BREAKFAST WITH SANTA B1
B OONE COUNTY RECORDER 50¢
Children got some one-on-one time with St. Nick himself at Breakfast with Santa events.
Ky. ranks high on homelessness Nearly 40,000 children in Kentucky didn’t have a place to call home in 2010. The Bluegrass State has the highest amount of child homelessness in the nation behind Oregon. Story, A3
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving all of Boone County THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011
Commissioners reflect on first year By Stephanie Salmons ssalmons@nky.com
All in all, the past year has gone pretty smoothly for Boone County Fiscal Court Commissioner Matt Dedden, who, along with Commissioner Charlie Walton, is wrapping up his first year on the Fiscal Court. It’s been a learning experience though, Dedden said. “It’s been enjoyable. It’s been smooth. It’s also been challenging,” he said. But he likes that part of the job. “I wouldn’t be happy if everything went completely smooth,” Dedden said.
Pets get homes for the holidays
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
While some things he was asked to help with were beyond his control, Dedden said he’s been able to “find other avenues to get things done,” by helping Dedden people find individuals who could help. “A lot of people think the county commissioner job, you get an agenda packet on Friday, go to the Fiscal Court meetings and you decide what’s going to happen in the county and it’s so much more than that,” Dedden said. Dedden said he doesn’t look at
particular accomplishments. “I think doing the job you’re paid to do is accomplishment enough,” he said. He’s happy as long as he can go Walton home at night knowing he did the best he could do, he said. “I’ve enjoyed it,” Dedden said of the last year. “I’m looking forward to the next three years.” Walton said his first year on the Fiscal Court has been fine. A lot of things they do on the Fiscal Court are similar to his past expe-
riences in government and education, he said. He feels good about what the Fiscal Court has been able to accomplish, he said. The county has been able to “look at some really good collaborative programs” that benefit a number of agencies, Walton said. If he could have done more this year, it would have been to increase opportunities or bring more jobs to county citizens, he said. “I enjoy working with the community, working with people who have legitimate concerns,” Walton said. “It’s been a great year for me.”
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
A record 50 animals were adopted during the Home for the Holidays Open House Dec. 16 at the Boone County Animal Shelter. Photos, A9
Photos: The year in sports The year 2011 was a great one for sports in Boone County. Here are some of the best images from 2011. Sports, A10
Contact us
News .........................283-0404 Retail advertising .......513-768-8196 Classified advertising ........283-7290 Delivery .......................781-4421 See page A2 for additional information
Veronica Burdsall, 5, of Hebron, sits on Santa's lap while sister Caroline, 2, sits with Mrs. Claus, at the annual Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Boone County Parks Department. PATRICIA A. SCHEYER FOR THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Wood appointed to Walton council By Justin B. Duke jbduke@nky.com
Vol. 136 No. 10 © 2011 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED For the Postmaster
Published weekly every Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, KY 41042 USPS 0060780 Postmaster: Send address change to The Boone County Recorder 3635 O’Hara Rd., Erlanger, KY 41018 Annual subscription: Weekly Recorder In-County $18.02; All other in-state $23.32; Out-of-state $27.56; Kentucky sales tax included
WALTON — City Council is back to full strength in Walton. Mike Wood was appointed to fill the vacant council seat left when Paula Jolley was appointed mayor. Wood was one of three to apply for the seat along with Robert McDonald and Clinton Coleman. Wood served on City Council from 1997-2004. “I wanted to help some of the freshmen,” Wood said. All but one member of council has less than a year’s experience,
and Wood felt he could use his experience to help them. Before council made an official nomination for any candidate, Sharon McDonald, former City Council member and mother of Robert McDonald, shared information she found. McDonald did an open records request for minutes from City Council meetings during Wood’s eight years on council. Wood was absent from 23 of the those meetings. McDonald questioned Wood’s ability to lead the city with a record of missing at least 25 percent of the meetings during his ten-
We are open December 2030 Northside Dr. 24th until Hebron, KY Scan our QR code with 6pm! your cell phone and add 859-534-5600 us to your contacts!
CE-0000489124
Check our website for Daily Specials
ure. Jolley served with Wood during his last four years on council and always remembered him being at the meetings and usually leading the invocation prayer for most meetings. “I don’t recall missing that many meetings,” Wood said in an interview after the meeting. Council member Kevin Ryan suggested tabling the appointment because Wood wasn’t at the meeting to answer questions about his attendance because he had a previous business commitment. Council member Mark Carna-
BUY ONE GET ONE 1/2 OFF all day Christmas Eve.
Dine in or carryout only. Not valid with other coupons or offers. 2030 Northside Dr. Hebron, KY 41005 (859) 534-5600.
han saw no reason to delay. “Of the three candidates, I feel he’s the most qualified,” Carnahan said. Carnahan made the motion to appoint Wood. Jolley requested a second, and after a long pause, Ryan made it. Council vote 4-0 to appoint Wood. Council member Craig Brandenburg was absent from the meeting. Wood will serve the remainder of Jolley’s term, set to expire at the end of next year. For more about your community, visit www.NKY.com/walton
Family Feast - $19.99
Large four topping pizza, small dessert pizza or cheesy bread and two liter Offer valid thru 12/23/11 Dine in/Carry out only. Not valid with any other coupons or offers. 2030 Northside Dr. Hebron, KY 41005 (859)534-5600
www.hebronbrewhaus.com
ORDER
www.heb ronbrew haus.co m
ONLIN E