Dam

The Kentucky River Authority is nearing the end of its goal in the renovations of the three dams running the length of the county and is expecting to wrap up with Dam 8 in Jessamine County by 2014. But once the project is complete, the KRA's funds, nearly $15 million, will literally be all dried up, said Daniel Gilbert of Stantec Consulting Services. Gilbert is the project's resident engineer who has worked on the three dams. Situated between Garrard and Jessamine counties, Dam 8 is the third and final phase of lock dams to be renovated and paid for by water-withdraw fees to the KRA. Two of the other lock dams focused on were Dam 3 and Dam 9, which were renovated to protect Lexington's drinking water; Dam 8 supplies Nicholasville.

Plans are under way to replace the Kentucky River's 103-year-old Lock and Dam 10, located just south of Clark County at Fort Boonesborough. According to Sue Elliston, staff adviser for the Kentucky River Authority, the design process will begin in 2014, and will take about a year to complete. The project will be funded by water user fees the River Authority receives for allowing companies, including Winchester Municipal Utilities and East Kentucky Power, to draw water from the river for their operations.

STANFORD - Lincoln County dams aren't down in the dumps, but they could stand to see a little spring cleaning, reported a state study in October. The local Conservation District got help from Lincoln Fiscal Court Tuesday with a $3,000 increase in its upcoming budget to help sandbag the rising costs of repairs needed on five of seven dams. The additional money slated for repairs will not be felt by taxpayers directly, but will be disbursed from the Fiscal Court general fund.

Thomas A. Gray: Quite literally, Joe B Hall "saved" UK basketball as we know it. Recruiting was floundering in the early 1960's. JBH put a recruiting system in place to change that. His bench coaching (and coaching the frosh teams) infused new energy into the Cats. No coincidence that his first year on the UK bench produced Rupp's Runts. Information here. That's why he is so high on this list, just a couple spots after Dean Smith. Little credit given by modern fans, but Joe B brought the Cats into the modern era. He truly integrated the team in the early to mid 1970's.

In 2007, Jessamine County said hello to one old friend and good-bye to two others. It was a year in which the weather dominated the news for much of the year and some long anticipated and much needed community projects became a reality. Twice, the county mourned with the loss of one of its most prominent citizens. Long-time Nicholasville Mayor Sam Corman passed away in February at the age of 68, and then in August, renowned artist Howard Fain died at the age of 73. Spring brought an unusually cold streak which killed much of the fruit crop across the state and Jessamine County was hit hard as well.

Clark County Magistrate Pam Blackburn, left photo, fills a bag with trash just below the dam at Fort Boonesborough Lock 10, background, during the annual Kentucky River Sweep Saturday morning.

This year's drought has taken a toll on many across central Kentucky, and Nicholasville is no exception. On Tuesday, the Kentucky River Authority opened the valves at Dam 13, near Beattyville, and Dam 12, near Irvine, in an attempt to increase flow to other areas of the region. Nicholasville Utility Director Tom Calkins said Pool No. 8, where the city draws its water from, has suffered greatly in recent weeks. In an e-mail to area leaders, Calkins said, "Pool 8 is dropping like a rock, but fortunately the KRA is opening the valves in Dam 13 and Dam 12 this afternoon (Tuesday)

LANCASTER ? Lancaster City Council voted Monday to support a potential new walking path proposed by Garrard County Fiscal Court. The proposed walking path would make a loop in southern Lancaster, crossing over city, county and private property. Judge-Executive John Wilson has said he has preliminary buy-in from all concerned property owners. The Fiscal Court requested easements on city land where the path will go so the county can construct and maintain it. Earthen dam a concern Mayor Don Rinthen said while he supports the plan, he is concerned the route could create issues with homeland security and the Army Corp of Engineers.

Oct. 24, 1982 Winners in the St. Agatha School Las Vegas Night poster contest were Michelle Sainte, Jennifer Groen, Lisa Geldmeier, Matt Hendricks, Trish Marion, Jim Marion and Rosie Marion. The posters promoted Las Vegas Night, which is sponsored by St. Joseph Catholic Church. Sixteen Clark County men have been found guilty in U.S. Magistrates' Court in Lexington on charges of dove hunting over a baited field. All 16 men pleaded no contest in court Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate James Cook accepted the pleas and found the 16 men guilty.

Winchester Municipal Utilities will implement a rate adjustment beginning July 1, but it will not affect WMU customers for another eight months after it takes effect. WMU General Manager Mike Flynn said The Kentucky River Authority recently passed a fee increase to help fund construction improvements of the dams along the Kentucky River. The adjustment will raise fees from six cents per thousand gallons withdrawn to 13 cents. “The adjustment will be very minimal in effect,” Flynn said.

Deadline for submitting information to the Bulletin Board is noon Thursday. There is no charge for this service. Items run as space permits. Mail information to The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, Ky. 40423- fax to (859) 236-9566 or call 236-2551, ext. 352.   Bookmobile   Monday - Wee Kare Day Care, 8-8:15 a.m.; Jo Drive (Mock's Creek,) 9:30-9:45 a.m.; Streamland, 9:45-10 a.m.; A Children's Place, 10:45-11 a.m.; Pioneer Vocational Services, 11-11:20 a.m.; Alum Springs Church of God, 11:30-11:45 a.m.; AME Church Road, 12:15-12:30 p.m.; shut-ins (two stops)

The Kentucky River Authority is nearing the end of its goal in the renovations of the three dams running the length of the county and is expecting to wrap up with Dam 8 in Jessamine County by 2014. But once the project is complete, the KRA's funds, nearly $15 million, will literally be all dried up, said Daniel Gilbert of Stantec Consulting Services. Gilbert is the project's resident engineer who has worked on the three dams. Situated between Garrard and Jessamine counties, Dam 8 is the third and final phase of lock dams to be renovated and paid for by water-withdraw fees to the KRA. Two of the other lock dams focused on were Dam 3 and Dam 9, which were renovated to protect Lexington's drinking water; Dam 8 supplies Nicholasville.

Flooding in downtown Nicholasville could soon be a thing of the past after the Nicholasville City Commission authorized Mayor Russ Meyer to sign a grant agreement for the Riney-B dam project during Monday's meeting. “This is pretty big news for us,” the mayor said. “The dam in Riney-B will keep our downtown from flooding like it did a couple years ago.” The grant, from the Kentucky Department for Local Government, will provide $1,177,809 for the project. Officials said this is a much-needed project because whenever torrential rains fall, the downtown portion of Nicholasville is prone to flooding.

Plans are under way to replace the Kentucky River's 103-year-old Lock and Dam 10, located just south of Clark County at Fort Boonesborough. According to Sue Elliston, staff adviser for the Kentucky River Authority, the design process will begin in 2014, and will take about a year to complete. The project will be funded by water user fees the River Authority receives for allowing companies, including Winchester Municipal Utilities and East Kentucky Power, to draw water from the river for their operations.

Winchester Municipal Utilities expects to break ground this month on its new $28 million wastewater treatment plant, a key milestone in the utility’s ongoing consent decree with environmental regulators. The WMU commission approved a construction contract Thursday with Smith Contractors of Lawrenceburg. The firm plans to begin work before the end of the year and finish ahead of the official January 2013 deadline. WMU also hired Palmer Engineering to perform administration and project management services under a $1.65 million contract.

LANCASTER ? Lancaster City Council voted Monday to support a potential new walking path proposed by Garrard County Fiscal Court. The proposed walking path would make a loop in southern Lancaster, crossing over city, county and private property. Judge-Executive John Wilson has said he has preliminary buy-in from all concerned property owners. The Fiscal Court requested easements on city land where the path will go so the county can construct and maintain it. Earthen dam a concern Mayor Don Rinthen said while he supports the plan, he is concerned the route could create issues with homeland security and the Army Corp of Engineers.

Lemiel Stiddom stood in the soft grass on the banks of Cave Run Lake near Stoney Cove, remembering. "The old house sat here," he said, pointing to a small grassy area between the dam and the water, "and the church sat to the right," motioning toward the rocks and shallow water a few feet away. Stiddom, on a recent visit to Stoney Cove, recalled life in the area before the Licking River was flooded 40 years ago. Looking out over the water, he remembered some of the local landmarks that vanished when the lake was constructed, landmarks that were torn down, moved, or simply flooded by the large reservoir; neighbors' homes, farms, old cemeteries and the nearby church, Lewis Chapel, were some landmarks he named.

A recent drowning at Great Crossings Dam on North Elkhorn Creek in Scott County underscores the dangers of smaller dams with water flowing over them ? what are known as low-head dams. The flow over these dams creates dangerous currents that can trap swimmers underwater or sink a boat. Low-head dams make an artificial waterfall in the stream. They look innocuous and the beauty of water flowing over them draws people. Old postcards featured low-head dams and the great central Kentucky artist, Paul Sawyier, painted images of the ones on the Elkhorn Creek system.

Curtis Keeling of Burgin is looking for a photograph of Dix Dam when it had a guard shack between 1941-53. He said the shack was torn down in 1953. Keeling worked on the dam when it was under construction, and has collected more than 300 pictures of the dam during construction and in later years. Anyone wishing to share photographs may call him at (859) 748-5758 or write to him at P.O. Box 307, Burgin, KY.