New Board

PARKSVILLE - The oldest undisputed gravesite on the Parksville Cemetery property is about 200 years old, and since that time, the cemetery has thrived on donations to keep it going.  Not much is known about the cemetery during its first 90 years until 1902, when a group of men came together to form an association that would take care of the property.  The group, Parksville Cemetery Association Inc., kept up with the cemetery for exactly...

LANCASTER - The Garrard County Parks and Recreation Board has been reassembled as former board members are still under investigation for misappropriation of funds.  Jim England was serving his first year on the board, which organizes a youth softball league in the county, when it was accused of mishandling money.  As the board's new president, England said he has plans to rebuild Lancaster-Garrard County Recreation Park - commonly referred to...

LIBERTY - A new board of directors to oversee Gate Way Park activities was introduced during a public forum held Tuesday night to clear up "confusion people may have" about park changes and to discuss future plans. The Rev. Thomas Clark said the new board will represent all of Casey County and he wants all residents to use the park. He said the park is not closing and the Catholic church is not taking over the park. "We're not interested in taking over, but we want it run right.

Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham, right, swore in the new board of trustees for the Clark County Public Library Wednesday afternoon. Pictured from left are: Cindy Codell, Jennings Mace, Dee Ott, Eddie Williams and Harry Enoch.

PERRYVILLE - A new board has been put in place to oversee the operations of Hillcrest Cemetery after the retirement of Clayton Martin, who served more than 60 years as president of the board. The Perryville Cemetery Association - Hillcrest Cemetery, has been reorganized, but Martin will remain a director emeritus and advisor to the board. Mike Wilder, president of the board, said, "Clayton did it all. " He sold grave lots, made sure the cemetery was mowed and cared for, besides taking care of finances.

With the new year came two new board members and a change in the leadership of the Clark County Board of Education. In the board's first meeting of the year, long-time board member Judy Hicks was elected as the board chairwoman for the coming year with a 3-2 vote, including her own vote, and those of new board members Wendy Berryman and B.J. Swope. Hicks chaired the board from 2005-07 and returns to the role after Debbie Fatkin was elected board chairwoman a year ago. The year promises to be a busy one, she said, adding that her vote counts the same as every other board member.

HARRODSBURG - Mercer County schools may have a new, albeit temporary, leader after tonight's special Board of Education meeting scheduled for 6:30 at the central office. The board will hold an executive session to interview its first candidate to temporarily fill the position that current superintendent Bruce Johnson will vacate Dec. 31. Johnson's unexpected departure and the upcoming elections have created a unique situation. Kentucky statutes dictate that the hiring search for a permanent replacement cannot begin until the board the person will work with is in place.

FRANKFORT - The pace in the Kentucky House picked up this week as bills began making their way to the floor for a vote and members took part in the first military recognition program honoring three young soldiers killed in military conflicts across the globe. House Bill 135, legislation aimed at protecting consumer rights cleared the House this week requiring life insurance providers in the commonwealth to review death registers and to make every effort to contact beneficiaries of life insurance policies.

Karl Smith, chairman of the Jessamine County Board of Education, withdrew his name from this fall’s race for the fifth-district seat on the board Wednesday, Aug. 11, the day after the deadline for filing. Smith said he filed on the deadline day when no one had filed for the seat and withdrew his name after learning that another candidate — Francis T. “Fran” Settle — had filed after him. He said he was ready to move on after 13 years on the board. Vice Chairperson Pam Seales will also be stepping down from the board after serving two terms in the fourth-district seat.

STANFORD - Lincoln County Fiscal Court approved the second reading of an ordinance Friday that officially disbanded the county's 911 board and is looking to start over again, possibly with Garrard County as a partner. Part of the new ordinance abolished the original 1991 ordinance that established the board. It created a new board with the sheriff, county attorney and 911 Center director as permanent members. It has yet to be determined how the other four board positions will be filled.

LANCASTER - The Garrard County Parks and Recreation Board has been reassembled as former board members are still under investigation for misappropriation of funds.  Jim England was serving his first year on the board, which organizes a youth softball league in the county, when it was accused of mishandling money.  As the board's new president, England said he has plans to rebuild Lancaster-Garrard County Recreation Park - commonly referred to...

After spending the past two meetings listening to school principals give annual reports and break down test scores, the Clark County Board of Education decided to play the role of Old Saint Nick. The board voted to move $308,000 for schools to do with as the principals choose. The board made the decision at its regular meeting Tuesday. Each of the 14 schools can make purchases up to $22,000, the board decided, with the money coming from the general fund. The decision allows the schools to access the money earlier versus waiting to make the decision at January's meeting.

The Clark County Board of Education will have a new look in January after three newcomers, Ashley Ritchie, Michael McGowan and Dr. Beth Griffith were the top vote getters in Tuesday's election. Ritchie and McGowan both unseated incumbents to claim their seats on the board. Ritchie defeated Deanna Wolfe in the District 5 race 1,361 votes to Wolfe's 1,020 votes. Wolfe was seeking her first full term after being selected to fill the seat following the mid-term resignation of Diane McKinney in 2011.

PARKSVILLE - The oldest undisputed gravesite on the Parksville Cemetery property is about 200 years old, and since that time, the cemetery has thrived on donations to keep it going.  Not much is known about the cemetery during its first 90 years until 1902, when a group of men came together to form an association that would take care of the property.  The group, Parksville Cemetery Association Inc., kept up with the cemetery for exactly...

The Clark County Homeless Coalition board of directors didn't have far to look in its search for a new executive director. Terry Davidson, a founding member of the coalition and president of the board since its inception in 2010, was selected to replace Karen Cinnamond, who resigned earlier in May. New board president Teresa Hoskins said Davidson is a natural fit for the position. “Terry brings more than just experience to our organization, she brings a passion to do God's work,” Hoskins said.

On the eve of its 10th anniversary, the Kentucky Professional Football Hall of Fame facility in Jessamine County is still in the playbooks, but is way out of field-goal range. In the past two years, a new board was chosen and tasked with the momentous project, and chairman Jim Ed Shearer said they are proud of what has been accomplished so far but there is still a long way to go. Two years ago, Shearer was asked to take over for the board, a decision he said he did not take lightly.

FRANKFORT - The pace in the Kentucky House picked up this week as bills began making their way to the floor for a vote and members took part in the first military recognition program honoring three young soldiers killed in military conflicts across the globe. House Bill 135, legislation aimed at protecting consumer rights cleared the House this week requiring life insurance providers in the commonwealth to review death registers and to make every effort to contact beneficiaries of life insurance policies.

A week after voting against changes that would rearrange the oversight of the Danville-Boyle County Senior Citizens Center, the board of directors decided Monday to go ahead with a shakeup in the way it is organized. The nine-member board had declined last week to change its bylaws to require at least 51 percent of the board to be appointees of city and county government. The change was proposed so the center would be eligible to receive local, state and federal money for services without competing with private entities.

HARRODSBURG - Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is pleased to announce the newest members of its board of trustees. The board appointed Anne Miller Arensberg, Harriet Dupree Bradley and Lois Mateus at its Nov. 17 meeting. “These new members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in historic preservation, marketing and customer service, all important areas for our future,” said Chairman Elizabeth Kennan Burns. “We are so pleased that they have agreed to join us.”Anne Miller Arensberg has served as both a private consultant and director of public relations and development for not-for-profit organizations in Louisville and on a national basis.

Dr. Rob Rettie has been named as the new president of the Community Arts Center's board. The new officers include: Mary Quinn Ramer as vice president; Bill Griffin as treasurer; and Adria Mahon as secretary. Other board members include Dr. Tom Baeker, past president and emeritus; Susie Allen, Jeff Cooper, Sharon Duncan, Steve Hoffman, Christopher Herron, Paula Meckes, Jane McKune, Paul Muth, Jo Ann Rice and Phnomphone Sirimongkon. The federal building on the corner of Fourth and Main streets was renovated and opened its doors in 2005 as the Community Arts Center with a mission to create arts opportunities for every member of the community.