Kentucky Counties

Lincoln County is among 27 counties in Kentucky now under a water shortage watch issued by the Energy and Environment Cabinet today. Citizens living in areas under the watch should closely monitor local news sources for notification from water suppliers on reducing demands for water, according to a news release. A Water Shortage Watch is issued when drought conditions have the potential to threaten the normal availability of drinking water supply sources. Officials at the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW)

Clark County officials joined those from 13 other counties earlier this month in a federal lawsuit charging a mortgage-recording service and financial institutions of scheming to avoid paying millions of dollars in fees. The counties are suing Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS), its shareholders, financial institutions and 12 other defendants - including the U.S. government - for the intentional and deliberate plan to avoid paying fees which are mandated by law to be paid to counties each time a mortage is signed.

Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block has designated 107 Kentucky counties, including Clark County, as eligible for Farmers Home Administration emergency loans because of general crop losses resulting from excessive flooding and rainfall during the planting season, followed by drought and excessively high temperatures in May. Andrew McCord and Joe B. McCord, both of Winchester, will exhibit beef cattle at the 1983 North American Livestock Exposition...

FRANKFORT - It is mid-October and anticipation builds as Kentucky's deer season nears its peak: the opening of modern gun season. This year's opening day on Nov. 10 is timed to coincide with the onset of the rut, the white-tailed deer's annual mating season. Here are some observations at this stage of the season: The archery harvest continues to make news. Hunters took a record 5,578 deer during September. It was the first time the archery harvest during September exceeded 5,000 and the fifth straight year that archers achieved a record harvest during the opening month of bow season.

Southern Harmony, a foursome from Russell County, was named State Champion of the Gospel Quartet Contest at the Kentucky State Fair. Members of the quartet are Barry Flatt, Rex Miller, Stanley Richardson and Gary Wheat. The event was held in conjunction with Kentucky Farm Bureau Day on Thursday, Aug. 24. The contest has been sponsored by Farm Bureau for over 50 years and is open to participants from all Kentucky counties. Second place was awarded to Soul's Harmony from Edmonson County.

Beshears host Kentucky Proud dinner Gov. Steve Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to use local food products in their daily lives for 30 days. Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear hosted a Kentucky Proud dinner at the Governor's Mansion last week in Frankfort for more than 70 health care, local and state officials. Kentucky Proud is a marketing program aimed at promoting local products. Jane Beshear says buying local foods helps promote health living. According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Proud participating retailers sold more than $100 million in food and agricultural products last year.

HARRODSBURG - It's been five years since the Ten Commandments and eight other documents were posted just inside the front door of the Mercer County Courthouse and the person who is responsible for their postings said he thinks legal arguments likely are over. Carroll Rousey, the man who donated and posted the 10 frames containing what he and others call nine historic documents and include the Ten Commandments, said Tuesday he believes the legal wrangling over the appropriateness of the display has come to an end. The Boyle County resident started his crusade by placing framed copies of just the Ten Commandments in businesses in both Boyle and Mercer counties after attending a rally to get prayer and the Ten Commandments back in public schools.

FRANKFORT - Clark Circuit Clerk David N. Hunt participated in the Circuit Court Clerks Fall College hosted Oct. 22-24 in Louisville by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Circuit court clerks have offices in all 120 Kentucky counties and are responsible for managing the records of circuit and district courts. "It is important for circuit court clerks to stay up to date on technology, security, resources and court procedures" said Jan Rogers, circuit court clerk for Anderson County and president of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks.

At this year's Bluegrass Alliance for Women's Legacy Award Luncheon, planned for March 19, 15 women will be recognized for their efforts to improve the lives of women and girls in the Bluegrass Area Development District. Impact Award nominees are: Delores Yocum of Boyle County; Gayle Smith, of Anderson County; Judy Zeigler of Franklin County; Janna Smith and Judy Ullery, both of Clark County; Emma Marie Day of Estill County; Rebecca Barnes, Terry Behrens, Lisa Moore Fath, Janet Holloway, Yvette Newby, Sue Scheff and Tanya Torp, all of Fayette County; and Jaleh Rezaie and Mae Suramek, both of Madison County.

SOMERSET - A man being sought by police in over six Kentucky counties has turned himself into Somerset Police before being turned over to the Casey County Sheriff's Department. James Lopez Jr., of Somerset, is accused of burglaries in Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer counties. Casey County is the only one that had a warrant out for Lopez's arrest, according to Lt. Shannon Smith of the Somerset Police, which is why he was turned over to that force. According to Smith, Lopez is familiar with a member of their police force, who has a brother who is a detective.

Inter-County Energy recognizes the importance of educating our young adults today for tomorrow's leadership roles. For that reason, Inter-County Energy will award one $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from each of the cooperative's six director's districts. Those districts are: Lincoln, Garrard, Mercer, Boyle, Casey and Marion counties. Students are encouraged to apply if their parent or legal guardian is a member of Inter-County Energy Cooperative with their primary residence being served by the cooperative.

Makenzie Shuler will represent Clark County at a state pageant for the fourth time this weekend. The 18-year-old college freshman has been competing annually in the Clark County Fair pageants since she was in the Young Miss category, and will compete at the Kentucky County Fair Pageant Saturday in the senior division. “This is the first time I've done the 'Miss' category, so I'm a little nervous, but I'm excited about it,” Shuler said. Despite her past experience, Shuler said she isn't sure what to expect when she takes the stage as Miss Clark County Fair.

FRANKFORT - It is mid-October and anticipation builds as Kentucky's deer season nears its peak: the opening of modern gun season. This year's opening day on Nov. 10 is timed to coincide with the onset of the rut, the white-tailed deer's annual mating season. Here are some observations at this stage of the season: The archery harvest continues to make news. Hunters took a record 5,578 deer during September. It was the first time the archery harvest during September exceeded 5,000 and the fifth straight year that archers achieved a record harvest during the opening month of bow season.

Jessamine County is mulling over signing onto a possible class-action lawsuit against the organization known as Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), which could possible recoup thousands of dollars of fees owed. The county was approached by attorney Sandra Spurgeon of Spurgeon & Tinker, PSC, which, along with The Bolog firm, currently represents 14 counties in Kentucky that are suing MERS, including Boyd, Franklin, Pike and several other counties. The basis of the litigation is an effort to seek compensation for lost mortgage assignment fees allegedly withheld because of the actions of MERS over the past several years.

Lincoln County is among 27 counties in Kentucky now under a water shortage watch issued by the Energy and Environment Cabinet today. Citizens living in areas under the watch should closely monitor local news sources for notification from water suppliers on reducing demands for water, according to a news release. A Water Shortage Watch is issued when drought conditions have the potential to threaten the normal availability of drinking water supply sources. Officials at the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW)

As Kentucky is hammered today with a heatwave, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for this afternoon. That means outdoor burning is particularly dangerous this afternoon because of the combination of temperatures flirting with 100 degrees, very low humidity and westerly winds of 10-15 mph. Thirty-three Kentucky counties have banned outdoor burning, as well as a number of cities across the state. And the Daniel Boone National Forest has banned most fires and all fireworks in the forest.

Clark County officials joined those from 13 other counties earlier this month in a federal lawsuit charging a mortgage-recording service and financial institutions of scheming to avoid paying millions of dollars in fees. The counties are suing Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS), its shareholders, financial institutions and 12 other defendants - including the U.S. government - for the intentional and deliberate plan to avoid paying fees which are mandated by law to be paid to counties each time a mortage is signed.

The state House of Representatives voted last week to extend by one week this year's campaign-filing deadline for Kentucky's six congressional seats as work continued to resolve a House-Senate impasse on a plan to redraw those electoral districts. House Bill 2, as amended and enacted, contained no actual congressional redistricting plan, and only extended this year's filing deadline from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7  for congressional races. With the help of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, and U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, the House and Senate worked out a compromise (HB 302)