EKB News

Federal Regulators say that the coal mine where five miners were killed in an explosion last spring in eastern Kentucky has been sealed and the mine abandoned. Kentucky Darby Mine No. 1 in Harlan County never resumed operations after the fatal blast May 20 and State and federal officials are still investigating. The company owes $5,110 for 41 violations not related the explosion, according to federal Mine Safety and Health Administration records. Neither the state nor MSHA has issued violations directly related to the explosion. The mine was sealed about Nov. 10, according to an MSHA spokeswoman. State and federal regulators denied that the abandonment could hamper efforts to collect fines, as some mine safety advocates suggested.

Police believe that the man apprehended yesterday in the Slaying of a Tram Woman knew the victim though they could not specify how well he knew her; this according to a statement from the Kentucky State Police, who yesterday arrested 44 year old Tony Ray Tackett of Printer charging him with Murder, Rape 1st degree and unlawful imprisonment. Tackett was arrested without incident yesterday morning outside a home in Printer and is being held in the Floyd County jail on $300,000 cash bond. He is scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 9. Police believe that Tackett was involved in the killing of 55 year old Margaret Hall of Tram, whose body was found April first off a strip mine road in the Harold Community. Floyd County Attorney Keith Bartley said Tackett has a long record of criminal charges, "the most serious of which were in the late 1980s and early 1990s and most of which were dismissed because of the failure of a grand jury to indict him." A third-degree rape charge against Tackett in 1993 was also dismissed, along with an arson charge in Pike County. While Police have charged Tackett in relation to the murder the investigation continues and they have not ruled out the possibility that other suspects may be involved. If you have any information you are urged to contact the KSP at 1-800-222-5555.

An Arrest has been made in an eight month old murder investigation in Floyd County. Just after 9 o’clock this morning officers with the Kentucky State Police located and apprehended 44 year old Tony Ray Tackett outside a home in the Printer area. Tackett was charged with Murder, Rape 1st degree and Unlawful imprisonment in connection to a body that was found off of a strip mine road on Big Branch in the Harold Community. According to state police, they were notified on April 1st that a body had been located. Later police positively identified the remains as that of 56 year old Margaret Hall of Tram. Hall had been reported missing at the end of March and had not been seen by anyone since March 18th. Police stated today that though an arrest has been made the investigation is still ongoing and that they have not ruled out the possibility that other suspects may have been involved. Police are asking for anyone who may have any information regarding the case to contact them at 1-800-222-5555.

A Stone Man is dead after a domestic disturbance turned fatal this morning. Around 11:30 post 9 of the Kentucky State Police received a call from 77 year old Josephine Mullins, who advised dispatchers that her son 51 year old Ronnie Mullins had assaulted her and then fled the scene. After Speaking with the victim, Trooper McClellan responded to Ronnie Mullins’ residence when upon his arrival, he noticed smoke coming from the trailer. Upper Pond Creek Volunteer Fire Department then responded assisting Trooper McClellan in entering the residence. Once inside they found Mullins dead of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. Josephine Mullins was transported to a local hospital where she received treatment for her injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police.

Pikeville Medical Center Holds Lighting Ceremony on Monday November 26. The Ceremony featured PMC President Walter May reading from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2. Christmas Music was provided by Saint Francis and Pikeville Independent Schools as well as PMC's own Misty Daniels.

An Inmate at the Pike County Jail is now facing more time after being caught with contraband. 34 year old Jennifer Hodges was charged with promoting contraband after returning to the jail from Thanksgiving furlough. Jail officials stated in the citation that during a pat down, they found a plastic bag containing approximately 40 cigarettes. She was originally being held on a charge of failure to appear and will now have to answer to the new charge during a pre-trial conference set for March 7th. Hodges remains lodged at the jail on a $2,000 full cash bond.

A Pikeville man was taken into custody after he allegedly walked into a grocery store drunk and tried to pass a bad check. 49 year old, William J. Ward IV, was apprehended yesterday morning after Food City reported him to the Pikeville Police Department for allegedly attempting to pass a bad check. According to the arrest citation, Food City management contacted the bank that the check was written on and found that it would not clear. Officers were summoned and upon arrival attempted to take Ward into custody. That’s when he allegedly put up a fight and had to be physically restrained by officers. The citation goes on to state that Ward couldn’t stand straight and had dilated pupils leading to a charges of public intoxication, theft by deception, resisting arrest and failure to surrender a revoked license. Ward is being held without bond due to numerous charges on his record including three DUIs, however a bond hearing was set for November 30th.

This Christmas season East Kentucky Broadcasting radio station 103.1 The Mix has partnered with the USO and Operation Care Package to be able to send gifts to our troops over seas.
“It a wonderful way for us to be able to show our support for our troops and we are proud to be involved with it!” stated Ted Meadows, program director for The Mix who got involved with Operation Care Package through syndicated radio morning show Bob and Tom, which airs on 103.1 The Mix, and has encouraged affiliates to get involved and help make a big push on the local level.
While traditionally concerned citizens would just send care packages through the mail to military bases overseas, the threat of terrorists attack forced the military to re-evaluate allowing packages to come from unnamed sources straight into the hands of our front line.
“Operation USO Care package was a program started after 9/11 following the anthrax threats, when the department of defense suspended the practice of allowing individuals to send anonymous care packages to any service member.” according to Jim Nedohon, director of Operation Care Package. “So in its place the USO created Operation USO Care Package to boost moral and provide a safe and secure way for the public to show support for our troops.”
Contributing to Operation Care Package is incredibly easy to do via the internet and will allow the USO to send care packages containing things such as international calling cards, disposable cameras, toiletries, sunscreen, and other items donated by various sponsors.
To show your support for our service men and women simply logon to wpke.com and click on the Operation Care Package logo. From there you can learn more about the program and make a $25 donation to sponsor a package. Once you sponsor a Care Package, you can even type a personal message of thanks and support, for those putting their lives on the line for America.

An early morning trip for breakfast ended at the Pike County Jail for a Harold Man. He has been accused of urinating on a truck in a restaurant’s parking lot. Around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, 23 year old Andy Hall, was at the Pikeville Huddle House when a Pike County Sheriffs Department Deputy spotted him urinating on a vehicle. According to the arrest citation Hall was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, slurred speech and had the smell of alcohol on his breath. Hall was taken to the Pike County Detention center and has been released on a $2,000 surety bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 12.

Citizens going into the Pike County Hall of Justice are now able to enter through the front entrance, which had been under construction for most of the past year. The new front entrance for the hall of Justice was part of a multi- million dollar renovation which allowed for expanded room in the Pike County Jail. According to jail officials, though work is complete on the new addition, they have yet to house any inmates as they are waiting on the final inspection. The facility, which use to house 143 inmates, will now have the capacity to hold 299 inmates, which officials hope will alleviate some of the jails over crowding. The expansion also allowed for the addition of two new offices to the jail. The front of the new court house opened up last week and anyone entering the Hall of Justice will need to pass through the medal detectors located at the front facing the old courthouse.