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County looks to hire only part-time employees

Lewis County Fiscal Court held its first workshop on Monday, July 31.
Only one magistrate, Milt Stanfield, District One, attended, along with County road Foreman Dane Howard, Solid Waste Coordinator John Teager, Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney, Jailer Tim Underwood, Sheriff Bill Lewis, County Attorney Clayton" Buddy" Lykins Jr., judge executive Steve Applegate, and treasurer Kathy Dillow.
Applegate said that with only one magistrate in attendance, not much could be accomplished at this first workshop.
Applegate said that his office was "looking to be more economical" and that the county may follow "WalMart" in its employment practice of hiring "only art-time employees" in the future.

This would mean that future employees would not receive benefits, a cost savings to the county. Applegate also said that any new hire would have to be fiscal court approved.
Underwood indicated that he had a part-time employee whom he wanted to make a full-time employee, and that the employee had earned this.
Lewis said he would be concerned with hiring only part-time employees since it would be hard to keep them if they could get full time benefits elsewhere.
With regard to audits, Dillow said that the county will be able to use a private CPA in the future, which would be cheaper for the county.
Applegate indicated that the fiscal court would hold a workshop of this nature on a quarterly basis.

Drive Smart Kentucky Blitz planned

Aimed at driving down the fatality rate, reducing impaired driving, and increasing seat belt usage, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, along with the Buffalo Trace Area Development District is coordinating an Operation Drive Smart Enforcement Blitz along the AA Highway Safety Corridor.
"The Transportation Cabinet's first priority is to ensure the safety of the traveling public," said Secretary Bill Nighbert. "It is important that we work to reduce the number of serious injury and fatality crashes in the commonwealth."
The blitz, set for August 12 to 18, will target the AA Highway through Campbell, Pendleton, and Bracken counties in Highway District 6, and Mason, Lewis, Carter and Greenup counties in District 9. Operation Drive Smart radar units are being placed along the highway in advance to heighten awareness.
Law enforcement officers with Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement, and several local agencies will target various traffic violations which contribute to serious vehicular crashes and death, including speeding, improper passing, driver inattention, equipment and insurance violations, child restraint and seat belt usage.
Recent surveys show that seat belt usage rates along the corridor fell in all but two counties from 2004 to 2005.

The largest decrease was recorded in Bracken County, where the observed seat belt usage dropped 13 percent, from 66 to 53 percent. Lewis County's seat belt usage rate dropped eight percent, and Greenup County's observed usage fell by five percent. According to the surveys, seat belt usage rose in Campbell and Mason counties.
Kentucky's new primary seat belt legislation, signed earlier this year by Governor Ernie Fletcher, became effective in July. "The primary seat belt law is the single most important tool we have to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our highways," Secretary Nighbert stated. "Statistics prove that accident victims who are securely buckled in their vehicles are less likely to suffer serious injuries and death."
"We are working with every agency and organization in Kentucky to promote highway safety along the AA Highway," said Boyd Sigler, Highway Safety Operations Manager for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. "We believe that building cooperative safety partnerships and using a data-driven approach to develop and implement effective highway safety strategies is the key to saving lives."

Motorists can do their part to help save lives by wearing their seat belts, obeying the speed limit and other traffic laws, and keeping their attention on the roadway.

Man dies in tractor accident

The Lewis County Sheriff's Department is investigating a fatal accident Wednesday afternoon.
Fred R. Walker Sr., 46, of Route 2 Vanceburg, was operating a farm tractor south on Ky. Rt. 57 near the Covedale School when he came over a hill and apparently lost control. The tractor hit a ditch and Walker was pinned underneath.

Walker was pronounced dead at the scene by Lewis County Coroner Tony Gaydos.
The incident remains under investigation by the Lewis County Sheriff's Department, which was assisted at the scene by Portsmouth Ambulance and Tollesboro Fire and Rescue.

Suspect arrested in burglary

A Tollesboro man was arrested Wednesday evening for his alleged involvement in a burglary early Wednesday morning at Tucker's Country Market on the AA Highway at Tollesboro.
Scott Adkins, 38, was arrested at his residence by Deputy Jason Hill on an outstanding bench warrant and was lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center.

According to police, Tucker's Country market was broken into at 2:28 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2.

The store had been burglarizes several times previously, and surveillance cameras had been placed in the store by the sheriff's department.

Unknown to the burglar, store owner Don Tucker was inside at the time of the burglary. Once inside, Adkins allegedly encountered Tucker, who had already called the sheriff's department. Adkins fled the scene on foot, leaving behind the crowbar used to pry open the back door.

Sheriff Bill Lewis and Deputy Tom Polley arrived on the scene and were given a description of the suspect, who was identified as Adkins, who lives about one mile south of the store on Pine Valley Road. An immediate search of the area failed to find him.

Adkins was taken into custody later that morning at his residence. He was charged with third degree burglary, a class D felony punishable by on to five years imprisonment. Additional charges are expected.

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