EKB News

Attorney General Greg Stumbo said during an interview today that he will not run for governor. Stumbo, a Democrat, said he plans to seek a second term as the state’s chief law-enforcement official but has “one more option” to consider, and will decide by Monday which office he’ll seek this year. He did not deny that he might run for lieutenant governor as someone’s running mate. Asked about this year’s already-crowded field of candidates in the governor’s race, Stumbo said he thinks former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry is the front-runner at this time.

Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher stoutly defended his accomplishments at a political forum today while his political rivals argued that Kentucky still lags behind in education and economic expansion. Fletcher and five gubernatorial challengers had their first face-to-face meeting at the forum sponsored by the Kentucky Press Association in Louisville. Notably absent from the discussion was any direct mention of Fletcher's political baggage - an investigation of whether his administration illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs. Fletcher, the first Republican governor elected in more than 30 years, said when he took office he inherited a massive budget deficit, a broken Medicaid system and an outdated tax system. Fletcher took credit for more jobs, more roads and education initiatives in Kentucky. Democrat Steve Beshear, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, said Kentucky has failed to turn around its historically low national rankings in job creation, education and health under Fletcher's stewardship.

Former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear was quoted as saying today that after two consecutive governors have pardoned their friends caught up in legal troubles, Kentucky needs to amend its constitution to limit future governors' amnesty powers to prevent pardons before someone has been convicted of a crime. Beshear who is seeking the Democratic nomination, said pre-emptive pardons such as the blanket amnesty Gov. Ernie Fletcher bestowed on members of his administration have dissolved the public's trust of government. Beshear urged state lawmakers to put a constitutional amendment before voters that would limit that pardoning power. Beshear also stated that when our leaders break the law and abuse the public trust, they should be held accountable just like regular citizens. Beshear is one of six Democrats seeking the nomination for governor in the May 22 primary.

Two men are behind bars in Pike County on charges of trafficking in a controlled substance after officers responded to a residence in regards to a suicide complaint. 46 year old Timmy D. May of Raccoon RD and 23 year old Jason P. Smith of Raccoon were taken into custody around 7:00 PM yesterday after a Trooper with the Kentucky State Police responded to a home on Raccoon RD after dispatchers received a call regarding a possible suicide attempt. Once the officer arrived he found the two men allegedly participating in illegal drug activity and according to the arrest citation, heavily impaired. The officer stated that pills were allegedly exchanged between the two and that May was in possession of a large sum of money. The two were lodged at the Pike County detention center on a charge of trafficking in a controlled substance and both plead not guilty this morning in front of Pike County District Judge Kelsey Friend.

A Perry county man is behind bars after being arrested earlier this week by operation UNITE for allegedly selling methadone. 59 year old Elmer D. Combs of Gregory Branch Road was apprehended following an investigation by undercover officers with UNITE, who allegedly purchased methadone wafers from Combs. According to UNITE officials that transaction lead to officers obtaining a warrant to search Combs’ resident, yielding more methadone tablets, xanax tablets, $450 in cash as well as a .40-calibur handgun. Combs was lodged in the Kentucky River regional Jail on a charge of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Early this morning law enforcement officials representing The Pike County Sheriffs office, the Pikeville Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement and Operation UNITE set out in search of 36 individuals wanted on indictment warrants handed down by the Pike County grand jury.

According to Dan Smoot Law Enforcement director for Operation UNITE their agency spent months investigating street level drug dealers and conducting undercover drug buys. Their investigations lead to the indictments, which were handed down in December and were served today by multiple agencies all working together, which Executive Director Karen Engle praised during a morning news conference.

This was the fifth drug round-up conducted in Pike County by Operation UNITE, has resulted in 86 arrests, not counting todays arrests. As of 2:00 this afternoon 16 of the 36 wanted in today’s round up had been apprehended and booked into the Pike County Detention Center. The Kentucky State Police charged one of the suspects taken into custody today with additional charges. 41 year old Arnold Wolford Jr. of Stopover was also charged with menacing and carrying a concealed deadly weapon after State Troopers had to allegedly convince Wolford to put away a knife that he had in his hand at the time officers confronted him with the arrest warrant. Those arrested today are only accused of drug related crime and are considered innocent until otherwise proven in court of law.

Those arrested as of early Tuesday afternoon were:

€ Dena P. Adkins, age 43, Fife Fork Road, Pikeville, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ David Lendall Akers, age 29, Road Fork, Pikeville, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ Ronnie Lee Bartley, age 50, Powell¹s Creek, Pikeville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana less than
8 ounces.

€ Fred Charles Jr., age 40, Greasy Creek, Shelbiana, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

€ Milford Junior Hall, age 50, East Shelbiana Road, Shelbiana, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ Ray David Hamilton, age 52, Red Creek, Pikeville, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

€ James E. Holstein, age 55, Bridgett Street, Pikeville, three counts trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces and three counts trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

€ Jonathan Ellis Holstein, age 29, Rocky Road, Pikeville, three counts trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces and three counts trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

€ Buffy Nicole Kender, age 34, Kender Road, Mouthcard, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ Hodge Allen McClanahan, age 25, Beach Creek, Jamboree, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ Robbie Newsome, age 24, Lick Branch, Virgie, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ Larry Heath Phillips, age 33, Hens Roost, Steele, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ William R. Sullivan, age 45, Little Hackney Creek, Feds Creek, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in a simulated controlled substance.

€ JoAnn Trump, age 40, Greasy Creek, Pikeville, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

€ Arnold Wolford Jr., age 41, Willows Branch, Stopover, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, menacing and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

€ Charles Worrix Jr., age 35, Right Fork Island Creek, Pikeville, trafficking in a simulated controlled substance.

Former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry entered the Democratic race for governor today, stressing health care, education, jobs and veterans’ issues. He introduced Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator Renee True as his running mate. Henry, a Louisville orthopedic surgeon, served as the state’s second in command for two terms under Gov. Paul Patton, from 1995 to 2003. Henry said that if elected, he would push to raise Kentucky teachers’ pay to the national average and expand math and science curriculum. He said he would lead efforts to develop and expand alternative fuels to boost Kentucky’s coal and agricultural sectors.

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a 75-year-old Republican from Kentucky, intends to seek re-election in 2010. "I'm one of the young guys up here," Bunning, R-Ky., told reporters in a telephone call Tuesday morning from Washington. If re-elected, Bunning would be 79 when he is sworn in for his third term in the Senate. He would be 85 at the end of the term. Bunning said several other senators are older than him pointing to U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who is 89 and serving as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He said at least three other senators who are over 80 and still serving.

Big Sandy Community and Technical College is encouraging anyone who wants to learn about the coal industry to come to an informational fair on the coal industry being held this week. The coal career fairs will be taking place Tuesday and Thursday of this week with both starting at 5 pm. Tuesday’s information fair will be taking place on the Mayo campus in Paintsville and Thursday’s fair will be at the Pikeville campus. Both will provide valuable information about the coal industry according to school officials and are geared towards those interested in starting a career in the coal industry. For more information on the coal career fairs call (606) 788-2947

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning endorsed Anne Northup in her bid for governor today, giving the former congresswoman a boost in her race against Gov. Ernie Fletcher in the Republican primary. Bunning a republican from Kentucky announced his preference in states GOP gubernatorial primary during a breakfast in Washington DC sponsored by the Kentucky Right to Life Association in Washington. The endorsement comes days after Northup entered the governor's race and introduced Jeff Hoover, the top Republican in the Kentucky House, as her running mate. Northup served five U.S. House terms from the Louisville-area 3rd District until losing to Democrat John Yarmuth in last November's election. In 2003, Fletcher ran with the GOP establishment firmly behind him in becoming Kentucky's first Republican governor in a generation. But Fletcher's term has been marred by an investigation into whether his administration illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs after he took office.

Arena Cross Bikes Take to the Sky at Eastern KY Expo Center: