20 years ago

(Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, 1991)

Six new members were appointed, Tuesday, to the Paintsville-Prestonsburg Airport Board, and they immediately became the defendants in a lawsuit. The new members, three from Prestonsburg and three from Paintsville, were appointed Tuesday at Combs Field by Mayors Ann Latta and John David Preston. They include Ted Nairn, Sam Isbell, Dr. David White, Scott Perry, J.K. Wells and Mike Schmitt….The Christmas season in downtown Prestonsburg will take on a decidedly different look this year if plans for a Main Street Expo come together. Main Street program manager Henry Mayo told City Council members, Monday evening, that the Expo was “the beginning of a whole new focus” for downtown and that the hoped-for results would be a “revitalization” of the city’s central business district…An outbreak of hepatitis in two areas of Floyd County appears to be under control, said Floyd County Health Department director Earl Compton. The community of Dwale, near Allen, has had the most cases reported, approximately 20. Several cases have been reported in the Wheelwright area which prompted questions about the sanitary condition of the city’s water supply, said Audrey Yates, business manager for the Wheelwright Utility Commission…Two adults and one juvenile were arrested, Monday, in connection with a four-county theft ring, Floyd County Chief Deputy Linzie Hunt said Tuesday. Alvin “Tiger” Branham, 20, of Auxier, was charged with theft by unlawful taking for allegedly taking a dirt bike belonging to Lorrie Slone of David. The motorcycle was recovered by the sheriff’s department…Governor Wallace Wilkinson is expected to declare an emergency in the eastern half of the state, today, due to an outbreak of forest fires. National Guardsmen are expected to be activated to the area once the order is signed, said a governor’s spokesperson, Tuesday. Floyd County Judge-Executive John M. Stumbo and Prestonsburg Mayor Ann Latta declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon, and have banned any burning in the county or city….Auxier Fire Department and Allen Park were recipients of state grants last week totaling $81,703.97. A $71,703.97 grant from the state’s Area Development Fund was awarded to Floyd County for improvements at the Allen park golf course and to pave the walking track. The Big Sandy Area Development District board of directors recommended the project to the department…Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brereton Jones grabbed the lion’s share of ballots cast in a six-day mock election held at A.J.’s Market at Allen, grabbing 72 percent of the votes cast in that race. In a battle of local interest, Paul Burchett breezed past Harold Stumbo in a non-partisan race of Floyd Circuit Judge. Burchett drew 54 percent of the ballots cast to Stumbo’s 36 percent…In the general election on November 5, 11 candidates are running for the eight seats on the Prestonsburg city council…Two Floyd County men were injured in two separate shooting incidents Wednesday, at Drift and Teaberry. Anthony N. Allen II, 18, of Drift was shot one time in the face after he allegedly threw corn at a vehicle near Drift at approximately 9:30, Wednesday night, according to a state police report. The motorist stopped and fired several shots into the area with one shot striking Allen in the face. A sprinkling of local flavor is expected to spice up next Tuesday’s general election ballot in Floyd County, where a race for circuit judge, and contests for seats on two city councils should pique voter interest…Floyd Countians will be going to the polls Tuesday, November 5 to cast their votes for candidates seeking the state’s highest offices and for candidates hoping for a place on local city councils. Floyd County schools will be in session Tuesday, said County Court Clerk Carla Boyd…Prestonsburg was inducted Thursday into Kentucky’s Certified Cities Hall of Fame, signifying recognition from the state Chamber of Commerce for the city’s continuing effort toward development. The award was presented at a luncheon, Thursday, in Frankfort, and culminates a six-year project by city leaders to qualify for the state Chamber’s certification program…The windshield of a Floyd County school bus carrying about 50 students was broken, Tuesday afternoon, by someone throwing rocks from a passing vehicle. Floyd transportation director Earl Ousley, said Thursday, that a bus traveling near Lancer was hit by rocks thrown from a passing vehicle. The incident occurred near the site of a 1958 bus crash that claimed the lives of 27 students…There died: Maegolda Ramey Johnson, 70, of Hueysville, Tuesday, at the Hazard Appalachian Regional Medical Center; Anne Katherine Stephens, 75, of Lawrenceburg, formerly of Floyd County, October 26, at King’s Daughters’ Memorial Hospital; Preston Tackett, 71, of Pike County, Monday, at his residence; Lula Harris, 88, of Prestonsburg, Monday, at the Highlands Regional Medical Center; Maudie Gayheart Martin, 89, of Eastern, Sunday, at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home; Norman Ward, 77, of Prestonsburg, Thursday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Rina Mae Wallen, 73, of Water Gap, Monday, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington; Ben Crum Jr., 73, Monday, in Wayne, W. Va.; Delmar “Del” Lafferty, 49, of 80 Penry Road, Thursday, at his residence; Glima Hughes Allen, 77, of Mt. Dora, Fl., formerly of Pikeville, Friday, at The Flordia South Hospital in Orlando, Fla.; Henry P. Hall, 59, of Warsaw, In., formerly of Floyd County, Saturday, at the Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw; David A. Wyatt, 52, of Ypsilanti, Mich., Thursday, at the Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington; John Douglas Hardwick, 45, of Thoreau, New Mexico, formerly of Betsy Layne, Saturday, at his residence; Phillip Jenkins, 77, of Myrtle Beach, N.C., Monday, at Bowman Gray Hospital in Winston Salem, N.C.; Alice Wright, 78, of Drift, Tuesday, at the Highlands Regional Medical Center; Willard Adkins, 75, of Allen, Monday, at the Highlands Regional Medical Center.

30 years ago

(Nov. 4, 1981)

The City of Prestonsburg and its Utilities Commission have a “paying” gas well to supplement their supply of natural gas…Prestonsburg and Martin Councils chosen in Tepid Election as votes reject succession 2 to 1…Inspector, Larry Adams, says building is unsafe for juveniles but officials are enthusiastic that the facility may return to use within the next few weeks…After a two-day trial U.S. District Court jury found four Floyd County men guilty of taking part in a plan to steal dynamite…There died: Bill Newsome, 62, of Ligon, died Thursday, following an extended illness…Imalee W. Spillman, 65, died Sunday at Glen Lodge Nursing Home in Winchester…Cecil Newsome, 64, of Floyd County, died October 14 at his home…Darrell W. Mutter, 31, of Harlingen, Texas, formerly of Floyd County, died Friday in Harlingen…Herman Likens, 47, of Wadsworth, Oh., died suddenly Saturday at the Wadsworth Rittman Hospital…Ollie Whitaker Handy, 78, Hueysville, Friday at Our Lady of The Way following a brief illness…Ernest Lee, 68, Stone Coal, Wednesday, October 21, in New York…Essie Johnson, 81, of Wheelwright, died October 25, at the Knott County Health Care Center in Hindman…Bonnie B. Holt, 52, of Ashtabula, Oh., formerly of Floyd County, died Saturday, at the Ashtabula General Hospital.

40 years ago

(Nov. 4, 1971)

Prestonsburg, last Saturday, may have had its greatest crowd ever when Floyd Countians of all ages, with a sprinkling of visitors, gathered for the second annual Salute to America…The Betsy Layne school’s lunchroom was destroyed by fire, Friday night, with all its contents, and pupils have been notified by Gene D. Davis, principal, that the school will be unable to provide lunches…In Tuesday’s election, Floyd County gave Lieut. Gov. Wendell H. Ford, Democrat, a majority of 4,357 in his race for Governor over Tom Emberton, Republican. In town of Martin’s election, Mayor E.P. Grigsby was re-elected, polling 186 votes to 121 for his opponent, Steve Stout…Bill Petrey, of Prestonsburg, is Kentucky’s Forest Conservationist for the year 1971, it was announced in Frankfort early last week…The Blackcats of Prestonsburg High School will wind up their 1971 football campaign here Friday night against their traditional foes, the Paintsville Tigers…Russell May, Prestonsburg artist, was a guest speaker at an artists’ retreat held recently at Rough River State Park…There died: Jack Frost Wells, former basketball coach here, Monday, at the Methodist Hospital, Pikeville; Eula Mae Hall, 45, of Hi Hat, Tuesday, at a Martin hospital; Sherita Jean Harless, three-year-old daughter of James M. and Sandra Kay Morrison Harless, of Columbus, O., in a hospital there, October 21; Vesta B. Phillips, 62, of Harold’s Branch near Pikeville, Saturday, at Methodist Hospital; Carl C. Jones, 49, of Grethel, Friday, at the McDowell Hospital; Edra Walker, 58, of Wittensville, Saturday; Lewis E. Hall, 21, of Sturgis, Mich., formerly of Wayland, Saturday, in an auto collision near LaGrange, Ind.; William (Bill) Fitzpatrick, 62, of West Prestonsburg, Tuesday, at Prestonsburg General Hospital; Estill Newsome, 67, of Pikeville, last Tuesday, at the McDowell Hospital; Della M. Hamilton, 71, of Teaberry, Friday in a Martin hospital; Malinda Lafferty, 87, of Water Gap, Sunday, at Prestonsburg General Hospital; Jack Boyd, 72, of Dana, Wednesday, at the home at Dana of his daughter; Fred Luxmore, 82, of Price, last Thursday, at the McDowell Hospital.

50 years ago

(Nov. 2, 1961)

The Governor’s Commission on Public Higher Education in its report Friday, to Gov. Combs, recommended the establishing of at least three new regional colleges in the state—and to Prestonsburg was given No. 1 priority for such an institution…Governor Bert T. Combs and a staff of 19 “set up shop’’ in the Department of Economic Security building here last Thursday, as part of a program of “taking state government to the people.” The governor said $7 million will be spent on the Floyd County section of the Campton-to Prestonsburg highway…An affirmative vote, Nov. 7 on the proposed species library tax will be worth $113,000 to Floyd County, according to information released by the Library Extension Division in Frankfort; the proposed tax is drawing the united effort of schools and others interested in keeping the library and bookmobiles in the county…There died: M. C. Johnson, 65, native of this county, in Huntington, WV, on October 13; Harry W. Hatcher, 77, at Ashland, Oct. 21; Hatler Newman, 46, of Hi Hat; John Hall, 68, at his home at Van Lear, October 16; Maude Alice Daniels, 68, of Garrett, at Our Lady of the Way Hospital; Joe R. Allen, 66, formerly of Martin, at Little Rock, Ark.; Susie Ritchie, 63, of Wayland, at Beaver Valley Hospital.

60 years ago

(Nov. 1, 1951)

Governor Lawrence Wetherby will give a courthouse address here, Friday, in his campaign for governor; he is opposed by Eugene Siler, Republican candidate. For all that, the observer looking for real election interest, had to go to towns such as Prestonsburg and Martin, where local races had blood pressures mounting…Prestonsburg will get new metal street markers and some streets will get new names, following a city council decision. Broadway (the Mayo Trail) will be named “Lake Drive,” for Dewey Lake, to draw the attention of tourists and sportsmen; Second Avenue will be Arnold Avenue, named for E.P. Arnold, for years mayor and police judge here; First Avenue will be named Davidson Avenue…For the second year in a row, the Prestonsburg Black Cats have been invited to play in the Recreation Bowl grid classic at Mt. Sterling. Of 149 cases docketed for trial in circuit court here, 35 are for child desertion, and offense described as one of the most prevalent in this section…There died: Fanny Halbert Stumbo, 79, of McDowell, after being struck by a auto near her home; and B.F. (Frank) Stamper, 86, resident of the Prestonsburg and Beaver Creek sections, at Our Lady of the Way Hospital, Martin.