'America's Funniest Professor' to Be Guest Performer at CofC Banquet

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
   Tickets are available now for this year’s Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet which will feature Dr. Carl Hurley, dubbed "America's funniest professor," as the guest entertainer.
  This year’s annual banquet is planned for Thursday, December 7 and will be held at Riverview Elementary-Middle School.
  Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. to be followed by the 2006 induction of the Buchanan County Hall of Fame nominee and the naming of the 2006 citizen volunteer of the year and chamber volunteer of the year.
  Tickets are $25 each, which includes dinner and the entertainment by Hurley to follow.
  Hurley grew up in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky and now resides in Lexington, Ky.
  Hurley believes humor is the best carrier for his message.
  He holds a bachelor of science degree and a master’s degree in industrial education from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctorate in education from the University of Missouri.
  A short biographical sheet on Hurley noted he spent several years as an educator in Kentucky and for eight years was a professor of education at EKU at which time he also coordinated the university’s secondary education program.
  He became a full-time speaker and entertainer several years ago and has been featured on what was formerly the Nashville Network; and has made numerous appearances on the Bill Gaither Homecoming Series and Public Television.
  His humor is heard regularly on the XM Satellite Network on Channel 151.
  He holds the professional designation of Certified Speaking Professional and was inducted by his peers into the National Speakers Association CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the EKU Alumni Hall of Fame and received an honorary doctorate from EKU.
  Ticket information is available by calling the chamber at 276-935-4147.

9-1-1 Call Center Officially Opens

  When the phone rang up Slate Creek Tuesday morning at the 9-1-1 office, it wasn't just any call coming in. Beginning Tuesday, emergency calls were routed to the 9-1-1 office for the first time.
  According to Coordinator Greg Clevinger, the switch by Verizon was made shortly after 8 a.m. and while things didn't go quite as smoothly as hoped, the job still got done.
  "In the first three hours we had some problems, but as the day went on, it smoothed out," Clevinger said. "We still have a few bugs in the system, but we are working diligently on those."
  In the meantime, however, the "bugs in the system" are not impacting service delivery and calls were being answered, handled and dispatched from the new office Tuesday.
  Clevinger said Verizon officials had worked well with the local office to address the problems which arose as the switchover on the lines occurred.
  In addition to routing calls dialed directly to 9-1-1, calls to the sheriff's office at 935-2313, as well as any placed to the Grundy Volunteer Fire Department began being routed through the office as well.
  Clevinger asked residents to please not call the number to test it, adding the lines need to be kept open for true emergency calls.
  While calls placed from most locations in the county go directly to the 911 office, Clevinger noted those placed from Council will route through an operator until E-911 comes on line and Verizon makes that switch.
  Residents in Council needing emergency service may dial 9-1-1 and will be connected with an operator who will transfer the call, or they may continue to use the sheriff's department number to go directly to the 9-1-1 office, Clevinger said.
  In the meantime, he said any resident or business countywide which has not yet received a 9-1-1 address may call his office at 935-8343 to get that address. Anyone who has moved or changed phone numbers in the past year should also call the office to update 9-1-1 records, Clevinger said.
  Currently, the implementation of E-911 service is pending post office review and approval of the master street address guide for Buchanan County which once approved will then be forwarded to Verizon for its work to make implementation of the enhanced service possible.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

Holiday Parade Rescheduled
December 9 Is New Date

  Santa Claus had a change in his schedule and as a result, the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled its Holiday Kick-Off Christmas parade to Saturday, December 9.
  Entries are being accepted now for the parade which will begin at 11 a.m. on that date and offer cash prizes to winning float entries.
  The theme is "The Music of Christmas."
  Among the special guests expected to take part in this year's parade is Santa Claus.
  Last year, with the buildings downtown boarded up, the chamber opted not to sponsor a parade, but this year announced plans to host one and to move the location from the downtown area, which is currently under construction, to the Grundy Plaza.
  Approval for the parade route was granted last month and will see the parade begin at the plaza and travel westbound on Rt. 460 to the Hoot Owl Bridge. Floats and other motor vehicle entrants will leave from the plaza, while marchers will join the parade at the old Advance Auto location.
  Floats, marchers, beauty queens, bands and vintage cars and trucks are being sought now as entrants. Motorcycles and four-wheelers are not allowed in the parade.
  Line-up will begin at 10 a.m.
  Entry fee is $10 for most entrants, however floats entering to be judged in the cash prize contest may enter for $25.
  A cash prize for floats will be offered with judging according to the theme. The first place winner will receive $300; second place, $200; and third place, $100.
  For more information, or to reserve a spot in the parade, interested persons may call the chamber at 935-4147, or stop by the office located in the Wachovia Bank building, second floor, suite 1001 at Royal City.