Stout on Fletcher's transition team
Crittenden County attorney Alan Stout has spent the last couple of weeks working as a member of Gov.-elect Ernie Fletcher's governmental transition team.
Stout, 47, was one of only four individuals from extreme western Kentucky named to the 117-member team. Robbie Rudolph of Murray, who ran for lieutenant governor on the Rebecca Jackson ticket; Martie Wiles of Benton, chairperson of the Marshall County Republican Party; and John Williams of Paducah, a longtime party advocate and successful businessman, were Fletcher's hand-picked representatives from the far end of the state.
"I certainly was honored to be asked to be on the transition team," said Stout, who has been helping Fletcher gather information from within the Justice Cabinet which will help the incoming governor better understand some of the things going on within the cabinet right now.
"I have been involved with the Justice Cabinet for a number of years as a prosecutor," added Stout, the County Attorney who also has a private practice here and in Paducah. "I felt like there were a number of issues where I could help the incoming administration in regard to Justice Cabinet matters."
Stout has been interviewing key leaders currently in the Justice Cabinet, accumulating notes that will be submitted to Gov.-elect Fletcher and whoever he appoints as Secretary of the Justice Cabinet.
"I have completed the tasks initially assigned to me," he said Monday, "and am now awaiting further details."
It was unclear if Stout or the other 10 people on the Justice Cabinet committee of the transition team were finished with their part or whether they would be asked to complete other work.
Fletcher's transition team is headed by Mike Duncan, a banker from Inez, Ky., who was also a member of President George W. Bush's transition team when he entered the White House.
Stout said it's a daunting task, virtually assembling a new administration in about 30 days. On Nov. 4, Fletcher became the first Republican elected governor in 32 years. He takes office Dec. 9.
Cats causing stir at City-County Park
At least a couple Crittenden County residents are disputing the severity of the cat problem at City-County Park after comments from park board members were made during the Crittenden Fiscal Court meeting Nov. 18.
Jerry Beavers, who walks at the park's track weekly, says there are no where near 100 stray cats living at the park as suggested by park board president Wayne West. West this week said he's not certain how many cats are there now, but says they are a nuisance.
Beavers, who several years ago was involved in a failed effort to organize a humane society animal shelter here, still spends her time finding homes for stray animals. She says she has taken some of the cats at the park to people who want them and even paid to have one spayed.
"Not feeding the cats won't take care of the problem," Beavers said. "There should be signs that say 'no dumping kittens.'"
She said people abandoning cats at the park should be fined. She doesn't think people feeding them should be punished.
Beavers said someone witnessed seven kittens being dumped at the park last week, but the witness was unable to identify the make of car or license plate.
West said there are potential health risks associated with the cats at the park. Number one, he says cats are often fed on picnic tables at the pavilions, creating unsanitary conditions for people who eat there; and secondly, the cats leave feces in sand boxes intended as play areas.
When the park board meets again in December, West will solicit suggestions to deter people from dumping strays at the park. He encourages anyone who sees people leaving unwanted cats to notify police.
Marion Police Chief Kenneth Winn says that according to state law, abandoning animals is a Class A misdemeanor (KRS 525.130); however, to be punishable, the offense must be witnessed by a police officer or a citizen who is willing to sign a complaint against the accused.
West says feeding strays should be discouraged as well.
"If they're not being fed, they won't stay there," West suggested. "They'll leave and be a nuisance to somebody else.
"I'm not against cats but the main issue is the health issue."
Judge-Executive Pippi Hardin said the county has no legal responsibility for caring for stray cats. It is, however, required to provide animal control for the county's stray dog population. The cost to maintain a dog shelter and a dog warden is near $20,000 a year, Hardin said.
"If we were required to take care of cats, then we would take care of cats," he said.
Hardin has made a verbal commitment of $5,000 a year to In His Hands Humane Society, a fledgling local organization. Volunteers for In His Hands Humane Society are hoping to build a shelter funded through a multi-county effort.
Holler named new local Guard recruiter
Local resident Sgt. Sarah Holler is about to become the first woman in the western half of Kentucky to serve as recruiter for the Army National Guard.
The 25-year-old who spent a year with the Murray National Guard Military Police Unit overseeing prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will take office Dec. 1 as the recruiter for Marion's National Guard unit, Company B, 123rd Armor Division.
Holler replaces Sgt. Michael Little who will remain in the National Guard as a "traditional soldier," performing guard duty once a month. Holler, on the other hand, is transferring from Murray's MP unit to take the local post.
"I am very excited," Holler said Monday. "It's outstanding."
Holler didn't realize there was an opening for a recruiter within the local unit, but was sending her resume home from Cuba during her year-long deployment. Upon her return, everything fell into place.
Master Sgt. Freddie Joe Wilkerson said Holler's enthusiasm makes her the perfect person for the job.
"I'm very impressed," he said. "She is a very good example in the community of an E1 progressing through the ranks and making sergeant."
Holler will recruit would-be soldiers for the Marion National Guard Unit and will serve Caldwell, Lyon, Webster and Union counties as well.
In her capacity, she will speak to high school students about the benefits of the National Guard, likely telling her personal story of what the National Guard has meant to her.
Holler will be responsible for initiating a recruiting drive next spring which will begin at Crittenden County High School. Wilkerson said numbers are down slightly for the Marion unit due largely to natural attrition.
Holler cites incentive pay, paid college tuition and the pride of becoming a U.S. soldier among National Guard benefits.
Holler said job training is an often overlooked benefit to being in the Guard.
"When you're out of college, instead of having no experience to back up your degree, you can leave college with four years' experience and on-the-job training from the National Guard," Holler said.
Holler joined the Guard in 2000 and has served as a military policewoman with the 438th MP Company in Murray.