By LISA JOHNSON

Times Staff Writer

Austin Shockley of Ravenna, Kentucky was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and 10 years for assault, to run concurrently, for the fatal accident that killed Powell County resident James Patton Bowen on October 15, 2017 and injured Mason Powell.

The accident occurred on HWY 499 in Irvine, Kentucky around 1:00 in the morning.  Shockley, who was driving under the influence, crossed the median and struck the Volkswagen head-on, killing 26 year old General Bowen.

Shockley has been arrested twice since the accident, once for failing a drug test in 2018 and again in September 2019 for failure to appear and failing another drug test.

We take time to remember a life cut short of a young man who was everything to his family, who  stood tall in the community that loved him. His future and his family’s future, all cheated by death, not by an accident- but by a plague on our society that robs people of their hopes and dreams and offers no comfort or solution. Their loss is felt by us all!  Rest In Peace General Bowen.

By LISA JOHNSON

Times Staff Writer

You may know him only as our 911 Director, but Cory Graham is not just a voice on the emergency  airways.   At 10 years of age, Cory had his own column  ( Cory’s Comments) right here in the Clay City  Times. Graham’s true passion is art and his works have been published in Red Planet and The Outsider Magazines. Graham’s art will be on display at the PRHBIN Lexington Art League’s October 18th show that will be held at the Loudon House in Lexington, located at 209 Castlewood Dr.  and is open free to the public from 5pm to 10pm. Exhibition Director Logan Dennison states “this will be one of the Art Leagues most exclusive events”.   The uniqueness of Grahams  artistic visions is well worth the trip.  Afterwards we will post our reviews for those of you who missed out. Looking  Forward to seeing you there!

By LISA JOHNSON

Times Staff Writer

 On Saturday, September 28, nearly 500 rummers from 17 states and 4  countries descended upon the Red River to challenge what is one of the toughest races in the Eastern Us. The prize? To Tame The RED! The half marathon is the  creation of  Joe Bowen and as far runners are concerned, it’s the ultimate race on their to-do list. Winner in the Men’s Division was Ben Calebs from Louisville with a time of 1 hour and 56 minutes. The Women’s Division winner was Jillian Markus from Covington finishing in 2 hours and 15 minutes.  The first place husband and wife team was Steve and Julie Breitegan from Lexington.

Local youth provided music along the trails. A thanks to Powell County SAR who have been working the race for five years and RED STAR Paramedics who were on scene. A tale of great sportsman ship from  an unknown couple who are thanked for stopping  to pickup a fallen female runner who went down in  the first mile of the race. Kris Tito  a Podiatrist from Cincinnati, Ohio did finish the race and  sends her thanks to the unknown couple. Like we always say “you meet some of the nicest people out on the trail”. Great Race! Great People! Y’all Come Back- See You Next Year!

By LISA JOHNSON

Times Staff Writer

  On Sunday, September 22 just days after the institution of a burn ban, a ground fire was reported at 1:30pm  on Campton Rd, just north of Slade. The fire scorched the mountain beside  a business and endangered a nearby cabin development.  Fire Departments from Middle Fork, Stanton and Tri Community responded along with the US Forest Service. The fire was listed as a controlled burn and the cause is under investigation. The fire was under control by 4:30pm. The first responders asked us to express their  appreciation to the Wilcox family for the snacks and cold water.

Seventy-one nearby counties, including Estill and Wolfe, have issued burn bans due to the drought-like conditions. These bans usually forbid burning of forest, grass, crops, woodlands, marshes or other similar areas, burning leaves or debris, campfires, bonfires and warming fires, open pit cooking and charcoal grilling along with the use of fireworks and welding. In November of 2016, under similar conditions, a wildfire tore through the Smokey Mountains region of Tennessee claiming 14 lives and injuring 134 others.

Steve Asbury, Judge James Anderson and Chief Mike Sparks from Clay City Fire.

By LISA JOHNSONTimes Staff Writer

 Last week Kentucky  Emergency Management conducted  its annual awards ceremony in Louisville. The award for  Kentucky County Judge of the year went to Powell County’s Judge Executive James Anderson. The most improved Emergency Management Director went to  Powell County  EMA Director  Steve Asbury. An additional award was given to   team members  from our ambulance service and Search And Rescue (accepted by by Chief Mike Sparkes)  and  Red Star Backcountry Paramedics (accepted by David Fifer)for their work in a joint exercise training program with Kentucky Air National Guard in preforming emergency medical airlift training in the Red River Gorge.

We are most fortunate at this time in our community to have such  dedicated, personal and well formed leadership that makes Powell County stand out.  Upon receiving his award County Judge  James Anderson made the note that his recognition  was the byproduct of the good people that support our community and they are the reason for his award and for our county’s  success.

We congratulate them all and thank them for being apart of our humble county. Thanks Judge Anderson, Chief Sparks, and Steve Asbury for a good job and taking care of our community.

By LISA JOHNSON

Times Staff Writer

 The Powell County Lions Club held its annual Miss Powell County pageant on September 7 at the high school. Eleven contestants displayed an array of talent from singing, dancing, musical instruments to a hula hoop.  The final five contestants were Lexie Grace Meade, Gabriella Huntsberger, Nalli Katherine Marcum, Madeline Elizabeth Murray and Demara Alexis La-Sha Sparks with Lexie Grace Meade announced as Miss Powell County 2019. The evening was most memorable and we  thank all the participants and the Lions club and Jonathan Hall for their hard work to make this special night happen for these talented young ladies.  The Miss Powell County Pagent is  more than a beauty pageant, it requires a lot of work and personal effort on behalf of all the contestants. Each individual participant brings a rare look into the best of up and coming womanhood  and  is an example for all to see. Pageants like this foster individual goals, community activism and feminism. Each individual showcases the best and  brightest , all representing  Powell County. Beauty pageants are a part of the American land scape and are part of our culture and the participants in my book are all winners!  All contestants were ask , fifty years from now what do you want people to remember about you?  Lexie stated” I want to stand out”   we agree you did.  Congratulation to all from Clay City Times Staff.

By ASHLEE HADDIX

Times Staff Writer

The photo Stacy Jones recieved from her daughter early last week which gave rise to her concerns about the portions and options avalable to PCHS students.

Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables is something we can all get behind!  However, early last week many parents found themselves unhappy with the school lunch options their kids were receiving.  Social media sites such as Facebook were flooded with images of school plates with less than desirable entries and many angry parents wondering what was happening.  Some of those parents such as Stacy Jones, even attended the school board’s monthly meeting with their concerns.  Jones, who has children in both the middle and the high school, states that her daughter sent her a picture of her lunch and she was immediately dissatisfied.  Jones feels as if the board “brushed her off” as she didn’t really receive any answers but that she has done research at other local schools and believes the options could improve.  Jones says, “four little nuggets, a roll and some oranges will not fill up a high school kid and I know there were other options but apparently the kids didn’t like those options or they would have had them on their plates”.  Jones says all she is asking is that the schools provide a decent  filling meal that kids will actually eat.

Laura Young, School Nutrition Director, says that Powell County is part of the CEP program for the state.  The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a free meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas.  The USDA website states that the CEP qualification “allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)”.  No student enrolled in any of the school within the county are charged for their meals, both breakfast and lunch.  However, their are some strict guidelines the school must follow in accordance with the program.  Young describes it as a “puzzle that has to be put together and include so much sodium, fats and calories per student”.  As for the portions, Young states that sometimes a downside to several options for the full meal is that students chose what they want, but you can’t make them chose it all.  Students must get a minimum of 3 items for the plate to qualify for reimbursement through  CEP and one of those items must be a fruit or vegetable.  Young would like to express that each student is given the option of a meat, fruit, vegetables and bread at every lunch.  Students are not charged for any additional helpings of vegetables however starch vegetables such as french fries are only available for one serving (students can not even purchase additional of those) per the guidelines.  The only additional charges students should pay is for extra meat servings and those are always $1.25.  Students are always allowed to bring their own lunch if they chose and students/parents can put money on their lunch account to buy extra’s if they feel they need more food.  Young also encourages all parents to download the “My School Bucks” app on their phones so they can monitor their child’s lunch account funds at any time.  The app is free and all you need is your child’s lunch number.

Not all parents are outraged over the lunches however.  Parents like Tiffany Hawkins, who has children in Clay City Elementary, states “I think it’s great.  It provides nutritionally balanced meals, for free”.  Hawkins also states that having the breakfast and lunch calendar’s ahead of time (as provided by all the schools to all students) makes it easier for her to see if she needs to send them lunch if the day’s food isn’t what her children will eat.  Hawkins also states “I think the school does a fantastic job of providing healthy lunch and breakfast with a limited budget”.

Young would like to encourage all parents to come to their child’s school and sit down for a meal to see what their children are eating.  The schools will allow parents to enjoy lunch with their children and get a first hand glance at what is being served during meal times.

\