Friday, May 25, 2007

 

Missing Martin County Man Located.

Rescue crews throughout Martin County spent a part of the last two days searching for Quintin Jones. The 24 year-old Warfield resident was reported missing by a family member. They thought that he may have been in the Tug Fork. Chris Todd, Emergency Service Director for Martin County told EKB news that Jones contacted family by phone Thursday evening, and told them that he was safe. Todd said that Jones called from a home from nearby Mingo County.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

 

Several Automobile Accidents in Kentucky

The Kentucky State Police have told us about four separate automobile accidents. Two separate accidents occurred on US 23 in Floyd County. We have no further information on these accidents.

The KSP said that two other accidents happened on US 119 at Johns Creek. One minor injury was reported.

 

200 Coal Mining Jobs Saved

200 coal mining jobs in Logan County have been saved. Three environmental groups went to Charleston today to drop there challenge of a permit concerning a Logan County mountaintop removal mine. The lawyers for the environmental groups say that there clients decided not to challenge the permits after discovering the coal company’s fill had already buried the streams they sought to protect.

 

Theft of 911 signs in Mingo County are on the Rise.

Mingo County 911 Director Bill Davis says that unfortunately thefts of 911 street signs are on the rise. So far it has cost the county $3,000.00 to replace the signs. The 911 Director says that if you are caught stealing road signs you will be prosecuted. The purpose of the signs are to identify streets for emergency responders. Anyone having information regarding the missing signs you need to call the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department at 235-0300.

 

Three Seperate Accidents Occurred Thursday in Eastern Kentucky

Three separate automobile accidents have occurred this afternoon in eastern Kentucky. The Kentucky State Police told us that one wreck occurred on US 23 at Harold. That accident was reported to us at 3pm. Two separate accidents occurred at 2:17 pm Thursday on US 119 at Johns Creek. We have no further information at this time.

 

Two Pike Teenagers Will Stand Trial after Withdrawing Pleas.

Two Pike County teenagers have withdrawn there guilty pleas and now will stand trial in September. 18 year-old Jacob Ratliff and a 17 year old male will stand trial September 24. Pike County Circuit Court Judge Eddy Coleman will preside over the trial. The duo will stand trial on three felony counts criminal mischief, five misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and five counts of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty in Kentucky is a misdemeanor. The two teens withdrew there guilty pleas Thursday after Judge Coleman denied a plea deal. Ratliff and the 17 year-old are accused of shooting several horses, killing three at a strip mine site near Elkhorn City. They face up to 15 years of prison time if convicted

 

Mingo County Prosecutor Reprimanded

In a nine page ruling by the State of West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel reprimanded Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Sparks . The panel ruled that Sparks allowed subpoenas of financial records on then county commissioner Halcy Hatfield without his approval. The Disciplinary Counsel added formal discipline of Sparks is not appropriate under the circumstances. Back in 2005 Sparks and Sheriff Lonnie Hannah began investigating how federal flood recovery money was spent following county flooding in 2004. The investigation to this day has not produced evidence of wrong doing. Sparks told EKB news last year that that as soon as he was aware that the subpoenas were issued he stopped it. According to the complaint Sheriff Hannah was given the permission to act on the subpoenas without the prosecutors’ knowledge. Hatfield’s Attorney Mike Clifford says that he is concerned about his clients’ rights and that civil action could follow.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

 

Motorists Expect Traffic Delays on Chloe Road.

Motorists traveling Chloe Road expect short delays for the next seven to ten days. Road crews will be conducting patch and repaving work on Chloe. Road work is scheduled to begin Thursday.

 

US 460 to Re-Open Wednesday Evening.

Highway District 12 spokesperson Sara George says that US Route 460 is scheduled to re-open this evening at 6pm. The stretch of Highway from the Shelby Gap Bridge to Chloe Road has been closed for the past six weeks due to a pavement collapse. George Collins, project manager for Highway District 12 said that crews are scheduled to begin patch and paving work on Chloe Road. The road work to Chloe is scheduled to begin Thursday. Delays should be minimal. The work to Chloe Road should last any where from seven to 10 days.

 

Area Students honored at Academic Banquet

The Williamson Kiwanis Club hosted its 24th annual “ Top of the Class”Academic Banquet. Garianna Buckley and Elizabeth Moore graduating seniors from Pike County Central High School were honored as “ Best of the Best”.Chris Stirewait , political editor of The State Journal was the keynote speaker. Other students that were honored at the banquet includes; Belfry High School: Courtney Blackburn and Erin Newsome. Gilbert High : Dustin Blankenship. Matewan High: Katie Adkins, Amber Dillon and Krista Ratliff. Omega Bible Academy : William Carrico. Phelps High: Tiffany Coleman. Regional Christian School: Latishia Dillon. Sheldon Clark High School: Katherine Bentley, Elizabeth Fannin and Brian Slone. Tug Valley: Laura Adkins, Heather Hall and Elizabeth Mullins. Williamson High: Louie Olive and Jordan Hagy.

 

Pike County Shrine Club to Host Golf Outing This Friday.

The Pike County Shrine Club will host there first ever golf tournament Friday, May 25 at the Mountain Pub-Links Golf Course located at Lower John Creek. The event will begin at 9am. All money raised will go back into the Shrine Club. The club helps several hundred families a year. Members of the club transport children and there families to and from Shriners’ Hospitals in Lexington and Cincinnati. The Lexington facility is the orthopedic center, while the hospital in Ohio serves as the burn unit. Families don’t pay a dime. The Shrine club pays the bill. Shrine Club member Bud Kendrick says that they transport on the average three families per week .The majority goes to the Lexington facility. If anyone is interested in participating in the golf outing, for more information contact Kendrick at (606-754-9338), Aaron Justice (606-437-5058) or Bumper Jack (606-754-5047).

 

Three more Felony Drug Convictions.

The Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has three more felony drug convictions. The number of felony drug convictions is now 99. John McClive, Kontania Horne, and Dennis Oates pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

Horne and McClive are facing one to five years of prison time and a fine of $1,000.00. Oates faces a prison term of 1-15 years and a fine of $1,000.


Kenneth Lockhart pled guilty to a single count of attempted grand larceny. Lockhart broke into the house of a Williamson resident and was apprehended when he was attempting to steal electronic equipment. Lockhart is facing one to three years in a state correctional facility.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

 

Massey CEO Seeking To Have Himself Removed from a Lawsuit

Logan County Circuit Court Judge Roger Perry took no action today after a motion to dismiss a lawsuit. Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship filed a motion to be removed as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by the widows of coal miners Don Bragg and Elvis Hatfield. The men lost there lives in the Alma Number One mine fire 16 months ago. The plaintiff’s claim Blankenship was directly involved in the day to day production output out put of the mine.

 

Mayoral Candidate Challenging Voters Registration List

The Town of Delbarton’s election is three weeks away and questions have already been raised. Mayoral candidate John Ramey has challenged the votes of nearly 500 voters. The town only has 200-225 homes. Ramey told us that he challenged the votes of residents after he was given three different lists of voters’ registration from the Mingo County Clerks Office. Ramey was given the computer print out of the registered voters that vote in the Lee District. Ramey sat down with nine other Delbarton residents and studied the lists. They came up with 499 names of people that they believed to be ineligible to vote in the June 12th election. Representatives from the county clerks’ office told us that 15 people have came into there office verifying there residency in the town of Delbarton. The county says that they can’t breakdown the list of registered voters in the county to a list of voters that reside in the municipality. The reason is due to the new computer system that all 55 counties had to install. A spokesperson with the Secretary of State Office says there is a way to re-configure the list from the county to a municipality list. However, only a handful of counties have done so thus far. The Secretary of State says that it is the responsibility of the county clerk to provide a poll book which obtains the list of eligible voters. It is the responsibility of the poll workers to make sure that only eligible voters cast there ballot the poll worker can challenge a vote. Here is how the poll workers obtain there list of registered voters. The clerk will run off a printed list of voters in the Lee District. Then the poll workers will study the list and decide which residents are eligible to vote in Delbarton’s election.

 

Voter Turnout Reported Light Throughout Pike County

Pike County Clerk Lillian Pearl Elliot reports voter turnout throughout Pike County to be very light. Elliot estimates that between 10 to 13 percent of Pike County’s nearly 45,000 registered voters are expected to cast there vote. Elliot says that everything has run smooth throughout the county’s 57 precincts. All of Pike County’s 228 poll workers showed up on time. The only races that are up for grabs are statewide offices. The polls will remain open until 6pm. East Kentucky Broadcasting will provide election updates

 

Bond Set for Pike County Woman Accused of Shooting Man

Geraldine Addington, of McAndrews , remains lodged in the Pike County Detention Center. A full cash bond of $10,000 was set by Pike County District Court Judge Kelsey Friend Junior. The 64 year old is accused in the shooting of Larry Leedy. According to the criminal complaint, the defendant shot Leedy in the stomach after the two engagedin an argument. Leedy was transported to Cabell-Huntington Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.Addington was charged with assault.

 

Floyd County Coal Miner Killed

Kenneth Steele, age 47, of Tram was pronounced dead at the scene of a truck-train collision at Ivel in Floyd County . Apparently, Steele drove his rock truck into the path of an oncoming train. The truck belonged to Black Diamond Mining Company

Monday, May 21, 2007

 

Two Johnson County Men Indicted

Two Johnson County men have been indicted by a Pike County Jury. Darrell Edward May and Carl Cool have been indicted on several counts of possession and sale of stolen firearms. The joint indictment alleges that the two men aided and abetted each other in the receipt and possession of 13 stolen firearms. If convicted the two men face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

 

Pike County Clerk Scrambing to Find Poll Workers.

Registered voters from across the Commonwealth will travel to polls Tuesday to vote in Kentucky’s Primary Election. Voters will elect there party’s nominee for all state wide offices. Secretary of State Trey Grayson is predicting that only 10 to 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s registered voters will bother heading to the polls. Pike Pounty Clerk Lillian Pearl Elliot says that her office is having trouble coming up with the required poll workers for each precinct. Pike County is required to have 228 poll workers to cover the county’s 57 precincts. Each precinct is required to staff two Democratic and two Republicans as workers. Elliot added that her office would not know if the precincts will be properly staffed until Tuesday morning. They are 44,995 registered voters in Pike County, with 34,000 Democrats and just under 10,000 Republicans. The polls will be open Tuesday from 6am till 6pm. If a candidate for governor doesn’t garner the necessary 40 percent of the vote. Then they will be a runoff election in five weeks. Tune into the stations of EKB for election results.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

 

Relay for Life Raises Over $170,000

Pike County’s 2007 American Cancer Society Relay for life was held this past weekend at Pikeville’s Bob Amos Park . Sixty- one teams raised $175,080 for cancer research. One cancer survivor told us that it was very emotional for her to walk around the track. Floyd County had 30 teams to participate in there Relay for Life. As of Sunday night no official numbers have been released by the Cancer Society for the event in Prestonsburg. We will pass along those figures as soon as they become available.

 

Thefts at Cemeteries on the Rise in Floyd County

Memorial Day weekend is one week away. That’s when family members take time to remember loved ones that have already passed. Many of us pay respect by decorating grave sites. Floyd County Sheriff John Blackburn says that his office has investigated several complaints of thefts at cemeteries. Blackburn says that it is a problem that occurs each year. In most cases, the stolen items are taken to local flea markets where they sell them. The sheriff says that he advises people to wait until the actual Memorial Day holiday before decorating grave sites

 

Logan County BOE Names New Superintendent.

The Logan County Board of Education has selected a new Superintendent of Schools. Wilma Zigmond, Director of Curriculum will take over July 1. Outgoing Superintendent David Godby is retiring. Zigmond has been a long time educator in Logan County. Zigmond has served as principals of Logan Central Junior High and Logan High School

 

Gas Prices Continues to Soar

Gas prices throughout southern West Virginia have set records. This past weekend through out Mingo County gas prices for unleaded gasoline ranged from $2.29 to $2.39 per gallon. Logan County prices ranged from $2.29 to $2.35 per gallon. Gas prices in Logan County went as high as $2.45. Residents are fed up of paying higher prices at the pump. One resident told us that it costs him an extra $75.00 per week to go to work .While most people say they need to drive they told us that they have already cancelled vacation plans and they have had to alter there budget. This could result in people spending less at retailers.

 

Jobs Coming to Mingo County

Jobs coming to Mingo County, Weatherford International will soon conduct a job fair in an attempt to hire local residents. Mingo County Redevelopment Authority Director Mike Whitt says that the company is going to locate at the Buck Harless Industrial Park near Holden. Weatherford fracturing provides pumping services to natural gas and oil wells. The company is looking to hire anywhere from 40 to 50 people.

 

Police Agencies from Kentucky and West Virginia to Team Up with McDonalds

A press conference will be held at 4pm this afternoon at Kentucky State Police Post #9 in Pikeville. May is the designated month for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “ Click It or Ticket “Seatbelt Campaign. Police agencies from Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and officials from McDonalds will be on hand. The press conference will announce the second annual “ I’m Buckled Up and Lovin’ It” to promote safety belt awareness across the tri-state area. Last year in Kentucky , there were 913 highway fatalities. West Virginia had 411 fatalities. West Virginia’s seat belt usage rate is 85 percent. Statistics show that only 67 percent of Kentucky residents buckle up.

 

Pike County Circuit Court Judge Turns Down Plea Deal

Pike County Circuit Court Judge Eddy Coleman has rejected a plea deal for two former East Ridge High School students. Pike County Commonwealth Attorney Rick Bartley recommended a 30 day jail sentence, two years probation, 200 hours of community service and restitution for 18 year old Jacob Ratliff and a 17 year old male. The duo pleaded guilty last week to three felony criminal mischief charges, five misdemeanor criminal mischief charges and eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Ratliff and the 17 year old admitted that they drove to a strip mine near Elkhorn City and shot at a herd of horses, killing three. Since Judge Coleman has turned down the plea agreement the boys have two options. One they could withdraw there guilty pleas, or they could accept the punishment that the judge hands down. The felony charges carry penalties of up to five years in prison. Each misdemeanor carries up to one year of jail time. A status hearing has been scheduled for Thursday.

 

A Phone Call to Police Lands Sex offender in Jail

An anonymous tip from a Pike County woman has led to the arrest of a sex offender. The Pikeville Police Department apprehended 44 year old Matthew Schreiber of Oregon. According to police, Schreiber failed to notify authorities in Oregon that he was leaving town. Schreiber also failed to register himself on the sex offender list in Kentucky. The unidentified woman who called police said that she met Schreiber on the internet several weeks ago. The arrest occurred this past weekend at the city park.

 

Three Pike County Teachers Receive Awards

Three Pike County educators were recently honored in Campbellsville University’s 21st Annual Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Tammy Layne, a science teacher of 27 years from Phelps High School. Bonnie Gibson, a math teacher for the past 12 years from Virgie Middle School. Gina Ray, from Pike County Central High School, Ray has been employed at the school since 2001.

The purpose of the Excellence in Teaching Awards Program is to recognize the quality of teaching and learning taking place in the school systems throughout Kentucky.

Since the program’s inception in 1987, 2086 teachers have been honored by there colleagues.

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