen Elementary School, Clay City Elementary and Powell County Middle School.

Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher, Virginia Carpenter, presented the board with updates about the Gifted and Talented Program.

According to state regulations for gi ed and talented programs, a gi ed and/or talented child is defined as one who is identified d as possessing demonstrated or potential ability to perform at an exceptionally high level in one or more of the following areas:

• general intellectual aptitude

• speci c academic aptitude

• creative or divergent thinking

• psychosocial or leadership skills in the visual or performing arts

Carpenter told the board 99 students had been selected as part of primary talent pool that they would be considered of close being recognized as gifted and talented.

Carpenter says there are 203 students district wide that are recognized as the Gifted and Talented. She says that 39 students who noticed as Gifted and Talented are in elementary schools, 79 students are in middle school and 85 students attend high school.

Career and Technical Education Coordinator, Shana Bailey-Perdue gave the board updates about the Career and Technical Education Department at PCHS.

Bailey-Perdue told the board the CTE center is Locally Operated Vocational Educational Center and is funding based off enrollment and because they don’t send kids out of the county all of the money stays in the county.

“If we were to send our kids to Montgomery County’s Area Technology Center they would get that money,” Bailey-Perdue said. “We are very fortunate to keep our money here in Powell County .”

Bailey-Perdue says that enrollment belt to fund salaries and other Career Technical Education expenses such as salaries for principals, counselors, custodians, CTE clerks, District Technology Technicians, technology such as computers, textbooks and education consultants.

Bailey-Perdue says that every five years the CTE adopts new technologies such as computers, she says when the department gets new computers they redistribute the old computers throughout the school district.

Bailey-Perdue told the board the department recently met with Maysville Community and Technical College to offer nine different career pathways with dual-credit opportunities.

“We wanted to offer dual-credit to our students in all nine of our pathways, we set down with them last Fall and they were very aggressive with us and told us they would offer two intro classes,”  Bailey-Perdue said. “If you look at our new accountability model with the state department it says we will get our accountability points if students take two approved dual-credit classes. We are the only school in the state, we have been the model school for the state and that’s pretty impressive.

Bailey-Perdue says that CTE center’s construction class has partnered with the Powell County Industrial Board on a tiny house project and recently the center partnered with the Powell County Farmers Market for the Agriculture class to build portable farmers markets meanwhile business classes are working to come up with a successful marketing strategy for the portable farmer markets.

Bailey-Perdue says the center is also working on becoming a certified AWS certified welding testing center.

“That means when a student goes though our agriculture department and they select our welder pathway they can pickup their welder certification and leave PCHS with a certification and are able to get ample employment, this program is brand new,” Bailey-Perdue said.

Bailey-Perdue also gave the board updates about clubs in the CTE Center. She told the board four students with Family, Career, Community Leaders of America will be participating at national competitions, Distributive Education Clubs of America despite being a brand new club has had two students qualify for nationals and Future Businesses Leaders of America has 30 students who will be going to that organizations state competitions.

District Technology Coordinator, Jennifer Kincaid, spoke to the board about recommending it approve a brand new Certified Evaluation Plan.

A local Certified Evaluation Plan (CEP) outlines procedures and contains forms needed to evaluate certified personnel below the level of superintendent in Kentucky public schools. A local CEP is developed by an evaluation committee (also known as a 50/50 committee) to meet all the requirements of the Kentucky Framework for Personnel Evaluation (704 KAR 3:370). An evaluation committee is responsible for developing a CEP that clearly defines the processes and procedures to evaluate all certified personnel below the level of superintendent.

The 50/50 committee develops and submits the plan to the local board of education for approval as well as to the Kentucky Department of Education for final approval prior to implementation.

Kincaid told the board the CEP would assist staff with knowing what is expected of them to perform at the highest level possible.

Other action taken by the Powell County Board of Education during April 9 meeting:

Approval of minutes for the Regular Meeting held March 12 and approval of minutes from special meeting held on March 28.

Approval claims and authorization to make payment of claims

Approval of bus request trips

Approval of monthly financial report

Approval of orders of the Treasurer for March

Approval of bond of depository for Powell County Board of Education with Whitaker Bank, Inc. and Sun Trust Company.

Approval of 2018-2019 Certified Evaluation Plan

Approval of out of state trip request for the Clay Elementary fifth grade class to travel to Mason, OH to Kings Island on the last day of school.

Approval of overnight trip request for the Powell County High School FFA to travel to Lexington, KY on June 5-7, for their state convention.

Approval of overnight trip request for the Powell County High School FCCLA to travel to Hardinsburg, KY on June 5-7 for their training for regional and state council.

Approval of out of state trip request for the Powell County High School FCCLA to travel to Atlanta, GA on June 27-July 2 for their national convention.

Approval of personnel action

Approval of medical leave for Stephanie Ritchie for the 2018-2019 school year

Approval of medical leave for Donna Willoughby from March 20-until further notice.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Kentucky Congressman of the Sixth Congressional District, Andy Barr, recently visited with members of the community on March 29 to discuss addiction and recovery services to help combat the opioid epidemic.

The event also served as an unofficial opening of the Special People Advocating Recovery Kentucky center office located across from the Powell County Courthouse that was donated by the Powell County Fiscal Court program that some in the community attributes was being a factor to a recent drop in the overdose mortality rate in the county by 50 percent.

For the past three years Jenell Brewer has been an advocate for Special People Advocating Recovery Kentucky also known as SPARK which is a faith based program meeting the needs of anyone with a number of afflictions from substance abuse to grief over the loss of a loved one or family member.

Recently Brewer has opened up an advocacy office for SPARK across from the Powell County Courthouse in Stanton.

In the past two years SPARK has used Casey’s Law more than 90 times to send drug abusers the help needed with addiction recovery.

Powell County resident Stacy Coffey who volunteers his time to assist SPARK advocacy center, told Barr that from 2011-to-2015 Powell County had over 35 deaths due to a drug overdose.

Since the SPARK advocates have been working in the community over the past two years the number of overdose deaths have dropped to four in 2016 and four in 2017.

“To me that’s a drastic impact. Now can I say that SPARK had a direct impact? I would say, yeah, but can we say that was all of the impact? No, but I would say that it was a large enough impact that it warrants potentially being the model for other communities and warrants the need of being funded,” Coffey said.

Barr told those present that he was interested in finding ways of taking resources already dedicated to fighting the opioid crisis and bringing it to Powell County. Barr also told those present at the forum he was interested in hearing from them about what politicians in Washington were missing out on by not being on the front-lines battling addiction.

“The war is fought one person at a time and we can’t lose sight of the fact we are fighting one person at a time and they are no one size that fits all answers,” Powell County District Judge Kenneth Proffit said. “I truly believe if involuntary treatment is going to work for persons with substance abuse there has to be an advocate in each county and that’s not going to happen on a volunteer basis. It’s a one-off, what we have here in Powell County, and; we now have one in Wolfe County.”

Proffitt told Barr while Powell County has done almost 90 Casey Law’s cases in the past two yearas over that same period time there had only been 15 in Breathitt and Wolfe Counties.

“What I was thinking was maybe we need to do is packages this as some sort of study for the Sixth District where we could get funding on a trial basis for each county, the money could be administered through the county judges office or the county attorney,” Profitt said. “If this has any chance of success we need to study what are the best practices for involuntary treatment because if it doesn’t work we need to know that. Right now I look at is a tool that I can use to use help move people from the place where they are a drain on societies resources to the place where they are contributing to societies resources. I think of this as a puzzle but a critical piece is the advocate I would ask that you help Spark with grant writers, money or whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Those present told Barr that they need a central advocate who can coordinate helping people from the cradle to the grave of the process by using their networking skills to get others the help they need.

“What I’m telling you is any money that you can send here, we will take advantage of and we will make you proud of what we do with it,” Powell County Attorney Robert King said.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Powell County Schools held it’s Tenth Annual Reading Celebration on March 25 at Powell County High School. The event was originally scheduled to be held the day before ,but was postponed due to inclement weather.

“I was worried with us having to move it to Sunday that attendance would be down, but this isn’t bad I am really pleased for the kids it’s about celebrating the kids and academics. And in individual showcase rooms kids are getting to do presentations, performances and it’s celebrating all of their success which is rewarding and why we do it,” Lynne Stidham said. “I think it’s really neat our community comes out to the reading celebration and it’s a real positive to be able to celebrate student achievement.”

Accelerated Reader Award winners were recognized for being the top three in their individual classes at each school after the Reading Celebration program closed on March 9.

The accelerated reader award winners for Bowen Elementary school kindergarten class were Molly Fannin, Daniel Jefferson and Khloe Plowman. The top three finishers in first grade were Brayden Hampton, Jayden Adams and Waylon King. Second grade students finishing in the top three of their class were Willow Wiseman, Connor Rose and Brayden Crowe. Third grade award winners were Alivia Richards, Ella Napier and Kennedy Nobles. Fourth grade winners were Damon Caruthers, Willow Napier and Keira Tackett. Fifth graders finishing in the top three were Zachary Tincher, Trevor Jones and Ivette Hernandez Castro.

Accelerated reader winners for Clay City Elementary in kindergarten were Sophia Muncy, Mason Edwards and Jace Lutes. First graders that finished in the top three of the class were Jacob Kincaid, McKenna Barnett and Colten Ansell. Second grade accelerated reader winners were Abigial Smith. Isabella Reed and Zachary Thomas. Third grade students recognized were Emma Rice, Tristen Poe and Landon Everman. Fourth graders who were accelerated readers were Madison Kincaid, Krystian McQueen and Isabella Byrd. Fifth graders who were the winners of their class were Dalton Burns-Griffett, Trinity Romans and Brayden Arnett.

Accelerated reader winners for Stanton Elementary School in kindergarten were Raegen Ledford, Hadlee Taylor, and Chloe Butcher. First grade accelerated reader students recognized were Gavin Gillespie, Alan Soliday and Tristan Coffey. Second graders who finished in the top three spots of the class were Timber Drake, Jace Linn and Conner Morguson. Third grade winners were Dillon Harrison, Nathan McCoy and Garrett Gillispie. Fourth grade winners were Claire Estes, Darcy Lawson and Phoenix Berryman and fifth grader award winners were McKinley Hale, Adam Ledford and Chesney Worsley.

Powell County Middle School accelerated reader award winners in the sixth grade were Cole Nobles, Mollie Lee and Natily Justice. Seventh grader award winners were Ethan Hagnauer, Caleb Mullins and Skyler Barnett. For the eighth grade, winners were Ashley Varney, Collin Barnes and Anthony Vancleve.

The Powell County High School accelerated reader program award winners for the ninth grade were Kailey Ansell, Teresa Oliver and Montana Parido. Tenth grade winners were Logan Neal, Kevin Stepp and Teddy Schoonover. Students who recognized for being in the top three for their class in the eleventh grade were Destiny Trosper, Allison Kilgore and Marissa Campbell. Twelfth grade award winners were Jacob Bush, Wesley Hunt and Nick Roland.

Powell County High School Student Kailey Ansell was recognized individually for being a Top Reader for the tenth year.

“What amazes me is the amount of work that our Library Media Specialists, Youth Service Centers, teachers and principals put a into making the reading celebration possible and I’m so thankful for them,” Stidham said. “They make everything all come together and make it happen and it’s good for the kids to celebrate all the kids success.”

Cheyenne Trent

By LISA JOHNSON

Times Reporter

Cheyenne Trent recently was featured on The Learning Channel’s “Counting On Series”

Trent is the daughter of Jeff and Fran Trent and Christina Trent. She is also the granddaughter of Herb and Ruthann Trent. Trent graduated from Powell County High School in 2011 and went on to attend Sullivan University from 2012-2014.

Trent says she was asked by the owner of Renee’s Bridal- Renee Bingham Miller to be a part of a special birthday surprise for her upcoming client.

The client unbeknownst to her at the time was Joe Duggar who is a part of TLC’s Counting On series that follows the Duggar family, a spin-off from the show 19 Kids and Counting. Renee Bingham Miller was making Kendra’s dress for their upcoming wedding and the day she was doing a final dress fitting it just so happened to be her birthday, that is how the birthday surprise came about.

“When I was proposed about the cake I was only told the client loves the color purple and coffee flavors. Being a cake designer you have so many options to choose from as far as what you want the overall look to be and you have to get in the mindset of someone who is turning 19 and what they would potentially like at that age,” Trent said. “I knew I wanted the cake to be a statement piece so I started thinking about all the cakes I have worked on and how can I turn these ideas into a reality. I started making different shades of purple which is how the ombré look came about and then to really show how my ability as a decorator I thought let’s add some movement into the cake which is how I came to the ruffles- and it tied into how Kendra’s wedding dress which had ruffles on the skirt.

Trent says when she worked on Kendra’s cake it took a good 15 hours in one day to complete.

“Baking, filling and icing a cake is nothing compared to the actual final design you are going for. The gumpaste ruffles I made were hand rolled through a pasta machine- you literally want the gumpaste paper thin, then cut with a circle cutter, placed on a foam mat to ‘ruffle’ the edges with a ball tool, cupped and placed on the cake with sugar glue,” Trent said

“The day they were going to do the filming it was brought to my attention that Joe was going to come into the shop and purchase the cake from Spoonful of Sugar and that I would be filmed helping him pick out a surprise birthday cake. I was so nervous for this. I am the type of person that likes to be behind the scenes and not necessarily in the spotlight,” Trent said. “I enjoyed every minute of it, not only did it push me outside of my comfort zone but it pushed me as a decorator to be even more fearless. I would do it all over again. I am still a little awestruck that I was on TLC, considering I’m just a girl from a small town and your every day routine of making a cake turns into being on national television.”

Trent says she first became interested in the culinary arts and baking because of her family when she was four years-old and barely tall enough to reach the counter.

“I would help my nannie make homemade corn bread for Papaw Herb. As for baking that started around when I got my first Easy Bake oven. I would send my dad to work everyday with a little bag of freshly baked cookies and cakes completed with a pink bow on the bag,” Trent said. “I also have German roots on my moms side of the family that go back to when my Oma (German for Grandmother) was still residing in Mainz-Gonsenheim, Germany during WWII, she fled to the Black Forest with my Opa (German for Grandfather) and began her career as a chef with the Nuns in the Black Forest before coming to America. You could say my passion for cooking and baking is in my blood, literally.”

Trent says that there isn’t just one person that has influenced her, in fact, there have been a multitude of people throughout that have shaped her into who she is as a person and as an artist.

“I am thankful for each person I come in contact with throughout my different walks of life because I would not be where I am today without them and their support,” Trent said. “My family has always been my biggest cheerleaders no matter what I decide to do.”

Trent says her first baking/ decorating job was at Martine’s Pastries in Lexington, KY owned by Jim and Martine Hozlman.

“I baked, decorated, and headed the pastry department. While at Martine’s I learned the basis of cake decorating: baking, filling cakes, how to properly ice a cake, stacking, the final execution and the esthetic of precision while working with various products: such as custom made sugar flowers by Debra McKnight, and fondant appliqués,” Trent said. “I have since transitioned into head Pastry Chef and Cake Artist at Spoonful of Sugar Sweets and Such in Mt. Sterling, owned by Dr. Danielle King and Donna Cassidy, working alongside Executive Chef Stephen Powell.”

“At Spoonful of Sugar I get to meet one-on- one with clients for cake tastings, where I will formulate the perfect cake flavor for their tastebuds, I then take their ideas and the work begins: start to finish scratch baking with local ingredients, I make their dream a reality. Some of my favorite decorating esthetics include 3D clay figurines. For the figurines I use a non toxic clay that will not affect the cake whatsoever. It’s also a nice touch because you are able to save that figurine from the cake as a keepsake. The most rewarding part of my job is when you bring the cake out to the client and see their reaction, to me those are priceless moments in time and they make me realize time and time again why I love what I do,” Trent said.

Trent says that in addition to working fulltime at Spoonful of Sugar as the sole cake maker/decorator she is a full-time college student at BCTC in Lexington.

“Since being at BCTC I have been on the Dean’s List and completed a certification in advanced biotechnology along with taking phlebotomy certification classes,” Trent said. “My goal is to continue working towards finishing up a few pre-requisite classes and apply to EKU’s highly selective Medical Laboratory Science program by the Spring of 2019.

“Sometimes I feel like I am in over my head because I set the bar so high for myself, but I was always taught to be better than you were yesterday and to never give up. Granted there have been some bumps in the road along my journey but you cannot let a little detour throw you off of the course to your end goal, ironically things that have happened in my case have been blessings in disguise. Here I was this little girl that had big dreams to make edible pieces of art and I have done just that, now I am onto the next thing,” Trent said.

Trent says that she cannot thank her family enough for their unwavering love and support.

Livia Faith

On Monday night Livia Faith of Stanton secured a spot on Team Alicia on Season 14 of The Voice by singing “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” by Ella Fitzgerald while on national television.

Seventeen-year-old Livia Faith has been singing, acting and dancing her whole life; however, it hasn’t always been easy.

At a young age, Livia was diagnosed with a heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that often left her fatigued and in pain.

This physical obstacle did not stop Livia from performing around her small Kentucky town, participating in extracurricular activities and caring for her family.

Best of wishes to Faith as  the community watches her get the oppourtunity  to fulfill her musical dreams and ready for a much bigger stage.

The Voice airs on Monday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC.

The Powell County X-Treme team is shown on the floor of Rupp Arena after a performance. The X-team will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia where they will performe as the pre-game show prior to an Atlsnta Hawks-Oklahoma City Thunder game

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

You may have noticed Powell County’s X-treme team performing during Powell County High School Pirates and Lady Pirates basketball games this season as they prepared to showcase their skills in Atlanta, Georgia. The team on Monday, March 12, head to Atlanta to perform as the pre-game show for the NBA Game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 13.

In addition to performing at local high school games the X-treme team have expanded their performances to include Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University and Transylvania University as well as performing for the UK Hoops Team and KHSAA Boys’ High School Sweet Sixteen.

The X-team has also done  pre-game performances for the Harlem Globetrotters for the past three years.

Powell County X-treme team Coach Tim Marcum says that this years team includes 36 players all ranging from preschoolers to sixth graders. The X-treme team, also called the X-team showcase fundamentally sound ball handling skills with their dribbling and passing while performing to a musical backdrop.

“They also work on footwork, coordination and teamwork. They all have to work together as a team in order for the routine to be successful. Mostly these boys get the opportunity to do things that most of us never get the opportunity to do,” X-treme Coach and Founder Tim Marcum said. “They not only get to go to college games but they get to get on the floor, they not only get to go watch the Harlem Globetrotters but they get on the same floor they do. If nothing else, I hope to improve their ball handling skills and mostly I just hope they are able to look back years from now and say ‘Man, I was on that floor and it was a cool experience.’ That’s my dream or goal for this program.”

Marcum says the team raised funds by holding a fifth and sixth grade basketball tournament, a pancake breakfast and selling candy bars and raffle tickets for a handmade University of Kentucky quilt.

Marcum says that in addition to fundraising there are also community sponsors that without them the program wouldn’t be possible. Those sponsors include: Whitaker Bank, Dairy Queen, Protek Security, Davis and Davis Funeral Home, Rogers Hardware, Peoples Exchange Bank, Stanton Industrial Piping and Fabrication, Hearne Funeral Home, Mann Chevrolet, Randall Mechanical, Sheri Irwin and Candace Shepherd.

“Everything that we do with these kids are with money that we generated and every dime that we make goes right back into these kids,” Marcum said. “They are responsible for paying a registration fee and that covers the costs of their basketball and uniform. When we take NBA trips we help with their tickets, transportation, meals and rooms and stuff like that so every dime we raise goes straight back to the kids.”

Marcum says he first got the idea for starting the X-treme team from a guy from Mount Sterling after signing his son up for Upward Basketball Program while his son was still in elementary school.

“He had a little ball handling team called the Wizards and there wasn’t anything like that going on here so I took my son over and he participated and I thought it was just a great idea to only work on fundamental ball handling skills, footwork and not really focus on shooting because a lot of these kids they really need to learn how to dribble before they learn how to shoot,” Marcum said. “If they can’t dribble they’re never going to get the opportunity to shoot because they’re going to get a turnover I brought that idea back and started the program and it’s been going ever since.”

Marcum helped founded the program in 2001-2002 and he says after spending 17 years running the program one of the most rewarding things is getting to go to see games and being able to see past team members he’s coached using some of the same skills they learned at such an early age.

Marcum says the X-team was first started as community education but and has grown to be included with Powell County Schools.

“We are considered a feeder program so one of the hopes of goals is to help these guys fundamentally progress so when they come to middle school they’re able to compete and once they get to high school they’re still able to compete. Hopefully some of these boys will go on to play college ball or something like that,” Marcum said. “It’s neat to look back over the years the number of kids when I go to high school games and can point out the guys that played on the X-treme team.”

“It’s a neat thing for me to see and for me to be a part of I would love to stick around and say I’ve been doing this for 20 years,” Marcum said. “I would like to see some of the guys that we’re involved in the program comeback and maybe they take over the program and take it to the next level but that be one thing that I would like one day be to sit back and watch and think that I had a part in it.”

Marcum says that in addition to thanking all the sponsors that have made the X-treme team a reality over the years that his wife has been a crucial part of keeping the day-to-day details of the  program going.

“She takes the lead role on organizing the trips, planning the fundraisers and all that stuff. I can’t take all the credit for that. I just mostly teach the kids and she handles  most of the day-to-day aspects and does a really good job with it,” Marcum said. “I’ve been real fortunate that the guys that help me coach a lot of them have kids on the team but they’re all really good guys and they’re not just out here for their kid but for the whole team.”

This years trip will be the X-treme teams fifth performance at a NBA game. The X-team has also performed at games for the Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers. In 2015, the team performed at the NCAA Final Four FanFest and on ESPN Game Day with Jay Bilas.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Darrell and Alicia Brimberry

On February 24 Powell County native Alicia Brimberry started hiking the Appalachian Trail the longest hiking-only trail in the world and takes almost six months to complete.

The Appalachian Trail was  first conceived by a forester named Benton MacKaye in 1921. MacKaye’s idea detailed a grand trail that would connect a series of farms and wilderness work study camps for city-dwellers. His dreams came true when the Appalachian Trail was completed in 1937.

The trail is managed by the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The Appalachian Trail is approximately 2,190 miles long and runs through 14 states including Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is also commonly called the Appalachian Trail and is a continuous footpath extending from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Brimberry will be accompanied on the trial by her husband Darrell Brimberry who recently retired from the United States Army after 36 years of service.

Alicia Brimberry is the daughter of Tom and Billie Caudill of Cat Creek and she is a graduate of Powell County High School Class of 1984.

The Brimberry’s have spent the past two years preparing for the hike by researching websites to find the best gear and equipment, reading books and journals of others hikers experiences on the trail and getting their bodies into condition to make the hike.

“This has been a dream of mine for almost 30 years before I went into the Army,” Darrell Brimberry said. “Alicia and I always loved hiking together we went on a backpacking trip 10 or 12 years ago and ever since then she’s she been wanting to do it.”

Darrell Brimberry said that the biggest part of preparing for the hike has been focusing on  getting themselves conditioned for the hike.

“I was in the Army so I ran quite a lot but in the last two years I’ve only ran 10-20 miles a week and Alicia would walk around 30-40 miles a week,” Darrell Brimberry said. “A lot of that was just four or six miles here and there around the neighborhood but we always tried to get out to the mountains once a week or every other week to do a hike. Honestly, everything that I’ve read says that you really can’t prepare for it and you just kind of get in shape on the trail as long as you don’t overdue it early on because one thing we haven’t done yet is put consecutive days of backpacking together.”

The Brimberry;s say that they plan to start their hike by keeping their mileage down to make sure their ligaments, muscles are in good shape first by only hiking 8-10 miles a day and bumming up the pace from there.

The majority of the trail is in forest or wild lands, although some portions travels through towns, roads and farms. The trail is marked with 2×6 inch white blazes, painted at close intervals, on trees, boulders, and posts.

The terrain is often rugged, with steep ascents and descents. The cumulative elevation gain of the Appalachian Trail is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 16 times.

“There is a big mental aspect to this. It is hard to do anything for six months and when you got all types of weather conditions and different terrain it can be rough,” Darrell Brimberry said.

“It’s just funny when you hear other people saying I wish that I had done that and we’re actually going to get to do it so we feel very blessed,” Alicia Brimberry said.

“We have had a lot of support that you can see on our guestbook some of them are our friends and others are strangers who are reaching out to us and want to help us out along the way,” Darrell Brimberry said.

“Hopefully we are just a good example to our kids and family to live out your dreams,” Alicia Brimberry said.

“Alicia and I have this motto in our marriage of anywhere together and I think the fact that we are doing together but most people are individuals doing it and I think just being able to share the experience together is going to very special to me,” Darrell Brimberry said. “I’ve always visualized myself on Mount Katahdin raising my arms in the air but to see Alicia do that will mean a lot to me because I know it’s a huge undertaking for her she’s done a lot of things and is very fit but this will be a big experience for her.”

It is estimated that more than two million people set foot on the trail each year.

The nearly 3,000 individuals who attempt to hike the entire trail in a single season are referred to as “thru-hikers” like the Brimberry’s.

It is said that less than one out of every four hikers that set out to thru-hike the trail complete their goal but Darrell Brimberry says that he’s not concerned about failing his goal.

“Every journal and book I’ve read says that the trail transforms people and we’re just looking towards letting that happen for us, we’re Christians so were also wanting to get some glimpses of God out there and to just be able to marvel at his creation and just kind of let it be a spiritual thing for us as well,” Darrell Brimberry said. “I think if we can just get out there and get this thing going were going to figure out because were not quitters and barring injury or tragic event we will be out there and see this through until the end.”

Staff Report

Powell’s Ashley King (1) took the front guarding approach, while her teammate Dakota Brown stood behind Owsley’s top scorer Macie Gibson. The strategy worked as Powell held Gibson to just 12 points and the Lady Pirates upset the top seeded Lady Ohs 50-42 in the first round of the 56th District Girls Tournament in Lee County Monday Night. Powell will play Lee tonight (Feb. 22) in the championship game at 7 p.m.

Photo by Sonya Dennis King

They say it is hard to beat a team three times in a season, even if you seemed to have won easily in the previously two meetings. If you do not believe that old saying, just ask the Owsley County Lady Owls.

They had beaten the Powell County Lady Pirates 64-55 and 69-55 during the season. They were the top seed in the 56th District Girl’s Tournament and they had Miss Basketball Candidate Macie Gibson. The odds seemed to be in their favor.

Someone forgot to tell the Lady Pirates.

Using a tenacious defense that shut down Gibson, an offense that moved the ball well and a team effort, Powell pulled of the upset. The Lady Pirates, despite being outshot from the field, having a scary free three shooting night and despite being out rebounded, toppled the favorites 50-42 in the first round of the tournament.

By the way, the winning streak is now six in a row.

Powell’s game plan looked simple from the beginning. Just put a lot of pressure on Gibson, who recently scored her 3,000th point in her career, and keep the other Lady Owls in check. Meanwhile Powell had to maintain ball control and force the favorites to become frustrated and foul happy. The plan worked.

Gibson was guarded from behind all night by one of Powell’s big players in Dakota Brown and Macey Howell. But her biggest problem was Ashley King. King stuck with Gibson like glue and picked up three steals along the way.  King became a nuisance to Gibson and her Owsley teammates.

And don’t forget Alisha Elam who seemed to be everywhere on defense, picking up six steals. Howell crashed the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds and Brown picked up nine. Just these stats alone seemed to favor an easy win. But that was not the case.

Powell was out shot from the field 35 percent (13-37) to 30 percent (13-42). They were 0-for-9 from behind the arc, while Owsley nailed 4-of-15 (26 percent). The charity stripe was a scary stat as well. Powell hit 50 percent (24-48) with several misses in the fourth quarter. Owsley hit 75 percent (12-16). But determination and key plays at key moments helped to make the outcome more to the Lady Pirates liking.

Owsley jumped out to a 12-10 led, but Powell stays with their counterparts throughout the first half. Both teams struggled in the second quarter, each scoring five points a piece. The halftime score had the Lady Owls ahead, 17-15.

The Lady Pirates kept on battling, with the defense taking it’s toll on Owsley and the game becoming a little more physical he fouls began to pile up. By the time the game ended Owlsey had two players foul out and five others with four fouls.

Powell managed to tie the game at 27 as the game entered the final frame. The quarter was a battle. It was so intense that after a outback basket by Brown, then a steal by Elam led to a basket by King, giving the lady Pirate a five point lead, the Owsley bench got a little too upset. Two technicals were called on a Lady Owls assistant coach, who was ejected. King hit two of the four free throws due to the technical and Powell enjoyed a 37-30 lead.

Powell would increase the lead to nine on a shot by King, only to see Owsley try to mount a comeback. But they decided to try the three point catch up game, and missed a few attempts. However, Owsley did manage to pull to within three at 39-36. Powell was able to grab the missed shots and the Lady Owls were forced to foul.

Elam was the target of most of the fouls and was good for at least one of the two shots awarded as Powell was in the double bonus. Elam went to the line 21 times in the game, hitting eight. But her made free throws down the stretch kept Powell ahead. King hit six of her 10 free throws to help as well. Emily Branham came of the bench and hit a couple key shots.

Owsley had to realize in the final minutes that their run was about to be over. They would pulled back to within three or four points on a  couple of occasions, only to see the Lady Pirates get steals, rebounds and hit shots when needed to extend their lead. When the final horn sounded Powell had pulled off the upset, 50-42.

Powell was led by Brown and King, each pouring in 14 points. Howell tossed in 11 points to go with her dozen boards. Elam chipped in eight, while Branham had three points. Powell improved to 16-11.

Owsley ended their season at 20-8. They were led by Gibson, one of the region’s top scoring threats, who was held to 12 points. Lexie Lynch added 10 to the cause.

Powell advances to the 56th District Girl’s Championship Game which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. tonight (Feb. 22). They will play the second seeded Lee County Lady Kats. Lee is led by another Miss Basketball Candidate in Hannah Kash, beat Estill in the first round, 68-48.. Lee beat Powell 67-47, but Powell beat Lee 46-45 early in the season. The rubber match will determine who is the district champion. Both teams will also advance to next week’s 14th Region’s Girls Tournament at Perry Central.

If the first round was any indication, it may not be wise for Lee to underestimate the Lady Pirates. Powell seems to have the sails set right and look to capture a title and keep the streak alive. The stage is set for hopefully another good game and a Powell win.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Katherine Frasier

The Powell County Board of Education held a regular scheduled meeting on February 12 at the Powell County Middle School library.

Student Technology Leadership Program  students at Bowen Elementary were recognized at the meeting.

Bowen Elementary School STLP students participate in Buccaneer Broadcasting, the schools daily news show and Morale Media a program to raise the morale of the school. Students were also recognized for achievements in individual competitions.

Students recognized with Buccaneer Broadcasting team advanced to state competition from regionals. Those students were Katherine Frasier, Mikey Short, Kylie Howard, and Willow Chism.

Morale Media participants will also advance to state competitions after performing in Regionals students recognized were Maddie Nobles,  Kane Knox, Lauren Skidmore, and Jon Creech.

“These guys spoke at regional competition in front of hundreds of people and then go on to state where they will speak in front of thousands of people. I’m so proud and pleased everyday with the work that we do in our building and I’m so grateful to them,” Bowen Elementary Student Technology Leadership Program Coach and Media Specialist Jennifer Francis said.

Christian Fannin was also recognized moving on to participate in state competition for a coding challenge.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Anthony Orr addressed the board under the superintendent comments portion of the meeting. Orr told the board, the school district is watching politics at the state level to see what comes out of the legislative session in Frankfort.

“We have been told on a weekly basis that the pension plan would be forthcoming but we have yet to see any details about that. Our teachers and our staff are very concerned about that so we’re watching to see how that shakes out because that’s going to say a lot about how we move forward in terms of staffing,” Orr said. “Additionally we now the legislature is looking at the governors budget proposal to be quite honest, it’s a pretty devastating budget, if it goes through the way they proposed.”

Orr told the board  the numbers that he has crunched he estimates the district would lose around $ 1.2 million out of it’s budget.

“That’s a pretty significant hit to take and still operate so we’re concerned about that. You’ve heard people say that this an attempt to shift responsibility for our common education to the local area,” Orr said. “It’s my belief and I’m not alone that that’s not legal because that responsibility belongs at the state level shifting it to the local tax payers was not how this was designed to work and I’m hopeful that our legislators will recognize that and will send this budget back for a lot of it.”

Sarah Wasson, Director of Family Resource and Youth Service Centers, spoke to the council during a dialogue session concerning her department.

Wasson told the board that Family Resources and Youth Service Center are funded through grants for the purpose of providing whatever is needed for children to be able to achieve their greatest potential academically meaning anything from food and clothing to assistance with dental care or hygiene.

“The grant that we received this year, we received $293,125.60 for all our centers. Our centers are on an alternate funding model so we take that money and put that in a pot and then we take all the salaries of the directors out of that and divide by per pupil basis among the schools,” Wasson said. “Two weeks ago we received word that our official number was cut $23,129.12 for this year.”

Wasson told the board that she had been warned about possible cuts during the fall and used those calculations to ask directors to save money. Wasson says that the individual directors did a great job to reduce spending and that the district would be okay but she did have concerns about additional cuts proposed during the following year.

District Program Coordinator Tiffany Anderson spoke to the board about building and grounds updates throughout the district. Anderson told the one year warranty with the Powell County Middle School Renovation project would expire in July and that she had asked for all warranty items to be inspected on May 29 while they are still under warranty. Anderson told the board that next year it the district will need to update a new district facility plan and one member of the board would need to be involved in the construction of a new plan for the district.

Anderson told the board that for the past two weeks cleaning school facilities and busses in an attempt to battle illnesses during flu season.

Anderson told the board that over the past five months she has been analyzing the budget for facilities in the district to find ways of conserving funds. Anderson says that the largest expenditures involves Heating Venting and air conditioning, roofing and custodial supplies. She told the board that she has been trying to monitor ways the district can operate more efficiently and has already taken some steps that would eliminating any unnecessary spending in the future.

Anderson told the board that she was also over safe schools and that safety was very near and dear to her heart.

“I don’t care what anybody says our number one job is to protect kids, educating them is number two,” Anderson said. “As a principal my biggest fear was something happening under my watch and it is still my biggest fear today because I have kids in these schools and everything that happens that’s my kid in there too and I care everybody’s kids just like I do mine.”

Anderson told the board that she had worked to bring uniformity to the district’s emergency management plan so that each school will have the same policy so it doesn’t hurt law enforcement in the event they have to respond to an emergency and each school operating under different procedures.

Anderson told the board that she has also been monitoring drills within the district so that students and staff knows what to in case of emergency, increased law enforcement presence, increased the amount of perimeter door checks and implementing visitor screening policy as recent changes to make each school more safer in the district. Anderson told the board that she also would like to give Powell County Dispatch a radio tuned to school’s emergency radio frequency so they can monitor the school and have a quicker response.

Other action taken by the board during the meeting includes:

Approval of minutes from meetings held on January 8, January 19 and January 22.

Approval of claims and authorizations to make payments of claims.

Approval of bus request trips.

Approval of maternity leave for Jamie Martin from March 13-May 1.

Approval of extended medical leave for Leslie Brooks from February 1-to-February 19.

Approval of overnight trip request for the Powell County High School Key Club to attend district convention in Lexington, Ky on March 16-to-March 18.

Approval of CA-4F for a district-wide teacher for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year.

Approval of Interim Superintendent Anthony Orr as one of the authorized signers for the Powell County Board of Education and to remove Michael Tate as an authorized signer.

Approval to permit parents and coaches to transport students, who are members of the Powell County Bass team to scheduled practices and tournaments for the 2018 season.

Approval to permit the Powell County Bass team to travel with their parents or coaches to  bass fishing clinic at Bass Pro Shop in Nashville, TN on February 17 and February 18.

Approval to permit the Powell County Bass team to travel with their parents or coaches to  bass fishing clinic at Bass Pro Shop in Nashville, TN on February 23 and February 24.

Approval of BG-5 for the Powell County Middle School Renovation Project as approved by the Kentucky Department of Education.

Approval for the Powell County School District to apply for the Commonwealth of Kentucky Rubber Mulch Grant for each of the elementary schools.

Approval of Family Resource Youth Service Center (FRYSC) Grants for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 for Bowen Elementary, Clay City Elementary, Stanton Elementary, Powell County Middle School and Powell County High School.

Approval of monthly financial report.

Approval of orders of the Treasurer Ann Bishop for January 2018.