By DAVE TAYLORThe Trimble Banner

Law enforcement agencies from Kentucky and Indiana are posted at each end of the Milton-Madison Bridge to strictly enforce the new 3-ton weight limit.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet lowered the posted weight limit for the bridge from 15 tons to three tons based on new inspections that showed continued deterioration of the 82-year-old bridge.

Results of the latest inspec-tion were detailed during a meeting with law enforce-ment and emergency manage-ment officials from Trimble and Carroll counties at the Trimble County Extension Office on Thursday. Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Louisville District and Walsh Construction, the com-pany currently constructing the replacement bridge, discussed the necessity of keeping heavier vehicles from negotiating the bridge.

“Enforcement of the 3-ton weight limit is necessary to alleviate stress on the Milton-Madison Bridge and keep it open to passenger vehicles,” Matt Bullock, chief district engineer for the Department of Highways, Louisville District, said. “We appreciate the assis-tance of enforcement agencies from Indiana and Kentucky to help preserve this structure for passenger vehicles while the new

bridge is being built.”Only vehicles weighing less

than 3 tons will be allowed to cross the bridge. This “total vehi-cle weight” includes any attached loads or trailers. Transportation Cabinet officials encourage motorists to search the Web to find their vehicle’s curb weight, which is the actual weight of the vehicle without passengers or cargo. Any Internet search engine, with search terms “curb weight” and vehicle name, should yield the information.

Vehicles weighing over 3 tons will be turned back and must take an alternate route to cross the Ohio River. One vehicle pull-ing a trailer loaded with an auto-mobile was observed crossing the bridge early Tuesday with law enforcement in pursuit. Signs have been updated on regional routes to alert motorists to the lower weight restriction.

Special provisions have been coordinated with law enforce-ment and emergency service agencies to provide access for ambulances. Law enforcement in Kentucky will radio ahead to counterparts on the Indiana side to stop traffic and close the bridge in the event an ambulance needs to transport a patient to The King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. This routine is intend-ed only for emergency situations. Once the ambulance has negoti-ated the length of the bridge, normal traffic will be allowed to resume.

Ed Webb, Carroll County

Emergency Management Director, said: “Our ambulance people have been instructed to go by the bridge at Markland Dam if there is an emergency in Carroll County requiring trans-port to KDH in Madison.”

The 3-ton weight limit will remain in place while traffic is using the existing bridge. The weight limit will be increased to 15 tons once traffic is switched to a new bridge in its temporary alignment near the end of 2012. Once the new bridge is open

in its permanent alignment, the weight restrictions will be removed.

Construction began in early 2011 to replace the 20-foot-wide Milton-Madison Bridge. A new, 2,400-foot-long steel truss bridge will be built on temporary piers, then slid into place on the existing piers, which are being strengthened to meet modern standards. Once complete, the new wider bridge will lie with-in the footprint of the existing bridge.

Benjamin Ray Tharp, 55Mary M. Ricketts, 93

DEATHS P5

INSIDECalendar ............................. 3Church Directory ............... 5Classifieds ..................... 9-11Perspectives ....................... 4Public Records .................... 2Sports ..............................6-7

NEWSAT A GLANCE

Mar. 20 (actual) ..........25.9 ft.

Mar. 21 (forecast)........26.6 ft.

Mar. 22 (forecast)........29.6 ft.

Mar. 23 (forecast)........30.9 ft.

OHIO RIVER LEVELSat Markland Dam stationProvided by the National Weather Service

Trimble BannerTrimble BannerThe

75 cents 12 pagesVol. 129, No. 47 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 BEDFORD, KY.

3-ton limit strictly enforced

Dave Taylor/The Trimble Banner

New weight limit signs were in place shortly after the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Louisville Office announced the weight reduction on the Milton-Madison bridge last week. The lighted sign (insert) is located near the former Milton school.

FEMA assistance available to Trimble storm victimsBy KRISTIN SHERRARDThe Trimble Banner

Area residents who suffered damage to their homes or busi-nesses from the March 2 tornado and straight-line winds are eli-gible for federal and state assis-tance.

The first step is registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency either by calling (1-800) 621-FEMA (3362) or by applying online at www.disasterassistance.gov. The (1-800) number is available seven days a week from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

The deadline to register with FEMA is May 7.

After submitting an applica-tion, an inspector will come out to the property for an evaluation,

FEMA public information officer Renee Bafalis said. The inspec-tor will document the damage and send the report to FEMA, which will evaluate it and deter-mine if the family is eligible for assistance.

Types of FEMA assistance include temporary housing, money for medical expenses due to the storm and money for funeral expenses. “Things that help you get back on your feet,” she said.

Grant amounts vary case-by-case, but the maximum amount a family can receive is $31,400.

Registering with FEMA opens the door to other possible funding. The Small Business Administration provides loans to homeowners and renters, as

well as businesses, for losses not covered by insurance, Public Information Officer Jack Camp said in an interview Monday. Most people who apply to FEMA are referred to SBA, he said.

Statewide through March 19, SBA has issued 2,097 loan appli-cations and received 91 back, which are awaiting approval. There have been four applica-tions issued in Carroll County and five in Trimble County.

Those who sustained damage need to complete the application even if they do not want to take out a loan because not doing so could stop the assistance process, Camp said. There is no cost to apply, and they are not obligated to take the loan if they are eli-gible for it.

If they are not approved for the loan, they will be referred back to FEMA, which may be able to give them additional assistance, he said.

SBA loans are available to homeowners and renters at an interest rate as low as 1.875 percent and to businesses for as low as 4 percent, Camp said. The loan can extend to 30 years. Homeowners and renters can receive up to $200,000 for real estate and property loss and up to $40,000 for lost person-al property, including vehicles. Businesses can receive up to $2 million for their losses.

While FEMA assistance helps

Operation Preparation observed by local studentsBy DAVE TAYLORThe Trimble Banner

Eighth graders from the Trimble County Middle School and Trimble County High School sophomores received advice on Wednesday, March 14, on what they can do academically to pre-pare for college or career as part of Governor Steve Beshear’s proclamation declaring March 12-16 as Operation Preparation College and Career Advising Week.

The students met with trained community advisors to review their college and career plans and talk about:

·career aspirations and required education/training

·whether the student is on tar-get to meet his or her goals

·whether the student is taking the courses recommended to pre-pare him or her for the future

Community advisors meeting with the students represented

ASSISTANCE, Page 3

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Dave Taylor/The Trimble Banner

Trimble County Attorney Perry Arnold addressed a group of students at Trimble County High School Wednesday about a school career plan that would equip them for a career in the legal profession. Arnold was among a number of local community advisors who partici-pated in Operation Preparation College and Career Advising Week.

Terri Smith enters guilty plea

By PHYLLIS McLAUGHLIN

The Trimble BannerDuring a pretrial hearing Monday in Henry County Circuit Court, Terri L. Smith, 51, of Campbellsburg, waived her right to a jury trial and entered a guilty plea to one count of second-degree cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor.Smith, 51, was charged with 218 counts of second-degree cruelty to animals in December, after Henry County officials raided the property she and her husband, Kenneth H. Smith, 71, shared on Allyson Lane in rural Henry County. Officials confiscated 240 animals – including more than 100 dogs, nine horses, 54 rabbits and several cats, as well as dozens of gerbils, hamsters and hermit crabs from the site in the Dec. 12 raid.Terri Smith had been scheduled to take her case before a jury on March 29. That date was remanded by Judge Diana E. Wheeler in lieu of Smith’s plea.Kenneth Smith, who was facing the same charges, committed suicide on the property within days of posting bond on Saturday, Dec. 17. He was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head when a family member went to the property on Tuesday, Dec. 20.During the raid, most of the dogs were found in a single-wide trailer and an outbuilding on the property, housed in crates and cages stacked one on top of another and filled with feces and urine. Henry County Animal Control Officer Dan Flinkfelt said the veterinarian bill for bringing the animals back to health has surpassed $10,000. Most of the animals are being cared for in foster homes operated by animal welfare and rescue organizations in Henry and surrounding counties. County Attorney Virginia Harrod agreed to allow Terri Smith to regain custody of four animals in exchange for her guilty plea – two dogs and two horses. Harrod said Smith will be allowed to pick the specific animals, but has not yet done so.Terri Smith will be sentenced by Judge Diane Wheeler on April 16 at the Henry County Courthouse. Wheeler dismissed the other charges, meaning Smith could face up to 12 months in jail plus restitution and court costs.During Monday’s hearing, Harrod told the judge she understands that Smith has filed for bankruptcy and which may mean she will be unable to pay restitution; she

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