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Local News

  • Next superintendent's college coaching ended with controversy

    Donald Smith is set to make history as the next superintendent of Marion County Public Schools.

    He will be the first African-American male to become a superintendent in the history of the state of Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

    But in addition to his academic background, Smith also served as the head football coach at Kentucky State University for three seasons, 2001-03.

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  • Civil War officer to be honored Sunday at the national cemetery

     At 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26, Major William H. Fiddler will be honored at the Lebanon National Cemetery.

    Fiddler was a field and staff officer for the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Calvary, and his body was never found after the SS Sultana, a paddlewheel steamboat exploded April 27, 1865. More than 2,200 Union soldier were on the steamboat that day.

    The program for the stone dedication will open with a musical selection by John Kalbfleisch, the senior vice commander of the E.P. Marrs Camp #5 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

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  • Changes coming to high school

    The announcement about the next superintendent wasn't the only news from the April 14 Marion County Board of Education meeting.

    Marion County High School Principal Taylor Schlosser and assistant principals Stacey Hall and Tammy Newcome spoke to the board about changes planned for next year.

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  • Smith makes history

    Donald Smith impressed members of the Marion County Board of Education with his energy and enthusiasm, and last week, they voted unanimously to offer him the chance to become the next superintendent of Marion County Public Schools.

    "The decision wasn't easy," board member Joe F. Mattingly said, "and there will be those in the district who will question our decision."

    But Mattingly was comfortable with the outcome of the superintendent search.

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  • Drug testing for students proposed

    Lisa Eubanks spoke with the board of education on behalf of the Marion County Heartland Safe Community Coalition about forming a committee to look at drug intervention programs for youth.

    Board chairwoman Sr. Kay Carlew said she would like board members and Donald Smith to review the information provided about drug intervention. Smith has been selected to succeed Roger Marcum as the next superintendent of Marion County schools.

    Part of the discussion included the possibility of drug testing for students, particularly those involved in extracurricular activities.

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  • Volunteering for the kids

    Desmond Spalding was honored earlier this year by the Women of Color as their 2009 Citizen of the Year. The award was a surprise to Spalding.

    "I was wondering why my wife kept asking me if I was going to dress up," he said.

    The award was presented to Spalding during the organization's annual Black History Celebration in February.

    Spalding, Jerry Evans and Jackie Furmon were named to the board of directors of the Marion County Youth Center, which was incorporated as a non-profit organization last summer by Mary Cowherd and Camille English.

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  • Lebanon Mayor Crenshaw in Louisville hospital

    Lebanon Mayor Gary Crenshaw is currently in Norton's Hospital in Louisville after he had a pulmonary embolism, a sudden blockage in a lung artery, last week.

    According to Lebanon City Administrator John Thomas, Crenshaw was doing okay as of press time, but he will be in the hospital a minimum of three to five days.

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  • Lebanon man faces federal drug charge

    Kenneth Wesley Hillman, 47, of Lebanon was indicted in federal district court for growing more than 100 marijuana plants on his property, according to acting U.S. Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky (in Louisville).

    If convicted, Hillman could be facing up to 40 years in prison, up to $2 million in fines and four years of supervised release. The minimum penalty for a conviction is five years in prison.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn Jr. is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.

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  • Smith named next superintendent

    In a unanimous decision, the Marion County Board of Education voted to name Donald W. Smith the next superintendent of schools.

    The board's vote authorized Chairwoman Sr. Kay Carlew to execute a contract for Smith. He will begin a four-year term July 1, and he will begin his Marion County career with a salary of $105,000 per year.

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  • 'A hometown kind of guy'

    After working next to Clellen Hayes for three and a half years, Gina Kirkland said he is different than any other ministers she's ever met.

    "I never knew a preacher could be so much fun," Kirkland said. "He was always ready for a laugh."

    Hayes is continuing his work as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Lebanon, but he retired as the Gravel Switch postmaster March 31. 

    Kirkland worked next to Hayes when she was an employee at the now-closed Gravel Switch branch of People's Bank. The bank shared a building with the post office.

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