WAYNE ALLEN
PDT Staff Writer
In November 2010 the Indian Head Rock was transported from the Portsmouth city garage by Kentucky authorities to the Greenup County garage for what was intended to be temporary storage.
According to Greenup County Judge Executive Robert Carpenter, the rock remains in the Greenup County garage. He said he hopes of one day displaying the contentious and historic rock somewhere in South Shore.
Carpenter said he hopes that when South Shore builds a new city building the rock can be incorporated into the design. Carpenter has been in conversations with South Shore Mayor Cheryl Moore on how best to do that.
“I think it belongs in the South Shore area. We are just waiting until we figure out some way to properly display it, in the South Shore area,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter has formed a committee of local residents to help decide how to best accomplish that.
“The best idea we’ve come up with is trying to incorporate it into the new South Shore city building. Until that happens or someone comes up with a better idea it will remain in the garage. We are certainly open to any and all ideas, as long as it’s displayed in the South Shore area,” Carpenter said.
The rock was removed from the Ohio River in 2007, allegedly when Steve Shaffer of Ironton led a team, including David G. Vetter of Portsmouth, to remove it.
The rock was removed, reportedly because it was in danger of being damaged or lost forever.
Shaffer and Vetter were even facing charges and a lawsuit at one point for removing the rock, which is considered an object of antiquity in Kentucky.
Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.
“The best idea we’ve come up with is trying to incorporate it into the new South Shore city building. Until that happens or someone comes up with a better idea it will remain in the garage. We are certainly open to any and all ideas, as long as it’s displayed in the South Shore area,” Carpenter said.
I've got an idea, judge. Instead of being jerks and trying to put Shaffer and Vetter in jail, you could at least have the decency to thank these men for going to the trouble of finding and retrieving the rock from the bottom of the river.
I believe that Vetter and Shaffer should be considered heroes for their accomplishment, even if was wasted due to the politicians of Kentucky.