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The Bath Coun
This award-winning newspaper is invited into homes in Bath, Rowan, Montgomer3; Menifee, Nicholas, and Fleming Counties
19 Your Hometown Newspaper (045260) (606)674-2181 FAX (606)674-9994 ]
2003 P.O. Box 577, Owingsville, KY 40360
swesr$--Vearl Pennington, center, newly-elected school board member
and a former board member, takes the oath Wednesday night at the regular board
Jng. At left is Bath County Schools Superintendent Nancy Hutchinson, and at right is Gail
central office secretary. Pennington was elected to the post in the November 4 gen-
election.
serviceman trades in combat gear to fight
Montana Fish Creek Complex fires
By Jim Hughes
Mont.--When
of two area residents
word that he needed to
up immediately deploy to
American lives and
in a hostile environ-
the soldier was not sur-
when Army Staff Sgt.
W. Garrett, son of John W.
Sr., Sugargrove Lane,
:sville, "and Darlene
E. 8th St,, Paris, trad-
his assault rifle, bullet-
and desert camou-
uniforms for an axe, a
bright yellow fireproof
and an all-expense
trip to Montana, he was a
back.
' Nature's volatile mix
iAugust 9 lightning strike,
Winds and 90-plus degree
resulted in the
Creek Complex fires--
separate fires in an area
30 miles west of south-
city. When the
started to get out of hand
residents in the woods
asked to evacuate, the
Interagency Fire
called in the cavalry--
than 500 members of
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas.
a crash course in fight-
keeping safe out on
sites, the field artillery
chief spent three weeks
hter, working to keep
om spreading.
was quick, but
to the point," said the
graduate of Bourbon
High School. "Once we
going out to the fires, we
mostly assigned to mop-
gging trenches,
out hot spots and cutting
trees--to keep the fires
to other areas."
The soldier joined a group of
about 700 civilian firefighters in
a rancher's pasture that served
as the home camp for this out-
of-the-norm version of
Homeland Defense. The sol-
diers slept in two-man tents,
worked long hours and worded
little about off-duty activities
since they didn't have much
down time.
While living in a tend in the
middle of a
field isn't that
much different
of an experi-
ence for
Garrett, trudg-
ing through
mountainous
terrain, swing-
ing an axe and
chain sawing
trees made for
a unique depar-
ture from his
normal soldier-
ing.
"As a how-
itzer section
chief, I manage
the actions of
six soldiers,"
he said. "It's
our job to up
put artillery
fire into the
enemy. We
help eliminate
threats to the infantry units and
also help them achieve their
objectives."
The Fish Creek Complex
fires raged through 35,623 acres
of the Lolo National Forest.
When the soldiers pulled out in
mid September, the fire was 75
percent contained and was total-
ly contained by late September.
And the local populace
expressed their appreciation for
the soldiers' efforts throughout
the operation. School children
sold their bicycles to buy care
packages, people sent baked
goods, and store owners and
people on the street had nothing
but good things to say about the
work the soldiers were doing
and their professionalism while
out on the town during their
scarce days off.
"I feel great about helping
these people out," he said. "We
are soldiers and, as soldiers, it is
Army Staff Sgt. John W. Garrett, of Bath
County, readies his axe for battle before heading
out to the fire lines in the Loto National Forest in
Montana recently. Garrett, a field artillery section
chief, spent three weeks fighting the 35,623-acre
Fish Creek Complex fires. (Photo by Gregory
Kobashigawa)
our duty to protect the country,
whether that is by facing down
an armed enemy or keeping out
fellow citizens safe from fire."
While Garrett and his fellow
soldiers were a little surprised
to find themselves battling
Mother Nature in a forest rather
than terrorists in a desert, they
know they the work they did
was just as important. These
soldiers fought to protect their
fellow countrymen and they
prevailed.
............ e
Elementary Consolidation Committee gives four options
regarding future of 5th-grade move to elementary level
By Kirby Haskins
News-Outlook staff writer
With a good crowd on hand,
the Bath County Board of edcu-
ation swore in newly-elected
board member Vearl
Pennington, on a night where
the future of Bath County's 5th-
grade was under scrutiny once
again.
During the board's September
24 meeting, board members
approved the creation of yet
another committee to look into
the possibility of relocating of
the county's 5th-grade classes.
The board requested this panel
submit options if such a move
was warranted.
This panel of 16, known as the
Elementary Consolidation
Committee, consists of parents,
teachers and faculty members
throughout the school district.
Members of committee were in
attendance Wednesday night to
present their findings to the
board.
James Mitchell, spokesperson
for. the group, addressed the
board and informed them that
after extensive research into the
matter, the committee lound
overwhelming support for the
relocation of the 5th-grade back
to the local elementary schools.
Mitchell then presented four
options to the board regarding
the proposed relocation. These
options were designed Io pro-
vide room for 5th-grade classes,
prevent overcrowding at BCMS
as well as OES, while maintain-
ing consistent enrollment at the
county's other elementary'
schools.
The first option would allow
current fourth graders to remain
at their current elementary
schools as upcoming 5th-
graders. This option also calls
for an expansion of OES.
The expansion would involve
the addition of six classrooms at
OES, addition of needed desks
and chairs, the hiring of an
assistant principal, and transfer-
ring one cook from Bath County
Middle School to OES.
The second option discussed,
called for drawing and enforc-
ing district lines to ensure
Bethel Elementary School, and
Salt Lick Elementary, have
enrollments of approximately
200 students, therefore, elimi-
nating overcrowding at OES.
When district lines are drawn,
some students may need to be
transferred from OES to either
BES or SLE.
The committee's third option
calls tot a renovation of the
annex building (located
between the middle school and
Board of Education). Alter the
renovation, OES preschool stu-
dents would be relocated to the
site.
The final option was the cre-
ation of a new elementary
school. Once a school is con-
structed OES enrollment will
need to be divided between OES
and the new facility. A principal
and other staff would have to be
hired as well.
Regardless of which option is
chosen, an itinerate art teacher
will be needed tbr all elemen-
tary schools, as well as a music
teacher for BES and SLE.
After the presentation, Board
chairperson Sandy Crouch
informed Mitchell the commit-
tee's options would b under
consideration.
Later in the evening a few
audience members expressed
their views on the 5th-grade
issue and desire for a legitimate
solution.
Tinker Ray voiced his concern
on this subject's continuous
debate.
"People have given a lot of
time and effort to this. I don't
want to see us have to form
another committee," he said.
Gayle Crouch agreed, "I don't
want this put off again and then
say we can't do it because its too
late."
Board member Pennington
reminded members of the com-
mittee and audience, the board
must have sufficient time to
look over the proposed options.
"It (a decision) couldn't be
done responsibly without all the
hard work you all did. But we
can't make such a decision
tonight," Pennington said.
Mike Ray who was also in
attendance later commented, "I
assure you no one wants you to
make an irresponsible decision.
But it seems like we are spin-
ning our wheels and there is no
direction."
No action was taken on this
matter during the evening. The
issue is scheduled for further
discussion at the next school
board meeting, December 23.
Earlier in the evening, OES
teacher Teresa Jordan Carpenter
was on hand to ask for approval
to seek a federal initiative grant
aimed at improving student
reading skills. This grant,
known as the Reading First
Grant, would provide $170,000
per year for six years towards an
elaborate reading program at the
school.
--Turn to ELEMENTARY,
page 16
Ministerial Assoc.
seeking help in
area food drive
The Bath County Ministerial
Association is urging area citi-
zens to take part in a canned
food drive Sunday, Dec. 7.
2(X13.
The BCMA in cooperation
with the Angel Tree Christmas
Project, is seeking canned
items such as fruits and vegeta-
bles, as well as dry goods, tis-
sues, and toilet paper.
Monetary donations will aslo
be accepted. All items collect-
ed during this drive will be dis-
tributed to needy families
throughout Bath County dur-
ing the holiday season.
Anyone wishing to donate
items to the food drive is urged
to take their donations to their
local church or the
Owingsville Christian Church
on Dec. 7 between 12 and 10
p.m.
Holidays are upon us...
Saturday annual Chamber of Commerce
Christmas Parade in Owingsville
The annual Christmas par-
ade, sponsored by the Owings-
ville Chamber of Commerce,
will be held Saturday,
December 6, 2003, at 6:30 p.m.
The fine-up for the parade
will be at 6 p,m, at the BCMS.
You can sign up for the parade
until 6:30 p.m.
There will be no motorcy-
cles or 4-wheelers allowed in
the parade.
Santa Claus will try to visit
the open houses in town,
including Miller Furniture, the
Bath County Memorial Library
and the florist shops.
The Owingsville Banking
Company will have its open
house that day, at the new OBC
branch in Miller Plaza.
Also, the Christmas tree
lighting will be judged some-
time before Thursday, Dec-
ember 11, with the results
being published in the News.
Outlook in the December 24th
edition.
The Owingsville Woman's
Club will judge the outside
decorations only, of each home
chosen by the club.
pilot Kevin Stewart, found a skill he loves and
to make a carreer out of it flying various types of
for hire. Stewart is the son of Terry Stewart of
Professional pilot, Kevin Stewart, recognized his passion
for flying and ultimately turned it into a successful career
By Kirby Haskins "Flying is so peaceful. There's Stewart followed his calling to Worldwide Equipment
News-Outlook staff writer no traffic. You're surrounded by
......... nothing but air and blue sky," he
of:
Eastern Kentucky University Prestonsburg, transporting the
There is an old saying, "If man
were meant to fly, God would
have given him wings."
This old adage urges us to
acknowledge our natural limita-
tions, but for airplane pilot
Kevin Stewart, the desire to
tame the sky is far too strong for
mere words to hinder.
Stewart, 32, who currently
resides in O.wingsville, has
taken his life-long passion for
flight, and molded it into a suc-
cessful and fulfilling career in
aerial surveying.
Flying is not only Stewart's
job, but his hobby and liveli-
hood as well.
explains.
Though he never really flew
until his early twenties,
Stewart's infatuation with flight
began during his childhood.
"I've always talked about fly-
ing. When 1 was little, I wanted
to fly helicopters," he says.
Stewart was 21 years-old when
he and his uncle, Burnsy
Stewart, made a tri p to the
Morehead-Rowan County
Airport. It was there he paid $15
to take 'a half hour flight. When
it was over he realized he want-
ed to pursue a career as a pilot.
"I loved it and I found out I had
a knack for it," he says.
were he took part in the school's
aviation program.
He soon learned all tricks-of-
the-trade and was eager to put
his newly-acquired talents to the
test.
Upon graduation from EKU,
Stewart began working for
companies top officials in pri-
vate jets.
It was with this company he
spent the next six years, gaining
valuable experience and fine-
tuning his skills.
--Turn to PROFESSIONAL,
Page 16
The jet that Stewart flew when he worked for Worldwide Equipment.