President Bush declared a major disaster for Kentucky on March 14, making federal funding available for some of the state's recovery efforts from February's sever winter storm. The deadline to apply for assistance is May 13.

Individual assistance goes to residents and business owners whose homes or property were damaged in the storm. Meanwhile, public assistance is earmarked to help pay for the cost of damaged roads, buildings and utilities, and also to help pay for removing debris.

Carter County has 372 applicants and assistance of $556,004. Greenup County has 380 applicants and $395,776 approved in assistance. Mason County has 43 applicants and $11,007 assistance. Rowan County has 83 applicants with $144,474 assistance, and Fleming County has 44 applicants with $53,671 approved.

Firefighters were called to the home of Rose and Dean Thurman shortly before 11:00 a.m. Thursday when smoke was spotted coming out of the rear of the home. No one was inside the house at the time.

The fire apparently started in the back of the house near where work was bring done for an addition to the structure.

Firefighters from Vanceburg, Black Oak, Garrison, Tollesboro and Kinniconick Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the fire. Vanceburg firefighter Rick Tanner was taken to Meadowview Regional Medical center for treatment of smoke inhalation.

The ice storm that hit Lewis County in February damaged the limbs of some of the trees, leaving leaves from the trees within reach of livestock. The leaves, which contain cyanide, are toxic to cattle, sheep, goats and horses.

"The ice storm left many trees partially broken but still able to produce leaves," said state agriculture commissioner Billy Ray Smith.

Higher limbs damaged in the storm can be blown down in a strong wind, so Smith advised farmers to clear their wild cherry trees.

Some animals can die within an hour after ingesting wild cherry leaves.

Notter said Sudan grass, Johnsongrass and common sorghum can also contain lethal concentrations of cyanide when stunted or stressed by drought or frost. Clippings from the yew, an evergreen shrub commonly used in landscaping, is another common cause of cyanide poisoning in livestock as well as companion animals.

Symptoms of cyanide poisoning in livestock include excitement and rapid respiration, followed by difficult or labored respiration, salivation, excessive tearing, urination, defecation and vomiting, Notter said.