Funding

LANCASTER - Plans continue to move forward to fund 911 service in Lincoln and Garrard counties with monthly water-meter fees, most recently with the filing of a "friendly lawsuit" by the city of Lancaster that will test whether the new fees stand up to constitutional muster. In the lawsuit filed Nov. 9, the city of Lancaster argues an ordinance passed by Garrard County Fiscal Court implementing a new water-meter fee violates citizens' rights. It asks for the fee to be declared unconstitutional.

A $17,500 grant allowed Nicholasville-Jessamine County Parks and Recreation to purchase 35 tons of rubber mulch that was spread out over the playground area at City-County Park on Thursday. “Every year, we've got to put new mulch down, and it gets rather expensive to cover that big of an area,” parks director Duane McCuddy said the 20,000-square-foot area. The grant was obtained by Jessamine County director of public services Mike Cassidy. “It was through the division of waste management, and it was a crumb-rubber grant,” Cassidy said.

The Wilmore City Council suspended the rules and voted Monday night to approve sending a check of $4,462 to the Jessamine County Fiscal Court from the already stressed general fund in an effort to recoup federal aid needed after the 2009 ice storm. The horrendous, now almost infamous ice storm ravaged Jessamine County in January  2009, and its financial tolls are still being felt. “During that time, the three government bodies of Wilmore, Nicholasville and the Jessamine County Fiscal Court locked arm-in-arm for a coordinated effort to handle the disaster,” said Dave Carlstedt, Wilmore utilities and public works director.

LANCASTER - As the number of landlines in Lincoln and Garrard counties continue to decline, the local 911 call center is operating with less and less financial padding. Bluegrass 911 had less than $4,000 remaining in its coffers at the end of October, according to a monthly financial statement provided by Director Russ Clark at the organization's November board meeting Monday. Bluegrass 911 began October with a little less than $15,000 and had expenses during the month of nearly $11,000 more than its income of approximately $37,000.

STANFORD - A Lincoln County mother is hoping to raise $13,000 so her autistic son can have a specially trained K-9 guardian that could help save his life and make things easier for his caregivers. Twelve-year-old Nelson Martin enjoys Hot Wheels cars and taking trips to hotels, but his multiple medical conditions - including autism, epilepsy and encephalopathy - mean he will always need someone to care for him. Nelson, a Stanford resident who attends special education classes at McGuffey Sixth Grade Center, has to deal with a lack of depth perception, balance problems and low motor skills on a daily basis, said Donna Martin, Nelson's mother.

Each month, 1,000 families are served by Clark County Community Services, providing food, clothing and other forms of assistance. To continue that level of service, Community Services is asking for a little help. The organization's largest fundraiser of the year will be this weekend at The Path on Boonesboro Road. The annual Turkey Trot 5K will begin at 9:30 a.m. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and cost is $25. Pre-registration, today and Friday, is $20 and a T-shirt is guaranteed.

As president of the teacher's association in Jessamine County, I have been asked to “sign off” on an educational-reform grant proposal called Race to the Top Round Three (RTT3). More likely than not, teacher-association members will support a “sign-off,” as teachers long for new initiatives that provide meaningful learning opportunities to their students. And we long for reforms to provide exciting and effective change that will turn around our precious public schools fraught with systemic issues that hold us back.

Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham told the Fiscal Court during its regular meeting Wednesday he'd like to see a change in the budget that would keep the county from dipping into the road fund. The county commonly uses general fund cash to cover jail expenses, but as the general fund dwindles, the county has to borrow from the road fund. The money must be returned by the end of the fiscal year in June. That money is usually recouped from various revenue sources, such as property taxes, occupational taxes and the insurance premium tax, but the first three months of the fiscal year forces the court to do some rearranging of funds.

When modern medicine is unsuccessful in curing diseases, some seek alternative treatments. For Pastor Charles Daugherty, that time has come.  After a year-long battle with multiple myeloma, during which time he has undergone chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell treatment, and then diagnosed with a second type of cancer, liposarcoma, he has decided to try something different. “I don't have anything to lose from trying,” he said. According to the American Cancer Society, normal plasma cells are found in the blood marrow and are a part of the body's immune system, which is made up of several types of cells, working to fight off infections.

Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation recently received funding from the Heart of Kentucky United Way to be used for Hope Clinic and Pharmacy's projects in 2013. “We are excited and extremely grateful for receiving this funding from the Heart of Kentucky United Way,” says Audrey L. Powell, executive director of the community services department at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. “Without this, we would not be able to support the needs of the patients in our communities.” The Hope Clinic, 105 Daniel Drive in Danville, is a community partnership supported by Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Heart of Kentucky United Way, The Salvation Army, Boyle County Health Department, the Presbyterian Church of Danville and a number of other institutions, businesses and volunteers.