Ice Storm

Compliments flew about in fast and furious fashion at Monday night's Danville City Commission meeting, the first since the city was rocked by a paralyzing ice storm two weeks ago. Residents took several opportunities to thank city officials for what they perceived as smooth operations during one of the largest disasters in Danville history. While several speakers, including Kay Sheldon, who fought a hoarse voice to tell the commission how proud she was of the city leadership, made heartfelt remarks, it's safe to say Denyo's presentation will leave the most lasting impression.

It may not be a repeat of the massive winter disaster that happened in January 2009, but with up to a quarter-inch of ice possible overnight emergency management officials and utilities are preparing for any contingency. The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a winter storm warning for south central Kentucky, including Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer Counties. Brian Schoettmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Louisville, said a winter warning typically describes an area getting above 4 inches of any kind of freezing precipitation in a 12-hour period.

PARKSVILLE - Howard Johnston had to fight a crowd to pay his water bill Monday morning at the Parksville Water District office. The fact that he was unaware of the struggles his water district has been facing since the system was damaged during the February 2009 ice storm is a testament to the success of the hard work it has taken to keep the system running. The “crowd” was a gathering in the small Lebanon Road office for the presentation of a ceremonial check for $725,000 from Rural Development State Director Tom Fern to the water district.

A crisis sometimes brings out the best in people, and in communities. During the recent ice storm, many unsung heroes worked together to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens in Nicholasville and throughout Jessamine County. In reflecting on this event and how it was handled, I was very uplifted by how people from the city, the county, and even some from outside our county, came together to work for the good of all. Our utility workers were diligent and determined in their efforts to get power up and water running to our homes and businesses.

As many businesses struggle to get back on their feet, broken limbs and leaning trees caused by the ice storm have meant a boom time for tree services. The need to clear branches from power lines and debris from yards has lured an abundance of tree workers from far and near. Many established tree service companies say their rates vary depending on several factors but that comparison shopping is important. "The price really depends on the job," said Derek Baker of D and S Tree Service in Harrodsburg.

Dear Editor, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank our city and county employees for stepping up to the plate during our county's ice storm. Judge-Executive Harold McKinney and City Manager Paul Stansbury worked great together throughout this local crisis, as did all city and county employees. Officers with both the Danville Police Department and Boyle County Sheriff's Department made numerous personal calls to city and county residents, especially the elderly, in order to ensure they were managing to cope safely with the effects of this storm system.

PERRYVILLE - Perryville Mayor Anne Sleet gave the council an update Thursday on recovery from the ice storm. Sleet said she attended a county and city official meeting at the Danville Emergency Operations Center earlier Thursday, where the procedure during the storm was reviewed. "Overall, I would say it was a good meeting," said Sleet. The mayor spoke highly of Perryville Fire Chief Anthony Young for his efforts during the recovery, as well as resident Mike Lankford for help in providing the city with a debris dump site.

Dear editor: We often read negative things about people who work in nursing homes. My mother is a resident at Golden Living, and I go there every day when I am not out of town. The staff of Golden Living should be commended on a job well done. During the recent ice storm, they lost electricity like many of us. They used a large generator to keep the residents warm and fed. While many of us were concerned about our households of two, three or maybe eight or ten, they had to take care of all of their residents.

The damage to trees, both forest and landscape, from the recent ice event appears similar to that which occurred in 2003. In some areas, the recent damage was more severe than in 2003. After gathering up the limbs that have fallen on the ground, homeowners need to assess the condition of the remaining trees and shrubs. Some trees and shrubs are clearly damaged to the point that they need to be removed. Others may recover fairly well without any help. In many other cases, some carefully planned assistance can make a significant difference in the long-term health, appearance, and safety of those damaged trees.

As I looked at my wife and son, Dave, playing double solitaire in front of our gas-powered fireplace, I couldn't help but feel a sense of deep contentment. After all, I had all but conquered the ills of a vicious ice storm! Even though we had no electricity, my gas grill worked quite well, not only during the summer but in the dead of winter as well, and the burgers were looking mighty appetizing. And where the candles left shadows, we had flashlights to light the way. For entertainment, we had cards and a laptop ready to receive and play our movie for the night.

STANFORD - Mayor Bill Miracle is hopeful Stanford won't have to return any of the approximately $100,000 it received from the federal government for recovery costs following the devastating 2009 ice storm. Miracle told city council members last week that financial records from the ice storm recovery have been re-organized and re-submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA returned the documents earlier this year, telling Stanford officials the records were too disorganized to understand.

Twenty five years ago, in two boats in Fort Myers, Fla., Tiki Tom introduced “Chainsaw” Charlie Keller to the art of woodcarving.  “This guy came up paddling in a canoe with tikis all over it, and he said, 'If this was my boat, I'd have tikis all over it,'” Keller said. “He showed me how to carve, and then I don't know, somehow he instilled that desire in me to have tikis all over that boat. " Over 25 years, Keller's technique and skill level evolved, and today he can carve images of anything from animals to faces to lifesize people.

PARKSVILLE - Howard Johnston had to fight a crowd to pay his water bill Monday morning at the Parksville Water District office. The fact that he was unaware of the struggles his water district has been facing since the system was damaged during the February 2009 ice storm is a testament to the success of the hard work it has taken to keep the system running. The “crowd” was a gathering in the small Lebanon Road office for the presentation of a ceremonial check for $725,000 from Rural Development State Director Tom Fern to the water district.

A tree-carver, pastor and former cocaine-maker is making a symbol in south Nicholasville of the influence of God's hands on his life. Carlos Velasquez is carving the “hand of God” into a tree stump at the office of chiropractor Terry Thoroughman on South Main Street in Nicholasville. The work will show a little girl embracing a large hand as a representation of Isaiah 49:15-16 that illustrates how the love of God is like the love of a mother who does not forget her child. “For the child, the hands are something very meaningful for them,” Velasquez said through interpreter Jeannine Brabon.

Winchester Fire-EMS Battalion Chief Allen Tallent, at right, watches the department's new 175 kilowatt generator clear the truck bed at Station 1 on Maple Street. Working on moving the generator into place were employees of Art's Electric of Frankfort, Brandon Nation, Matt Spaulding and Josh Cardwell. Seventy-five percent of the funding for the new generator and installation cost of $66,561 was through a FEMA Hazard Mitigation grant. The rest of the funding was through city in-kind funding, including the Winchester Public Works Department framing and pouring the concrete pad. The large generator will power the station in case of a power failure.

The typically tranquil Lake Mingo Park was transformed into an emergency command center Saturday as members of the Jessamine Amateur Wireless Society (J.A.W.S.) took to the airwaves for a yearly field-day exercise. The 24-hour event was part of the American Radio Relay League’s national field day, according to club president Richard Marshall. “They (ARRL) are the governing body that is behind amateur radio,” Marshall said. “They put this on every year, and it serves multiple purposes; on one, hand it is for emergency preparedness, and on another hand, it’s for education.” Marshall said the event is also a way to draw the many ham-radio operators throughout the county together for a good time.

The legacy of Boyle County Public Health Director Roger Trent will undoubtably center on the smoke-free city ordinance. But when he retires this summer, he’ll head for the country. “I’ve got a 100-acre farm, and I plan to pursue those interests and do some extensive traveling,” he said. Trent will leave his position at the end of July after 12 years as the head of the Boyle County Health Department. He said he will greatly miss working with staff and community members, but his time has come.

STANFORD — There were no major shake-ups announced or pressing new business introduced at a special meeting of Lincoln Fiscal Court Wednesday, the first under new Judge-Executive Jimbo Adams. Instead, Adams, with new magistrates Dexter Todd and Joe Stanley on board, breezed through the meeting in 20 minutes, rehiring all county employees with a couple of exceptions. Adams used his "prerogative” as judge-executive to replace two people with his hand-picked replacements, bringing in Kim Taylor as his secretary and Donnie Gilliam as emergency management director.

LANCASTER - A year ago this Christmas, Jeff Buchenroth was about to be unemployed. Buchenroth was one of four Lancaster city employees who were terminated on Dec. 31 in order to prevent the city’s funds from falling into the red. The city eked by financially after the terminations, but the ordeal left a damper on the holiday season for Buchenroth and many in Lancaster. “You just got pretty much booted out the door — Merry Christmas!” Buchenroth said last December.

Law enforcement officials say area roads proved more treacherous this morning than they were in the aftermath of the ice storm that was expected to complicate commutes early Thursday. Boyle County Sheriff Marty Elliott said his department had worked seven wrecks on U.S. 127 between Harrodsburg and Danville and three on Ky. 52 between 6 a.m. and about 8:30. Elliott said all of the incidents have been similar, with vehicles hitting patches of black ice and sliding off the road. Elliott, who set up on U.S. 127 with his lights on to try and get motorists to slow down, said there were no serious injuries in any of the accidents to that point.