Water

The National weather service has issued a flood advisory for Boyle, Casey, Garrard and Lincoln counties. Two to three inches of rainfall is anticipated. Boyle County Sheriff Marty Elliot encourages drivers to take caution when driving, stressing that there is high water throughout the area. "Everybody needs to be aware that it only takes about four inches of moving water to push a car off the roadway," Elliot said. He said that, while the county officials had not responded to any weather-related issues, they were taking steps to be prepared, in case something occurred.

STANFORD - Department of Agriculture officials have awarded more than $1 million in loan and grant funding for a water system upgrade project on Danville Avenue. USDA Rural Development State Director Tom Fern said Stanford Water Department will receive $750,000 in low-interest loans and $310,000 in grant money for the planned water line replacement. "The improvements to Stanford's water system are critical for ensuring safe and reliable water for area residents," Fern said. "USDA is proud to work in Partnership with the City of Stanford on this much needed water improvement project.

STANFORD - Officials say construction vehicles purchased with leftover grant money have the potential to save the Stanford Water Department tens of thousands of dollars every year in contracting costs. Stanford Water Department Manager Ryan Owens said a mini-excavator and dump truck the city acquired in September allow city employees to repair broken water lines and conduct other jobs like adding tie-outs and boring into roads without calling in a third-party contractor. Ryan and three water department employees were using the equipment as recently as Thursday, when they repaired a broken water line on Cut Off Street in downtown Stanford.

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary of the devastating tornados in Morgan, Menifee, Magoffin and Laurel counties. We've had this in our column before, but the need for being emergency prepared is ever present. The season is upon us now for sudden and severe storms, floods and tornados. Now is the time to give some thought as to how to best prepare food for your family in weather emergencies. Collect at least a three-day supply of food for each family member. Consider each person's needs and preferences, storage space and emergency cooking methods.

LANCASTER - Officials across Kentucky are watching the small communities of Lincoln and Garrard counties as a lawsuit moves forward that could set a precedent for how 911 call centers are funded in the future. Chief Circuit Court Judge Hunter Daugherty ruled last week that a new 911-funding fee implemented on water meters in Lincoln and Garrard counties is constitutional. The civil case, which has been called a "friendly lawsuit" by local 911 officials, was filed by the city of Lancaster against Garrard County and the Garrard Fiscal Court, challenging the constitutionality of the new 911 fee. "The argument that we made, that the judge accepted, was that this is a fee - a user fee," said Mike Troop, the attorney representing Garrard County in the case.

LANCASTER - Following a ruling by the state attorney general, the city of Lancaster was forced to turn over recordings from a January executive session where council members discussed the water contract between the city and the Garrard County Water Association. While no members of the water association were invited to or present at the Jan. 14 meeting, the council chose to discuss the contract, which had been rejected by the association's board. It also became apparent from the tapes, which are now a matter of public record, that council members were concerned about the city's ability to meet grant and loan deadlines, the first of which is for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funds.

Swimmers from West Jessamine High School overcame their 32nd seed to place in the top-30 during the weekend's KHSAA state swim meet held at the University of Louisville's Ralph G. Wright Natatorium. Juniors Wyatt Lamb and Stephan Stryker, sophomore Austin Pasch and freshman Michael Peck finished 28th in the Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay that concluded Saturday, shaving 2.6 second off their time from the regional tournament to earn a 3:41.86. Pasch was the Colts' frontrunner with total time of 53.39, followed by Stryker at 59.18.

CRAB ORCHARD - The city of Crab Orchard issued a boil-water advisory as of 6:32 p.m. Tuesday until further notice for all customers on the entire Crab Orchard water system. The advisory is due to a recent water line break that has the potential to allow contamination to enter the water system. Customers are asked to boil water before drinking or cooking.

Long days in the saddle, sleeping under the stars, and sitting by the campfire are as much a part of being a cowboy as the boots and hat. Just as big a part of the cowboy life is singing, which the musical group Cool Waters will be doing in style at the Community Arts Center next weekend. Cool Waters formed in 2004 at a church fish-fry when Jim Blasdell teamed up with Mike Grimes and Darrell Ingram, men who knew each other but had never played together before. The harmonies of their voices and instruments inspired them to keep playing long after the event, and to explore the quintessential element of American culture: the cowboy.

A rainy weekend left Clark County wet, but mild flooding had little impact on the county. Two vehicles were stuck on L&E Junction Road (KY 1960), and it had to be closed Sunday. One vehicle was stuck when the water was at its highest, but another car become lodged in a culvert near the roadway around 9 p.m. Sunday. The Clark County Fire Department responded, but the passengers were able to get out of the vehicle safely. A civilian vehicle removed the silver passenger car, Battalion Chief William Puckett said.