By CECIL PERGRAM

Editor

Hugh and Connie Reed are operating the R & R Christian Youth Center that’s recently opened to the community at 194 Sunset Drive off of Adams Ridge in Clay City.

The center had its first chaperoned lock-in from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 7. The center plans to continue to be open every other Friday throughout the summer from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Reed says he hopes that the youth center will continue to grow in the future and that depending on the response he gets from the community he eventually hopes to have a need to stay open every Friday because of the lack of entertainment for children during the summertime. He believes that if that happens the center would be a wonderful asset to the community.

“On a regular continuous basis there is nothing for the kids to do. We have our festivals and that’s fine but if you see a child once a year your not going to have a big positive impact on their life. If your seeing them on a continuous or regular basis hopefully you can make a positive impact on them,” said Reed.

During the event children present received a short lesson about the love of Jesus Christ before participating in other fun activities such as playing ping-pong, volleyball, singing karaoke and more.

The Reeds say that the primary goal of the youth center is to spread the word of Jesus Christ to the youth in Powell County because they believe that the community needs it to combat some of the issues that youngsters are facing in the world today.

“If you talk to people in the community they’ll tell you that drugs are taking over, we’re about Jesus Christ we’re not a drug task force to keep kids off of drugs buts that’s a sideline objective,” said Hugh Reed.

“My wife and I got to hearing people talk and realized that’s there’s a real need in the community for some good clean fun for the kids to do because there’s really nothing for them to do. We’re trying to provide that for them by working through Jesus Christ,” said Reed.

The Reeds had previously worked with the AmVets Post #67 by holding community events for the counties youth.

“They were really good to us over there but the opportunity came up to buy the building on Adams Ridge so my wife and I bought the building and with the help of Albert Combs we renovated the building down to a manageable size from a 8,000 square feet to 1,800 square feet so that’s it big enough to do the activities we wanted to do,” said Reed.

“Albert has been an invaluable resource to us it wouldn’t been done near as quickly without him.” Reed said. “I can’t say enough about the help he has given us. Everybody that donates anything to us is through Jesus Christ just like what my wife and I are doing is through Jesus Christ it’s not us that’s doing it we’re just uplifting his name and that’s what we’re about.”

Reed says that they’ve just got the building to where they can actively start having events to bring kids in and be able to talk to them about the love of Jesus Christ and provide them with good food and quality entertainment.

“Going forward I’ve talked to Lisa Coffey with SPARK and she’s agreed to come up and do some demonstrations about drug prevention.” Reed said. “We’re trying to cover all the aspects with the kids eventually we’ll dwell into the importance of them continuing their education and we’re trying to be a positive influence on children’s lives here.”

“Our primary mission is to show the love of Jesus but we also realize that there is a serious drug problem not just in Powell County but the whole United States. We felt like with our skill set or lack there of that we might be able to influence kids in the age group of 10-to-18 years-old to go on the right path in life,” said Reed.

Reed says that he feels like that he can reach that age group because their old enough to participate in active listening long enough to understand the message and yet still be young enough to have not been tarnished by life. He says that if they’re on the fence of going down the right or wrong path in their life that he can be a positive influence to show them the right way to live or how to conduct themselves.

Reed says that most of equipment that the center is using has been donated through Jesus Christ working through individuals in the community. John and Gail Brewer donated the grill that the center uses to cookout for the children. Donny and Kathy Catron donated the karaoke machine. Albert and Exia Combs helped donate the disc jockey sound equipment.

If anybody in the community has items that they would like to donate in support of the youth center or if anyone is interested in more information about R & R Youth Center they can contact Connie or Hugh Reed at 606-481-2948.

If any parents are interested in having their children participate in the activities at the youth center and don’t have transportation to come to the center they can also contact the Reeds and they say they’ll make sure that transportation will be provided  to get them to the center.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Editor

Over 200 youths from across nine different states came together on a mission trip with the organization, Reach ,to complete numerous home improvement projects  over the course of a week long stay in Powell County.

The campers were working in the county from June 25 through July 1 to help citizens with making home improvement projects such as roofing repairs, building porches and wheel chair accessible ramps at no cost to the homeowners.

Reach missionaries worked on 17 different community projects within Powell County that was selected by the organization after accounting for its budget, the supplies needed, and the skill levels of those that would be attending the camps.

Deana Brooks has participated with Reach work camps in the past in Tennessee and Alabama.

Brooks says that Reach campers spend $400 out of their own pockets to participate in the work camp and some of that money campers spend goes into buying the materials and supplies for completing the community projects.

“Its kind of an amazing thing because kids have so many things that they could be doing, they could be at the beach for a week, but they come and do this kind of work.” Brooks said. “The thing that we love about Reach, it’s more than just people doing a project, they want to get to know the neighbors and let the people show their appreciation back to the kids.”

One example of this relationship building was in regards to one of the adult leaders with Reach who is from New Jersey and works as a investor on Wall Street. Brooks says that when she visited the worksite the man was working on, that he had been moved to tears because the girl at the home he was working on has spina bifida. She had helped the campers by nailing in nails on the ramp they were building to her home.

“When I got there I could still see the tears in his eyes, I thought that it was so neat that somebody from Wall Street is serving in Stanton, Ky. That this a different experience than what he’s used to, but he was very touched by what he experienced at that worksite,” Brooks said.

Brooks says that she can tell that the kids grow by the experiences they encounter on while working on the job sites.

“They are high school kids doing the projects, they have adult leadership from people called troubleshooters, who have a background in construction and are assigned to a number of homes that they rotate to and from to ensure those projects are done correctly. At the same time they’re also teaching the kids how to do it,” said Brooks.

“My sixteen year-old has spent a week roofing and he can tell me about the whole process. I think as parents sometimes we don’t think about getting our kids to use a power tool and help us build a porch. They come here and are taught by people and are doing projects that they’ve never done before so they grow spiritually, socially and emotionally by gaining self-confidence.” said Brooks.

“Being part of Reach has helped me to be exposed to new and different kinds of environments and it’s cool to get to help other people out,” said Abbey Raison from Dayton, Ohio.

Joanna Suarez is from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and was working on building a porch and ramp to Vickie Bush’s home in Clay City. Suarez says that despite this being her fourth Reach work camp that this year has been the best one yet.

“I’ve done four Reach camps ever since I was a Freshman and Stanton has been the most welcoming and generous community that I’ve ever gotten the privilege to serve.  Mrs Vickie and Melissa Campbell has been direct representations of this community they’ve been so welcoming and gracious it has been a blessing to help them its sad to leave its been great. It definitely hard work but I wouldn’t want to do it for anyone else,” Suarez said.

Brooks says that she first found out about the organization Reach in 2012 after a women at her church became seriously ill and made a recovery and upon her recovery she came to members of the church to express the desire to go on a mission trip.

Brooks gives credit to the trip back home from their first youth mission trip in Tennessee leading to the organization later hosting a work camp in Powell County.

“We were coming back home  and I still remember it to this day driving the road from Irvine into Stanton the girls on that trip we’re having a conversation about us needing to get Reach to come to Powell County. In 2015 while on another mission trip we started talking to Reach and asked about the application process they came out and visited the community to assess the needs of the community. They met with school administrators to tour the school and make sure it was set up to where it could host the event. We were ticked to death when they chose us and there has been discussion about them coming back in 2019 and we are hopeful that will happen,” Brooks said.

Reach is an non-denominational Christian summer missionary camp for Middle School and high school students thats been doing mission trips since 1992 to communities in the need of aid. The organizations mission is to make campers have a life-changing experiences that enables them to understand their role in combating poverty.

After 25 years of community service Reach has hosted over 183 mission trips, repaired 6,635 homes and conducted over 2 million hours of volunteer work. If you would like additional information or if you have questions about volunteering you can reach the organization at 1-888-732-2492.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Editor

A Clay City woman will be competing in the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Pageant on June 29-July 1 in Lexington, Ky.

Haley Wheeler, 19, is the daughter of Greg and Cherie Wheeler of Clay City and will be representing the city of Frankfort after being awarded the title of Miss Frankfort.

Wheeler is majoring in speech pathology and minoring in American Sign Language at Western Kentucky University.

Wheeler has the ambition to become a speech and language pathologist in a geriatric rehab and long-term care facility. Wheeler plans to later start and open her own practice in a rural and developing area.

Wheeler’s platform issue is a “Stitch for Hope” for Alzheimer’s Awareness.

Wheeler is being sponsored by the Miss Capital City/Frankfort scholarship organization and has received a $200 scholarship to assist in her studies.

Will be vocally performing the Lesley Gore tune made popular by Grace, “You Don’t Own Me” for her talent presentation.

Wheeler will be competing against 30 other contestants from around the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Contestants will be judged on five categories talent, private interview, stage questioning, evening wear and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit.

The scoring values of each category are as follows: talent 30 percent, private interview 25 percent, stage question 20 percent, evening wear 15 percent and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit 10 percent.

The 2017 Miss Kentucky Scholarship Pageant will be held at the Singletary Center for the Arts located on the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.

The pageant will officially start on June 29 with two days of preliminary competition before a final night of competition on July 1.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Editor

The community of Stanton is saying goodbye to a landmark that has been a staple of the community and the city since the 1950s.

The process of deconstructing the video screen at Mountain View Drive-in has started and is expected to be completed in a couple of days.

David and Lorena Baker have owned and operated Mountain View Drive-in since 1957.

David Baker says that when the industry quit making film and switched over to newer equipment that it contributed to him closing down the drive-in because he couldn’t justify the amount of money it would take to keep operating the business.

Baker says that watching them tear down the video screen is emotional.

“Its like losing a member of the family,” said David Baker. “I hate to see it go. It’s amazing to see how many people that came in here that were tourist that wanted to include going to the drive-in as part of their experience while they were here.”

Baker says that in the past when the business was still open other businesses in the community were anxious for him to open up at the beginning of his season.

Baker says that operating the drive-in was a hobby for him that he really enjoyed.

“It was the only hobby I had, I didn’t play golf or fish, I enjoyed the drive-in and loved keeping it open, I did it as long as I could get film. When I could no longer get film there wasn’t a decision to make, there just wasn’t nothing to show,” said Baker.

Baker says that he knows that Mountain View Drive-in meant a lot to the community and that he is going to miss all the faithful customers that he had over the years.

“I looked forward to seeing them, now I’ll seldom get to see them and I want to thank everybody for supporting me and making it possible for me to keep it open it was part of my life that I enjoyed.” said Baker.

“The most talked about thing that happened at the drive-in is an awful lot of people have slipped in without paying at one time or another and they want to come and tell me about now when its too late,” Baker jokingly said.

“Thats the most talked about part of it, but many of the married people today did some of their courting at the drive-in and they remember it fondly.” Baker said. “I appreciate all of them that supported me over the years and helped me keep it open.”

By Cecil Pergram

Times Editor

The Stanton City Council held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on June 8 at Stanton City Hall.

The council approved a motion to pass the second reading of a ordinance that would change water and sewer rates for citizens living both inside and outside of city limits. Under the ordinance there would be six percent water rate increase starting July 1 of this year for those residents living outside of Stanton city limits with additional rate increases occurring July 1 next year and July 1, 2019.

There will be no additional water rate increase for residents living inside city limits this year because the council had already previously passed and enacted water rate increases for this year. There will be a six percent rate increase for those living outside of the Stanton city limits starting July 1.

There will be a one percent increase in water rates inside Stanton city limits and a six percent water rate increase for residents living outside of Stanton city limits starting on July 1 2018. There will also be a three percent increase in sewer rates for those living inside Stanton city limits and two percent increase for residents who live outside Stanton city limits, those changes will also take effect July 1 2018.

Beginning July 1 2019 there will be a one percent increase in water rates for those living inside Stanton City limits and a six percent increase in water rates for those living outside of the city limits of Stanton. During the same time as the water rate increases there will also be another round of sewer rate increases. There will be a one percent increase in sewer rates to residents who live within Stanton city limits and a three percent increase for those residents living outside city limits.

The council also made a motion for the city of Stanton to complete and submit the Community Oriented Policing Services Grant Application. This year the COPS Hiring Program awards will provide up to 75 percent of the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of full-time officers for a 36-month award period, with a minimum 25 percent local cash match requirement and maximum share of $125,000 per officer position. The city of Stanton needed the council’s approval to apply for the CHP grant.

“We’ve got some guys who are going to retire in the next three to four years and we would like to apply for it again. If we don’t get it we can’t do anything but if we can get the grant then it would be a good chance to have somebody where they would pay 75 percent of their salary for three years, that would be a big deal,” said Stanton Mayor Dale Allen.

The council was made aware of two restaurants that are delinquent with payments of the city’s restaurant tax money.

Stanton City Attorney Scott Graham told the council that he had sent notices to the businesses on March 30 and May 30 advising them the city hadn’t received any returns and they needed to become compliment before the next scheduled meeting of the Stanton City Council.

Graham told the council that one of the two delinquent businesses had came in and paid several months earlier in the week but the council had not had any contact from the other business Mi Finca and that there was no good reason for why they haven’t filed the return.

“We want everybody to pay the tax, the tax should be applied uniformly, everybody should report and file the return if somebody isn’t their undermining the integrity of the ordinance and the tax.” Graham said. “I’m happy that we’ve only had one restaurant not comply, if you told me when we passed this last year that we would only have one restaurant that wasn’t in compliance that would have pleased me quite a bit.”

The Stanton City Council prepared and approved a resolution to authorize Stanton City Attorney Scott Graham to institute whatever legal action he deemed necessary and appropriate in order to bring the delinquent business into compliance.

“They are a number of different things that we could do, we could file a civil action through the court and revoke their business license.” Graham said. “In my opinion we need to take action as soon as possible to send a message that you need to comply with the ordinance.

The council approved a motion to advertise a bid for the city to buy or lease a new security system at the Stanton City Park. Tommy Mays told the council that only one of the 20 cameras that are part of the current security system is in working condition.

Stanton Police Chief Arthur Lacy asked the board to pass a motion for a police officer who was no longer under a six-month probationary period with the police department to be granted the same 40 cent that his peers received during a previous council meeting. The council had voted to not extend the raise to new police officers until they had been with the department for six months. The board passed the motion requested by Chief Lacy.

The council approved a motion on the second reading of the budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

The Stanton City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on July 11 at the  Stanton City Hall located at 525 Washington Street in Stanton, Ky.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Powell County High School and Estill County High School are finalizing a partnership between the two schools to send students to a new state operated Career and Technical Education Center that is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2019.

Superintendent of Powell County Schools Michael Tate and Superintendent of Estill County Schools Jeff Saylor presented the proposal to the Powell County Board of Education at last months board meeting.

The high schools in those two counties are finalizing a partnership between the two schools to send students to a new state operated Career and Technical Education Center.

Powell County Superintendent Michael Tate told the Board that Powell County High School will continue to have its CTE Center that’s currently located in the high school.

The building of a new area technology center would be based on an agreement for Powell County to send students to the new state operated center to take the classes that Powell County High School doesn’t offer.

Estill County Superintendent Jeff Saylor told the board that the new regional CTE center would be located just across the Powell County line in Spout Springs and would be about half way between both schools.

Saylor said that his district had three property sites that they we’re looking at and one of those properties had been secured in case the proposal was approved.

He said the land would need to be at-least 10 acres for the construction of the center.

Saylor told the Powell County Board of Education that he needed their help approving their cooperation to a partnership that would allow Powell County students to attend the regional CTE center.

Saylor told the board that once the partnership between the schools was agreed to that his district would go forward with applying for a grant to begin the process of building the new career and technical education center.

The Work Ready Skills Initiative Advisory Committee approved Estill County for a $5.7 million grant on May 17 in Frankfort.

Saylor said Estill County would be allotting $2.5 million and the Estill County Fiscal Court would be allocating $1 million and told the board that he was not asking for any money from Powell County Schools.

Senator Albert Robinson has made a commitment that his number one priority in the Spring legislative session is getting the funding approved to bring the facility to Estill County so that both schools students would be able to access the facility.

Saylor told the board that  the Career Technical Center would be completely separate from both schools. The center would have its own principal, its own staff and wouldn’t be paid for by either schools district, it would be a state funded facility.

“The only thing that I’m asking you to do is provide your kids with this opportunity. We don’t want money, supplies or materials. “Saylor said.  “If you decide to do that a later date because you have a bunch of kids accessing it, that would be between you and the area technology center.”

Superintendent Michael Tate of Powell County Schools says that a partnership with Estill County in addition to the Career and Technical Center that’s already at Powell County High School offer the best of both worlds.

“We already have programs here were offering for kids but then we’ll be offering kids the opportunity to take auto body, auto mechanics, the science technology engineering and math, welding, electricity.” Tate said. “We got things here were doing good, and there’s other things we just can’t afford because we don’t have the space or can’t afford the cost of putting the equipment in to offer the classes here but we’ll be able to offer them in Estill and our kids will have access to that.”

Some of classes to be offered at the regional CTE center that are not offered at PCHS are Advanced Manufacturing Lab, Transportation including auto mechanics and auto body and information technology courses that will include the advanced area of study in networking and software.

Saylor said that we was just asking the board to allow its students to participate in the program

The board voiced concerns that if Powell County wasn’t contributing funds to the project how they could be viewed as equal. Saylor told the board that the Powell County would have equal opportunity to the center that it would be a state operated facility and not operated by the Estill County School District. Saylor told the board that Estill County, alone, could not send enough students to participate at the center.

“I’m going to be honest their not going to come to Estill County to build a facility for only Estill County students, they forced us to think regionally when it boils down to it its all about our kids.” Saylor said. “If we can get this facility we can provide opportunities for the kids of Powell County. I don’t care if they’re in Powell County, Clark County, Estill County, no matter where their at, they’re all my kids and what happens in their lives is important to all of us.”

Saylor said that Lee County had worked closely in the process of preparing the center for the specific programs that will be offered and that county may send its students to the regional technology center as well.

Saylor said that any school would be welcome to send their students but he hadn’t put an invitation out because he focused on the counties of Powell and Estill first.

Saylor said that the project would be completed in phases and that it would be the Fall of 2019 before any students could attend the center.

The new center would be able to house between 400-450 students but at different times.

The center could potentially offer apprenticeships with local Carhart and Marcum-Wallace Hospital and would allow students the chance to have a part-time job, earn money and possibly receive a job after graduation.

“The auto mechanics class could be connected to Tanner Dodge, manufacturing connected to Carhart over in Estill County, the health science classes could be connected to Marcum-Wallace Hospital.” Tate said. “It allows to do more job shadowing, co-oping and school to work opportunities in the future. I’m sure that we’ll have some other people from Powell and Estill that once we get this going may want a partnership and do something too.”

Diann Meadows, Board Member, stated that based on conversations with the Industrial Board that she has had in the past, that industries considering relocating to Powell County often ask if the school district has access to a vocational center like the one being planned and if manufacturing and technology courses would be offered.

Meadows said that this type of program could potentially attract new industries to the county because they would be offering in those technological courses.

By Cecil Pergram

Times Editor

Clay City Mayor Jimmie Caudill and members of the Clay City Council, the Clay City Tourism and Convention Committee and the Parks and Recreation held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new boat access at the Clay City Park. The ribbon cutting ceremony was ran in conjuntion with the Riverfest event taking place in the Clay City Park on May 29.

The boat access is accessible and useable but the project has not reached its completion. The recent rainy weather in the past couple of weeks has raised the water levels of the Red River.

As soon as the river goes back down and we can get the guy back to do the concrete it shouldn’t take too long we were thinking two weeks at the most if we could have done it start to finish but then with the weather it kind of drug out. We’re hoping that the weather gets good and a week after that they can started on it.

Chaney said that he was happy with the turnout for the event it appeared there was hundred or so people that came and witnessed the event.

“We’re really happy we had about a month of solid planning, it may have been six weeks that we were talking about it, but the time we got a meeting with Parks and Recreation and City Council we had about a month to throw it together, said Chaney.

We want to do it annually and we were talking earlier with as little planning as we had we feel like it in the future it can be a lot bigger we can fill the park up, Chaney said. “Obviously when we have this all finished and the other side finished and people get out paddling more frequently any issues that we have should be worked it out.

Chaney said that he is working with the Clay City Tourism and Convention Committee on a project to commit to make sure that the that the Red River gets good informational signage and a map of the river to show people where to put in the boats and take them out.

Chaney says that he thinks the Riverfest will grow in the future and that he was really pleased with the turnout of the event.

“It was one of those things were we might have 30 people or we might have 1,000 people,” Chaney said.

Chaney says that in the future that he can see kayak or canoe races returning to Clay City and the Red River

“Everybody that knows about has said that we should do that again so there is a lot of public interest that everybody wants to see happen.” Chaney said. “I think that we’ll definately work on that for next year it was a little to quick this year to try and pull it off.”

The Riverfest Event was organized by the Lazarus Foundation, the Clay City Tourism and Convention Committee and the City of Clay City.

The new boat accesses was created through a partnership between the city of Clay City, Clay City Parks and Recreation, Clay City Tourism, the Powell County Fiscal Court and Hinkle Contracting. The project was also made possible by a grant from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.

By Cecil Pergram

Times Editor

The Clay City Council held a regular scheduled meeting May 15 in the Clay City Municipal Building.

Mayor Jimme Caudill called the meeting to order and the committee approved minutes and financial statements from January, February and March.

Jimmy Stone was present at the meeting on behalf of Kentucky River Foothills to see if the council would be open to deeding a particular piece of land where the city owns an alleyway dating back to the 1800s when the city of Clay City was first incorporated.

The Ky River Foothills is still in the preliminary stages of the project but was starting to look into the possibility of purchasing land on 10th Street and 8th Avenue.

The council said that typically when a land owner owns both sides of an alleyway the city will do a deed of transfer over the majority property owner.

The Clay City Council gave its approval to a prepared first reading of the Ordinance 16-05-15 regarding that issue.

The ordinance would transfer the piece of property 12.5 feet wide and 150 feet in length consisting of an old alleyway over to Kentucky Rivers Foothills for the purpose of building a daycare or the similar construction of a community based endeavor that would aid the city of Clay City.

The city of Clay City would retain rights to enter the property for purposes relating to the maintaining, removing, inspection, repairing or alternation of any water or sewer lines that may exist on the specific property.

The council approved the first reading of an ordinance to deed the land over to KY River Foothills and expressed a strong interest of completing a plat survey  before the second reading of the ordinance at the next scheduled meeting.

“I want to express my opinion that I’m pleased that you are working here and that we  have I don’t how many families being served by your housing and medical facilities that are being utilized.” Caudill said. “I’m tickled to death anytime that we can have any positive growth here.”

The council unanimously approved a proposal to switch companies that provide water analysis to Clay City Water and Sewer.

Clay City is currently getting analysis from McCoy & McCoy of Lexington but will be switching to Appalachian States Analytical  LLC in Pikeville after the company offered to do the same services for an amount 20 percent less over the first year than what the city of Clay City is currently being charged.

The council also took the action of amending the the goals and objectives of the Clay City Zoning and Planning Committee. Mayor Caudill made a recommendation to approve the second draft of the original goals and objectives as presented to the council.

Also at the meeting there was a discussion of the topic of adopting an ordinance saying that farm animals are not allowed in Clay City limits and the difficulties specific to that particular subject.

The council suggested that the Clay City Zoning and Planning Committee will be working to explore options in the future including the option of designating parts of the city as commercial, agricultural and different degrees of residential zoning. Under that plan in some residential zoning areas it would be allowed to have backyard chickens, rabbits or other small animals in single family dwellings.

The council also discussed the option of grandfathering in those in the community that have traditionally had animals on their property in the past and restricting new residencies from having animals where they’re not allowed.

The council also discussed the option of adding provisions that if those grandfathered in under the old ordinances let their use of the land lapse for certain period of time that the use of the land couldn’t be reestablished and would be considered a zoning violation to potentially get rid those residents animals.

The council also made discussions about looking into nuisance ordinances to make a difference between a property owner on a 1/4 acre lot and a property owner with a 10 acre lot because as the council members put it what can exist on a 10 acre lot is a lot different than what could exist on 1/4 acre lot.

No action was taken by the council at this meeting on the subject further than the discussion.

The council approved a motion to allow the Parks and Recreation Committee to determine the location of where to place up 10 benches in the Clay City Park on Second Street.

The Parks and Recreation also wished to ask the Clay City Council to designate the property on 7th Street as a park and that after its designation as a park to name the park Lazarus Landing, after Lazarus Powell, who the county is named after.

The council said they had no reservations about the subject but wished to have a plat survey completed before bringing a motion to the table.

The council reached a consensus for the 2017 Riverfest Event to paint kayaks on the city streets between the new park and the city park so that those kayaking on the Red River can follow the trail of kayaks back and forth between the two locations.

Mayor Caudill acknowledged another guest present at the council meeting Paul Nesbitt from Nesbitt Engineering.

Clay City Mayor Jimmie Caudill told the council that Nesbitt had come to him a week prior and expressed interest in offering his companies assistance with any special interests projects the city may be planning in the future.

“I’ve been in business for 41 years, we represent quite a few different communities, and we will help you with your attorney to get funding.” Nesbitt said. “We have relationships with the funding agencies and my motto is ‘You tell us where you want to go and we’ll help you get there.'”

Nesbitt told the council about his personal experiences and background including how his family moved from Kentucky to Detroit, Michigan in search of jobs and later how he went to school at the University of Michigan before becoming a city engineer for the City of Hazard.

“My theory in being here is that I want to learn about you, I can’t just run in and do a project, I have to learn about you and see what the project is all about first.” Nesbitt said.

Mayor Caudill thanked Nesbitt for coming to the meeting and showing interest in what the city is trying do for the community.

“Anytime you select an engineering firm to go forward on a project you want to be sure that once you select somebody that it is going to go as smooth as possible.” Caudill said. “That’s not always the case. I deal with people all the time and there are definitely problems on occasion. We appreciate you coming.”

The council also addresses a dozen or so nuisance ordinances by recognizing them and issuing notices to local residents to attempt to get those issues corrected.

Warren Douglas Baker, age 70, widower of Judith Ann Landrum Baker, Clay City, KY died Sunday, May 14, 2017 at Baptist Health Lexington.  Born in Whitesburg, KY he was the son of the late Roosevelt and Corsie Slone Baker and a retired machinist from Rockwell International.  Warren was a member of West Bend United Methodist Church and he was Master of Hounds at the Central Kentucky Coon Hunter’s Club for 45 years.  He was owner of Baker’s Lawn Care and Red River Kennel and he loved to grow tobacco and raise cattle on his farm.  In addition to his parents and wife, he is also preceded in death by one brother, Coolie Baker and by one sister, Dorothy Baker.  He is survived by two sons, Sean D. Baker, Sr. of Sadieville and Joshua Shane Baker of Clay City; one daughter, Jill Baker (Antonio) Guillen of Lexington; four brothers:  Edsel (Carol) Baker of Whitesburg, Ken (Peggy) Baker of Vicco, Chris Baker of Hindman and Mike (Debbie) Baker of Whitesburg; four sisters:  Creda Issacs of Deane, Lou (Duke) Lucas of Whitesburg, Anita (Blane) Redden of Beckley, WV and Missy (Ricky) Cook of Whitesburg; seven grandchildren:  Leilani Delbert, Sean D. Baker, Jr., Larcey Mae Baker, Kaya Lynn Baker, Jagger Cruise Warren Baker, Graeson Jude Guillen and Dawson Shane Baker and one great grandchild, Adrienne Steele.  Memorial services officiated by Rev. Kim Rose and Bobby Turner will be held at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Hearne Funeral Home, Inc.  Visitation begins at 5:00 P.M. until time of service at the funeral home.  Honorary pallbearers are Oscar Jarrell, Shelby Abney, Jimmy Tackett, Jimmy Spencer, Ronnie Knox, Darrell Billings, Eck Snowden and Leonard Snowden.  Arrangements by Hearne Funeral Home, Inc.  www.hearnefuneralhome.com.

Imogene Kinser McIntosh, age 88, widow of Hershell Lyle McIntosh died Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Rockcastle Regional Hospital, Mount Vernon, KY.  Born in Bowen, KY she was the daughter of the late Bennie W. and Pearl Lee Bowen Kinser.  She was a beautician and operator of Imogene’s Beauty Shop in Stanton for many years.

In addition to her parents and her husband she was also preceded in death by her daughter, Deana Juan McIntosh; two grandchildren, Jason Lee Blanton and Lucas Cane Prewitt and by two sisters, Golden Miller and Lillian Johnson.  She is survived by one daughter, Rhonda Lee McIntosh (Ronnie) Tipton of Stanton; one son, Kinley Harvard (Lisa) McIntosh of Richmond; two grandchildren, Jessica Dawn McIntosh and Brian Rogers and numerous great grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, May 19, 2017 at Hearne Funeral Home, Inc., 125 West College Avenue, Stanton, KY.  Visitation will begin at 6:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Stanton Cemetery alongside her husband with Angye Blanton, Shawn David King, Brennan Rogers, Caleb Rogers and Elihue Shepherd serving as active pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers are Danny Rice, Danny Crabtree, Stephen Fowler, Chris Rogers, Wallace Reed, Nora Lee Walters, C Anne Cunningham, Wallace “Toojer” Strange and Hondo Hearne.  Arrangements by Hearne Funeral Home, Inc.

Henry Tracy Johnson, loving father and grandfather, 80, died Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at his home. He was the Pastor and Founder of Roadside Mission Church of God. He was a retired customer service employee of Clark Energy Cooperative and was employed by The Kroger Company in Stanton. Survivors include, son, Daniel (Angie) Johnson; daughters, Carol (Goble) Rogers, Julie (Joe) Appleby, and Marissa Cheryl (Bob) Puckett; brother, Fred Johnson Jr. sister, Zania Clayton; grandchildren: Tracy, Billy, Nina, Timothy, Randall, Shayla, Tiffany, Christopher, Kyle, Sarah, Ashleigh, Amber, and Chase; Numerous Great-Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred Morton and Sarah Elizabeth Marcum Johnson, wife, Freida McIntosh Johnson, brothers, Rodney, Roy, Walker, Glendon, Claude, and Gaylon Johnson, and sisters, Ethel and Mabel. Services Friday, May 12, 11:00AM Roadside Mission Church of God. Celebration of life church services Wednesday 6:00PM and visitation Thursday after 6:00PM all at the church. Burial in Freida Johnson Memorial Cemetery with Arthur Spicer, Goble Rogers, Joseph Appleby, Bobby Puckett, Christopher Johnson, and Harold Bailey serving as pallbearers.  Davis & Davis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  www.ddfh.net

Charles “Chad” Shepherd, 65, husband of Sandy Shepherd, diedTuesday, May 9, 2017 at home from a long illness of pulmonary disease. He was born March 27, 1952 in Hazard, Kentucky to Ruben Shepherd and the late Pearlie Joseph Shepherd. He was retired from Duncan Machine Movers working as a iron worker and sells engineer for over twenty years. Chad had a love for life and extraordinary love for showing his horses, especially his snowy river. Survivors include, wife, Sandy Shepherd; daughter, Bridget and husband, Travis DePaul; granddaughter, Charlee Frances DePaul; father, Ruben Shepherd; brothers, Elihue Shepherd and Arthur Shepherd; and sisters, Lavern Jameson, Mary Jarvis, Josephine Warner, and Stephanie Helton. Services Saturday, May 13, 1:00PM by John Combs, Davis & Davis Funeral Home. Visitation Friday 6-9pm at the funeral home. Burial in Stonegate Cemetery with Travis DePaul, Doug Everman, Elihue Shepherd, Bob Mays, Stephen Haddix, Paul Willis, Mel Kuhlman, and Nathan Combs serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers serving, Jackie Rose, Phillip Stone, Tommy Howell, Kenny Yarber, Arthur Shepherd, Corey Shepherd, Colby Warren, and Jim Jarvis. The family would like to thank Amedisys Home Health, UK Pulmonology team, Dr. Ketan Buch, and Dr. Brian Andreas for their outstanding care.  Davis & Davis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  www.ddfh.net