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TIMES-VOICEThursday, March 29, 2012

Vol. 124, No. 13Email- gm@jacksontimesky.com

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Published in Jackson, Breathitt County, KYSee ‘SMITH’ PG. A5

EASTER EGG HUNTInformation on Page A5

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Thursday, March 29, 2012 The Voice of our Times 50 Cents

THE JACKSON-BREATHITT COUNTY

TIMES-VOICE

By Harold DeatonTimes-Voice Reporter

The Breathitt County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. After approving the minutes for the February meeting, the court moved on to items on the agenda.

Under the Financial heading the Court:

•Approved the Financial Statement and Appropriation/

Betty HardinTimes-Voice Reporter

The Academic Boosters of Breathitt County celebrated the 25th Annual Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 27 at the Fairce O. Woods Coliseum at Breathitt County High School.

The ceremony recognizes students, from sixth grade through senior year, from all the schools in Breathitt County, who have achieved at least a 3.5 GPA.

This year’s ceremony was the first for Stephen Bowling as chairperson.

“I’m very honored to serve as chairperson of the Academic Boosters,” Bowling said. “I want to say that without the hard work of a lot of volunteers who have made the effort and the time to come together and work out this meeting, this event would not continue.”

Lynn Ethel Herald welcomed those present. While at the podium, Herald took time to acknowledge those family members and school officials who have helped the students

ACADEMIC BOOSTERS recognize student achievements

make it to this point by asking each group to stand individually for a round of applause.

Guest speaker for the event was author and filmmaker Jerry

Deaton. Deaton, a Longs Creek native, told those in attendance about his life. Deaton told stories of his days playing sports for Breathitt County High

School, working as a lobbyist in Frankfort, building his house by himself and how he turned to writing.

“I had retired from my job in

Frankfort and was telling stories to my wife’s classes when I realized that I had made up a lot of stories,” he told the crowd. “A lot of you probably came

here tonight expecting to hear a scary story.”

Deaton “wrote what he knew” about – the people and places of Eastern Kentucky. His first book was “Appalachian Ghost Stories: Tales from Bloody Breathitt.”

Following Deaton’s speech, recipients of the Jerry F. Howell Award were recognized. These students maintained a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA in sixth through 12th grades and, as a reward, received a $250 scholarship. This year’s 15 recipients are Darryl Cole, Melissa Craft, Kami Griffith, Amber L. Gross, Chelsea Hays, Dakota Johnson, Alfonso Mendoza, Kelsey Minix, Cherokee Skidmore, Hilliard Smith, Dustin Smith, Hannah Stewart, Megan Strong, Jacqueline Vires, and Glennis Watts.

Before exchanging their name tags for T-shirts, those students in attendance had the chance to win five iPod Touches and five Kindle Fires that were donated by the Academic Boosters; or an iPad, donated by Friends of the Breathitt County Public Library.

The 2012 recipients of the Jerry F. Howell Award are (front, from left) Dustin Stamper, Kami Griffith, Amber L. Gross, Me-lissa Craft, Hannah Stewart, Megan Strong, Kelsey Minix, (back, from left) Hilliard Smith, Alfonso Gabriel Mendoza, Dakota Johnson, Cherokee Skidmore, Darryl Cole, and Glennis S. Watts. Not present are Chelsea Hays and Jacqueline Vires.

Leslie Spencer, a senior at Breathitt High School, signed to play basketball with Alice Lloyd College on Wednesday, March 28. Spencer is the daughter of Derek and Shannon Spencer. Alice Lloyd Coach John Mills said Spencer is his first recruit from Breathitt County High School. BHS Principal Derek McKnight described Spencer as “among the best players they have ever had at Breathitt.” Spencer’s coach, Winnie Cox, said, “She was a true leader for the team. We’ll miss her and wish her well.” (Photo by Harold Deaton)

Betty HardinTimes-Voice Reporter

Before serving lunch on Tuesday, March 27, the Senior Citizens Center took time to dedicate a plaque to honor J. Phil Smith.

Sandra Fugate, who lead the

Senior Citizens Center dedicates plaque to J. Phil Smith

J. Phil Smith, seated, was recently honored at the Breathitt County Senior Citizens Center. With Smith are Board Members Woodrow Haddix, Jackson Mayor Rose Wolfe, Grethel Gray, J. Phil Smith, Vice Chairman JP Deaton, Mary Turner, Sandra Fugate, and Chairman Arthur Ashcraft.

presentation, said, “We are here today to honor a special man in our community. He has had a specific influence on this senior citizen’s center. The person we are here to honor and we are so pleased that he has chosen to come out and be with us today is Mr. J. Phil Smith.”

Fugate described remem-bering the need for a senior citizens center in the 1960s.

“I can remember my mom talking about the need for the senior citizens of Breathitt County to have some place where they can come together

Spencer signs with Alice

Lloyd College

Fiscal Court meets in regular session

Revenue Condition Report.•Approved 1st Reading of

Budget Amendment #9.•Approved 2nd Reading of

Budget Amendment #8.•Approved Budget Transfers.•Approved two Inter-Fund

Budget Transfers.•Approved Monthly Claims

List 09-5027.•Approved FY 2012/2013 Jail

Budget. After questions from the audience, it was explained that this year’s budget would

With the resignation of Breathitt County Board of Education Chairman Dr. Gene Bays the duties fell to the Vice-Chair Danny “Bear” Strong, however Strong did not attend last Tuesday’s Board meeting. That left only Board Members Ina Southwood, Shirley Hudson and Bobby D. Gross in attendance. Paula Clemons-Combs educated the Breathitt Board of Education on the joys of hosting exchange students and said the host parents learn more than the student does while the student is here. The Board said it would do all it could to encourage area parents to accept exchange students and welcome them to BHS. In one vote the Board approved fund-raising requests from Highland-Turner Girls Basketball Zumbathon, Spring Fling, Little Caesars Pizza Kits, Peekaboo Pictures, T-shirt sales and cookie dough sales along with the Krispy Kreme Donut Sales for BHS, renewed Option B flood insurance for Rousseau Elementary School, approved claiming up to 14 days of banked time and advertising for bids for the 2012 – 2013 school year fuel needs.

Exchange students focus of Breathitt Board meeting

See ‘FISCAL’ PG. A5

25th Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony held

Page A8-A9