Perryville

PERRYVILLE - Perryville's city council gave first reading Thursday to an ordinance that would raise the insurance premium tax from 5 to 10 percent. The increase would offset the loss of revenue caused by the elimination of garbage collection bills, said Mayor Bruce Richardson. The council will meet in special session at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 to give the measure second reading, and if passed, the increase would go into effect July 1. Health insurance premiums are exempt from the tax, which comes from the sale of insurance policies in the City of Perryville.

Dear Editor, Now that the 144th commemoration of the Battle of Perryville is history, I'd like to thank all of those who helped make it such a success. The Kentucky Department of Parks is very fortunate to have public and private partners in this project and we could not have done it without you. This includes the landowners at Perryville who allowed us to use their land for the weekend, local officials in Perryville and Boyle County, Boyle County Fiscal Court for transportation assistance, law enforcement and emergency services agencies who assisted, civic and other groups who helped, the hundreds of volunteers, and the re-enactors who made the battles and presentations so realistic.

Dear Editor, There is good news for the residents of the Leonard subdivision in Perryville. For more than 10 years I had been denied access to the sewer system in Perryville because of some silly Kentucky Division of Water specification that states, "No public gravity sewer conveying raw wastewater shall be less than 8" (203 mm) in diameter. " Our system in the Leonard subdivision is connected to a six-inch line, but according to all of the members of the Danville City Commission, this should not be of any concern.

PERRYVILLE - Someone rammed a truck through a gate off Whites Road to gain entrance Sunday to Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. A women's restroom also was vandalized. Joni House, a spokeswoman at the park, said several hundred dollars in damages were to the gate and women's restroom at the large shelter at the park. A window was broken, and a door was kicked open to gain entrance to the restroom, she said. She said the park is open on a limited basis during the winter months and has few maintenance workers to make repairs.

Dear Editor, The Perryville City Council was wise to say no to development of the (Pete) Coyle farm. Why anyone, especially a farmer, would want to develop farmland is beyond comprehension. That commodity is not finite. The Bluegrass region in Kentucky is unique. But the area is on a list of the 100 most endangered areas in the world, not just in America. If you love the earth a little, recycle everything you can. If you love the earth a lot, move into a town or city in order to drive less, where you can walk and cycle more.

Amid the sounds of cannon fire and the beat of horse's hooves, representatives from Camp Nelson manned the Lincoln Tent at the Civil War Re-enactment at Perryville this past weekend. The national re-enactment at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site drew more than 25,000 spectators from all over the nation, and involved more than 4,500 re-enactors. This year's event marked the 144th anniversary of the engagement, which began on Oct. 8, 1862. More than 7,500 Union and Confederate troops were killed or wounded in the Battle of Perryville.

Perryville Police Chief Charles Parks added his name to a list of prominent names in local law enforcement Wednesday by filing to run for sheriff. Parks has served as Perryville's chief for the past two years. He began his career in law enforcement with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department in 1978, where he worked for 12 years before joining the Danville Police Department in 1991. Parks said he had not seriously considered challenging for the office in the past, but felt the time was right for a run. "I've been in police work most of my life and I want to continue," Parks said.

Dear Editor, I would like to take this time to thank the citizens of Perryville and all my friends for voting for me on Nov. 7 to be your mayor. I do love you and I appreciate all of you for your support. Thanks to my friends who could not vote for me, but remembered me in your prayers. Thanks to my family and my pastor, Rev. Willie Newby who has always encouraged me. Thanks to Mayor Bruce Richardson for his guidance as we worked together. I see a great future in Perryville, and I am excited and happy to be a part of this great city.

Volunteers ranging from city government officials to county residents descended upon Perryville city hall Friday morning to spruce up the town a bit. The Main Street Program and the city had been planning the cleanup day for months. MSP organized the labor, and the city provided the materials for a day of cleaning at city hall. Some of the exterior of city hall received a fresh coat of white paint while other work was being done on the back side of the building. Main Street Program Manager Vicki Goode, Mayor Anne Sleet, MSP Chairwoman Lisa Bottom and other volunteers cleaned and spruced up inside and outside the government building.

PERRYVILLE - Officers investigating a burglary Wednesday evening in Perryville discovered an estimated $45,000 in marijuana at a nearby property. Boyle County Deputy Sheriff Marty Elliott said the sheriff's office responded to a report of a burglary about 6:30 p.m. on Claunch Road. While deputies were interviewing neighbors for additional information, they approached a dilapidated residence and noticed a security camera monitoring the property. Elliott said deputies discovered grow boxes, canisters and Miracle Grow fertilizer.