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Dr. Jennifer Fraley named superintendent

Submitted photo
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

The Carter County Board of Education chose a new superintendent last week after rounds of interviews for that position. Dr. Jennifer Fraley, who has served as the interim superintendent since the resignation of former superintendent Dr. Paul Green, was chosen as the new superintendent. Dr. Fraley, a long-time educator, said that she was both humbled and thrilled at the appointment. She said that she has been involved in education for 34 years, which is exactly where she has always wanted to be.

Fraley was born and raised in Louisville and graduated from the University of Louisville.

“I knew early on that I wanted to live and work in a rural area,” Dr. Fraley said. “So, when I graduated from the University of Louisville, I went to Wolfe County.”

Fraley spent nine years of her career in Wolfe County, teaching everything at an elementary school level and Social Studies, Language Arts, and Math at the middle school level until she went to work for the State Department of Education.

In 2000, Fraley’s efforts were recognized when she was named the Kentucky Social Studies Teacher of the Year. She was invited to attend the social studies conference, where she was presented with the award. During her time at the Kentucky Department of Education Fraley served as a middle school consultant and worked on secondary school improvement strategies, something that she felt and still feels is one of the best ways to help students achieve their full potential.

After spending nine years with the State Board of Education, Fraley said she returned home to be an instructional supervisor, then went to work at an educational co-op in Hazard. Fraley worked in Hazard until returning to Carter County as the county’s chief academic officer, a position she filled for approximately three years. During that time, in 2024, she was appointed to be the State Director of Math Education. She worked in that position for a year, helping to implement House Bill 162, or the Early Numeracy Act.

“It was good work,” Fraley said, as well as being interesting work.

During her time there she was able to secure 70 grants sent out to school districts to purchase high quality math curriculums and get significant math learning academies in place for math teachers and administrators.

“But when Dr. Green announced his retirement,” Fraley said, “I had a lot of folks reach out and say I should really come back to Carter County.”

“I was really humbled by that,” Fraley added.

The fact that there were community members and teachers wanting her to return to a county she loved was the key reason she reached out to the school board and applied for the interim superintendent position.

“When they (the board) selected me to be the interim superintendent, I knew at that point that I wanted to apply to be the superintendent.”

Fraley said that because of her experience working at the state level twice, she had been in a lot of different school districts across the state.

“There is absolutely not a better district than Carter County,” she said. “I believe that one hundred percent. We have the very best teachers, the very best staff from our food service to our custodians, and they all care about the kids.”

Fraley said that care is half the battle, so to speak.

“When you have that care, that compassion, you can build relationships with students. We have to take interest in our kids for them to be successful,” she said. “I feel overly blessed. I’m the one that is so thankful for this opportunity to be here.”

Carter County has its advantages and disadvantages, and both have to be considered when forging a plan for the best possible future, Dr. Fraley said. Rural poverty, she said, is definitely something that needs to be addressed. She herself, growing up around Louisville, comes from a poverty background, she said. But it isn’t the same.

“There is something very different about rural poverty as opposed to urban poverty,” she noted..

“Geography plays a big part in that,” Fraley continued. “When you are living in a rural area you can be far from the nearest town. So, if you have a dollar, and you don’t have transportation, that is all you have.”

Urban areas, she said, offer at least the ability to walk to a restaurant and purchase something from a value menu. Rural areas might not have that proximity, but it does offer the ability for programs to be directly applied in smaller communities.

“We are really blessed with Our Family Resource Centers,” Fraley said as an example of those programs. “They are known for the good work that they do. And they are known at the state level for the services they provide to our kids. So, whereas the poverty situation and the geography of rural areas can be a challenge, sometimes they can yield benefits. Because of the fact that we do know all of our students and all of their families, we are able to get to them if they need something.”

Dr. Fraley also addressed the issue shared by all districts of educational funding.

“Every year there are more mandates that go unfunded,” she said. “But we work to implement them and make sure we have enough counselors in our schools, make sure we have high quality curriculum for our students.”

Those things, she said, are expensive and the funds are not always readily available. Given that, she explained, they are always looking for additional funds and grants to meet the opportunities for anything their students might need.

Fraley said that the school district has already identified some instructional priorities that they are working on.

“Those are things we are looking for in the classroom, and all of our teachers and principals are working toward that.”

Maximizing instructional time, planning, and implementing new curriculum are key goals, she said. Formative assessment, monitoring student learning and being able to adjust to ensure all students are achieving their potential are also goals, Fraley said.

Overall priorities for the district, Fraley said, include building systems.

“I am a systems thinker,” Dr. Fraley said. “And I think we need to work to put things in place for coherence and consistency. Things that help us have stability during change and help us to lead during challenges.”

Dr. Fraley said another area they are working on is district facilities.

“We need to regroup around the building project because there are still major changes to be made there. But we need to focus on not just a new building, but the health and maintenance of our existing buildings. We have some aging facilities,” Fraley said. “And with that comes, for instance, HVAC issues, then there is roofing, and other similar issues.”

“I am humbled and very grateful to be in this role,” Dr. Fraley said. “And I want to listen and work to build consensus. I want to make sure that everyone is heard. And I want to have feedback from the families and the community, not just on issues they have but areas where they think things are going well.”

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

Presenting Olive Hill Stories

The Olive Hill Depot decorated for Christmas in a file photo (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Olive Hill Stories is a new event launched by author Willie Davis, with the inaugural event kicking off tomorrow (Thursday) at the Olive Hill Welcome Center (the Depot) as a warm-up to It’s Fall Y’all. The event, which runs from 6 – 7:30 p.m., will feature Davis and local poet, historian, and author Neal Salyers.

Davis said he envisions Olive Hill Stories as a “community forum where Olive Hill history is shared among interested Olive Hillians and Carter Countians,” both here at home and – via online media – “around the country.”

For Davis, who is an Appalachian raised in diaspora, after his family followed work to Mansfield, Ohio, sharing these stories with the outside world is an important part of the project. One way Davis envisions that is by pairing the live events with print and online media partnerships, by submitting articles to the Carter County Times and other local media. (See Davis’s submission, My Olive Hill story: I’m a proud Olive Hill hillbilly, on page A-?)

Davis, who has written a fictionalized history of Olive Hill’s firebrick legacy, said the community’s contribution to our nation’s industrial growth – the steel used in skyscrapers and battleships couldn’t have been smelted without firebrick for foundries – should be celebrated, and Welcome Center director Lisa Messer Conley agreed.

“Olive Hill has a great creation story that should make everyone proud,” she noted. “Olive Hill had an abundance of rare fireclay. Olive Hill also had people with the backbone to mine and convert this fireclay into special bricks that helped build a growing nation. More people should know this slice of Olive Hill’s history.”

Davis cited this conviction, that more people should know these stories, as the one that “birthed the idea behind Olive Hill Stories.”

There is no charge to attend this event, but space is limited. Please call or text (606)315-5787 to register and reserve a seat. All attendees will also receive a free e-book copy of Davis’s historical novel, Olive Hill.

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Letter to the Editor: Different times, same old problems

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In 1932, Cole Porter wrote the song “Anything Goes” for a musical of the same name. In the piece he enumerates the negative or odd changes he perceives in society. Today many of those changes seem tame compared with the challenges we confront in modern life. Yet one bridge has stood the test of time—a question I believe we should all ask ourselves.

“Just think of those shocks you’ve got,

And those knocks you’ve got,

And those blues you’ve got,

From those news you’ve got,

And those pains you’ve got,

(If any brains you’ve got)-

From those little radios.”

I believe this line offers a keen insight into how news—especially that delivered almost instantaneously—creates undue hardship and animosity among a populace. I am typically more of an observer than a speaker, preferring to focus on local news and politics rather than national affairs. I cannot help noticing how national politics bleed into our local community, creating a rift among us. From the turmoil in Ukraine and the powder‑keg Israel‑Palestine conflict to the day‑to‑day political “slop” forced into our view via our devices. These things seem to only wedge the common man apart from one another.

It will come as no surprise to you, readers, that the recent Kirk murder incident will be mentioned again. However, I will not recount the incident itself; instead, I will examine the cascading effects on our local community. I cannot help thinking of the young man in Rowan County who was fired from the public library because of his controversial statements about the situation. I do not condone his remarks, but it dismays me to see another Appalachian thrown to the wolves over something so inconsequential in daily life. Had his statements been made a month later, the backlash he faced would likely have been milder, and he probably would still have a job. This is especially salient this year, as the economy grows bleak for many, leaving some to choose between paying bills, buying food, and filling gas tanks.

Through this constant, cyclical news cycle that traps many, division spreads among ordinary people. Hatred festers like a splinter, and people who, under different circumstances, might be great idols, friends, or even lovers are instead torn asunder by words and actions that are not their own. It fills me with shame, gut‑wrenching sadness, and disgust to see friends become bitter enemies over an event in which neither had any influence, control, or involvement.  I cannot help asking the question, “When did we trade our decency and love for one another for this never‑ending political circus? Why do we continue to draw battle lines and choose sides in a conflict that benefits no ordinary person?”

I implore you, readers, to look deeply within yourselves and ask, “What do I gain from the constant stream of news fed to me?”  From my observations, those most involved in national‑scale politics and news—regardless of the “side” they choose—tend to be the most discontented and unhappy.  It is not their beliefs per se, but rather the constant influx of sensationalist headlines and events occurring hundreds of miles from home that are forced onto their plates—like gruel poured into a pig’s trough.
For lack of a better ending statement, I recall a phrase I once overheard:

“Y’all got so concerned with being Democrats or Republicans, you forgot to be decent a long time ago.”

Trey McGlone

Joyful Noise: Lamenting to God

woman in white sweater and blue denim jeans sitting on bed
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Joyful Noise: Lamenting to God

By Pastor Naomi Mitchell

For Carter County Times

Lamentations 1:20 says, “See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed.” And yet he looks to God as the ultimate judge, knowing that only He can deal with the sins and destruction; “Let all their wickedness come before you” (v.22).

This kind of honest crying out to God can most certainly help us to grapple with the painful atrocities that seem to happen in our communities, our country and all over the world. We have instant news at our fingertips more than ever through our iPhones, etc. It feels so overwhelming and mind blowing at times.

We lament in prayer when our hearts are broken. Many of the psalms are songs of lament, expressing a range of emotions when the authors were going through sorrowful times. We lament it when we feel helpless in our situations. Some people turn their fearful laments into complaints. Christians should turn their fearful laments into prayer.

The Bible instructs us to lament over our sin. This kind of lamentation is associated with repentance (Matthew 3:8; Acts 2:38; James 5:1). Second Corinthians 7:10 says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” Repentance is agreeing with God about how bad our sin is and purposing to turn away from it. When we see our sin the way God does, we lament over it. We grieve at the evil arising in our own hearts and cry out to God to change us. Those who never lament over their own sin have not understood its power to destroy them, nor can they fully appreciate a Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Turn to God. Often a lament begins by an address to God: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). The point is that the person in pain chooses to talk to God about what is happening.

Bring your complaint. Every lament features some kind of complaint: “How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:2). More than a sinful rehearsing of our anger, biblical lament humbly and honestly identifies the pain, questions, and frustrations raging in our souls.

Ask boldly for help. Seeking God’s help while in pain is an act of faith: “Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken” (Psalm 13:3–4). Unremitting sorrow can create a deadly silence as we give in to despair (“there’s no hope”) or denial (“everything’s fine”). But lament invites us to dare to hope in God’s promises as we ask for his help.

Choose to trust. This is the destination for our laments. All roads lead here: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:5–6). More than the stages of grief, this prayer language moves us to renew our commitment to trust in God as we navigate the brokenness of life.

The more you pray, the less you will panic. The more you worship, the less you will worry.

Amen! So be it!

JOYFUL House of Prayer, 2519 Quicksand Road, (P.O. Box 856), Jackson, Kentucky 41339. Send Comments/Prayer Requests: Pastornaomi4god@gmail.com. FB: JoyfulHoprayer. Services: 10am Sunday and Joyful Kids Class at 10:30am, 6:30pm Thursdays. Radio Broadcast: WJSN 97.3 FM & WEKG 81.0 AM Sundays 1-2pm.

My Olive Hill Story

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By Willie Davis

For the Carter County Times

Kentucky lost about 400,000 of its sons and daughters in the 1940s and 1950s to the industrial north. My family migrated to Mansfield, Ohio  in 1959. I was twelve. I came home from my first day of school upset because I was “just another Olive Hill hillbilly” to some of my new classmates. I didn’t understand this. My childhood had been wonderful in Hayward, Enterprise, and Soldier.

My mother explained bias as best she could to a seventh grader in a new community. I realized later that this was not Jim Crow bias. However, it was enough prejudice to linger in my mind for years. Please, don’t misunderstand me. I had a great Ohio and Michigan education, and two fulfilling professional careers. But the belief among some that I was lucky to have shoes when my family moved out of Olive Hill remained.

Somewhere in the 1990s I began researching Olive Hill. My family cemetery is in Lawton, and when I returned for funerals, I began talking with other family members and local residents about Olive Hill. I began to uncover a great Olive Hill creation story. I kept researching and realized that Olive Hill has a great history that somehow got lost over time, remaining known only to a few hearty souls.

Somewhere in the 2000s I decided to tell the Olive Hill story in a historical fiction novel. The more I researched, the more I realized the Olive Hill story was also a Carter County story. It was a story of how Carter County and its people gave all that it had in a time when it was most needed, until it was needed no more.

Olive Hill and Carter County became my heroes. Carter County was blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Olive Hill had an abundance of rare fireclay and the people with enough grit to mine and turn this fireclay into special bricks that helped build a growing country.

I believe the study of history is important. A person cannot choose where they are born, or how they are raised, but they can choose how they live. Better life choices are made with a better understanding of history. We need to learn more about our history. Olive Hillians and Carter Countians need to learn more about their history. It’s a proud creation story.

Willie Davis will be one of the two inaugural speakers at the first ever Olive Hill Stories public event hosted by the Olive Hill Welcome Center. His topic is ‘Put your Olive Hill glasses on.’

Contact us at news@cartercountytimes.com if you’d like to share your own Olive Hill Story.

Golf Scramble Friday!

titrist golf ball near golf hole
Photo by tyler hendy on Pexels.com
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

The Grayson Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Golf Scramble this Friday, October 3, at Hidden Cove Golf Course (Grayson Lake). The event will see teams of 4 golfers compete against one another for prizes and the inevitable year-long bragging rights. Prizes will be awarded for Hole in One (with a $10,000 prize for a hole in one on the number 11 hole), Samsung 50″ Smart TV, vacation stays, and assorted golf apparel. Anyone interested can still register at the chamber of commerce website, so round up three golf buddies and sign up today.

The event is the chamber’s annual fundraiser, and proceeds go to fund the programs and events the chamber sponsors throughout the year. Golf Scramble Sponsorships include the Lunch Sponsor ($500), Breakfast Sponsor ($400), Hole Signage Sponsor ($100), Gold Sponsor Package ($1,000), and the Platinum Sponsor Package ($2,500). Registration for each four-player team is $400.

Registration and breakfast begin at 8 am, and the ‘scramble’ kicks off with a Shotgun Start at 9am. Lunch will be delivered at noon, then finished with closing awards and a reception.

“It’s our annual fundraiser, and an 18-hole golf scramble,” chamber director Mike Nelson said. “And if somebody nails a hole-in-one on hole 11, they win $10,000. And we also have prizes on other holes you can win.”

Nelson said each golfer participating will also receive a gift bag that contains various items from businesses representing the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce.

“And there will be lots of food,” Nelson said. “We have breakfast, lunch catered by El Mixteco, and snacks and drink provided by Racers. The best thing is the foods all free and provided to the golfers.”

“There will also be a Heckle Hole,” Nelson added. “A Heckle Hole is where someone can be paid to ‘heckle’ the team you are competing against. You give him (the heckler) twenty bucks, and he’ll make noises or holler at the people who are teeing off. Or just do things to unnerve them. But if you know your competing team is going to pay the heckler, you can turn around and give him $30 to not heckle you or to heckle them instead.”

“It just adds fun to raising money,” Nelson said. “Will Wilhoit is the Heckler,” he added, pointing out that given that Wilhoit is an attorney, any heckling isn’t likely to escalate into actual harassment.

“We will be accepting teams right up to the morning of the event,” Nelson said. “There are a few hole sponsorships left, and if you want you can just give a donation we will put toward the tournament. You can do all of that on our website, including donating one of the prizes.”

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

Crafting fun for fall

(submitted photos)
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

The popular annual craft and vendor festival, ‘It’s Fall Y’all,’ returns to downtown Olive Hill this Saturday (October 4), bringing with it a weekend full of fun and fellowship. The event showcases not only what Olive Hill and the entire region has to offer but also highlights how we like to have fun. There will be live music, crafts, and interactive entertainment to be enjoyed by all. The event will be held at the Depot in Olive Hill and promises a huge turnout, like in years past.

Event organizer Lisa Conley said she expects several thousand people to show up and have a wonderful time. The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 3 p.m. on Saturday with around seventy vendors, inflatables, and live music provided by local musicians. Conley said people can enjoy popular games like the Toilet Paper Toss, Flip Cup Tic Tac Toe, and Blindfolded Pumpkin Painting, not to mention the popular ‘Family Calling Contest’ where contestants showcase both their creativity and lung capacity to holler for family members across (metaphoric) long distances.

Conley, who serves on the board of Olive Hill Trail Town and is the Director of the Olive Hill Welcome Center and the Tom T. Hall Museum, said this will be the ninth year the popular event will be held.

“We used to hear complaints that there was nothing to do in Olive Hill in the fall,” Conley said about the origins of the event. “So, a group of us sat down and at first we tried to do it as a Harvest Festival.”

But the timing of availability to do the event was pushed into October, so she said doing it as a harvest festival didn’t work out.

“So, we decided that we would allow people to come in and set up to do fundraisers,” Conley continued.

The fundraising aspect, she said, was the reason Fall Y’all does not have food trucks. It gives local churches, nonprofits, and athletic organizations a chance to sell food as part of their fundraising efforts each year, she said.

“And let me tell you, they all set out really good food,” Conley said.

Trail Town does all cast iron cooking, for instance, Conley said.

“They have soup beans, cornbread, and cobbler, all fixed on an open fire. It’s really good.”

“When we started, there might have been forty vendors,” Conley remembered. “And we started out with games like bed races and plank board races. And every year we try to keep what’s good, what people enjoy, and add other fun stuff.”

The event has had its challenges over the years, such as when the city street where they held the bed races was closed (and became part of the highway). But they have continued to work to improve the event over the years and make necessary adjustments to what they offered the community and visitors. And it has more than doubled in size over time, now providing space for over eighty vendors this year.

“And there is a huge variety,” Conley said. “I have never seen the wide variety of vendors that we are going to have this year.”

Conley said when she is talking to potential vendors, she tells them that the type of items they choose to sell is entirely up to them. This allows people to be able to find virtually anything they might be looking for and the potential variety also improves each vendor’s ability to market their items and fundraise for their individual organizations.

“People are interested in everything,” Conley said. “We have gone from five or six hundred people attending the event to four to five thousand that come out for Fall Y’all.”

The ability for vendors to fundraise for their organizations is a great bonus to the local community, Conley said. And the event itself will use this year’s proceeds from the rental of vendor space for the Caboose Restoration Project, so everyone benefits from the event. Conley said she encourages everyone to come out this year and have a good time whether they want to compete in games, make personal or gift purchases, or enjoy live music with friends they might not get to see otherwise.

“There is something for everyone,” Conley said. “And with so many things available, you might find some really great things you didn’t even know you were looking for.”

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

(submitted photo)

The lost art of neighborliness

an upset man looking at his broken car
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By Robert Dean

Carter County Times

It always happens: you’re late for work and the Dodge won’t start. You need a jump. It’s not the government that helps — it’s the guy across the street with a set of cables. He’s known to be kind of an ass, but he sees you cranking the ignition, walks over wordlessly, gets you running, and moves on with his day like a helpful, unfriendly ghost.

When a storm kung fu chops your fence, it’s not Washington suits hauling wood — it’s your frenemy with the F-150. Even when people disagree on everything else, there are moments when everyone can be cool. Communities know when it’s time to drop off chicken spaghetti or check in when life goes bad.

Meanwhile, the headlines are poison. Every story feels like one more “man, I don’t know about this.” The kitchen of American life stinks, and the suits in charge pretend they don’t smell it. And friends, it ain’t right.

Our better angels are still around. The small acts of decency are the glue that keeps this country from falling apart. Everyone knows it. Yet we keep voting for people who wouldn’t stop to help us on the side of the road. They roll up their sleeves and ditch the jacket like it means something, but it’s all theater.

You think Tucker Carlson’s lending you a lawn mower when yours dies? Or Rachel Maddow’s bringing you soup when you’re sick? Hell no! The chasm between regular folks only gets wider, while their pockets get fatter. The rich guys cash the contracts, while you wonder why rent keeps climbing. But who actually invites you over for dinner or picks up the check at lunch? The people at eye level.

Communities survive on cooperation, not partisanship. We know how to share a tool, bring over a casserole, check in on a widow. Why can’t we demand that same spirit from the people who claim to represent us? Life’s messy and imperfect, but that’s where community lives — in the small, ordinary ways we show up for each other. Contact us at news@cartercountytimes.com

Ask Daryl – Your Professional Organizer: Packing for a move

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By Daryl Ashley

Confusion Solution

Moving to a new home can be one of the most stressful situations we encounter in life. There is so much involved in preparing, and timing is a particular obstacle.

You are so excited that you have found the perfect home for your family that you haven’t considered what you need to do to make the move happen. Then it suddenly becomes a reality. You have to hire movers, decide what you are going to take with you, and most concerning of all…you have to pack it all up.

Yep, that’s where you can get lost. Not only do you think you know what you need to pack, the reality is that there will be surprises along the way. So, where to begin? The first thing is to go through the house and open all the cupboards and drawers, look in storage spaces, garages, and basements and really take in the volume of things you have collected. This is can be an overwhelming experience. I mean, how did you get this much stuff? Well, here are some steps you can take to make the process a little less stressful.

  • Give yourself time to sort through and eliminate what you don’t need to keep. Set those things aside for donations or for selling. If you plan to sell items, remember to get what you can with the understanding that nothing is worth what you originally purchased it for. Limit spending too much time trying to sell and stick to packing.
  • When you get ready to buy boxes, buy only ones that can be easy to carry for heavy items and are similar in size. Don’t forget to get packing tape, bubble wrap, and markers.
  • Lighten the load by filling boxes with books, or small appliances halfway and use small items, clothing, or linens to fill in the space.
  • Leave full boxes in the room where they were packed and label them so the movers will take them to the right room in your new home.
  • There will always be things at the end of your move that you didn’t expect, so give yourself enough time to pack well in advance of moving day.
  • Watch over the movers to be sure your things are properly handled.

Moving doesn’t have to be miserable. With a little planning you will soon have everything done and be able to enjoy your new home.

It’s as simple as that!

Send your questions and comments to me at info@confusionsolution.com

Weekly Arrests: 10/1/25

The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Carter County Detention Center over the past week. This list includes local arrests only. It does not include federal inmates being housed at or transported through the detention center.

  • Bruce Sexton, 52, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance, first degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and rear license not illuminated, arrested and booked September 23.
  • Donald Purinton, 52, of  Rush, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked September 23.
  • Jeremy Creech, 44, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, rear license not illuminated, possession of drug paraphernalia, first degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, third degree possession of a controlled substance – drug unspecified, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, arrested and booked September 24.
  • James Conn, 50, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky Department of Corrections, serving a warrant for another police agency, arrested and booked September 24.
  • Adam Lucas, 44, of Denton, arresting agency unavailable, for failure to appear, arrested and booked September 24.
  • Michael Overton, 31, of Grayson, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on charges of rear license not illuminated, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and operating a vehicle with an expired operator’s license, arrested and booked September 25.
  • April Rogers, 43, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for failure to appear, arrested and booked September 25.
  • Devan Burchette, 34, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, for failure to appear, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Candy Arthurs, 54, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, for failure to appear, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Christopher Trent, 52, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges including two counts of contempt of court – libel/slander – resistance to order, and single counts each of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance (2 or more grams of methamphetamine), first degree trafficking in a controlled substance (10 or more dosage units, drug unspecified), and possession of drug paraphernalia, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Shira Tackett, 40, of Flatwoods, self-surrender, weekender, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Amber Jones, 44, of Wellington, arrested by Rowan County Detention Center, for failure to appear, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Patrick Young, 47, of Grayson, arrested by Carter County District Court, charges unavailable, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Roy Sparkman, 73, of Morehead, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of contempt of court – libel/slander – resistance to order, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Brady Haywood, 28, of Grayson, arresting agency unavailable, for non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked September 26.
  • Jessica Adkins, 35, of Upton, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, for failure to appear, arrested and booked September 27.
  • Ben Prichard, 45, of Ashland, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, arrested and booked September 27.
  • Oliva Wilmer, 40, of Pikeville, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on a charge of no operator’s license, arrested and booked September 27.
  • Russell White, 56, of Denton, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on two counts of non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked September 27.
  • Travis Kilgore, 19, of Vanceburg, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of rear license not illuminated, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance, arrested and booked September 28.

All of the charges listed are arrest charges only, and do not indicate an indictment or a conviction for the charges in question. All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Information is compiled from publicly available sources, but may not be comprehensive.

Legislative Update from Senator Webb

Submitted photo

I’ve kept very busy these past weeks, starting with a few days at the Public Safety Boot Camp in the company of national experts in law enforcement, corrections, rehabilitation, economists, researchers, academia, other legislators, and former New Jersey Governor. Chris Christie. We had an interactive panel discussing truth in sentencing, victim impacts, and fiscal impacts.

The past couple weeks have reminded me of the importance of sticking close to family and friends, and continuing to serve in my community. I’m grateful to the Grayson Police Department for putting public and officer safety first with new body camera technology. This technology builds transparency and promotes justice in our community.

I am proud of Grayson’s mayor who attended the FIVCO board of directors annual meeting. This meeting works to move projects forward and establish services that make our northeast region better.

Back in Frankfort, I’ve been busy with committee work. In Appropriations and Revenue, we discussed tax code and provisions, Kentucky’s workforce, and heard a review by the Budget Office. In the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, we discussed measures to address service disconnections during extreme weather conditions, outdoor adventure tourism opportunities, and several administrative regulations.

In the Committee on Agriculture, we received an update from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Agricultural Economic Development and discussed several initiatives tied to economic development. In Justice and Judiciary, we received an update on the judicial branch budget from representatives of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

I also attended the Families and Children committee meeting, where we heard updates on three major child- and family-centered initiatives focused on reducing trauma, strengthening families, and modernizing care. The Isaiah 117 House provides a home-like setting for children on removal day, easing caseworker load and equipping foster families with essentials.  Ramey Estep/Re-group, a Kentucky-based provider with 80 years of history, showcased its integrated model, which spans behavioral health, addiction treatment, and primary care. Finally, the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, now rebranded as OneQuest Health, reported serving 1,800 clients in 2025—a 22 percent increase—as it transitions toward a fully integrated medical and behavioral health model. 

I take the work I do both in the district and in Frankfort seriously and am proud to be your state senator. 

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Extension Notes: Rejuvenating Your Kentucky Lawn: Fall Lawn Care

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By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent

Taking care of your lawn during the fall is as important as it is during spring and summer, even more so for lawns with cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. Nearly all fertilizers and broadleaf herbicides should be applied in the fall, and it is by far the best time for lawn renovations, such as seeding. When it comes to the timing of renovations, spring is better than summer, but fall is best of all. 

Here are some tips for cool-season grasses: 

Fertilize – Fertilizing your lawn in the fall will help it grow stronger, thicker and greener. Cool-season grasses should be fertilized with nitrogen in the fall as temperatures begin to cool and days shorten. Applying later in the fall when cool-season grasses are actively growing can help rejuvenate the lawn after a stressful summer and improve competition over undesirable warm-season weeds such as bermudagrass. Use either farm fertilizers, such as urea or ammonium sulfate, or specialty fertilizers found in garden centers. The normal rate is 1 to 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Remember to spread it evenly over your lawn. 

Control weeds – If broadleaf weeds such as clover, dandelion, plantain and chickweed are growing in your lawn, fall is the best time of year to get them under control. Almost all broadleaf weeds can be controlled selectively in turfgrass by applying a three-way mix of 2, 4-D, MCPP and Dicamba. This mix is sold in many garden centers under various trade names. Applications in late October through November, after winter annuals have emerged, often result in better control of winter annual broadleaves and perennial broadleaves compared to spring applications. Make the application on a warm day, sometime after the first frost of the season.   

Renovate – Summer’s stresses often take a toll on your lawn. The best time to reseed your lawn is from late August through October. Because the goal is to get the seed in close contact with the soil, it is recommended that you first remove surface debris and mechanically groove the soil. This can be easily done by traversing the lawn with a dethatching machine that can be rented at many rental centers. Seed a turf-type tall fescue at a rate of five to six pounds per 1,000 square feet. To avoid uneven application, spread half the seed horizontally across the lawn and the other half vertically. The best and quickest results are obtained if the seeded areas can be kept moist until the seeds germinate. 

Remember to continue mowing your lawn as long as the grass is growing. You might want to lower the height in the fall to 1.5 to 2 inches. This tends to keep the grass greener longer in the winter and will help the lawn to green up earlier next spring. It might even help increase turf density. 

For more information, contact your Carter County Cooperative Extension office.  Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.     

Upcoming Events:

  • The Olive Hill Farmer’s Market is located in the Save-a-Lot parking lot and is open on Wednesdays & Saturdays at 8:00 AM. The Grayson Farmer’s Market will be open on Saturdays at 9:00 AM and on Thursdays at 2:00 PM and is located in the shed behind the Extension Office.  
  • Hike & Learn – Mindfulness Walk – September 25th @ 1:00 – Grayson Sports Park
  • The Extension Office is currently offering free hay testing through the East KY Hay Contest.   If you are interested, please call 474-6686 to schedule your appointment prior to October 1.   Participants will receive a free nutrient analysis of their hay.  
  • Little Sandy Beekeepers – October 7th @ 6:30 PM – Topic: Pesticides & Bees  

We liked Voltaire’s idea of free speech then, but what has happened to it?

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“I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”     

            Long attributed to Voltaire, the great French writer and philosopher, this inspiring endorsement of freedom of speech actually was written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall in a book about him which was published in 1906.

However, historians agree that the quote accurately reflects Voltaire’s philosophical views on free speech despite the fact that Ms. Hall wrote it 128 years after his death.

That famous quote caught my attention as a young journalism student at Marshall University because it says we should protect the right to speak or publish even unpopular opinions. To me, then and now, it underscores the importance of free expression, even for those with whom one disagrees, as a cornerstone of a free society. 

            It is believed by many that Voltaire’s views on religious tolerance, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state were major influences in what our forefathers wrote into the U.S. constitution and especially the Bill of Rights.

            The founders of the United States of America felt so strongly about guaranteeing the right of free speech that they made it part of the First Amendment which also includes press freedom.

            I feel compelled to note that both of these liberties related to freedom of expression apparently were higher priorities at the time than the right to bear arms which is a guarantee of the Second Amendment.

             I’m not saying the Second Amendment or any of the other eight are not as important as the first, but our nation today is witnessing individuals being killed, stalked, threatened or fired from their jobs because of what they are saying or writing in public forums.

            Did someone hit the “delete” button on free speech in America and not tell the rest of us?

In closing, I am sharing my favorite anecdote from Voltaire’s life because it also relates to today’s turmoil and should be food for thought. As he lay dying, a Catholic priest reportedly asked him to renounce Satan.

Voltaire’s response: “This is no time to be making enemies.” 

Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.

Firebrick Lake Project Day

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Join Olive Hill Trail Town this Saturday for an introduction to the Firebrick Lake Park project. Bring your bike, ride your horse, or hike the trails to discover what Olive Hill Trail Town has been developing for the community and trail seekers.

The trails at the Firebrick Family Lake Recreation Park can help connect our community to nature, local history, and each other. Regular maintenance prevents erosion, clears obstacles, and makes the paths welcoming for families, hikers, and cyclists year‑round. Your time and tools will directly improve safety and enjoyment for everyone who uses the trail.

Volunteers of all skill levels are invited to help keep Olive Hill’s trails safe, accessible, and beautiful. We’ll meet Saturday, September 27, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at CR‑1357 in Olive Hill, KY (near the Trailhead parking area). Lunch will be provided immediately after the work session; please bring a chair for lunch, drinks, work gloves if you have them, sturdy shoes and weather‑appropriate clothing, along with any tools that could help clear brush and limbs. (Tree trimmers, handsaws, loppers, pruners, etc.)

Schedule:

9 a.m. — either enjoy the trails or join the volunteer team to help maintain trails;

9:15 – 11:45 a.m. — trail maintenance (clearing brush, trimming overgrowth, minor repairs);

Noon — lunch and community celebration;

12:30 p.m. — NICA Bike Demo & Presentation by D.I.R.T.

D.I.R.T., a Trail Building group, and the Perry County Pathfinders will bring mountain bikes from the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) for attendees to test‑ride and learn more about youth mountain biking programs. NICA, founded in 2009 as a high‑school race league and now active nationwide, builds strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling. Volunteers are invited to attend a brief presentation on NICA’s mission and programs like GRiT and Teen Trail Corps, which empower students through advocacy and stewardship.

No registration is required—just show up with your gear and enthusiasm. Groups and organizations are welcome; all ages may participate, though volunteers under 16 should be accompanied by an adult. For questions or to let us know you’re coming, contact Olive Hill Trail Town Executive Director Jesse Oney at oney.jesse@olivehilltrailtown.com or (606) 255‑0483.

Grayson passes special vehicle ordinance

Grayson Mayor Troy Combs. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Charles Romans

Carter County Times

Kentucky SB 63, which was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly and took effect on June 27 of this year, permits counties and cities to pass ordinances which allow or restrict the operation of special purpose vehicles in their jurisdictions. According to the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO), special purpose vehicles include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), minitrucks, pneumatic-tired military vehicles, and full-size special purpose-built vehicles. Low-speed vehicles as defined in KRS 186.010 are not included in SB 63.

When passing ordinances such as this, local governments typically mirror the language, including permissions and restrictions, used by the state. However, as in this case, those local governments have the freedom to restrict or permit these vehicles to certain areas and impose additional safety regulations if they choose.

Carter County has already passed an ordinance allowing these vehicles on county roads, and cities like Olive Hill and Grayson are establishing their own independent ordinances. The City of Grayson held the first reading of their ordinance regulating these vehicles at their scheduled meeting for the month of September, on September 9. They then passed that ordinance in a special called meeting on Monday, September 22.

Grayson Mayor Troy Combs said that he sees several benefits to the ordinance allowing the special purpose vehicles on city streets.

“These vehicles are smaller than the average car,” Combs said. “So, they are more mobile. City streets often become congested, and I think people like to have the option, especially during events and parades, so they can access parking and drive through town easier.”

Combs also said another benefit of these smaller and more agile vehicles would apply directly to older residents of the city who might appreciate the freedom of mobility they allow, including greater participation in city-wide events.

“These types of customized vehicles provide these residents with a level of accessibility that I see as a benefit,” Combs said.

Mayor Combs said that some detractors might see the passage of the ordinance as allowing these vehicles free reign to go anywhere with no restrictions, but that would not be the case.

“They (SPV’s) have to observe all of the same laws as any other vehicle that is legally on the road,” Combs said. “They have to pass the standard requirements for lights, tags, registration, and seatbelts. If you don’t have these things, you won’t be allowed to operate them.”

Morgan May, the Owner of Dirt Slingers Offroad Park, is one of the business owners who supported the passage of the ordinance.

“I see it as a positive thing,” May said. “A lot of people enjoy using these vehicles both for entertainment and for doing work around their properties. And if someone is out on their vehicle and wants to get a bite to eat or something to drink, they don’t want to have to drive home, get in their car or truck, then drive back into the city.”

People who use these special purpose vehicles, May said, really enjoy the freedom of operation and would definitely frequent more city businesses while they were out driving if they were allowed on city streets.

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

Pet of the Week: Meet Brody

Brody is a male boxer mix, around two-years-old. He’s very friendly, loves attention, and is good with other dogs. Brody also knows a few basic commands. His $100 adoption fee includes rabies vaccination and being neutered. Stop by the Carter County Animal Shelter and meet this good boy, or call 475-9771 for more information.

Shelter hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.

Joyful Noise: Be the light

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By Pastor Naomi Mitchell

For Carter County Times

“I’m going to light you today,” said the match to the candle.

“Light me?” the candle whispered afraid. “If you do that I’ll start to die. I’ll slowly burn away, and it will hurt.” 

The match paused for a moment then gently replied, “You’re right, burning hurts and yes it will cost you. But tell me something, what’s the point of being a candle if you never shine? Do you really want to spend your whole life like this? Cold, hard, untouched, but never having lit up anyone’s darkness?”

The candle looked down, “Then you’ll burnout, too,” it said softly.

“I know” the match answered with a fading smile, “my flame is small my time is short but if I can pass it on to you then I’ll have done what I was made for. I was born to start the fire you were born to carry it, to shine, to bring warmth to be a light in the dark.”

The candle trembled, afraid, but something inside her flickered. She looked at the match whose flame was almost gone and said, “OK light me,” and in that moment a beautiful flame came to life right there and even though both knew it wouldn’t last forever, for the first time it was worth burning.

Sometimes in life you must walk through fire. It’s painful, it changes you, but only through the burning do we discover what we’re really made of. Only then do we shine. Remember the fire that transforms you doesn’t destroy you. It ignites you and love is the flame that gives us purpose. You are not on fire to break; you’re on fire to become.

Being the “light” in the Bible symbolizes living in a way that reflects God’s goodness, truth, and love, guiding others out of darkness and into His presence.

In the Bible, light is a powerful metaphor representing goodness, truth, and the presence of God, while darkness symbolizes sin, ignorance, and separation from Him. The concept of being “light” is rooted in various scriptures, including:

Ephesians 5:8: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” This verse emphasizes that believers are called to embody the light of Christ in their lives.

Matthew 5:14-16: Jesus states, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This passage highlights the responsibility of Christians to reflect God’s light through their actions.

Living as “light” means to live intentionally and purposefully, demonstrating kindness, compassion, and truth in daily interactions.

We should reflect God’s love by showing love and kindness to others, treating them as you would like to be treated. This reflects the character of God and draws others to Him. Actively participate in good deeds that glorify God. This can include helping those in need, sharing your faith, and being a source of hope and encouragement. Uphold biblical truths in your life, making choices that align with God’s Word, even when faced with societal pressures. Use your experiences and faith to help others navigate their spiritual journeys, illuminating their paths with the truth of the Gospel.

Amen! So be it!

JOYFUL House of Prayer, 2519 Quicksand Road, (P.O. Box 856), Jackson, Kentucky 41339. Send Comments/Prayer Requests: Pastornaomi4god@gmail.com. FB: JoyfulHoprayer. Services: 10am Sunday and Joyful Kids Class at 10:30am, 6:30pm Thursdays. Radio Broadcast: WJSN 97.3 FM & WEKG 81.0 AM Sundays 1-2pm.

We need calm, compelling voices from the middle

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By Al Cross

Northern Kentucky Tribune

I got a surprise phone call last week from the other side of the world, where an American expatriate was worried about the future of his country in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination. We agreed that the dis-United States of America needs calming voices who can command attention — a tall order in a media landscape that is dominated by sources that are provocative, inflammatory and often false. All of us need to help change that.

American public discourse is now driven by opinion, not by facts, largely because of social-media platforms that favor opinion and use secret algorithms that promote the most provocative views to compete in the new “attention economy.” The decline of the traditional news business reflects the reality that the market for fact has shrunk while the market for opinion has grown. Americans prefer to be entertained, and have their views confirmed, than be informed — especially by facts that might conflict with those views.

So, what can we agree on? I would like to think that virtually all Americans agree that political violence is never justified, and that the vast majority of us would probably say likewise about speech that advocates political violence. There are laws against such things.

What, then, about speech that celebrates political violence, even a crime that results in death? That sort of speech, however repugnant, has been protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. But now people are getting fired for callous things they said about Charlie Kirk’s death, and President Trump and his top lieutenants are using the assassination to more deeply demonize and outright threaten their political opponents.

“Mourn him respectfully or suffer the consequences,” as the Reuters news service described the approach. Ironically, Kirk, who had plenty of controversial views, was lauded most as a champion of free speech; now his friends and allies are using his death to suppress speech — and maybe more.

“There is no civility in the celebration of political assassination,” Vice President JD Vance said Monday, alleging “leftist” funding of “terrorist sympathizers” and urging his audience to call employers of those who’ve made comments they find objectionable.

Trump said without evidence, “We have some pretty radical groups and they got away with murder.” Lexington businessman Nate Morris, who began his Senate campaign with a Kirk-hosted rally and wants Trump’s endorsement, was on the same page, telling Breitbart News that the “radical left has blood on their hands.”

Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, said the government will use its power to take liberal groups’ money and power “and, if you’ve broken the law, to take away your freedom.” Miller recently said that the Democratic Party is not a political party but “a domestic extremist organization . . . exclusively dedicated to protecting terrorists, criminals, gang-bangers and murderers.” 

That’s ridiculous, but it sets the stage for the government to go after the opposing party, and that’s the sort of thing my expatriate friend and I worry about. Trump clearly revels in the exercise of power, and has indicated no interest in using the power of his office to cool the conversation, as Utah Gov. Spencer Cox tried to do. But some Republicans wish Trump would.

On KET’s “Kentucky Tonight” Monday night, Kentucky Republican strategist Amy Wickliffe said political leaders, from the White House on down, need to call for “taking the rhetoric down.” She acknowledged that’s “really hard” to do with “people in your sphere,” but “Where we go from here, it’s on us. It’s on all of us.”

The maxim, “All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men and women to do nothing,” is not as operative as it was in the old media environment, when extreme voices had little access to mass audiences. Now, the extremes are amplified in huge echo chambers, and many Americans in the middle have dropped out of the toxic talk. The fact that flags went to half-staff for the death of a political activist who was unknown to many if not most Americans shows how our political tribes live in different realities.

Perhaps the best place for good women and men to do something about the current crisis is not on social media, but face to face, one on one and in small groups — where there is at least a modicum of trust and respect.

Cox, the Utah governor, said we should “log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community.” At a local philanthropic event in my hometown of Albany last weekend, I told a friend that everyone has a civic responsibility to improve the community where they live. Now, technology has made us part of a national community that needs improving, and we all have a role to play.

This column is republished from the Northern Kentucky Tribune, a nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism.

Utilities, shoes, and the Goose

Dorothy Spillman, a volunteer with Shoes4Kids, washes a child’s feet before placing new socks and shoes on them, during an event at Olive Hill Elementary School. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

Grayson City Council heard from the Shoes 4 Kids organization at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 9. The organization is a community outreach that provides new shoes for school children in several counties, including Carter County. The outreach began through Oak Street Chapel in Flatwoods, and has spread to answer the needs of school children across the region. Each child the organization helps receives a new pair of ‘name brand’ shoes and a pair of socks.

The Shoes 4 Kids program has been running for around four years and has helped hundreds of school-aged children.

“We started out about four years ago,” Barb Litteral told the council.

Shoes 4 Kids helped nearly five hundred children in Greenup County in the first two years, then added Boyd County the following year and increased their numbers to seven hundred children helped. The average cost per pair, Litteral said, was about forty dollars.

“Last year was our fourth year and we expanded into Carter County,” Litteral said. “And we provided over twelve hundred pairs of shoes last year.”

Litteral told the council that all of the money used to purchase the shoe was from donations and fundraisers like the Riverbend Golf Scramble in Greenup. The organization also sells lunches at the church once a month.

“We also accept donations from other churches and local businesses,” Litteral said. “Because that’s what it takes.”

Litteral told the council that Kentucky was sixth in the nation for childhood poverty.

“And of the four counties that we serve – we also added Lawrence County – Carter County has the highest childhood poverty rate of all those four counties. Last year we provided 303 pairs of shoes in Carter County,” Litteral told the council. “At forty dollars per pair, that is a lot of money. But all of these children deserve to go to school in new shoes.”

In other business, the council heard from Grayson Tourism director Lana Axtell, who told the council that tourism was gearing up for this year’s Octoberfest on October 25.

“It looks like it is going to be the largest one we have ever had,” Axtell told the council. “A lot of the churches have partnered with us, so we are going to be able to make it even larger. There are going to be about 200 to 250 pumpkins painted by kids on the stairs down by the merchant’s lot. And if anyone wants to add to that or volunteer, we are always looking for help,” she said.

Axtell also reported that the Blue Goose Building will be decommissioned on September 22.

“There are twenty days in that contract,” Axtell told the council. “But it will probably be less than that.”

Grayson Utilities director Gerald Haney reported that the recent water project had been completed, and now the final paving would be taking place and be finished by the end of September. Haney also addressed the council concerning the need to raise the price on new water taps in the city.

“We currently charge $600 for a three quarter-inch water tap,” Haney said. “And the parts alone are $1,000.”

Haney told the council that when the utilities go outside the city limits where the pressure on the lines if higher, then an additional cost for additional parts is accrued.

“This adds an extra $400 to the overall cost,” he said.

With those kinds of costs, he said, the utility just isn’t recouping their expenses on materials.

“I feel like our tap fees are relatively low compared to everyone else’s,” Haney told the council. “On gas we normally charge $250 for a residential meter, but those parts are about $600.”

He said that he’d like the city to address those costs concerns by passing a  new utility tap ordinance.

“What I’m proposing is to put all the taps into one ordinance. And also, the CPI (consumer price index),” he said.

The adjustment for the CPI is no greater than three percent and no less than one percent, Haney told the council. The proposed changes would create a flat $1,500 water tap fee for new taps on regular pressure lines and $2,000.00 for areas requiring a pressure reduction valve. The council voted to approve the first reading of this ordinance.

In other business council approved the first reading of an ordinance concerning the operation of special purpose vehicles on city streets.

Council moved to approve the water tap fee and the special purpose vehicle ordinances in a special session Monday afternoon, September 22.

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

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