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Fiscal Court
Murder Mystery Planned
Rock and Roll Jamboree

FISCAL COURT DISCUSSES MONETARY MATTERS

The unexpectedly high cost to combine all cities and county dispatch  services into a centralized area was a hot item of discussion when the Monroe County Fiscal Court met Jan. 19 in regular session. “I can’t see where we would be that much better off,” said County Judge-executive Russell Young, referring to a conversation he and Sheriff Jerry Gee had with 911 officials on centralizing county dispatch services.
Gee said he had been told it would cost $60,000 to $80,000 a year to
run a central dispatch.Young pointed out that the county is out less than $10,000 the way things stand currently, with dispatching being done from the sheriff’s office during the day and the Tompkinsville Police Department office at night.
The court tried to figure the county’s contribution, along with that
of Gamaliel, Fountain Run and Tompkinsville, and still came up far short
of the quoted $60,000 to $80,000 figure.
“Back when we voted this $1.50 on everyone’s phone bill (for 911), I
understood that would take care of everything,” said Magistrate Alonzo
Ford. Magistrate James Carl Gill joined in by saying: “They (the hospital)
said any more expense they would take care of.”
A copy of the agreement with the hospital on 911 was produced and key
portions read. The court agreed it sounded as if any expense above the
money collected on phone bills would be covered by the hospital. Young said he would talk with 911 officials to try and straighten the situation out.

Several representatives of the Beautification Committee of the Tompkinsville/Monroe County Chamber of Commerce appeared before the court to ask for donations to complete a couple of projects and to present an idea for fund-raising to help upgrade the image of this area.
Committee member Bro. William Parker told of the “very nice, antique
looking street lights,” which have been donated by Ricky Ellis to be
placed around the courthouse square.
According to Parker, the city of Tompkinsville will furnish the labor
to install the lights, but about $1,500 will still be needed to rent a
boring machine to run wires under sidewalks and other supplies for the
installation of the eight or ten lights. The court agreed to this after some
discussion.
Committee chair Kay Anderson described these lights as similar to
ones in Lebanon, Tenn. Parker then asked the court for $1,900 to place Christmas decorations, like the new ones that were used downtown this year, out Main Street from the intersection of 4th and Main Street northward to near Piggly-Wiggly.
Anderson said this would be about half the cost and the committee
would be going before the City Council to ask for the other half.
Young then told of the need for the county to cut back on spending,
saying the revenues from occupational taxes was down some $21,000 in the latest quarter.
After discussing the matter further, including the possibility to cut
back on the number of lights, the court agreed to discuss the request at a
later meeting.
Committee member Susan Guffey then presented a fund raising idea to
the court. Engraved bricks, used as ‘in memory of’ or ‘honoring someone’ may be sold and used to pave the sidewalks around the courthouse.
These bricks would be sold for $50, which would include the cost of
the brick and installation and would help raise a great deal of money to be used for beautification purposes.
The magistrates liked the idea and passed a motion to allow the
bricks be sold.
The purchase of a baler, to be used at the transfer station, was
approved by the court. A baler has been located a baler for $10,950, according to clerk Sheryl Compton, and the court will be reimbursed 75% of this amount as part of a grant received earlier in 1999.
The court members were told the baler should save in hauling bills
and cost at the landfill, and recyclable materials such as cardboard and
newspapers could be sold instead of going to the landfill.
Throughout recent court meetings, Young has been cautioning about the
need to “be careful with the money” since next year’s tax money will be
down
This was brought up again during the reading of General Fund claims
in connection with the amount the coroner’s office is asking for as
reimbursement for 1999.
There were some questions as to whether the county is responsible for
costs of autopsies. Young told that autopsies did not cost anything but transporting the bodies to and from the autopsy did. He said he had been told there were 49 autopsies last year in Monroe County.
Those costs and office space were part of the amount requested by
county coroner Billy Paul Smith, which totaled nearly $3,650 on the claims. The magistrates then asked county attorney Douglas Carter if the
county was responsible for those autopsies that weren’t ‘crime-related.’
Carter responded he didn’t feel the county should pay any costs in autopsies not ‘crime-related’.
The court opened bids for the surplus backhoe and truck that was
recently advertised for bids and accepted the highest bids — $800 from Jason Ford on the 1981 truck and $12,600 from Brent Jenkins on the backhoe.
The need to get an accurate count in the upcoming 2000 census was
discussed. Saying every person not counted in Monroe costs all Monroe Countians money, Young asked that everyone make a special effort to see that everyone is counted.
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MURDER MYSTERY TO BE PRESENTED LOCALLY

An evening of mystery is planned in Tompkinsville as a pre-Valentine’s Day event, sponsored by the Monroe Arts Council.
An interactive murder mystery, “Death by Chocolate,” will be presented on Saturday night, Feb. 12, at Tompkinsville Elementary School in the old lunchroom area. Finger foods and beverages will be served while the
audience takes on the role of detective.
Tickets are $10 per person and will be available at the Deposit Bank,
Peoples Bank, Tompkinsville News office and the Monroe County Extension office. So that adequate food can be prepared, tickets will be sold in advance only, with no ticket sales at the door. The deadline for ticket purchase is Monday, Feb. 7.
Out on a Limb Productions, Baxter, Tenn., which regularly presents
mystery theater at the Thomas House in Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., will
bring the production to Tompkinsville.
“Death by Chocolate” is an audience participatory theatrical
production, Arts Council members explained. There is no separation of the actors from the audience, so the audience becomes active in “a mystery that comes to life.” Audience members search for clues, reason out motives, eavesdrop on conversations and tail suspects. Those who prefer not to become actively involved can simply watch as the mystery develops. At the end of the evening, awards will be presented to those who correctly solve the mystery.
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ANNUAL ROCK AND ROLL JAMBOREE ANNOUNCED

The annual Rock and Roll Jamboree at the Monroe Health and Rehabilitation Center will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, starting at 1 p.m. As in the past, activities will include the King and Queen contest,
walking event, rocking chair event and wheel chair race for residents
and,  for the public, a bake sale and cake auction, plus the “kidnapping” of local citizens, who will be “held for ransom” at the center.
Residents also will be competing for the top fund-raiser award. Money
raised will go to the American Heart Association.
For more information, contact Donna Rowland or Robin Trivett at the
center or call 487-6135.
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Deaths
Thirteen deaths were reported to the Tompkinsville News this past
week. Local deaths were:
— Ruel Calvin Williams, 76, Mt. Herman Rd., Tompkinsville, who died
Jan. 9  (he was the husband of Marie [Stephens] Williams);
— Charlie Lee Richardson, 81, Hestand, who died Jan. 10;
— Elzie Rich, 72, Tompkinsville, who also died Jan. 10;
— Herschel “Red” Copas, Jr., 58, Akersville Rd., Fountain Run, who
died Jan. 12;
— Barry Glen Meador, 37, Fountain Run, who also died Jan. 12; and
— Olene (McMillin) McPherson, 86, Cave Springs Rd., Tompkinsville,
who died Jan. 16.
Deaths reported from other areas were:
— Reed Deckard, 81, Louisville, a Monroe County native who died Jan.
3 (he was the husband of Virginia [Hume] Deckard);
— Ruth (Powell) Powell, 69, Scottsville, a Monroe County native who
died Jan. 10 (she was the widow of Aaron Powell);
— Lovie Louie (Crabtree) Hooten, 76, Celina, Tenn., who also died
Jan. 10 (she was the widow of Lee Hooten);
—William Buford McLerran, 79, Moss, Tenn., who died Jan. 11 (he was the husband of Annie Mary [Kendall] McLerran);
—Thelma (Tucker) Austin, 84, Frog Pond community of Macon County,
Tenn.,who died Jan. 12 (she was the wife of Elder J.C. Austin);
—Alma (Hill) Jones, 90, Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., who died Jan. 13;
and
— William Paul McMillin, 78, Louisville, a Monroe County native who
died  Jan. 14.
Details of their survivors and services can be found by clicking here.

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Boys Basketball
Falcons chalk up a win

The Monroe County Falcons are in the midst of a mid-season break
where they played only one game in a 10-day stretch — and that game went in the win column for the Monroe boys.
Traveling to Green County last Friday night, Jan. 14, the Falcons
started out very well with five players scoring in the first period, while
holding Green to 8 points. In the second period, Monroe put another 16 on the board, compared to Green’s 15, allowing the Falcons to take a 36-23 lead into halftime. The Falcons also outscored Green 16-15 in the third quarter, lengthening the lead to 52-38 going into the final period.
And a good thing, too, as the fourth quarter turned out to be a wild
one.
Monroe’s 14-point lead began to be chipped away at as Green County was busy putting Falcons on the free-throw line in hopes of shortening the lead.
Monroe went to the line 26 times in the final period and hit 16. The
Falcons were also having trouble keeping people in the game as three
Monroe players fouled out. Meanwhile, Green’s Judd was having a field day, hitting six free throws, four 2-pointers and two 3-pointers for 20
points in the final period!
But the Falcons didn’t fold, scoring 24 points, just enough to
withstand Green’s 37-point barrage and take win No 2 of the season at 76-75.
“I was very proud of the way we moved the ball around. As a team, we
had 18 assists, a season high,” said head coach Brian Carter. “Josh Turner had a career high 17 points, along with eight rebounds and showed great leadership on the floor, while Cory Netherton also had one of his best games this season as he scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds.”
The Falcons travel out of district to take on North Hardin this Friday,
Jan. 21, and then return home to host Logan County next Tuesday.
Stats: Turner, 17 points; Grace, 13; Graves, 13; Netherton, 12;  Moore, 10; Kirk, 6; and Pitcock, 5.

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Girls Basketball

LADY FALCONS ARE 11-4

The Lady Falcons of Monroe County High School continued their march
toward post-season play this past week by taking on some good opposition while upping their season record to 11-4.
Adair County
Monroe had their hands full with the Adair County team last Thursday
night, Jan. 13, when they traveled to Columbia — but Coach Tony
Harlan’s squad proved up to the challenge, winning 78-74.
Adair squeaked out a narrow 19-18 lead as the teams finished up the
first period of play, and continued to lead for the next two quarters, going
into the final period ahead 58-53. The fourth quarter belong to the Lady Falcons as Monroe’s defense held Adair to 16 points while the offense used a balnced attack to score 25, making it possible for the Lady Falcons to take their 10th win of the year. “We didn’t play especially well and yet we still won,” said Harlan.
“Adair has a good team that shot the ball extremely well.”
Stats: Brown, 22 points (11 of 14 from the field); Leslie McAlpin,
14; Renea Proffitt, 13; Tracey Hays, 13 (5 of 6, four assists, four
steals); Brittany Geralds, 6 (four assists); Jill Stinson, 6; and Lindsey Berry, 4.
Oldham County
The Lady Falcons traveled to Trinity High School in Louisville this
past Saturday to take part in the KY Prep Classic.
Monroe’s opponent was Oldham County, ranked 16th in the state in the
latest Courier-Journal Litkenhous ratings. (The Lady Falcons are no slouch in the ratings themselves, as the Monroe girls are 32nd in the state, and third-ranked in the Fourth Region, in the Likenhous ratings.) The game stayed close in the beginning with Oldham gathering a 16-12 lead at the end of the first period.
That 4-point deficit for Monroe grew to 5 at halftime, but the game
was still easily within reach for Monroe, down just 30-25 at the start of
the third period. However, Monroe’s offense couldn’t get untracked
following intermission and lost ground to Oldham. Going into the final period, the Lady Falcons trailed 44-32.
The offense showed back up in the fourth, but only outscored Oldham
by 2 points, 18-16, and Monroe lost the game, 60-50.
“I don’t feel we played well and still only lost by 10,” said Harlan.
“The girls did a good job in our zone defense by taking away Oldham’s guards penetration.”
Stats: Leslie McAlpin, 15 points; Kari Brown, 12 (nine rebounds);
Lindsey Berry, 10; Brittany Geralds, 8; Renea Proffitt, 3; and Jessica Ritter,  2.
Campbellsville
The Lady Falcons returned home this past Tuesday night to host
Campbellsville, a team coached by former Lady Falcon Ginger High.
Defense was strong in the first period as Monroe scored 12 points but
held the visitors to just 7.
Both teams scored a little more in the second, with Monroe pulling a
little farther away, taking a 27-18 halftime lead. The Lady Falcons
clamped down on Campbellsville in the third, allowing just 5 points, while
adding 14. Both teams scored 20 in the final period and Monroe chalked up their 11th win of the season by the final score of 61-43.
“This was a good win against a very aggresive defensive team,” said
Harlan.
Stats: Brown, 15 points; Berry, 14 (eight steals); Hays, 10; McAlpin,
8; Brittany Geralds, 5; Jessica Ritter, 3; Proffitt, 2; Kelli Emberton, 2; and Kelli Baxter, 2.
Lady Falcons are halfway through their regular-season schedule,
heading toward the 16th District Tournament, which will be held at MonroeCounty High School in late February.
This week, the Lady Falcons are scheduled to go on the road to Green
County Jan. 20, then return home for a matchup with Logan County on
Tuesday night, Jan. 25.
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Announcements
Card Showers
Reunion News

CARD SHOWERS
Card showers are planned for the following persons (addresses given
in parentheses for those who wish to send cards):
Lela Mae Strode, who will celebrate her 80th birthday on Jan. 30
(5154 Radio Station Rd., Tompkinsville, Ky. 42167; Ralph Odle, who will celebrate his 70th birthday on Jan. 26 (138 Ned Jackson Rd., Hestand, Ky. 42151); and Rev. and Mrs. Elmer Davis, who will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary on Jan. 23 (706 N. Magnolia St., P.O. Box 367, Tompkinsville, Ky. 42167).
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MT. GILEAD/BRAY REUNION

A reunion for those who attended or taught at the Mt. Gilead and Bray
rural schools was held on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 23, at the Mt. Gilead
Church of Christ, with 31 people attending.
Plans were made to hold another Mt. Gilead-Bray Reunion next year at
the same location on the last Saturday in October (Oct. 28, 2000).
The group also agreed to try and locate addresses of as many former
schoolmates as possible and send out a written notice of the next reunion.
Anyone who attended or taught at either Mt. Gilead or Bray, or who
knows the address of anyone who went to either school, is asked to contact Victor Headrick (P.O. Box 493, Tompkinsville, Ky. 42167; ph. 270-487-8332).
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