The water may be barely in hollering distance, but Pulaski County Park near Nancy will open as usual on April 1.
Pulaski County Judge-Executive Barty Bullock said everything is ready to continue the normal operating schedule for the park during the upcoming tourist season. Extra efforts are being made because Lake Cumberland is being kept about 43 feet below the tree line to ease pressure on Wolf Creek Dam, classified as being in “high risk” of failure.
The more than 600-acre park, the only county-operated facility of its kind on Lake Cumberland, will look the same, yet differently, this summer. The lake can be seen at a distance but deep blue waters no longer lap at its scenic shores.
Picturesque Fishing Creek, still slightly swollen by the impoundment, has shrunk toward its natural banks. This leaves the park’s two boat ramps out of the water and probably not fixable until the lake level returns to normal.
The swimming area is dry and most of the water in the vicinity of the park probably is not navigable.
“But it’s still beautiful,” commented Rodney Dick, a county supervisor who took a reporter on a tour of the park. “The water is not deep enough to launch a boat, but you can still fish,” he added.
Dick and Bullock want everybody to know that the park will be open for business this summer. Dick pointed out that improved camping sites have new electrical outlets and freshly graveled roads and parking spots for recreational vehicles.
Vickie McQueary, manager of the park, said reservations are already coming in. She said about 1,000 members of a state bow hunters group are expected at the park in mid-April, and “ ... we’ve taken a lot of reservations for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.”
McQueary said between 1,000 and 2,000 people use the county park on an average summer weekend and the number approaches 5,000 during holiday periods.
Dick, while touring the park with a reporter, pointed out a new fish-cleaning station, bathhouse with restrooms and a coin laundry, and various improved parking areas.
“While the water is low, we plan to improve the parking at the beach, Dick said.
The point is that the county park is ready for visitors, Dick reiterated. “It’s still remote, it’s still beautiful and a wonderful place to spend a summer’s day,” he concluded.
The park is open from April 1 through October 31.
Local News
Related Photos
-
These signs at the entrance to a Pulaski County Park boat ramp were posted long before Lake Cumberland was lowered because of problems at Wolf Creek Dam. The Fishing Creek area around the park still has a considerable amount of water, but the boat ramps are not usable. Bill Mardis photo
Pulaski County Park will be open — but with less to do
- Local News
-
- Trial delayed for parents charged with trafficking daughters
-
Wolf Creek Dam renovation on target for Summer 2014 completion date
-
Burnisde may soon move to fourth-class status
-
McGaha didn’t approve farewell letter
-
Refinery to re-open in early summer
- Downtown road work running ahead of schedule
-
Board upholds principal’s demotion
-
Fast-moving blaze guts mobile home off Slate Branch Road
-
Big Bang Theory
Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
The Health Department doesn’t operate the cannons unless there is a specific complaint in an area where there are lots of birds, Spillman noted. He said so far this year the birds are not as bad as in the past. -
Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
- More Local News Headlines
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
