Boil water advisory for Proctorville

PROCTORVILLE — Village residents are under a boil water advisory until further notice. A line break on Stanley Street near a fire hydrant caused the problem. All consumers must vigorously boil for at least one minute, any water used for drinking, including water used to make ice, cooking or oral hygiene.

The Proctorville Water System has no evidence at this time that the water system is contaminated, but the possibility does exist, the water department said in a statement. The department is collecting samples for testing and will notify the public when the advisory is lifted.

Church to honor retiring pastor

SOUTH POINT — The Sunrise Church of the Nazarene in South Point will mark the upcoming retirement of its pastor, the Rev. Denver Prater. Prater was pastor at Sunrise for the past six years and has led a variety of churches for 40 years, including parishes in eastern Kentucky.

The celebration will be Sunday at 10 a.m. with special singing by Kevin and Faye Pistole of Portsmouth. A dinner will follow the service.

After his retirement, Prater will be available for pulpit supply, special services and revivals. He can be contacted at 606- 739-0053.

Former teacher wins poetry honors

COAL GROVE — A one-time Dawson-Bryant teacher has been named Briggs Lawrence County Public Library’s poet laureate. Helen Webb won the honor for her poem “I Wonder” following the library’s month-long poetry contest in April. There were 24 poems entered in the contest. Webb taught at Dawson-Bryant until her retirement more than 20 years ago. She is a member of the Leatherwood Baptist Church, Deering Grange, Homemakers Society, Ohio Poetry Society and West Virginia Poetry Society.

Other winners were by Richard A. Heyward Jr for second place; Terri Botkins – third; Sharon Sark – fourth; Nancy Clark – fifth; and honorable mentions to Linda Chapman, Donna Kickel and Jane Bennett.

The winning poems are available at the Phyllis Hamner Genealogy Room at the Ironton branch of the library.

Gov. pitches schools plan on YouTube

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has launched a series of weekly video addresses on YouTube to promote his school reform plan. He says businesses and education groups will participate in future segments.

The talks will continue for several weeks. They will also be posted on Strickland’s school reform Web site.