News from February 13, 2003 issue

School board approves plan to cut one counselor
BY ALLISON EVANS, The Crittenden Press

Staffing allocations for next school year were approved by the Crittenden County Board of Education Tuesday night. The plan, which was recommended by Superintendent Fredericka Hargis, calls for one administrative change at the county's three schools.

Each school currently employs a full-time guidance counselor; however, because of anticipated reductions in state funding, the positions at the elementary and middle school will be combined and served by one counselor.

A listing of proposed staff for Crittenden County Elementary school does not include an art teacher.

School systems throughout Kentucky are being forced to reduce certified staff, classified staff and some programs as a result of the state budget crisis.

Some of the positions, such as an art teacher at the elementary school, could be funded before the next school year if the state allocates additional funding.

Another cost-cutting move approved 4-1 by the board Tuesday involved the reduction in the number of personal days for all certified and classified staff, which means all school system employees will be affected.

The proposal drew opposition from board member and retired teacher Phyllis Orr.

Three years ago the board approved an increase in the number of personal days from two to three, but Tuesday night reversed that teacher benefit effective next school year.

The decision is a $30,000 cost savings.

"When times are tough you have to make tough decisions," Hargis said. "The impact is enough that it saves one teacher or three assistants."
Orr cast the only dissenting vote.

"In my campaign (for election last fall) I talked about cutting fat, but this is cutting lean," Orr said. "It will hurt the morale of employees."
Orr said she received calls Tuesday morning from teachers who had heard early about the proposal to eliminate a personal day.

"I don't want someone to lose a job becase I won't give up a personal day," Hargis said, adding that the move is one way to save funds and lessen the impact on instruction.

Carlson holds spot in 'long gray line'
BY JEANNIE BRANDSTETTER, Press Managing Editor

A familiar myth is that if it rains either on a class's first day or on its graduation day from the United States Military Academy, then the members of that class are going to war.

"It rained on the Class of 2001's graduation, and also on 2002's reception day," said Brandon Carlson, now in his third year at West Point.

"Currently, there are members from both 2001 and 2002's classes preparing for war."

He figures he's next. When Carlson was a plebe, it rained on "R-day."

"I'm sure my class will join them shortly," said Carlson, who graduated with Crittenden County High School's Class of 2000. "But I don't think a war in Iraq will require them to graduate my class early as World War I and World War II did to previous classes."

Still, he has never really regretted his decision to join "the long gray line."

"My first year at the academy was a huge wake-up call for me. In addition to being a new cadet and adjusting to Army life, I was placed in the midst of a very rigorous academic program," said Carlson, who had grown accustomed to making good grades in high school with minimal effort. "I had to work very hard in my studies. There were times my first year when I doubted my decision, but most cadets do. I always had to keep in mind that your first year by design is rough. It is a way for West Point to weed out the weaker cadets who will probably not make good soldiers one day."

Now, says Carlson, he can't imagine doing anything but pinning on lieutenant bars and taking his place in the U.S. Army after graduation.
Carlson was born in Birmingham, Ala., but his ties to Crittenden County can't be broken.

"I have lived in Crittenden County since I was four years old," he said. "My grandparents (the late T.L. and Ann Berry) are from Mattoon... most of my family still lives here."

His mother is Lee Ann Carlson. He has one brother ­ Kris, 25 ­ who lives in Murray.

"I also have an extended family in Mattoon who I grew up with ­ David and Carol LeNeave who live on Mt. Zion Church Road and their children Jamie Newman and Laurie Impastaton. When I was home for Christmas I became the godfather of Jamie's daughter Alexandra."

Carlson says his decision to apply to West Point was affected by a number of factors.

"First of all, I knew that I wanted to serve my country after high school and had planned on enlisting after graduation," he said. "Secondly, I knew I wanted to move from home no matter what I did. Probably the biggest reason was that I just couldn't see myself attending a regular college.
"From what I hear, UK and MSU are both great universities and I have friends attending both. I felt that I wouldn't be as successful at either of those institutions and chose West Point."

But no one really chooses West Point.

West Point chooses them.

Chris Marshall, a 1984 West Point graduate who helps screen candidates throughout in three congressional districts in western Kentucky and southern Illinois for admission, considers Carlson to be one of his success stories.

"I think he is one of the more outstanding candidates who's gone on to become a cadet, considering that in the three years since then, some didn't make it past summer and one didn't make it past Christmas the first year," said Marshall, who has asked for Carlson's help meeting and greeting prospective cadets during college night events.

"My view is from 20 years ago, Mr. Carlson is there today," said Marshall. "That's what anyone who is thinking about attending needs to hear."
Carlson said he doubts his decision shocked any of his friends, family or teachers. In fact, many of his teachers helped him with the application process.

"All of my football coaches, especially Coach (Steve) Carter who administered my entrance physical fitness test," Carlson said. "Coach (Denis) Hodge who was constantly on the phone with Chris Marshall to help speed my application process. Many of my teachers also wrote me excellent recommendation letters to the academy."

It wasn't only school personnel who helped. Carlson said local attorney Alan Stout was a "huge help" in securing a Congressional nomination from the U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield.

"A process that usually would have taken between six months and a year, I was able to accomplish in weeks," Carlson said.

Attending a school perched on the Hudson River in New York meant engaging with cadets from all over the nation.

"Of course I don't think I have an accent but according to the other cadets up here I do, although when I go home my friends and family tell me I sound like a Yankee now," said Carlson, who knows a few other cadets from Kentucky.

"There is a slightly larger majority of cadets from the Northeast since so many more people are familiar with West Point in the area," he said. "For the most part, however, West Point is a fair representation of students from across the country. I've been roommates with guys from Missouri, Colorado, California, Ohio, Texas, and Tennessee. There are also exchange cadets from other countries who attend USMA and then serve in their respective country's military.

"I know two other guys here from western Kentucky; William Dennison, who is a firstie (senior) from Murray, and Keith Toy, who is a yearling (sophomore) from Graves County. It is nice to have some ties with guys from home. Last year there was a senior from Henderson and we drove home together at Christmas."

How has West Point changed him?

"As far as me viewing other people differently and visa-versa, I believe to some extent I do," Carlson said. "It is not due to my experiences at West Point, however, it is merely due to gaining new perspectives on the world through new experiences. It just so happens mine was at West Point. I believe that no matter what a person does after high school ­ go to college, join the armed forces, or get a job ­ opens them up to new and exciting experiences. Changes about how they view themselves and others are inherent to these experiences."

According to Carlson, West Point's mission statement is to "train, educate, and inspire the corps of cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country; professional growth throughout a career as an officer in the United States Army; and a lifetime of selfless service to the Nation."

Says Carlson, "To some extent I would like to think that I've made these values intrinsic to my life. My life has become much more regimented, that is necessary for an Army life. As far as my commitment goes, I will serve five years after graduation and then will decide if I want to seek a career in the Army."

Carlson said he and classmates do ponder their futures and what their involvement will be if the U.S. makes war with Iraq.

"We do talk about the impending conflict in classes a lot for obvious reasons," he said. "I believe that Saddam Hussein is a very dangerous individual. At the same time I agree with Secretary of State Colin Powell, that we need to build a foreign coalition... it can be very dangerous for us to overextend our resources. Can we defeat Iraq by ourselves? Certainly, in Operation Desert Storm we defeated the fourth largest army in the world in 100 hours.

"However, the globalization of the world and the formation of International Governmental Organizations has made it very hard for countries to take action without the consent of many allies."

Still, says Carlson, "regardless of what the United States decides to do, I will be prepared to serve and support whatever decision the leaders of our government make."

As far as school goes, Carlson said he believes the hardest part is behind him. The real challenge lies in front of him.
"I cannot think of a more important job laden with responsibility than being in charge of soldiers, both career non-commissioned officers and newly enlisted privates," said Carlson, who has narrowed his branch choices to four, the top being aviation.

"I hope to fly Apaches," he said. His other choices are infantry, engineering or field artillery.
This summer Carlson will participate in Cadet Leadership Development at Fort Campbell, where he admits he hopes one day to be stationed.
"I'm very attracted to the traditions of the 101st Airborne Division," he said. "From Operation Market Garden to Desert Storm they have consistently proven to be one of the finest units in the Army and I hope to join that proud tradition... and post there after graduation."

As for what he will do when his five years of service beyond West Point are up, Carlson is too busy to focus that far ahead.
"When I initially applied to West Point I definitely understood the aura that surrounded the institution and the weight that a West Point degree can carry in the civilian world.

"Right now, however, I'm focused on preparing myself to be a lieutenant in the Army. The doors a degree might open for me one day will be a nice bonus. The reason it opens so many is because when it comes to leadership, West Point has a proud history of producing great leaders.

Their goal, however, is to produce great leaders for the Army," Carlson said. "I hope my degree signifies that I'm ready to do my part as an officer in the United States Army, and will do a professional job leading soldiers. I'll think about what doors it will open one day but for right now I'm concentrating on being a lieutenant."

Little league baseball program in jeopardy

Without more involvement from adult organizers, the local youth baseball and softball programs may be in jeopardy of folding.
With participating dwindling and adult involvement down to nearly zero, the Crittenden County Dugout Club could go under in the next few weeks, according to out-going president Roy Todd.

The Dugout Club ­ founded in the 1980s after the Rotary Club disband and quit sponsoring little league baseball ­ is down to just three members and each of them are completing a term that ends later this month.

"Nobody wants to help," Todd said. "I don't know why, but nobody wants to get involved in something like this anymore. I know it takes a lot of time, but without the adults to organize the youth programs, they're just not going to survive."

The Dugout Club is holding a meeting on Feb. 22 at 4 p.m., at the Lions Club Building at the Crittenden County Fairgrounds.

"At this time, there are no members to organize the little league programs," said Todd, who has has served as the club's president the last four years. "The Dugout Club needs help and participation to ensure that the youths of county have the opportunity play baseball and softball."

Todd said that Del Brantley and Larry Thompson are the only two members left in the organization, other than himself. He said at least one or two of the last remaining members are willing to stay on to provide guidance for new members who would take over operation of the leagues.
The Dugout Club sponsors baseball and softball for boys and girls from T-ball to Pony league. The ages range from four to 14 and included about 160 kids last summer.

Participation in the summer ball programs has dwindled dramatically over recent years. In the mid 1990s, the program included more than 200 youngsters in eight different age divisions. Now, with participation down about 25 percent, there are fewer parents who are willing to pitch in, Todd said.

"No one has shown up for the last two or three meetings we've had," Todd added. "We have got to have some involvement to keep this thing going."

Making matters more dire is the fact that league registration should already be underway. The club generally starts signing up kids in February who want to play in the summer programs. Then, there is the annual tryout which is held the second weekend in March. Practices usually begin in April and games in early May.

"There's not much time left," Todd said. "Most of this stuff needs to be organized and started right away. The tryouts could be moved back some, but there are several things that must be taken care of right now, like getting the registration drive started."

Todd said the Dugout Club needs a minimum of seven board members to get the ball rolling. From those members, the board will elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

"If anyone is interested in keeping the program going, they need to attend the Feb. 22 meeting. Otherwise, the program may be cancelled this year," Todd said.