Show in the picture are Jimmy Hood, John Reffett, Greg Crabtree, Anthony Benningfield, Gary Combs Hall, Ricky Wood and the late Mike Witt

The Sons of Am Vets Post 67 Clay City was recently awarded the Americanism Squadron of the Year by the National Sons of Am Vets.

The National Sons of Am Vets presented the Am Vets Post 67 with a Certificate of Appreciation for submitting $54,920.63 worth of project reports and volunteer work during the 2016-2017 year.

The Sons of Am Vets, as its name implies, is a nationwide organization comprised of the sons of American veterans who are members of Am Vets. The Sons play an active role in promoting Am Vets’ legislative agenda, providing services to hospitalized veterans and supporting charitable initiatives.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

In 1979 Lowell Briscoe and Forrest Meadows who owned the 100 acre farm that now consist of Meadowgreen Park are created with being instrumental in making the venue what it is today. The park is still owned by the Meadows family and operated by the Kentucky Friends of Bluegrass Music Inc.

Special things happen at Meadowgreen Park because the venue on occasion can almost be downright magical by taking the passion of the performers on the stage and passing it along to members of the audience who can later in turn cherish those memories for years down the road long after they are over.

One of those cherished memories belongs to musician Joe Mullins who just played the most recent show on January 7 along with his band the Radio Ramblers.

“The first time I was in this building, I was maybe 13 or 14 years-old and Ralph Stanley was here back when Keith Whitley was singing with Ralph. The place was jammed packed and it was a special night.” Mullins recalled while on stage. “It was when the barn first opened back in the 1970s. I was a boy spending a couple of days with my papaw and mamaw in Menifee County. Me and pap came and got to see Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, it’s a special barn.”

“We’re so thankful for the hard work of the Kentucky Friends of Bluegrass for keeping the doors open and making sure that the people of this region have a place to go see good mountain music here in Powell County,” Mullins said.

Meadowgreen Park in Clay City gives tourists and locals alike a way to escape the cold temperatures on a Saturday night and be able to enjoy entertainment by the big names and local musicians alike in a clean family friendly environment that will entertain the whole family.

“It’s good for the county because we don’t allow no alcohol in here and it’s a family oriented atmosphere,” said Kentucky Friends of Bluegrass Music Inc. committee member Estille King.

While at some venues members of the crowd are discouraged from dancing in front of the stage not at Meadowgreen Park.

“When we don’t have seats on the floor we have the whole floor full of people dancing,” said Kentucky Friends of Bluegrass Music Inc. committee member Estille King. “The little kids that come they’ve got out on floor and learned how to dance.”

Meadowgreen Park held its first Bluegrass Festival in 1977 that event was hosted by the Russell Brothers and Forest Meadows, the owner of the park.

According the Kentucky Friends of Bluegrass Music Club Meadowgreen Park has hosted some of the biggest and legendary names in the Bluegrass Music Industry ranging from those who were crucial in making Bluegrass Music like the “Father of Bluegrass Music” Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley to modern day groups like IIIrd Tyme Out and New South who are preserving the traditional sound and style of those legendary musicians who came before them for yet another generation.

Meadowgreen Park features live performances every Saturday night October through April.

Meadowgreen Park will be open this Saturday night featuring David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition. Southland Drive will also be performing. The show is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and the cost of admission is $15.

There are still some big names to come to Meadowgreen Park later in the coming in the next coming months including Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Tommy Webb and The County Line Grass, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers, Ralph Stanley II And The Clinch Mountain Boys and many more.

For more information about upcoming shows can contact the Meadowgreen Park office at 606-663-8136

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Members of the Powell County Board of Education members pose with new Powell County Schools Superintendent Anthony Orr during a meet and greet held on January 4 at Central Office. Those picured right to left are Kimberly Hall, Anthony Orr, John Brewer, John Barker and Diann Meadows. Board member Mendel Tipton is not pictured

The Powell County Board of Education held a meet and great on January 4 at Powell County Central Office for the community to get introduced Dr. Anthony Orr who was named as the Interim Superintendent of Powell County Schools at the end of December.

Orr was born is northwest Tennessee and went to school in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“I was like a lot of kids when I went through high school. I was unsure what I wanted to be,” Orr said. “I knew that I liked science and math and I thought that might be connected to my future.”

Orr says while in college he met a chemistry teacher he really liked and respected and she inspired him to do something with chemistry and students.

After getting his undergraduate degree Orr moved to a city outside of Houston, Texas where he taught chemistry and physics for three years.

Orr moved from Houston to San Antonio where he taught for five years before moving to Lexington, Ky.

Orr spent a year working in Lexington with Habitat for Humanity International before taking a teaching position at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.

“I spent the first 10 years as a teacher saying I would never take a position in administration. I didn’t want to be a principal and I didn’t want to leave the classroom, but ultimately I decided when I got my Masters Degree to go ahead and get into administration,” Orr said.

Orr says he made his transition from teacher to principal during his 10 years spent at Dunbar High School.

“I started teaching there but I ended up finishing as a Principal,” Orr said. “After 10 years at Dunbar I went to Nelson County and was the Superintendent in Nelson County for seven years.”

Orr says he has been asked by some about the possibility of dropping the interim for his title and becoming the full-time Superintendent of Powell County Schools in July and he’ll eventually make decision, but right now that’s not his primary goal.

My primary goal is spending the next six months making sure everything about the district is going as smoothly as possible. So whoever steps into  position in July has a district that’s in good order,” Orr said. “My expectation is that most likely someone else will be stepping into that position and thinking about it. That way it helps me make decisions that are good for kids in Powell County instead of making decisions about what’s good for Anthony Orr.”

Orr says he is still in the process of learning how things work and once he gets a feel for his new position he hopes to be able to collaborate with staff and find better solutions to some of the districts problems.

“We got some attention for some concerns we have going on in our elementary schools and that is certainly going to take sometime over the next couple of weeks to get that situation taken care of,” Orr said. “Really I want to make sure my work makes the job of staff, our teachers, custodians, bus drivers, and administrators easier. All these folks have really hard jobs and I just want to watch for ways I can help them do their jobs and do them more effectively and more efficiently.”

Orr says the last 15-16 years he spent in school administration has prepared him for the work ahead of him because of a lot of the job is going to be a similar experience.

“Certainly coming to a district of a different size will make some difference. Every district had issues going on that needed to be worked on, but that keeps the job fresh and keeps me thinking about new things all the time and that helps keep me engaged and interested in what we are doing.”

Orr says he wants everyone to know his first priority is getting the district in good shape and taking care of the kids in Powell County.

“Beyond that I want people to talk to me. If they are wondering what’s going on, how things work, or if they have any concerns about something that was said or something they heard, just call me,” Orr said. “I would be glad to answer any questions or check on a situation so I can be part of a solution if one is needed or part of an explanation if that’s all it takes.”

Orr says he intends to be in attendance at most Powell County High School sporting events and those events would allow for a great opportunity to have interactions and to hear from those in community.

Orr says additionally he wants the community to know he intends to make himself available by phone for those who call the Powell County Board of Education Central Office at 606-663-3300.

Pictures show images from the scene of a house fire that occurred on Hatton Creek Road on January 1. Stanton Fire Chief Eddie Barnes described the home as a total loss.

By LISA JOHNSON

Reporter

On January 1 a 911 call was issued for a house fire on 171 Hatton Creek.

Fire Departments from Stanton, Clay City ,Hargett, Middlefork and  Clark County responded.

The fire started around 3 p.m. on Monday and may  have originated in the HVAC unit.

By 10 p.m. the call was made by Chief Barnes who determined the home was a total loss.

The efforts were hindered by freezing water and breathing equipment that caused firefighters to run out of usable air supplies.  Chief Barnes described the older style structure as a

balloon house. Many homes were built on these designs starting in the Victorian period through the 1930’s and beyond. The style of construction leaves open wall cavities were fire can run from basements inside walls and floor joist, often only noticed when they breach the roof or flow smoke or fire from under the eaves unknown to the occupants inside.  It is a common type of construction were the implementation of Firestop is not applied .

We feel especially bad for the owner who is one of our own- Ryan Centers of the Stanton Fire Department.

Thanks to Shauna from Middlefork who kept me updated on the story.

It takes us all to be a great team! January 1 proved to be a busy day for first responders as they responded to a rollover crash with injuries in the 7600 block of Campton Road.

Crews from Middlefork Fire/Rescue as well as Powell County EMS treated a male patient with serious injuries prior to flying him to University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Before Middlefork firefighters could clear that call, they were also requested for an EMS assist on Star Gap Rd in reference to a wreck that occurred overnight.

Due to exhausting all of their resources Middlefork requested neighboring Stanton Fire Department for mutual aid with several firefighters responding for traffic control assistance to the Campton Road scene while Middlefork secured the landing zone for Air Methods helicopter Kentucky 2 based in Mount Sterling.

Shortly after clearing both of those incidents was when Middlefork Fire and Rescue responded to Hatton Creek Road for the structure fire along with Stanton  and Clay City Fire Departments.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

A Clay City man, Anthony Knox is realizing his lifelong goal of starting his own company Wild Man Beef Jerky after working on the idea since he was a teenager.

“I’m 50 years-old and I started on this recipe when I was 13 years-old and it’s been a long time just to get to this point,” Anthony Knox said. “On the these ingredients it’s been trial and error. I’ve spent thousands of hours and weighed every grain of salt that went into this to get it perfect to where I think it’s the best and it’s hard to beat.”

“I worked with Scott’s Archery. I was their second employee in 1987. We got bought out by the Outdoor Group in New York six years ago. The day they bought it and met with us I came home and told my wife that I’ve always worked on this jerky idea and that this was the time I needed to get into it because they’re not going to survive. The very next day after they bought it, I started working on the building for the jerky plant knowing that eventually this is where I was going to be.”

“This all started six years ago (not counting the ingredients) over Scott’s Archery being sold,” Knox said.

“The first thing out of their mouths was we got to get our numbers up. I was like that’s not good because numbers aren’t everything,” Knox said. “Starting out with Bill Scott as a young man, Bill always said that you do quality and not to worry about the quantity. That will all work itself out and come later.”

Knox says that he is now using the lessons that he learned from Bill Scott with his business now to have a good product and to not shortchange people because it will cost the business in the long run.

“Most beef jerky companies do not buy U.S.A. beef, I can get beef cheaper from Mexico or Canada but the beef I buy is American from right here in the State of Kentucky. It’s not shipped in here on a railcar from Mexico. This is American beef I buy my meat from The Chop Shop in West Liberty and it’s all local cattle that’s been slaughtered. I want the quality,” Knox said.

“It’s a good product and I’ve tried it all. I’ve bought thousands of dollars worth of jerky everywhere I go,I try everybody else’s’ stuff but with mine I would put it up against the best of them it really is a good product,” Knox said.

“Our goal is to get 200 bags a day everyday for 5 days a week, our goal is to reach 1000 bags a week. It don’t sound like much but it’s a lot of work it’s not hard work it’s just time consuming,” Knox said.

“Like I said I had this idea when I was 13 years-old and even the logo you wouldn’t believe the time it took to sit there and draw it,” Knox said. “I’m not an artist but I would sit with a notebook in a tree stand. That’s why I put Made by A Sportsman For Sportsmen on the package because that’s a fact that all of these ideas came out of a tree stand.”

Knox says that his product is days away from being available in Powell County and that he has about a dozen or so stores located throughout the county that is going to start carrying Wild Man Beef Jerky.

Knox says the only thing that his company needs to do before hitting the shelves it to get a stamp from the USDA.

“They’ll keep records of everything that we bring in here and keep track of every package that comes out of here,” Knox said. “It has to have this stamp so that I know where each package goes.”

Knox says that there will a USDA inspector at the plant everyday from anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple of hours.

“They’ll be here it’s that critical. It’s hard to believe over just a small operation but the first thing they told me was there is no difference between a small business and large corporation they treat everybody the same and that they don’t cater to small businesses,” Knox said. “It’s kind of a lot of rules to follow and it’s really hard to grasp just the rules part of it. They were here just this last week and I took a 75 pages test If I hadn’t been involved with this from the start there is no way that I have passed but I know every nook and cranny of the product.”

“We are proud of it. We came a long way and done a lot of stuff. You would not believe what I’ve went through to get to this point with the USDA. They are good people but their tough they don’t make exceptions for no one.”

“I’m not here to get rich. I don’t want to be big my goal is to make the best beef jerky that you can buy and I’m going to be cheaper than the other guys because it’s my labor and I can be cheaper than the competition,” Knox said.

“I’m here to make a living if I don’t have to drive to Lexington everyday to work that’s huge and you can’t put a dollar figure on that at my age,” Knox said.

Knox says that there are some real possibilities for growth with his company by the connections he made with retailers such as Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops everyday from the time he was working with Scott’s Archery. Knox says that he also made other connections by chance while on fishing trip with his son at the Land Between the Lakes in Western Kentucky.

“This gentleman walked up to me and said hey I love beef jerky but I’ve never seen a bag like that. I told him that I make it and told him that he could take the rest of the bag not knowing who he was or nothing. Two months ago I got a text message asking if I remembered giving him a bag of beef jerky. I told him that I remembered him having no idea where this was going but needless to say he said that he was an investor who owns a percentage of over 80 gas stations and that he wanted to do business.”

“The potential is really there, its my opinion there are no limits to the potential. If we can start out small and do 100 bags a day for a while and get used to the USDA and them get used to me. Hopefully we can really grow into something larger,” Knox said. “We’re not big but there is a possibility that we could have three-to-four employees shortly. If I can support three or four families that’s a real plus.”

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

The Powell County Board of Education held a special meeting on December 15 in the library of the Powell County Middle School.

The board heard from members of the community who had questions and concerns about a decision made by the Powell County Schools to temporarily end the Upper Room Program at Stanton Elementary School. Concerned parents also had discussions about student safety after another parent videotaped their children in a Facebook video that would later cause various threats made against students, staff, school and the community.

Darlene Drake was first to speak about concerns she had about the suspension of the Upper Room Program at Stanton Elementary School.

“I will try to get through this without crying but most of you all know me and know that if I talk about something that is dear to my heart that I usually cry,” Drake said. “I want you to know that I don’t come here to argue, fuss, or blame. I just want to give you my opinion. I was told when I turned my question that I was questioning the wrong source that the Superintendent or Board of Education doesn’t have any power to suspend or reinstate a program. I was told that was a Site Based Council decision.

Drake says that she went to the Site Based Decision Making Council meeting and was pleased to be assured that they were addressing the problems related to the suspension of the Upper Room program and in the future that the program would be reinstated.

“I think its very unfair that one woman without any proof only on the word of her son can create such havoc in a community. It’s not my way to get on social media, television or in the newspaper to bash the place I live or the place that my children attend school,” Drake said.

Drake told the board she wanted them to know all the great reasons she chooses to call Powell County home.

“I love this county and everything about it. I love that everybody knew what my children were doing growing up and they didn’t care to call and tell me about it. I love the fact we live in a dry county although I know a lot of people disagree with me, I love that we are mostly part of a Christian community and that we come together when we need to do. Don’t get me wrong, I know that we have problems and I know that its not a perfect place to live but it’s a great place for me.” Drake said.

“I tell you these things to simply say that if one woman can suspend Upper Room well this one woman will be at every site based council and board meeting until it’s reinstated. I will not bash you all in the public but I will not go away. I respect your positions in the community and expect that you will act in a way to continue to deserve my respect,” Drake said.

Greg Rogers was next to speak and told the board that he thanked the board members and Powell County Superintendent Michael Tate for years of service given to the community. Rogers told the board

“I would like to thank the teachers here at Powell County for the job they’ve done throughout the years to help raise our children,” Rogers said.

“Powell County has received a black-eye not just locally but across the nation due to recent events. I would like to say that we have our rights as citizens of this country. We have the right to serve our God and we have a right in the First Amendment to express our love for our God,” Rogers said.

It is totally legal for children to pass out literature to one another stating their love for Christ, They can also wear shirts, they can  bring Bible’s to school and they can even read the Bible’s during free time in class,” Rogers said. “We want the Upper Room in our schools because we know what it can do for our children it helps mold them into to the children that they need to become in the future.”

“As a county one thing that I’m grateful for is this has made us come together as a community like never before but it has also taught us that we need to search and know what our rights are as a people,” Rogers said. “I lost my son due to bullying two years ago, I buried my child. So I know what bullying can do, full well. I know the heartbreak that it brings but as rationale human being I also know that teachers can try as hard as they want too but  it’s is always going to exist.

“I’ve seen the effects of things such as the Upper Room with the children who have grown up going to the Upper Room and the people that they have become. I’ve always loved my home but I’m proud of Powell County like never before to see how theses parents and citizens banded together for our rights to raise our children the way we want. I beg the board and the school site based council to not back down and move full speed forward in our fight for our community,” Rogers said.

Powell County Superintendent Michael Tate told those present at the meeting that he would try to answer their questions and address their concerns about their children safety the best that he could.

“We just made the decision to go back and review things in the district and basically that’s what we’re trying to do to make sure that we are doing things the right way and that its going to meet the safety needs of our students.” Tate said. “We want all our schools to have a safe learning environment for all our kids. We are in the business of public education and we served the needs of all students in this district and we want to continue to do that. I know that some of you mentioned rights of people and students I understand that totally. As we move forward, Board Attorney Mrs. Hale and other are going to look at that and determine things that they may want to change in the future.”

Action taken by the Powell County Board of Education during December 14 meeting:

Approval of minutes for the Regular Meeting held November 13, 2017

Approval of minutes for the Special Meeting held December 5, 2017

Approval claims and authorization to make payment of claims and construction purchase orders

Approval of bus request trips

Approval of maternity leave for Heather Abney starting January 2 thru February 20, 2018

Approval of updated Certified and Classified Job Descriptions

Approval of out of state trip request for the Powell County X-Treme Team to travel by charter bus to Atlanta, GA to perform as the pre-game show for the Atlanta Hawks on March 12-14, 2018

Approval to pay Sherman Carter Barnhart for Professional Services for the month of August 2017 as part of the Construction portion of the Powell County Middle School Renovation Project in the amount of $1,878.02

Approval of the 2018-2019 school calendar

Approval to hire Board Attorney Donna Hale to lead as a consultant for 2017-2018 Superintendent Search

Approval of Monthly Financial Report

Approval of Orders of the Treasurer for November 2017

Approval to enter into Closed Session pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1) (f) for discussion that may lead to the appointment of an interim superintendent.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Pictured right to left are 2017 Kentucky Migrant Education Advocate of the Year recipient Teresa Dotson, Special Education Director Migrant/ESL Program Coordinator Debbi Rose and Powell County Schools Superintendent Michael Tate.

A Powell County teacher, Teresa Dotson, was recognized for being named the 2017 Kentucky Migrant Education Advocate of the Year by the Kentucky Department of Education.

Powell County Schools Migrant Program Director Debbi Rose says that she nominated Dotson and was made aware that Dotson had received the award while attending the Kentucky Migrant Education State Academy Conference held in Owensboro on November 16.

Rose says that she knew Dotson was destined for greatness before she hired her for an open position in the program, but she had no idea of the depth of that greatness going beyond what was required of her.

“She started getting to know the students and their families. She visited each one and found something unique and special about them and then the magic happened,” Rose said. “She would remember birthdays, exciting events they participated in, struggles the family was having, their favorite foods, drinks, and colors. You name it. Once she had it down she never forgot and for six years I watched as she treated student after student, family after family as she would her own.”

“Many of these things I know that other districts could say they have seen in their staff, but with Teresa, no one ever knew. That was her magic,” Rose said. “The weekends, the funeral visitations and purchasing of items she never wanted others to know that she was behind them. She took no credit in public but was instead fed on the smiles of our families. Many times other people tried to stand in and assist her but she was determined to do things herself for them and more than anything never wanted anybody to know what she was doing behind the scenes.”

Rose says that as a program coordinator that many times it is easy to get lost in paperwork or deadlines for the program but Teresa Dotson only gets lost in love, support and dedication to the school district’s children.

“She is a big inspiration to me and should be to everybody in the school district,” Rose said.

The Powell County Road Department is pictured above while installing  all of the recently added GPS Trackers in all of the departments vehicles.

Stanton, Kentucky – November 17, 2017 – A new technological innovation will be debuting in the Powell County Road Department, and just in time for winter. Over the course of the last week, GPS trackers have been installed on the fleet of trucks deployed by the department to aid in road repairs and other responsibilities unique to their crews.

Using the resources of the Bluegrass Area Development District, the Powell County Fiscal Court worked with the Road Department to establish the new platform for tracking vehicles wherever they may be throughout Powell County. Beyond simply knowing where the vehicles are, these tracking devices offer up a measure of safety and increase efficiency within the department.

“Having the ability to keep constant track of the trucks when they’re in the field will give us an added layer of understanding as to how road conditions are progressing, and how effective we are within the department,” said Judge-Executive James Anderson, “particularly during the process of snow removal.” While the work of our local road crews impact the day-to-day life of nearly every resident of Powell County, perhaps no other time are they more visible or more important than during the snowy winter months.

The information from the trackers will feed into a monitor in the Powell County 911 Dispatch Center, where the communications department can track progress in real-time, and determine the conditions of roads throughout the county more effectively. Cory Graham, director of Powell County 911, remarked on the history of the project: “Two years ago we began experimenting with snow removal through our dispatch center, testing different routes and changing the way we communicate during winter storm events. This project has been a long-term goal, and will allow us to better inform the public as to the progress of snow removal and will add an element of safety to the crews out there working to clear the way.”

The addition of these tracking devices will give the staff of the 911 center the ability to monitor any vehicles which may become stuck, or otherwise find themselves in peril while plowing a given route. Additionally, the accuracy of the equipment will allow first responders, should an emergency arise, to locate the particular vehicle in its exact location should communications prove difficult.

By CECIL PERGRAM

Times Editor

Powell County Schools Superintendent Michael Tate submitted a letter on November 13 notifying the  Powell County Board of Education that he intends to resign effective January 1, 2018.

“It is time to make this happen as I am ready to begin the next chapter in my life. I find myself overwhelmed with all the positive experiences I have enjoyed over the past 35 years serving the students of Kentucky,” Tate said. “

Tate says that he would like to say thank you to all the tremendous educators that he has had a privilege to work with over the years.

“I would like to say a special thank you to the board members and the board attorney for our working relationship during my time as Superintendent, it has been an honor to  collaborate with them in serving the students of Powell County,” said Tate. “A special thank you to the five board members who selected me to be the Superintendent of Powell County, I hope that I served the students well and did not disappoint them while serving in this position.”

Tate says that the Powell County School System has been proactive over the past seven years with him being the acting Superintendent and that he is overwhelmed with pride for what the administration has been able to accomplish during his tenure.

“Everyday we remained focused on the goal of increasing student achievement. We have dramatically increased choices students at the high school with many opportunities for dual credit,” said Tate. “The only sure way to accomplish student achievement is to continue to focus on every student to graduate high school, college and/or career ready. By every single measure of our work the youth of Powell County have a significantly better education today that they did seven years ago.”

Tate says that the administration and staff worked ceaselessly to ensure a better education and outcome for the youth of Powell County.

“We have moved forward with our facility plan with the purchasing of land next to the middle school. We also made progress at Powell County Middle School and Powell County High School with construction projects over the past few years to upgrade both schools,” Tate said. “We have assured that no single student goes hungry before they start their school day or leave us hungry before they return home, with all students eating free breakfast and lunch within the district.”

Tate said the school district had been proactive on leading the way in the implementation of the Common Core Standards and new initiatives from the Kentucky Department of Education.

“The work of our teachers is nothing short of extraordinary in developing and implementing this ground breaking shift in instructional practices and expectations of for our students. I have watched students work to accomplish the goal of earning full scholarships at top institutions, I have witnessed young men and women develop the set of skills to allow them entry into the Armed Forces of the United States of America,” Tate said.

Tate says the is has been a joy for him to watch students grow in confidence performing at high levels while also showcasing their talents in the sports arena, academics, band competition, declamation, and events like Miss Powell County, Veterans Day Programs, and the Reading Celebration.

“I will always have fond memories of graduation day watching our students leave or campus with a sense of urgency ready to move on, knowing that we helped them acquire the skills and knowledge to be productive citizens and community members,” said Tate.

“Needless to say this has been hard work, in fact exhausting work. I am proud and honored, but it is time for a transition.” Tate said. “Our district is in good shape, financially, educationally, and in all areas serving the many needs of our youth. I could not be more thankful for the opportunity to have served the amazing youth of Powell County and I will now take time to reflect of how I will continue to serve them and contribute to the community.”