By Dennis Brown

Vanceburg Police Lt. Tom Flannigan says there are fake $20 and $50 bills floating around Vanceburg. Sheriff Bill Lewis says there are also some well-constructed $100s floating around Lewis County .

Flannigan said the bills are well crafted and at first look appear to be authentic.

He said the fake bills do not have the embedded strip and have an extra copy line on the bottom of the back.

Most of the fake 50s have a serial number of EK10373454A, according to Flannigan. Sheriff Lewis said the counterfeiting ring is apparently operating in Lewis and surrounding counties including those in Ohio .

A detective with the Scioto County, Ohio, Sheriff's Office surmises that the phony money was crafted to buy drugs. He said that the money was likely crafted to buy illicit drugs but wound up in the main stream of cash flow.

The detective said that nearly $7,000 in phony bills have been recovered by his department.

A spokesman with the Portsmouth Police Department said the bogus bills have been found at convenience stores and fast food locations.

Several law enforcement agencies met last week to compare notes and discovered many consistent points concerning the phony cash.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

Vanceburg Police Lt. Tom Fannigan and Kayla Slusher compared fake and real $50 bills in our office last week. The real bills have an embedded strip and aren't fuzzy. If you have questions, contact local authorities.

Two people were arrested last week in Maysville and charged with passing counterfeit money

The two, from West Union, Ohio, were charged and arrested.

Officials, including those from the Secret Service, seized a computer and other items generally used in counterfeiting. Those items were sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, for processing.

If you are in possession of a questionable bill, contact local authorities.

By Paula Franke

Road issues were heard when the Lewis County Fiscal Court met last week.

The court agreed to close the section of Kilbreth Road in the Petersville/Oak Ridge area, from the Stamm property on to the end. There was no public objection.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, an attorney for Rick Blankenship asked to court to consider closing or allowing Blankenship to gate a section of Spy Run Road from Blankenship's property to where the road exits at the AA Highway. He explained that there already is a gate at one end and Blankenship would like to gate the road at his property to prevent access poachers and illegal dumpers.

Applegate said he would have Road Foreman Dane Howard inspect the road and report back at the next fiscal court meeting. County Attorney Clayton "Buddy" Lykins Jr. expressed some concerns about the legality of closing a county road where there are existing utility easements.

The court approved several items including:

* The second reading of an ordinance approving an agreement for the county to form and operate a planning unit with the cities of Vanceburg and Concord.

* The 2005 fee office budgets for County Clerk Shirley Hinton and Sheriff Bill Lewis.

* The annual $15,000 contribution to the Lewis County Soil Conservation District.

* Reappointment of Karen Collier to the Garrison Water District.

* Reappointment of Wallace Bess Jr. to the Black Oak Volunteer Fire Department Tax Board.

* The 2005 annual budget for the Garrison-Quincy-KY-O-Heights Water District.

The court also agreed to resume all responsibility for the upkeep and safety of a military cannon display. Judge Executive Steve Applegate explained that the county had applied to the military for a cannon to display on the courthouse lawn and part of the application required this agreement.

Applegate noted that this would not be a WWI or WWII cannon, but would, instead, be a more contemporary model. It would also be rendered inoperable.

Magistrate Milt Stanfield commented on the much-discussed mysterious loss of the county's previous cannon and supported the idea of a replacement cannon display.

By Joe Grosek

The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club located in the Clarksburg Christian Church will be opening on January 17, 2005. The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club will be opened from Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The mission of the Boys and Girls Club is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

The Lewis County Boys and Girls club is for all boys and girls from ages six-18. It is non-sectarian and has an open door policy for kids from all economic backgrounds and all parts of Lewis County.

The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club is part of the Boys and Girls Club of America, which serves more than four million boys and girls in 3,400 club locations which are located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands plus domestic and international military bases.     

The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club will offer programs in areas of character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation.

"We are going to provide a fun, safe place for kids to learn and grow," stated Mike Kennedy, the Unit Director for the Lewis County Boys and Girls Club and also a 1996 graduate of Lewis County High School.

The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club will open January 17. Mike Kennedy, at right, is Unit Director for Lewis County.

Kennedy, also a graduate of Morehead State University, was hired in September and is working hard to get everything ready for the club by the January 17 opening date. 

The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club is a 21st Century Learning Center. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call Kennedy at 606-796-2582.

The Lewis County Boys and Girls Club is the dream of a local organization known as the Harmany Foundation. Named after the late United Methodist Pastor Allan Harman, the Harmany Foundation mission is to provide a safe, structured and nurturing environment for the youth of Lewis County, where they can become successful and productive citizens. The Harmany Foundation's president is Reverend Jim Vaden of the United Methodist Church. It consists of citizens of all faiths, economic backgrounds, and age groups. 

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman is investigating this three vehicle accident last week at the intersection of Ky. Rt. 59 and Ky. Rt. 8 in Vanceburg. There were no reported injuries although the vehicles sustained substantial damage.

Paula Franke/Lewis County Herald

Tollesboro firefighters were called Friday evening for a vehicle fire in a driveway on Mason-Lewis Road, west of Tollesboro.