The hot, humid summer months are now behind us, and it's not too early to start thinking about heating your home in the upcoming months. That means it is time to inspect both your home to make sure that it is well insulated and your furnace to ensure that it is in good, safe working order.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills hundreds of people in the United States each year, and faulty or malfunctioning heating appliances are often the cause. 

CO is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned. If heating appliances are properly maintained, the amount of CO that is produced is usually not hazardous. However, dangerous levels of CO can be released into a home if a heating appliance or furnace is improperly installed, old, or malfunctioning. 

Since carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas, most victims do not even realize that they are being poisoned.

People's Self-Help Housing (PSHH) strongly encourages everyone who heats with gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal to install a CO detector in their home. A CO detector is not the same as a smoke detector and is designed to detect only the presence of CO gas. While a CO detector is not meant to be a replacement for proper use and maintenance of your furnace or other heating appliance, it could literally save your life and the lives of your loved ones in the event that your heating appliance malfunctions.

PSHH will sponsor a drawing to give away free CO detectors on October 23, 2006. Any Lewis County resident who heats with gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is eligible to apply.

PSHH has been providing housing opportunities for low and moderate-income families, including home repair and rehabilitation, in Lewis County since 1982. PSHH offers Equal Housing Opportunities.

By Al Owens

Meeting in a recessed session last week the Lewis County Fiscal Court moved to transfer up to $100,000 as needed from the Road Fund until the Sheriff's Department receives the first tax receipts for the year.

The action was necessary because the Library Board of the Helen H. Rayburn Public Library of Lewis County inadvertently ran a notice for a public hearing regarding a four percent increase in taxes for the library in the Maysville paper rather than in the local Lewis County Herald for two weeks as required. That public hearing will be held on Thursday, October 5, at 9:00 a.m. in the library. The tax increase will amount to about $2.00 or less per household for the year.

Lewis County Sheriff Bill Lewis has obtained an extension of the October 1 tax billing deadline to October 15. He noted that the two percent discount for those who pay their taxes within 30 days after receiving their bill will also be extended.

Third District Magistrate Keith Chapman asked about the free prescription discount cards the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) is offering to the county.

County Judge Steve Applegate said that 75 percent of the counties in Kentucky have accepted that offer, and he anticipates Lewis County doing the same.

He added that he agrees with the cautious approach taken by County Attorney Clayton "Buddy" Lykins, Jr. During the regular September session of the court, Lykins expressed concerns over liability issues and how the list of pharmacies where the cards could be used would affect the business of smaller and/or local pharmacies. At that point the issue was tabled until the October meeting.

Before adjourning Applegate reminded the court that the next regular session of the fiscal court will be on Monday, October 9, at 9:30 a.m. in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.