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Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Mayor Eddie Manning says a Subway restaurant will soon be opening in the city.

Addressing the Evarts City Council earlier this week, Manning said the restaurant will be located beside the Family Dollar Store on KY 38.

Subway is a submarine sandwich chain with more than 37,000 locations around the world.

“It looks like construction may begin as soon as the first of the year,” said Manning. “This will be our first name brand restaurant for the city. Hopefully, this will be the first of many to come. With the addition of this restaurant it will help our city in many ways.”

In other action, council members unanimously agreed to name their new city park in honor of 1st Lt. Carl Henry Dodd. Dodd was born in 1925 in Cotes and became a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. He died in 1996.

After entering the military service, while living in Kenvir, his meritorious action took place on Jan. 30 and 31, 1951 in Subuk, Korea while he was attached to Company E, 2d Bn, 5th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. He received the Medal of Honor at the Blair House in Washington, D.C. from President Harry S. Truman on May 19, 1951. He is buried in Laurel County.

Donations for a memorial plaque to be placed in the park may be made at city hall.

“This is the highest honor bestowed on a member of the military, and he is the only one in Harlan County, to the best of my knowledge, that has ever received this honor,” said Harlan County Sheriff Marvin Lipfird. “He was born and raised right here in the Clover Fork area.”

Police Chief Lupe Blas reported his department is looking at ways to make cuts and has begun condensing reports to one page when possible. They are also monitoring fuel usage. He said they are conducting frequent meetings looking for ways to better serve the city.

“Our police department wants to be leaders in this area,” said Manning. “They sit down and talk about ways to become more efficient. You’d be amazed at the initiative they take on their own — always looking for ways to help our city.”

Blas noted the department’s anti-bullying program is still in progress and his officers are visiting different classrooms at Evarts Elementary and Black Mountain Elementary schools presenting the program.

He said he is happy with the local participation in the city’s neighborhood watch program and he feels it is making an impact on the community.

“Our police and fire departments recently participated in Black Mountain Elementary’s career day program,” said Manning. “We’re really trying to make an impact on these kids through our police and fire departments — all the way around as a city and it’s working.”

Manning encouraged everyone to call a new police department hot-line, (606) 505-5266, if they see a crime in progress or have tips about drugs or other illegal activities going on in the city.

“We’re going to be even more aggressive in fighting the war on drugs in our city,” said Manning. “Our police department has made 41 DUI arrests this year, keeping your children and grandchildren safe.”

Fire chief Cledo Powers told council the Evarts Fire Department will participate in a countywide “Fill the Boot” project on Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. in the Walmart parking lot. The project will help raise money to fight muscular dystrophy. He also added he is taking toy donations for the fire department’s Christmas giveaway on Dec. 24 for children in the Clover Fork area.

After City Attorney Otis Doan read a Proclamation for cities and mayors in Kentucky — “A Moral Challenge” to Win the War Against Violence. Council approved this action. The challenge is to reduce violence by 10 percent in 2012 within the state.

A 2000 Crown Victoria police cruiser was declared surplus during the meeting. Manning said the vehicle will be appraised.

He added an offer has been made from the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office to purchase the surplus vehicle for the equipment and as a spare vehicle. He said this action will save the city $565 per year in insurance premiums on a vehicle that was not being used.

In conclusion, a special called meeting has been set for Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. to discuss ways to spend coal severance funds recently received by the city.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com