In all races except one, Lewis County voters chose the winning candidates. Numbers were overwhelmingly in favor of George W. Bush for President, Jim Bunning for US Senator, Geoff Davis for US Congress and "Yes" on the Constitutional Amendment.

While 65 percent of Lewis County voters cast their ballots for Jimmy Lykins for State Representative, 65 percent of Carter County voters voted for incumbent Robin Webb.

Carter Countians voting in that race totaled 10, 696, while 5, 273 Lewis Countians voted for one candidate or the other. Overall, Webb won with 55 percent of the vote.

The six incumbent Vanceburg City Council members ran for re-election and, with no challengers, all of the incumbents will be returning for another two-year term.

The returning members, in order of number of votes, are Angie Patton, Roy Lawson, Brenda Hester Lykins, Tim Bowden, Ed Taylor and Dorcas Taylor.

Fourth District School Board member Bonnie Jolly and Fifth District member Walter "Jack" Sapp also went unopposed in their re-election bids.

The four commissioners are Jerry Walker, Anthony Monroe, Sheila Walker and Chris Dixon. Chris Dixon and Lillie Monroe had tied for the fourth position.

County Clerk Shirley Hinton said the coin toss was conducted Saturday morning in her office. Since the candidates were not present, Hinton stood in for Lillie Monroe and Charles Hall stood in for Chris Dixon. Deputy Joe Paul Gilbert tossed the coin and, with Hall calling "heads", Dixon was named as the fourth member to the commission.

Meeting in regular session last week the Vanceburg City Council heard a complaint from two residents regarding interference of the right-of-way on Henderson Street.

Keith Lewis presented pictures to Mayor William T. "Bill Tom" Cooper and the members of the City Council showing where another neighbor has placed some logs in one location and staked down a concrete block in another corner to keep drivers off his property.

Lewis and Bill Jordan alleged that the obstacles are on the city right-of-way and make getting to their homes difficult.

Lewis said a fire truck could not get through if it had to go up that street.

Jordan said he hoped that the matter could be peaceably settled.

Cooper said the city would determine the exact boundaries of the properties and the city’s right-of-way, and if the obstacles were on the right-of-way they would have to be moved back onto owner's property at the property line.

The property owner was not at the meeting to comment about the situation.

The council gave first reading to an ordinance mandated by the state regarding flood damage control in the city.

It also gave first reading to an ordinance approving entry of the city into an agreement to form and operate a countywide Planning Commission in conjunction with the town of Concord and the Lewis County Fiscal Court.

City Attorney E.V. Holder Jr. said that years ago he bitterly opposed such a commission but after attending a seminar on the subject he has changed his mind.

One of the men conducting the seminar asked if the people had a poultry farm coming into their community where would they want it.

Holder said that on a recent trip to Alabama he passed a poultry farm, and now he knows what the man was talking about.

He said the Planning Commission is necessary for the protection of property.

Holder told the council that the Kentucky General Assembly, the Kentucky Organization of Counties and the Kentucky League of Cities are really pushing planning commissions.

Cooper said that the commission would have seven members. One of them will represent Concord, and two will be appointed by the City of Vanceburg.

Holder then updated the council on the annexation request made by the management of the Vanceburg Senior Apartments on Route 59. He said that he has notified the management that the actual owner of the property has to submit a written request to be voluntarily annexed, and that he has also contacted the owners to inform them that he would prepare all the necessary forms and make the proper arrangements if desired. No action on the matter was required.

Holder then gave first reading to an ordinance amending the employment and compensation schedule for city employees. It grants salary increases to members of the Vanceburg Police Department.

Cooper clarified that new recruits would have to undergo training and become certified before they could receive the benefits all city employees enjoy. He explained that the policy is necessary because the city would invest a lot of money in hiring an officer that would be wasted if the recruit did not pass muster for certification. He also emphasized, however, that as soon as the recruit became certified he or she would immediately receive the same benefits as all other city workers.

First reading was also given to a companion ordinance regarding a utility worker who will be in charge of renovating the old Commercial Hotel. The worker will be paid $14.00 per hour with federal funds unless he wants to charge tool rental for the use of his tools. Then he would be paid his regular salary plus $2.00 per hour for tool rental.

On October 18 and 19 the University College of Dentistry and affiliates were at Lewis County Middle School to conduct their free dental sealant program. Dr. James Cecil and Dr. Raynor Mullins, dentists at the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry, accompanied by 15 dental students utilizing seven workstations, worked diligently for a day and a half to examine, seal, and educate the children on proper dental hygiene.

The "Seal Kentucky" program was first brought to Lewis County in the fall of last year and proved to be very successful. This year approximately 124 children from Garrison Elementary, Central Elementary, and Central Middle School were seen with over 369 teeth being sealed. The students of the other schools in the Lewis County School System will receive sealants later in the year from local dentists and the Lewis County Health Department.

The "Seal Kentucky" program is conducted statewide and throughout the course of a year examines over 2,000 children. With the past and present success of the program, Lewis County Primary Care Center and the Lewis County Board of Education plan to work hard to keep the program coming back to the area year after year.

Kevin Duff of the Lewis County Board of Education states, "We support the program because we feel that students benefit from the sealant. The program improves their health which increases their chances of success."

To thank the children for their good behavior and participation, each child's name was entered into a drawing for a chance to win a University of Kentucky basketball autographed by Tubby Smith. The winner was Central Elementary's Hailey Dyer.

It has been another successful year for the dental sealant program. Everyone involved played an instrumental role in getting the program underway.

Lori Holder, the Health Educator for Lewis County Primary Care Center, stated "The University of Kentucky; Lewis County Primary Care Center; Lewis County Health Department; Sheila Arnett, DMD of Lewis County Family Dental Clinic; Ron Mays, DMD; John O'Cull, DMD; Lewis County schools; students; and their parents have all worked together to make the dental sealant program successful and bring better dental health to our children.

Also, we appreciate Jean Watson, Leanne Bryant and Sami Parker who played an important role in making these two days run smoothly. I am thrilled to be part of this program and hope to have it return every year."