We are nearing the end of May, which means it’s time for graduations and Memorial Day – much like it was at the end of May 30 years ago!
As we take one last look back at May of 1994, we see that the Lake Cumberland area had completed yet another successful tourist-holiday weekend. Southwestern High School was about to hold its first-ever graduation ceremony. And Burnside… Well, it wasn’t such a good week for Burnside.
Here’s what was newsworthy in Pulaski County this week in 1994, from the pages of the Commonwealth Journal.
300,000 Enjoy Sun, Safe Holiday Roads
Despite a bright, sparkling Memorial Day weekend, visitation on Lake Cumberland was down slightly from pre-holiday projections and in comparison with summer’s first holiday last year. “We estimated that 300,000 people visited the lake during the three days,” Craig Shoe, resource manager for Lake Cumberland, said this morning. The Corps had estimated the holiday lake crowd at 315,000, up slightly from the 311,000 visitors last year. The visitation totals are for the entire lake. No individual county estimates are made by the Corps. Shoe couldn’t pinpoint the reason for the less-than-expected lake crowd. … According to Scott Vito, a detective with the Somerset Police Department, city police worked nine accidents, with and without injury, during the three-day weekend. Seven people were cited for driving under the influence. … Julie Godby, executive director for the Somerset-Pulaski County Tourist Commission, said all accommodations in the county were filled. … Officials with two local parks reported full campgrounds and busy boat ramps. … Not everyone got to enjoy yesterday’s holiday. Pulaski County’s schools were open, although attendance was relatively low. Figures from the superintendent’s office show 6,199 students reported yesterday. That’s 89 percent of the total 6,986 students.
Burnside Ordered to Fix Water Plant
Representatives of the state Division of Water have issued a directive to Burnside City Council: either officials take immediate action to address water problems or face the consequences of possible civil penalties. “We have some real concerns about Burnside upgrading its water plant,” Sara Gold, environmental control supervisor for the Division of Water, Columbia office, told city officials last night at a special council meeting. Gold said state officials are concerned if the city can financially afford to upgrade its 46-year-old water plant and still hold down operating costs as well as monthly utility bills for its customers. “I would hate to see Burnside residents paying (a) $30-$40 per month water bill,” Gold said. The cost of upgrading Burnside’s municipal water plant is expected to be revised from the original estimate of $770,000, and some expect it could cost $1 million or more to bring the plant in compliance with state and federal regulations. … Gold said the city water plant is “pretty behind the times.” The equipment is badly in need of repair or replacement, and the facility needs to be upgraded to meet provisions of the Surface Water Treatment regulations, which require the construction of lagoons of another avenue to treat waste water. … Many of the lines have not been replaced since the Burnside water plant was built in 1948. … If councilors continue to postpone action or take no action at all, Gold said there will likely be civil penalties imposed. This could come in the form of a $25,000 fine for each day the city is found to be in noncompliance with regulations.
General Burnside Forgotten in Park Plan
General Burnside Island State Park has always been dubbed a stepchild of the state parks system, and there is no apparent change on the horizon. Not a penny for the local park is included in Gov. Brereton Jones’ General Fund Parks Revitalization Projects. Jones visited with Commonwealth Journal editors last Thursday to garner editorial support for his new budget proposals, including massive parks renovation. Oscar Hornsby, the governor’s spokesman in Pulaski County blamed opposition from local motel owners for the state’s failure to build a lodge at the state park near Burnside. “We only build lodges in remote areas... we don’t want to compete,” said Hornsby, speaking in the presence of the governor. … Efforts were made a few years ago to attract private investors to construct and operate a lodge on General Burnside Island State Park. However, a requirement that the lodge operate by state guidelines apparently left potential investors feeling that a reasonable profit was not possible, and the idea was junked.
SWHS Graduates First Class Next Sunday
The members of the first graduating class of Southwestern High School will turn their tassels at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5, in the school’s gymnasium. U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers will serve as a guest speaker. Class president Michelle Barnes will deliver the invocation. A trio of students will address the crowd as co-valedictorians: Monty Absher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Absher; Lisa Benjamin, daughter of Doug and Dorine Benjamin; and Kyle Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Stewart. Also delivering remarks will be Matthew Coffey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Coffey. The SWHS choir, under the direction of Melinda Hutchison, will perform musical selections. The colors will be presented by the ROTC color guard, under the leadership of Sgt. Major Lawson. The SWHS band, under the direction of David Elliott, will provide music for the processional, national anthem and recessional. Members of the National Honor Society and student government organizations will serve as ushers.
Fire at Kingsford Does Minor Damage
A fire at the Kingsford Product Company’s Burnside plant early Saturday morning caused relatively little damage and wasn’t expected to excessively hamper operations, according to a press release from the company. The fire, reported to Somerset-Pulaski County 9-1-1 Communication Center at 3:36 a.m., took the volunteer fire departments from Tateville and Burnside about 30 minutes to extinguish, according to Tateville’s chief, Jimmy Howard. … The fire occurred when the heat build-up in a storage tank caused some charcoal material to ignite.
Stone Brothers will be Honored
Decades after their deaths, two Pulaski County brothers will be honored during the Memorial Day weekend. Two memorial markers commemorating the World War II service of S 1st Class Francis Merrill Stone and MS 1st Class Harold Roger Stone will be dedicated at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at Mill Springs National Cemetery. … The Stones were the sons of the late Roy and Rosa Stone of the Pleasant Hill Community. They lost their lives almost two years apart while serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Their bodies were never recovered. Merrill Stone served aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Smith and lost his life October 26, 1944, when a Japanese dive bomber landed on the ship gunner section and killed 52 of the ship’s crew. Roger Stone served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S Gambier Bay and was killed during the battle in the Solomon Islands October 25, 1944. More than 700 of his shipmates lost their lives. The Stone family had two other sons who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Forrest died in 1957, and Roy Jr. died in 1993. Both are buried in the Mill Springs National Cemetery. Another son, Gilbert, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. Another sister, Violet Caldwell, died in 1983. Family members are planning to return to Pulaski County for the service.
School News:
-Giving three elementary schools “room to grow,” Pulaski County school officials have drawn up district boundaries for its newest elementary school. Oak Hill Elementary boundaries and changes to the Southern and Pulaski elementary districts were among school boundaries approved last night during a special session of the Pulaski County Board of Education. The vote came at the end of an arduous process which sent school officials back to the drawing board again and again to make certain Oak Hill wasn’t obsolete before its opening. As the number-crunchers were doing their work, subdivisions were being traded back and forth like baseball cards. It provided plenty of fodder for the always-active school parent rumor mill, county Supt. Bert Minton acknowledged. “They were calling up and chewing on me, ‘Yesterday, my son was going over to Oak Hill; today, he’s going to Southern,’” he said. “I’d say, ‘Hey, we haven’t decided anything yet. Let us play with this awhile.’ It’s worked out.” With redistricting, 450 students will open Oak Hill in the fall — about 50 students below capacity. This is the second time in two years that the school system has made room for another school. While some parents may lament the day when Oak Hill students are separated to attend middle schools, Minton said he expected Oak Hill’s boundaries to be less controversial than Southwestern High School’s. The opening of SWHS sent some students scrambling for legal guardians so they could attend an out-of-district high school.
-Twenty-eight outstanding local high school seniors have been inducted into the First and Farmers Bank Hall of Fame. The 13th annual awards banquet was held last night at Eagle’s Nest Country Club. The Hall of Fame was organized to honor top seniors for accomplishments in various fields of endeavor. … Receiving Hall status were: Thomas Barbour, Southwestern; John William Burke, Pulaski County: Donnie Waters, Somerset: Brandon Dugger, Somerset; Mandy Jones, Pulaski County: Joshua Smith, Southwestern; Constance R. Covington, Southwestern; Emily Renee Foster, Pulaski County: Chad Randall Somerset; David Dewayne Davis, Pulaski County: Angela L. Young, Southwestern; Matthew Coffey, Southwestern; Daniel Jake Yadon, Pulaski County; Stephanie McAdoo. Southwestern: Alice Meece. Pulaski County: Rachel Turner. Somerset: John David Avera, Southwestern; Jeremy L. Hall, Somerset; Donald Billy Ping, Pulaski County, Anthony T. Holman, Southwestern; Andrew T. Newsome, Pulaski County; Carmela Abuton, Pulaski County; Susan King, Pulaski County, Barton Riley Harris, Somerset; Monty Absher, Southwestern; Ashley Taylor, Somerset; Kyle Stewart, Southwestern; and Liza Benjamin, Southwestern.
-Students from Southern Middle School placed third in the state at the annual Science Olympiad competition, held In Louisville April 23. The following students placed as listed: Aaron Conrad, third in aerodynamics: Charles Thomas and Kate Brinson, second in Keep the Heat: Chad Yaden and Chris Kissee, second in mousetrap cars; John Pearson, Tamsen Dalton, Andrew Sexton, Emily Parkey, second in pentathlon; Curtis Tate and Matthew Pearson, first in road scholar; Greg McFarland and Charlie Thomas, second in rocks, minerals and fossils; John Pearson and Aaron Conrad, second in science crime busters; Andrew Sexton and John Pearson, first in simple match; Greg McFarland and Jessica Brock, first in trajectory; Curtis Tate and Greg McFarland, first in Weather or Not. Faculty sponsors were Olivia Minton, Kevin Crump, Penny Cooper and Roy Roberts.
-Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Tuesday honored three educators for their contributions to educating America’s youth. Mike LaFavers, chairman of the Education Committee, announced the recipients at the chamber’s luncheon meeting. … Receiving the “Educator of the Year” Awards were Burnside Elementary teacher Beth Duncan, Meece Middle School teacher Ed Hunley, and Daniel Carpenter of Pulaski County High School.
-Lisa Suzanne Denham received a bachelor of science degree in early elementary education K-4 with an emphasis on social and behavioral studies from Cumberland College during the commencement ceremony held Saturday, May 14, in the O. Wayne Rollins Center. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Denham, 106 Virginia Lane, and is a graduate of Somerset High School.
-Jonathan Eric Langford, son of John and Shirley Langford and a native of Somerset, graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary at the institution’s 71st commencement services held near Lexington. … Langford was one of 112 students who earned a Master of Divinity degree, a program designed primarily for students preparing for parish ministry. This summer, Langford plans to teach English in Japan. In September he will become senior pastor of Greenville Community Church in Greenville, Ohio.
Birth Announcements:
The following babies were born at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital during the period May 9 through May 23, 1994: -A daughter, Samantha Lois, 6 pounds 9-3/4 ounces, born May 9 to Charlie and Wilma Price, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are Arnold and Alberta Phelps Bolin and Willard Bolin. Paternal grandparents are Newton and Minnie Price. She joins three brothers, Tommy, 19, Danny, 13, and David, 16; and a sister, Elizabeth, 16. -A son, Stephen Taylor, 5 pounds 14-1/2 ounces, born May 10 to Steve and Misty Cundiff, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are Delmer and Glenda Pitman. Paternal grandparents are Steve and Doris Cundiff. -A daughter, Kelly Lauren, 9 pounds 15 ounces, born May 13 to Tara Wallace, Somerset. -A daughter, Olivia Jayne, 9 pounds 3-1/2 ounces. born May 15 to Randall and Lisa Brown, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are Lucian and Jane Mullins. Paternal grandparents are Shirle and Eva Brown. She joins a sister, Brittany Rachelle, 14. -A son, Jacob Allen, 6 pounds 8 ounces, born May 16 to Melissa A. Adams, Somerset. -A son, Michael David Tyler, 6 pounds 5 ounces, born May 17 to Michael and Clarisa Lee, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are John Muse and Linda Gosser. Paternal grandparents are Harold Lee and Sylvia Lee. He joins a sister, Prusia K. Janene New, 2-1/2. -A son, Bryce Parker, 7 pounds 14-3/4. ounces, born May 18 to Velma and Donald Mincey, Somerset. Paternal grandparents are Charles and Catherine Mincey. -A son, Leighton Mac, 8 pounds 7-1/2 ounces, born May 19 to Charles Leighton and Mildred Marie Tucker, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are David Lee and Julie Mae Blenkhor. Paternal grandparents are Arnold M. and Lois G. Tucker. -A daughter, Carissa Renee, 8 pounds 12 ounces, born May 20 to Mandy and Dallas Britt, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are Karen Jones and Riley R. Mills. Paternal grandparents are Denny Britt Sr. and Diane Britt. Godparents are Sheryll High and Gilbert Daniels. She joins a sister, Danna Lee. -A son, Tyler James Conley, 10 pounds 1-3/4 ounces, born May 20 to Stan and Kim Abney, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are Bruce and Juanita Whitis. Maternal great-grandparents are Nellie Meece and the late Virgil Meece. Paternal grandparents are Charles and Doris Frisby. He joins a sister, Stephanie, 10. -A daughter, Margaret Cynthia, 7 pounds 10-1/2 ounces, born May 20 to Bridgette Benedit, Somerset. Maternal grandparents are Charles and Cindy Richardson.
Obituaries:
-James D. “Jamie” Ard, 301 Cundiff Road, Faubush, died suddenly Monday, May 23, 1994, at his residence. He was 17. He was born in London, Ky., Sept. 13, 1976. He was a student at Southwestern High School where he was a Cadet Major in JROTC, Ranger Division, and had entered competition in Kentucky and out of state. He was employed by Hardees South and a member of Smiths Grove United Baptist Church. Survivors include his mother, his stepfather, two stepbrothers, two sisters, two stepsisters, maternal grandparents, maternal great-grandmother, three uncles, seven step-nephews and a step-niece. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday at the chapel of Nancy Funeral Home. Burial will be in Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the James D. Ard Memorial ROTC Scholarship Fund.
-Ruth Pennington Garner, 84, longtime Somerset resident, died Tuesday, May 24, 1994, at the residence of her daughter in Indiana. She was born in the Faubush community Aug. 27, 1909. She was a graduate of Somerset High School in 1930; earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College in 1961; taught school at Shopville and special education classes at Pulaski Elementary for several years. She was an active leader at First Church of God, where she was a Sunday school teacher and worked with Vacation Bible School for many years. She helped organize the Community Bible Study Program in Pulaski County; was a Girl Scout leader; president of PTA; and a member of Pulaski County Historical Society. Survivors include five children, two sisters, 13 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Church of God, Monticello Street. Burial will be in Somerset Cemetery.
-Robert “Bobby” Copenhaver, 707 Jacksboro St., Ferguson, died Thursday, May 26, 1994, at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, following a short illness. He was 57. Born in Science Hill, June 2, 1936, he was a U.S. Army veteran; employed by the Unemployment Insurance Service; and a member of Ferguson Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, a son, a daughter, three sisters, and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the chapel of Somerset Undertaking Company. Burial will be in Somerset Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Memorial Fund of Ferguson Methodist Church.
-Wanda Jewell Todd, 419 Clements Avenue, Somerset, died Thursday, May 26, 1994, at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. She was 60. Born in Levelgrain, Ky., on Aug. 12, 1933, she was a certified medical assistant with Lifeline, the former owner of Kirby Distributorship in Somerset, and an honorary member of the Eastern Star. She was a member of Southside Church of Christ. Survivors include her mother, her husband, a daughter, three brothers, a sister, and two grandchildren. Funeral services are today at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Morris & Hislope Funeral Home. Burial will be in Goodhope Cemetery.
This Week in Local Sports:
-All season long, Somerset High tennis coach Clifford Randall firmly believed his Briar Jumper boys could notch their third consecutive Regional title. But he also knew it would be tough. As it turned out, he was correct on both counts. It took an upset win by the doubles duo of Matthew Knight and Rob Dinkens on Sunday to clinch a one-point (8-7) victory over Regional runner-up Berea. … The emotional victory drained the Somerset team, however and it dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision to … Harrodsburg in the championship match. … No. 1 singles player Dale Hille advanced all the way to the quarterfinals, as he downed Rightman of Danville 6-1, 6-2 and Eysenbach of Russell County 6-2, 6-2, before falling to top-seeded Calhoun of Madison Central 6-2, 6-2. Meanwhile, Shoe Ejiri downed Carter of Clark County 6-1, 6-1 in his opener, before bowing out in the second round to sixth-seeded Hays of Danville 6-2, 7-6. In doubles play, Jeremey Page and Jens Moller hammered out a 6-1, 6-0 win over Lyons and Clark of Lee County in the first round, before losing to the fifth-seeded Horseman brothers of Lincoln County 7-5, 6-4 in Round 2. Knight and Dinkens toppled Patel and Lakes of Berea 6-2, 6-2, and Royalty and Floyd of Danville 6-2, 6-2, before their big upset of Mays and Caton in the semifinals.
-The Southwestern boys’ tennis program ended its initial campaign in a big way. Its two singles competitors both advanced to the Regional semifinals, and the Warriors finished one victory away from advancing to the State Meet. “We were in the running until the final day.” said SWHS coach Larry Nichols. “I really thought we might have the opportunity to play in the State Meet our very first season.” … The Southwestern singles players more than did their job in the Regional. Josh Nichols — the coach’s son — breezed through the first three rounds and advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive season. Last year, as a junior, Nichols went to the round of four as a Somerset Briar Jumper. As it turned out the same player who ended his season last year turned the trick again on Sunday. Madison Central’s top-seeded Calhoun handed Nichols a straight-set loss. … Swedish exchange student Kristen Aberg, meanwhile, also won his first three matches, before bowing out to second-seeded Harrison of Berea. … In doubles play, the Warriors suffered their real heartbreaker. Martin Mullins and Ben Webb took a tough Danville duo to three sets, before falling in a tiebreaker. As it turns out, a win there would’ve propelled Southwestern into the State Meet. … Southwestern’s freshman duo of Brian Roberts and Scott Glasco*ck were toppled in the first round by Boyle County’s No. 2 and 3 players. … “We had a good first season,” Nichols added. “Hopefully, we’ll have our own courts completed for next season.” Nichols is hoping to have a four-court facility for his SWHS program. This year, the Warriors and Lady Warriors had to commute to Somerset Community College for practice and matches.
-A dream that began four years ago for a group of Somerset High seniors ended last night in the dank confines of McCreary Central’s palatial ball yard, with threatening clouds as a backdrop. The Briar Jumpers — who began the season with 13 seniors and high hopes for a State Sectional berth — were upset by hard-hitting Lincoln County 8-4 in the first round of the 12th Region Tournament. … The contest was delayed almost an hour by lightning in the area, and the first pitch wasn’t offered up until 9:35 p.m. By that time, the field was slick and the mist had rolled in, giving the beautiful McCreary park an almost eerie atmosphere. “I would’ve loved to have played a game like this with some sunlight,” SHS Coach Charlie Taylor said.
-The Pulaski County High girls’ 3200-meter relay team came up with a second-place finish, while Southwestern hurdler Josh Smith had a third-place effort, in the Class AAA State Track and Field Meet this weekend in Lexington. The Lady Maroons’ foursome of Gretchen Sandefur, Mandy Jones, Julie Roberts and Natalie Scruggs turned in a school-record time of 9:58.09: second only to Sacred Heart. … Smith finished second in his heat in the 110 high hurdles on Friday with a time of 15.29. Yesterday in the finals, he ran a personal-best 15.17 and finished third in the state.
-According to Southwestern track and field coach Dale Anderson, you’d better not be fooled by Michelle Barnes’ petite stature. Not if you’re planning on competing with her. Because she’s as tough as they come. Next fall, Midway College … will have Barnes in its soccer and track and field programs. “Michelle is a very talented athlete,” said Anderson. “She’s played soccer with the boys and more than held her own, and she’s been a great competitor in track and field. I don’t think there’s any doubt that she’s going to be able to go to that next level and compete. You just don’t run across female athletes as tough and gifted as Michelle all that often. She’s very special.”
Advertisem*nts from Local Businesses:
-Dianna’s Plants – 2-1/2 miles past Pulaski Co. High on Hwy. 39. Turn left at Nelson Valley Baptist Church. Go 1-1/2 miles on right. Plants galore! Great selection! Wholesale prices!
-Food Fair — Whole watermelon, $2.99. Vidalia onions, 29 cents/1b. 24-pack Pepsi products, $4.99. Large eggs, 49 cents/dozen.
-B&H Shoes – Tradewind Shopping Center and Somerset Mall. Memorial Weekend Special, 20% off storewide.
-Cooke Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Dodge Trucks — 850 N. Hwy. 27. 1995 Dodge Neon, lease $189 for 48 months with $1,000 down. 1994 Plymouth Voyager, $16,980 or lease $230/24 months with $2,000 down.
-Carolyn’s Boutique — 713 W. Hwy. 80. 25% off storewide on Memorial Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Showing This Week at 27 Twin Drive-in and Showplace Cinemas:
Beverly Hills Cop III — Wayne’s World 2 — When a Man Loves a Woman — The Crow — Maverick — 3 Ninjas Kick Back — Grumpy Old Men — Cops & Robbersons — Ace Ventura — The Flintstones — Renaissance Man
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