Landowners

For many Kentucky landowners, particularly those in Western Kentucky, January's storms left behind a tangled mess of downed branches, broken trunks and splintered limbs in thousands of trees unable to withstand the weight of the ice. Now that the winter of 2009 is over, these landowners face the task of assessing the injury sustained by their woodlands. "There are things that will need to be done over the next several years, a kind of continuing assessment of the damage that trees have suffered," says Jeff Stringer, an Extension Service professor in the University of Kentucky's Department of Forestry.

You can park in the back. That's what city officials have decided after months of negotiating with residents on Van Meter Road, who opposed proposals for a large parking lot at the western side of the Kroger Youth Soccer Complex. A new plan, which was approved by the Winchester Board of Commissioners last week, calls for 243 parking spaces to be located along a one-way road that loops behind the complex. The Clark County Fiscal Court gave its stamp of approval Wednesday after Mayor Ed Burtner said the changes have generated consensus and will not require any additional money from the city or the county.

BRYANTSVILLE - Signs posted around some farms in northern Garrard County say "Escort The Nature Conservancy to the county line. " The signs were printed and posted by Larry and Marsha Sims, and posted by other landowners as well, after The Nature Conservancy filed a federal lawsuit against the couple in April. The lawsuit claims the Simses violated a conservation easement after purchasing 100 acres on Rogers Road. In May, the Simses responded by filing a countersuit accusing The Nature Conservancy of harassing them for years.

LEXINGTON - The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kentucky is encouraging landowners, farmers and producers to visit their local NRCS office now to receive more information and apply for conservation technical assistance and possible financial funding opportunities. The application process for 2008 Farm Bill conservation programs is continuous, but funding selections are made at specific times throughout the year. The Kentucky NRCS application ranking cutoff date for consideration for 2012 funds in this sign up period is November 15, 2011.

A Shawnee village once located in Clark County remains all but lost to time, but state anthropologists hope landowners in the Indian Old Fields area will join in the hunt. The University of Kentucky's Department of Anthropology and the Kentucky Heritage Council presented a program Monday at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum on the search for Eskippakithiki, a Shawnee village, at the Indian Old Fields in Clark County. The Kentucky Archaeological Survey (KAS), administered by both the anthropology department and the council, is designed to educate the public about Kentucky's history and focuses on preservation.

LEXINGTON - The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kentucky is encouraging landowners, farmers and producers to visit their local NRCS office now to receive information and apply for conservation technical assistance and possible financial funding opportunities. The Kentucky NRCS first application cutoff period date for consideration for 2013 funds is Jan. 18. Applications received after Jan. 18 will be held until the next application cut-off period, which will be April 19. NRCS State Conservationist Karen Woodrich announced this month that technical and financial assistance is available to eligible applicants for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Dear Editor, We certainly have a sewage problem in Junction City, especially at the pumping station on Tombs Curve. The smell is revolting when those pipes overflow during a heavy downpour of rain. But for the city of Danville to give a mere pittance of money for easements across Gose Pike residences is laughable. Will the city of Danville go back later and sow grass seed or replace sod or trees for those landowners where they have torn up their land? I really doubt it. As for beer sales on Sunday at Old or "Low" Bridge Golf Course, sure vote it in, and then you will hear from all of those in Danville who only get to sell beer Monday through Saturday.

Boyle County Conservation District Boyle County Conservation District will accept requests for cost-share funding under the Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program until Feb. 27. Funding for practices will be approved by the Soil and Water Conservation Commission at the Kentucky Division of Conservation in Frankfort as funds are available. For more information, call the Boyle County office at (859) 238-7461, ext. 3. Natural Resources Conservation Service The Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Dead animal removal services are free to Boyle County residents by calling Nation Brothers at 1-800-633-5677. Hours are 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call before noon Friday to guarantee pickup that day. Nation Brothers reported a minimum of 20 dead animals are picked up each week in Boyle County. Using this free service allows landowners to comply with the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act section dealing with livestock. The dead animal should be moved to the front of the farm near a road or hard surface.

Division of forestry offers low-cost tree seedlings The Kentucky Division of Forestry is once again offering low-cost tree seedlings to Kentucky landowners. The seedlings are intended for reforestation of idle land, timber production, erosion control, windbreaks, visual screens and enhancing wildlife habitat. Several species of conifers and hardwoods are available. The seedlings come in bundles of 50 and 500 and the cost depends on the species and quantity chosen. Seedlings are normally shipped via UPS to your home.