Strong wind leaves widespread damage

Severe thunderstorms and winds up to 70 mph blew into the county last Sunday evening leaving damage in many areas. Utility lines and some poles were blown down, some across roadways, uprooted trees were tossed across yards and across roadways blocking traffic until they could be removed. Some residents reported parts of their house roofs blown off. A new built hay shed approximately 7 miles south of Falmouth on U.S. 27 was blown to the ground. "We had just put the roof on it a couple of week's ago," said Nathan Oaks. An older barn down next to the highway had a large area of the roof blown off and carried it across the highway dropping it down. The hay shed and property belongs to Richard Wolsing. Tin, children's toys and other items were strewn about throughout the area. The strong winds had many residents a little uneasy for awhile. Photo by D. Dennie.

JOHN SEBASTIAN

Sebastian extradited to stand trial for manufacturing meth

By Debbie Dennie, Editor

John Sebastian jumped bond and fled from Pendleton in July of 2005. He was arrested on June 10, 2005 at his mobile home at 36 Bonnie Lane, DeMossville for manufacturing methamphetamine in an old abandoned house near his.

Sebastian was to appear in court last July and never showed.

His cover was blown this past Tuesday, March 28 when police responded to a domestic call at 830 Franklin Road in Lebanon, Ohio. When Lebanon Police arrived at the scene a man fled. Police followed the man and came across a meth lab in operation. They discovered the meth lab due to the strong odor of ether and anhydrous ammonia.

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Sheriff's Department stomps out early crop of marijuana

Pendleton County Deputy Chip Jones received a report of a possible marijuana patch growing in the Peach Grove area. Jones and Chief Deputy Craig Peoples went to check it out. Upon investigation they found a 2' X 2' box with plastic over it, a hot house, in the woods on Highway 154 between the AA Highway and Highway 10. Inside the box they found 25 styrofoam cups and they counted 23 marijuana seeds. "We destroyed the seeds and are continuing to investigate the case," said Peoples. Photo by Deputy Chip Jones.

Dangers of social networking websites

By: Sam McClanahan, Intern Reporter

One of the biggest trends on the internet today is the growing popularity of social networking websites such as Myspace.com.

Over the last three years these websites have blossomed in activity and usage, mainly by teenagers and people in their early to mid-twenties. The attraction and enticement of these websites is that people are allowed to create individual profiles that can be shared and viewed by almost anyone. The primary use of Myspace is to keep in touch with old friends, as well as to make new ones, when used correctly and maturely, there can be many advantages to taking part in these social networks.

But the key words are correctly and maturely.

As many positives as there can be to being a member of these websites, there are just as many negatives. And these negatives are starting to be heard of more and more frequently. One of the biggest problems of websites such as Myspace is the overload of personal information that can be viewed, and parents of children who take part in Myspace must be educated about the dangers that may loom. The harsh truth is that many of the people who have profiles listed on these websites are not who they claim to be.

Often, older men will pose as teenage or college-age students and engage in graphic conversations with naive, young adults, and the results can be deadly.

Last year, a 14-year-old New Jersey girl was killed by a man in his 20's that she had met on Myspace, shortly after, a 15-year-old Northern California girl disappeared without a trace, she had been

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Wrong photo of John Sebastian used last week on local news station

The wrong photo of John Sebastian was mistakenly used by some news stations last week to report the capture of a John Sebastian, from Pendleton County who had been charged with manufacturing methanphedamine.

There are two men with the same first and last name of John Sebastian living in Pendleton County.

The John Walter Sebastian, 59, of Boston Trailer Park is not the John Sebastian of DeMossville who was recently held by Lebanon, Ohio Police until police from Pendleton County came to get him.

The family has had quite a disturbing time since the wrong photo was used in a tv news broadcast last week.

Political Forum to be held in High School Cafeteria

An educational political forum will be held on April 6 from 7 to 9 p.m in the Pendleton County High School cafeteria. The public is invited to attend and meet candidates running in the upcoming primary election.

A panel of students have been researching pertinent issues in the community and has prepared questions for the forum. Candidates will be invited to speak about the office they are running for; offices for which there are multiple candidates will be asked questions relating to the position they seek. While the public is encouraged to submit questions in writing during the forum, all questions will be reviewed by students and may be used for future forums.

As of March 22, the following candidates have responded and indicated they will be participating: John E. Steele (Property Valuation Administrator); Michael D. Redden (Circuit Clerk); Henry W. Bertram and Jack Scroggins (County Judge Executive); Jeffery B. Dean (County Attorney); Rita M. Spencer (County Clerk); Chad Applegate, Charles Craig Peoples (Sheriff); Darrin W. Gregg, Ken Kells, Kimberly S. Green, Timothy Saylor, Joy Walsh and Kelly J. Dennie (Jailer); Howard M. Johnston (County Surveyor); Jack Sumpter, Alan Whaley, Gary G. Veirs, Paul Dickison and Stacey E. Wells (Magistrate); Tony McCarter and William D. Jolley, Jr., (Constable) Jay Delaney, Sue Lake, and Bradley K. Vaughn (District Judge); Robert W. McGinnis (Judicial Circuit Judge); David Melcher (Family Court Judge) and Doug Wright (CommonwealthÕs Attorney). Candidates that did not respond to participate include: John Peoples (Coroner); Aaron Bonar, Scott Sheppard, Robert Best, Otto Stapleton (declined), (Constables), Phillip Turner (County Judge Executive) will not be available due to being out of town.

The public is urged to attend the forum scheduled on Thursday, April 6 to learn more about the candidates and their offices.

Two men file statement of candidacy papers; they may or may not be candidates in November

All the candidates running for county offices filed their papers by January 31. Their names will be on the May Primary Ballot.

Pendleton County Attorney C. Donald Wells filed a Statement of Candidacy, for the office of county judge, in the county clerk's office on Thursday, March 30.

The Statement of Candidacy does not make him an official candidate for that office. If he decides to make himself an official candidate he would then have to file a Nominating Petition signed by 100 registered voters in the county, pay the fee and have it filed by August 8, 2006. He then would be a candidate on the November Ballot.

Peter O. Samples also filed a Statement of Candidacy for the office of sheriff on Friday, March 31, 2006. He too will not be an official candidate until he files his Nominating Petition signed by 100 registered voters, pays the fee, and files by August 8, 2006.

Wells, who has served the county for 20 of the last 30 years as county attorney says he feels he still has something to offer the county and wants to run for county judge.

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Pendleton Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet, April 15

Each year the local Chamber of Commerce and the school system presents community and school awards to a group of deserving recipients.

This year's banquet will be held Saturday, April 15 at the Phillip Sharp Middle School. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m.

All chamber members, community leaders, and interested parties are invited to attend this gala event. Candidates running for office and current elected officials will be recognized.

As in the past, the Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Silent Auction. Anyone interested or wishing to donate items should contact Susan Bishop, Chamber Office Administrator at 654-4189.

Reservations for the banquet should be made by contacting the Chamber Office, located at 230 Main Street, Falmouth, Ky (Kennett Tavern), phone number 859-654-4189.

As part of this year's program, Adolph Rupp, The Coach, will be the speaker providing enjoyable entertainment. (Rupp is portrayed by Edward B. Smith. A good crowd is expected for this 23rd annual event.

Please make reservations and/or donate items for the Silent Auction no later than Monday, April 10.

"A Moment in Time" for those 50 and over

Wanna be "hip" without breaking one? Wanna act 17 again? Do you still "have it" and want to show it?

Mrs. Lustenberg's GATES students and Mrs. Simpson's class and peer tutors are joining forces to plan the perfect prom for those 50 and over who are still young at heart. No one under 50 should try getting in unless accompanied by a legally aged date. Our bouncer, Steve, will ask to see some I.D.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. on April 13, 2006 at the Falmouth School Center (old middle school) and will last until 9 p.m. The theme for the evening is "A Moment in Time" and the colors are dark blue, purple, and silver. To ensure you of a memory spark, we would love for you to dress in semi formal to formal apparel, but if you are (like most teenagers) too picky for this option, we ask that you wear your "Sunday Best".

If you would like to attend this event, please R.S.V.P. to 654-3325 ext. 21. Leave your name and phone number. We ask that you call by April 11, 2006 in order for us to get an idea of how many will be coming. Hope to see you there!

Funding for this event has been provided by K.D.E. service learning grant.

By: Meagan Thompson.

Siren testing on Saturday, April 15

On Saturday, April 15th there will be a test of Pendleton County's outdoor warning sirens. The test will start at approximately 10 a.m. and conclude no later than 1 p.m.

The sirens will sound and depending on how the test goes, they may sound multiple times. Please do not take any action during this time period. If severe weather is forecast for that day, the test will not take place.

This test will be performed as a joint effort of the Northern Pendleton Fire Department, the Butler Fire Department, the Falmouth Fire Department, the Pendleton County 911 Dispatch Center, and the Pendleton County Office of Emergency Management.

Commencement and Class Night date changes

Due to the recent cancellation of school, Class Night will now be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2006 in the high school gymnasium. Commencement has been moved to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 in the gymnasium and Baccalaureate services will remain at 7 p.m. on May 21, at the Griffin Center.

Other headlines this week:

Fishermen make big haul at Cumberland Lake

Wildcats baseball team kick off 2006 season

Adam Hall makes P.C.H.S. history

Veterans honored by Oakland "Ridge Kids"

Man with ties to Falmouth meets the President

Jared Brewer returns from Iraq

Hammer Strength employees rescue trapped canine

Fiscal Court awards road resurfacing contract

And many more!!