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Written by Voice Staff report
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Friday, 01 January 2010 |
While 2008 led to the departure of many faces from their familiar roles in the McCreary County community, 2009 brought many new faces into public view.
While 2008 led to the departure of many faces from their familiar roles in the McCreary County community, 2009 brought many new faces into public view.
Three notable county figures left public office in 2008: County Attorney Phil Chaney, County Clerk Jo Kidd and Coroner Brandon New; leading to the appointment of three new figures: Michele Wilson-Jones, Eric Haynes and Daniel Ridener. While Wilson made her official mark in 2008 winning the office in a special election that year, she began her first full year as County Attorney in January. Now as 2009 comes to a close, Wilson looks to re-election and obtaining her first full term in the new position.
Eric Haynes took over in the Clerk’s office following the retirement of long-serving clerk Jo Kidd. Haynes took office at the first of the year and, like Wilson, will be on the ballot in 2010 in hopes of holding the office.
Ridener too will be on the ballot in 2010, looking for his first election as Coroner of McCreary County. Both he and Haynes can be considered incumbents in their races, but have to gain the support of McCreary voters over and above the many challengers that have come forward this election cycle.
As 2009 gives way to 2010 and a countywide election, the most notable news of 2009 came just this month with Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips announcing he will not seek re-election. Phillips made the announcement as he stares down the final year of his two-term tenure as Judge-Executive. We now look to election of 2010 as one of the largest in history in terms of registered voters and the possibility of many new faces gracing the halls of the courthouse for the next four years.
As the face of county government changes, so will local representation in state government. 52nd District State Representative Ken Upchurch announced he would not seek re-election to the state office he has held for a decade. Upchurch is running for Judge-Executive in his home of Wayne County.
Shifting from politics; Stearns District Ranger Fred Noack transferred from his post with the Daniel Boone National Forest after five years of service in September. Gene Baker was appointed as Interim Ranger in October and Forest Service officials are still working to put a full-time Ranger in the position.
A beloved choir director who vacated his post nearly a decade ago, has returned to his bench behind the piano and his McCreary Central Madrigals. Chris Hubbs recently held his first Christmas choral concert at McCreary Central since returning to the school.
Hubbs wasn’t the only news at McCreary Central in 2009 as the school welcomed local educator Sharon Ross to the head of the class. Ross was named principal in June and is running downhill toward the end of her first year on the job.
Two other community faces were removed from their public roles in 2009. Facing criminal charges, long time secretary for the county attorney, Faye Cash, lost her position after allegations surfaced she stole thousands from the office. Cash is facing numerous counts in the alleged felony and is awaiting a hearing in the matter.
In November, a local doctor had his license to practice medicine suspended after allegations surfaced concerning alleged unethical sexual conduct with female patients. Dr. Larry E. Perry had his license suspended in Tennessee after an investigation revealed several female patients reportedly claiming the doctor inappropriately touched them or made suggestive comments toward them. A few weeks later Dr. Perry’s license was suspended in Kentucky as well. A hearing on the matter has been set for March.
On a more positive note, two noted McCreary Countians were honored posthumously in 2009 for their contributions and service. Edward “Eddie” Ward, a Pine Knot native, was recognized this year as the country’s first enlisted airman, actually helping to launch a Wright Brothers aircraft and the U.S. military’s aviation program. A state historical monument denoting the legacy of Ward now stands along U.S. 27 in Pine Knot.
The lives of hundreds of young citizens were touched throughout the years by the character and programs county extension agent Elmer Boggs brought the county. Boggs was honored in September with a road naming ceremony during the 50th anniversary of the children’s recreational facility he created; the Sandhill 4-H Conservation Camp.
2009 brought the completion of a portion of a new Hwy 92 between Pine Knot and Williamsburg and news that a 6-mile section in McCreary County would soon see construction. In November, a portion of the route in Whitley County was opened to traffic negating navigation by motorists across “Williamsburg Mountain.”
It is being reported this week that a contract has been awarded for construction of the route from Hwy 592 (near Davis Hill) in McCreary County to a junction with U.S. 27 in Pine Knot. McCreary County Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said this week transportation officials tell him, with contracts in place, the construction was just a “matter of the weather.”
Hopefully work can begin sooner than we actually expect it to,” Phillips said, noting the project is one that has been in the state’s plans for over 20 years. Once construction is underway, completion of the new leg of the route should take around 12 months, Phillips says, with the road opened to traffic in early spring of 2011.
News in 2008 that brought millions of dollars in funding to McCreary County bought a ticket to higher education in 2009 with the completion of a new educational center at the McCreary Center of Somerset Community College. Work progressed at the building through most of the year with a finished product now visible from U.S. 27, at the campus south of Whitley City. College officials say the building will open next month with the first classes offered beginning on January 11.
2009 also brought news that a new grocery store would be opening in Whitley City. As of press time, contractors are working installing plumbing into the former Pamida building and readying the project for the next phase of work.
“They are putting the plumbing in as we speak and this frees everything else up to go,” said Rick Stephens, head of Stephens Family Development, who is facilitating the project.
Stephens said the store would be a “full-blown, full-service grocer” that will employ between 50-60 people. Managers will be on site in 30-45 days, he added, and would begin accepting applications for employment.
The store is slated to open on May 1 and welcome the shopping public to the new Whitley City IGA.
While development at the McCreary County Park seemed to stagnate some during 2009, 2010 promises to get work at the site into full swing. Board members overseeing the project have targeted March 2010 for the opening of ball fields and associated amenities on the site and hope to use 2010 for the implementation of numerous other recreational amenities on the site. The beginning of 2010 should bring the start of construction on a multi-generational facility that, by year’s end, will welcome local senior citizens and the community into a completed building for social and recreational activities.
Two decade old McCreary County cold cases were brought to the forefront in 2009, leaving one family still searching for answers and another saddened but relieved to know the final fate of their loved one.
In April investigators obtained permission to exhume the casket of Roger King, who was murdered in 1998.
King’s relatives, and investigators believed there may have been evidence buried with King and sought permission to exhume the casket and search the remains.
After some legal wrangling, King’s widow, Paula King Dorough, did not contest the request.
After King’s remains were removed from the family burial plot, investigators conducted a search of the coffin and returned a short while later to break the news that no additional evidence was found.
Though the family was saddened to learn that the King’s murder remains unsolved, they vowed to continue to search for answers. Investigators are also continuing their quest for resolution in the case.
King, a RECC lineman, was found dead in his work truck in his driveway on August 24, 1998.
The family of Crystal Marler finally found some closure concerning the disappearance of the teenager on October 12, 1998.
In April hunters stumbled across what appeared to be human remains scattered off a Forest Service road located off of Peel Dogwood Road.
The discovery opened up speculation about the possible identity of the remains, and Marler’s family anxiously awaited the report from State Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Emily Craig, who was tasked to identify the individual.
In July the family finally learned the final fate of their missing relative as the remains were positively identified as belonging to Crystal Marler. Evidence found at the site and other forensic clues led investigators to determine the cause of death as from a gun shot wound and blunt force trauma.
While relieved to finally answer some questions concerning the disappearance, investigators have launched a renewed search for Marler’s killer.
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