Equipment Operator

Four men with the Kentucky Department of Highways recently were recognized for completing the 2007 Kentucky Road Scholar training series. Willie Lester, Bobby Bowman and Richard Caldwell, all of Boyle County, and Sylvester Mills of Lincoln County were honored Dec. 13 in Erlanger during Roads Scholar/Road Master graduation ceremonies. Bowman, Caldwell and Mills also completed the Road Master training series. All four men work for KDOH District 7, which includes several central Kentucky counties including Boyle, Mercer and Garrard counties.

Volunteer groups picked up 385 bags of litter and cleaned 37 miles of roadway during this year's Operation Pride Community Clean-Up, the Clark County Fiscal Court learned Wednesday. "We had another successful Operation Pride," said Gary Epperson, the Clark County solid waste coordinator. Epperson told the court that about $3,300 of litter abatement money was spent during this year's cleanup. In previous years, the program has netted more than 1,100 bags of litter and $6,500, which Epperson said is a sign that the litter problem is improving.

The Winchester Board of Commissioners Tuesday appointed the first members of the Planning and Zoning Ombudsman Panel - a newly created group aimed at resolving issues between residents and planning officials. Commissioners appointed Jeffrey Owens Moore of Mount Sterling, John Paul Moore of Winchester and Linda Katz Ain of Lexington. Jeffrey Moore has worked in legal research and teaching, while John Moore served as the 25th Judicial District judge from 1978 to 2001 and now runs his own mediation business.

James B. “Jimmy” Battaile Jr., 70, of Winchester, widower of Jan Palmer Battaile, passed away Monday at his home.   A native of Winchester, he was born Oct. 7, 1941, to the late James B. Battaile Sr., and Cabell Wood Battaile. He was a retired heavy equipment operator.   He is survived by his four sons and daughters-in-law, James Benton (Jimer) Battaile III of Pikeville, John W. Battaile of Clark County, Carl (Whitney) Battaile of Clark County and Kristopher (Amy) Battaile of Winchester; six grandchildren; and a special thanks to his caregiver, Joyce Montgomery, for the support given to Jimmy and his family.

Leon “Buck” Gooch, 69, of McKinney, died Monday, May 21 at his home.  Born Jan. 7, 1943, in Kings Mountain, Leon was a son of the late Lena Gooch. He was a retired heavy equipment operator for Davis H. Elliott Electrical Company and a member of Geneva Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Eva Yocum Gooch of McKinney; one son, William “Bill” Gooch of McKinney; two daughters, Margaret Gooch and Lisa  (Otis “Bubba”) Wilham of McKinney; one brother, Bobby Gooch of Kings Mountain; one sister, Vangie Gastineau of Kings Mountain; three grandchildren, Cody Crowley and Sondra and James Wilham; and several nieces and nephews.

In a 6-2 vote, the Clark County Fiscal Court on Wednesday named Brenda Mapel, a former Montgomery County treasurer, to the combined position of assistant Clark County treasurer and director of finance. A resident of Montgomery, Mapel served as county treasurer in that county for 14 years before resigning in 2001. She assumes duties today. "I didn't think I would miss it," Mapel said. "But when I came over here to talk about this job, and we started talking about different things, I realized how bad I had missed it. " The assistant county treasurer helps oversee the county's financial records and budget.

If given the chance, would you ask a veteran astronaut - someone who has been to outer space many times during the course of many missions - about his thoughts on UFOs or intelligent life on other planets? Or would you ask him how it feels to float around in space while working on the Hubble Telescope? This Friday and Saturday, visitors to the Danville Pediatrics-sponsored “SPACE … Imagine That!” exhibit will be given just such an opportunity, thanks to sponsorship from SYMBIOTIX.  Story Musgrave, a veteran NASA astronaut for more than 30 years, will make appearances at the Community Arts Center, giving presentations for exhibit visitors 1-5 p.m. Friday and until 2 p.m. Saturday, as well as offering a special “Lunch and Learn” lecture Friday.    Pick a question -  really, any question Known for his energetic presentations - combining multi-media visuals collected and created during a myriad of professional careers - Musgrave has been referred to as a natural motivational speaker.

Aaron Wasson is living out his dream at the University of Kentucky. “I’ve always wanted to get into athletic administration,” said Wasson, a 1996 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School. “I’ve always been a huge University of Kentucky Wildcat fan. Every morning when I come to work, it doesn’t feel like work, because I enjoy it so much.” Wasson, also known as “Pooh,” was recently named director of equipment operations at the University of Kentucky and is mostly in charge of the school’s business association with Nike.

Bobby Brummitt, 69, died Sunday, April 6. Born, June 22, 1939, he was the son of the late Henry Brummitt and Coral McQueary Phillips. He was a heavy equipment operator, member of the Nazarene Church, and widower of Billie Jean Brummitt. He was also preceded in death by a son, Robert Brummitt. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Bratton and Coral Brummitt, both of California; five sisters, Betty Sanchez and Ruby Lawson both of Indianapolis, Ind., Carolyn Hale and Johnetta Sizemore both of Stanford, and Dorothy Boyd of Lancaster; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth Lucille Allen, 20, Stanford, student, to Joshua Leon Stephens, 21, Stanford, Arby's of Stanford. Jacqueline Sue Flynn, 36, Somerset, medical lab technician, to Paul Christopher Lewis, 37, Stanford, X-ray technician. Melissa Mariya Kazmerski, 33, Danville, daycare provider, to Matthew John Caverly, 29, Danville, industrial. Peggy Sue Elliott, 30, Waynesburg, disabled, to James Gregory Duvall, 24, Waynesburg, cook. Laura Elizabeth Andries, 25, Arlington, Va., social worker, to Sean Michael Click, 26, Arlington, Va., youth minister.

Leon “Buck” Gooch, 69, of McKinney, died Monday, May 21 at his home.  Born Jan. 7, 1943, in Kings Mountain, Leon was a son of the late Lena Gooch. He was a retired heavy equipment operator for Davis H. Elliott Electrical Company and a member of Geneva Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Eva Yocum Gooch of McKinney; one son, William “Bill” Gooch of McKinney; two daughters, Margaret Gooch and Lisa  (Otis “Bubba”) Wilham of McKinney; one brother, Bobby Gooch of Kings Mountain; one sister, Vangie Gastineau of Kings Mountain; three grandchildren, Cody Crowley and Sondra and James Wilham; and several nieces and nephews.

If given the chance, would you ask a veteran astronaut - someone who has been to outer space many times during the course of many missions - about his thoughts on UFOs or intelligent life on other planets? Or would you ask him how it feels to float around in space while working on the Hubble Telescope? This Friday and Saturday, visitors to the Danville Pediatrics-sponsored “SPACE … Imagine That!” exhibit will be given just such an opportunity, thanks to sponsorship from SYMBIOTIX.  Story Musgrave, a veteran NASA astronaut for more than 30 years, will make appearances at the Community Arts Center, giving presentations for exhibit visitors 1-5 p.m. Friday and until 2 p.m. Saturday, as well as offering a special “Lunch and Learn” lecture Friday.    Pick a question -  really, any question Known for his energetic presentations - combining multi-media visuals collected and created during a myriad of professional careers - Musgrave has been referred to as a natural motivational speaker.

James B. “Jimmy” Battaile Jr., 70, of Winchester, widower of Jan Palmer Battaile, passed away Monday at his home.   A native of Winchester, he was born Oct. 7, 1941, to the late James B. Battaile Sr., and Cabell Wood Battaile. He was a retired heavy equipment operator.   He is survived by his four sons and daughters-in-law, James Benton (Jimer) Battaile III of Pikeville, John W. Battaile of Clark County, Carl (Whitney) Battaile of Clark County and Kristopher (Amy) Battaile of Winchester; six grandchildren; and a special thanks to his caregiver, Joyce Montgomery, for the support given to Jimmy and his family.

Aaron Wasson is living out his dream at the University of Kentucky. “I’ve always wanted to get into athletic administration,” said Wasson, a 1996 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School. “I’ve always been a huge University of Kentucky Wildcat fan. Every morning when I come to work, it doesn’t feel like work, because I enjoy it so much.” Wasson, also known as “Pooh,” was recently named director of equipment operations at the University of Kentucky and is mostly in charge of the school’s business association with Nike.

Four men with the Kentucky Department of Highways recently were recognized for completing the 2007 Kentucky Road Scholar training series. Willie Lester, Bobby Bowman and Richard Caldwell, all of Boyle County, and Sylvester Mills of Lincoln County were honored Dec. 13 in Erlanger during Roads Scholar/Road Master graduation ceremonies. Bowman, Caldwell and Mills also completed the Road Master training series. All four men work for KDOH District 7, which includes several central Kentucky counties including Boyle, Mercer and Garrard counties.

Volunteer groups picked up 385 bags of litter and cleaned 37 miles of roadway during this year's Operation Pride Community Clean-Up, the Clark County Fiscal Court learned Wednesday. "We had another successful Operation Pride," said Gary Epperson, the Clark County solid waste coordinator. Epperson told the court that about $3,300 of litter abatement money was spent during this year's cleanup. In previous years, the program has netted more than 1,100 bags of litter and $6,500, which Epperson said is a sign that the litter problem is improving.

In a 6-2 vote, the Clark County Fiscal Court on Wednesday named Brenda Mapel, a former Montgomery County treasurer, to the combined position of assistant Clark County treasurer and director of finance. A resident of Montgomery, Mapel served as county treasurer in that county for 14 years before resigning in 2001. She assumes duties today. "I didn't think I would miss it," Mapel said. "But when I came over here to talk about this job, and we started talking about different things, I realized how bad I had missed it. " The assistant county treasurer helps oversee the county's financial records and budget.

The Winchester Board of Commissioners Tuesday appointed the first members of the Planning and Zoning Ombudsman Panel - a newly created group aimed at resolving issues between residents and planning officials. Commissioners appointed Jeffrey Owens Moore of Mount Sterling, John Paul Moore of Winchester and Linda Katz Ain of Lexington. Jeffrey Moore has worked in legal research and teaching, while John Moore served as the 25th Judicial District judge from 1978 to 2001 and now runs his own mediation business.