Local News

Money is tight and pennies have to be pinched in Dry Ridge just like most cities across Kentucky.

The Dry Ridge City Council recently approved a more than $1.7 million general fund budget for 2009-10 that includes funding cuts to almost every department.

“I think most of the departments are pretty well stripped,” Cindy Harris, city clerk, said during the council meeting. “There isn’t any fat, particularly in public works or in the police department at all.”

An unexpected and drastic increase of felines at the Grant County Animal Shelter may lead to the euthanization of some kittens if adoptions do not increase.

The shelter normally has around 40 cats and kittens up for adoption at a time, said Brent Caldwell, interim director.

That number has jumped to more than 150 recently, forcing the shelter to scramble to find them homes as soon as possible.

“One truck brought 20 cats in,” Caldwell said. “We haven’t figured out why we’re getting so many so quick.”

Keeping a watchful eye on the steady stream of cars delivering precious cargo to the doors of Williamstown schools, Charles Ed Wilson checked his watch.

“Just want to see how this new traffic pattern is working out,” he shouts to a parent.

That’s Wilson – not afraid to get dirty or down in the trenches for the sake of students.

He’s been described as tenacious, intelligent, hard working, honest, caring, dedicated and supportive.

It took a long time for Jouett Faulkner to talk about the harrowing events of June 6, 1944.

What became known as D-Day in history books, was a real life nightmare on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France for the Dry Ridge resident.

“It was a mess, a total mess. You try to forget it when you first come out,” Faulkner said. “But, it all comes back. You don’t even want to talk about it. It was a long time before my wife even knew I made that landing.”