Ten Years Ago (June 25 and 30, 1999)

During the dry spell, workers were kept busy watering the 200 hanging baskets and scores more garden plants that decorate the city of Prestonsburg this summer

Kathy McCormick, union hospital organizer, lead workers in a spirited call for a contract from Highlands Regional Medical Center during Tuesday’s rally at the hospital

At a special meeting, yesterday, the Floyd County Fiscal Court voted to move the county’s financial accounts to First Guaranty Bank in Martin. In an attachment to the resolution, First Guaranty President and CEO Charles Johnson said the bank would waive service fees for the county, and would not charge for checks

Craig A. McGlone, a short-term Prestonsburg police officer, has filed a complaint in federal court against his former employer, claiming his civil rights have been violated. McGlone filed the action against Mayor Jerry Fannin and the City of Prestonsburg in the United States District Court in Pikeville earlier this month

In a 15-minute meeting yesterday afternoon, three members of the Floyd County Board of Education approved a contract for Alabama native Dr. Paul Fanning to be the next superintendent for the Floyd County School System

Five homes were without water service from Friday to Monday after a horse died at Warco. Other homes in the area were without water for several hours Friday after a Warco man, Byron Hansford, dug a hole to bury his neighbor’s horse and ruptured the water line

Declaring that he is “extremely optimistic,” Gov. Paul Patton told eastern Kentuckians, gathered for the summer meeting of the Kentucky Appalachian Commission (KAC), Monday, in Paintsville, that “it is up to us to take advantage of the moment.” He pointed to Floyd County in particular, as a site of opportunity. The building of the new four-laned section of KY 114, on the western edge of Prestonsburg, offers the opportunity to create flat land for industrial development, he said

The Central Kentucky Blood Center is making an appeal to residents of this area to give blood, not only to meet recurring needs, but also in anticipation of the July 4 holiday, which can bring increased need for transfusions

Starting today, Floyd County will have a new Circuit Court Clerk. Paula Layne was sworn in yesterday (Tuesday) to fill the position that has been open since April. The position became available when Frank DeRossett Jr., was appointed to the Kentucky Parole Board by Gov. Paul Patton in April

Heated debate topped the agenda for Monday night’s city council meeting in Martin. The debate stemmed from several issues brought up at the meeting, which was called to order by council member Thomasine Robinson in the absence of Mayor Alan Whicker

A Double 12 Leasing, Inc. (located at Isom), rig spilled some junked cars onto US 80 on Tuesday morning. A crew from the Kentucky Department of Transportation from the Minnie facility were called in to clean up the debris from the highway. No injuries were reported

.What was expected to be a fast-raced warm and friendly city council meeting Monday, soon slowed to a crawling heated debate. The well-being of the Mountain Arts Center became the forefront of discussion as the motion to ratify the contracts of the MAC’s Program director and interim director was placed before the City Council

In Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Floyd County Board of Education at Allen Central High School, board members got an update on athletic complexes; set a pay schedule for extra curricular salary; increased the coverage of liability insurance; and passed several items in preparation for the coming school year

.Buckle up and win cash. The Kentucky State Police Highway Safety Branch’s Buckle for Bucks Thank You Ticket Campaign kicks off in Hazard on Thursday, July 1

The James H. Drew Exposition is back in town. The carnival fun began Tuesday night and continues through Saturday, July 3, at the Archer Park in Prestonsburg

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Peppy Martin took notes as people suggest issue facing citizens in eastern Kentucky. Martin was in Allen on Monday to meet with party leaders and constituents

Wild horse and burro adoption will be held in Lexington July 31-August 1, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The adoption is conducted through the Bureau of Land Management

There died: Frank J. Jones, 67, of Wayland, Tuesday, June 22, at the Jenkins Community Hospital; Lynn Robinette Williams, 75, of Ashland, Sunday, June 20, in Fort Thomas; Georgia Ann Stambaugh, 80, of Prestonsburg, formerly of Sitka, Wednesday, June 23, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Eli Milton Schoolcraft, 79, of Prestonsburg, Saturday, June 26, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Charles Jarrell, 56, of Center Line, Michigan, formerly of Dana, Sunday, June 20, at his residence; Pauline Nunemaker Salisbury, 69, of Martin, Wednesday, June 23, in the Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington; Minnie Akers, 79, of Dana, Saturday, June 26, at her residence; Pauline Daniels, 64, of Beaver, Friday, June 25, at her residence.

Twenty Years Ago (June 28, 1989)

Nearly $100,000 was spent by two candidates for county attorney during the primary election, and over half that amount was the personal expenditure of one man, Jim Hammond, who won the race

Four area hospitals ranked in the top 10 on a recently compiled list of hospitals with high percentages of pregnant women delivering babies by Cesarean section

Prestonsburg City Council spent more than $75,000 on vehicles and equipment, and sent another purchase request that will total more than $40,000 back into committee, during two-and-a-half hours of deliberation, Monday evening

Shade Pitts, 43, of Arkansas Creek, was electrocuted at Kentucky Mountain Reserve No. 2 mine at Gunlock

The Prestonsburg Holding Corp. voted, Monday evening, to accept the city’s real property holdings, following a move by the council to convey the buildings to the corporation

Two Floyd men say they spotted a bear, Monday, near the Dewey Dam spillway at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park

There died: Mary Bailey, 38, of Dana, June 23, at her residence; Joyce C. Lowe Boggs, 48, of Leitchfield, June 24, in Leitchfield; Gertrude Collins, 72, of East Point, June 12, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington; Claude R. Huff, 78, of St. Mary’s Ohio, Monday, June 26, at the McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Wayne Patton, 70, of McDowell, June 25, at his residence; Shade Randall Pitts, 43, of Arkansas Creek at Martin, June 23, at Gunlock; Lula May Webb, 94, of Langley, June 21, at Highlands Regional Medical Center.

Thirty Years Ago (June 27, 1979)

Floyd County stands to gain enhanced TV services as the result of a $1.2 million loan conditionally committed by the US Department of Agriculture for construction of a microwave TV receiving and distribution system to serve this area

A circuit court jury here, last Thursday, deliberated only 10 minutes before holding Richard Scott guilty of armed robbery of the Alpike Motel

The Floyd County Board of Education hired 438 teachers last Wednesday

Cong. Carl D. Perkins will be the speaker at the dedication, Saturday morning, of Prestonsburg’s new municipal building, which cost $766,288 to complete

An animal shelter was completed and opened in Floyd County

There died: Minnie B. Tackett, 91, of Martin, at Our Lady of the Way Hospital; Elmer Hackworth, 30, of Westminster, Ohio, formerly of Blue River, in a car accident; Grace McSurley, 82, of Cow Creek, at Riverview Manor Nursing Home; Mae Vanhoose Isaac, 69, of Westland, Mich., formerly of Bypro; John M. Hall, 83, of Halo, in Lexington; Brady Colvin Sr., 70, of Weeksbury, at his home; Kathern Ann Jacobs, 28, of Garrett, at the UK Medical Center; Gertie M. Joseph, 77, of Cleveland, formerly of Emma; James Miller, 49, of Warsaw, Ind., formerly of Prestonsburg; George Tackett, 87, of Teaberry, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Virgil T. Lawson, 67, of Hi Hat, at MARH; Martha June Tackett, 86, of Weeksbury, enroute to MARH; Wendall Hughes Gibson, 47, of Larkslane, in a car accident; Grover C. Holbrook, 62, of Hueysville, at Riverview Nursing Home; Astor Bud Moore, 62, of East McDowell, at MARH; and William J. Matthews, 97, of Hi Hat, at his home.

Forty Years Ago (June 26, 1969)

The Floyd County Emergency and Rescue Squad joined, last weekend, in the search of a Great Smoky Mountains wilderness area for seven-year-old Dennis Martin, of Knoxville, Tenn., who has been missing, since June 14

The City of Prestonsburg, this week, received a check for $251,500 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, for revenue bonds issued by the city in partial financing of water system extensions and improvements here

Born: a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Lenville Ousley of Rinser; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Dye of Orkney; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Johnson of East McDowell; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Homer Isaacs Hall; twins to Mr. and Mrs. Willie Moore of Price; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Caudill of Wayland; a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Lacy Pitts of Garrett

There died: Martha Prater, 76, of Salt Lick Creek; John Nichols, 61, of Coal Run, Pike Co.; Earl Baldridge, 19, of Blue River; Mrs. Lilly Marsillett, 73, of W. Prestonsburg; James Hyden, 60, of Langley; Charlie Howell, 61, formerly of Langley; infant twins of Charles W. and Janetta Stapleton Yates of Honaker; Susan K., infant daughter of Garnise and Linda Caudill; Mrs. Lucy Rorrer Stephens, 66, formerly of Prestonsburg; Virgil Delong, 60, of East Point; Robert C. Atkins, 76, of Martin; Mrs. Nannie Garrett Dixon, 84, formerly of Emma; Darwin C. Wells, 54, of Auxier.

Fifty Years Ago (July 2, 1959)

The macabre discovery of Mrs. Virginia Salyer Cantrel’s body buried in a cedar-chest on a Johnson County farm, was made Wednesday

A young man, Ken Howard, from the “Head of Licking” was graduated from Cumberland College, at Williamsburg, with the institution’s two highest awards, although he is almost completely blind!

A Bull Creek home in the vicinity of the residence which was blasted by dynamite, June 13, was destroyed by fire Wednesday

Vance Mitter, of Oak Hill, W.Va., is new manager of A.W. Cox Dept. Store. He succeeds Pete Jarvis

A new tuberculosis program for Floyd County was given finishing touches here, last Wednesday

No community celebration of July 4, is planned here this year..There died: Jackson May Weddington, 84, of Pike County; Fair Shepherd, 86, of David; Frank Spradlin, 76 of Bonanza; Pauline Hester DeCoursey Praole, 70, formerly of Wayland; Mrs. Anna Lee Booth Wilson, 31, of Auxier; Samuel Francis Day, 85, of Pikeville; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hensley, of East Point; Jack Leslie Hatcher, 36, of Pikeville; E. D. Stephenson, 81, of Pikeville.

Sixty Years Ago (July 7, 1949)

The Ryan Construction Company expects to complete, within the next 30 days, the big construction job it began in the spring of 1946 on the dam at Dewey Lake

Eight hundred cases of beer and 16 cases of whiskey—the largest illegal haul ever taken in Pike County—were confiscated, Tuesday, by Sheriff D.C. Moore and deputies at the Club Trocadero, a night club at Damrontown, near Stone

Born: a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Kay Thornsbury of Halo; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Burt McCown of Chillicothe, O.; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Cole of Drift; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Willie Slone of Orkney; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Willie Kit Stumbo of McDowell; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Madison Collins of Minnie; twin sons to Mr. and Mrs. Owen Phillips of Garrett; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson of Eastern; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Tuttle of McDowell; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wright of Martin

There died: Claude Conley, 39, of Handshoe; Daniel Terry, 36, of Handshoe; Jack Morrison, 20, of Pike County; Perlia Lorria Hamilton, 10, of McDowell; Mrs. Mary Bingham Wills, 64, of Water Gap; James Paul, 5-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Case of Jump; Don Phillips, 3-day-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Owen Phillips of Garrett; Roger Bernard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Burchwall of Langley; Gary Lee, 5-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Mullins of Weeksbury.

Seventy Years Ago (June 29, 1939)

Kentucky wrestling fans will be given an opportunity to see a great novelty attraction in the history of the grappling game, when hairy Ivan “Whiskers” Rasputin, invades Floyd County to make a special appearance in Prestonsburg for July 4

In the upcoming governor’s race, B.L. Sturgill, former Floyd County sheriff, has been chosen as manager for John Young Brown, and Tom Kane, chief electrician of the Elkhorn Coal Corp., Wayland, will be in charge of the Keen Johnson forces in the county

Born: a son to Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Smith; a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Saunders; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Sill Brown of Gearheart; a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. William McGuire of West Prestonsburg; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Worth Music of Cliff; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wright of Allen; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Marion Wright of Allen; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Trevert Crider of Betsy Layne; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wright of Harold; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James Orville Sturgill of Auxier; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Salisbury of Hunter; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Marshall of Prestonsburg; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Ousley of Langley; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Horn of Wayland; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sparks of Wayland, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Luther Skeens of Ligon; a son to Mr. and Mrs. Edd Jervis of Endicott

There died: Robert Thacker, 77, of Lackey; John H. Daniel, 84, of Lackey; Mrs. Lucy Crisp Allen, 47, of Printer; Richard Johnson, 21, of Buckingham; Mrs. Mary Osborne, 34, of Martin; Janie E. Goble, 47, of Lancer; George Moore, 87, of McDowell; Charles Goble, 9 months old, of Wheelwright; Jonathan Hicks, 73, of Blue River; John P. Ousley, 25, of Garrett; Lindsey Dow Blackburn, 47, of Wheelwright; Anne Ward, 37, of Minnie; Letcher Green, 9, of Wayland; Susa Patton, 53, of Hueysville.