EKB News

Motorists will have to find detours on Monday, March 31, for the railroad crossings at Boldman and Harold. Both crossings will close at 8 a.m. and remain closed until 7 p.m.

“By the end of the day the goal is to have Harold finish with new asphalt and Boldman finished with packed rock. We will blacktop at Boldman on Tuesday, April 1,” said John Fortune, Appalachian Division Roadmaster for CSX.

Due to the number of crossings, Fortune said, time and weather have not permitted the track crew to finish everything as quickly as anticipated. “The Old Wagner Station crossing and the main one between Mossy Bottom and Broadbottom as well as the private crossing through Broadbottom will be blacktopped next week,” he said. “Ford’s Branch through Pauley Addition and Coal Run Hill are all complete.”

Fortune said the crossing at Ivel may close on Wednesday, April 2. The goal is to complete refurbish the crossing and put down new asphalt within one day.

Fortune expressed special thanks to Frank Hatcher, Pike County Road Foreman, and Gary France of the Pike County Road Department for their traffic control work over the past several weeks. “Joe Stanley and the highway crews from District 12 are always helpful, too,” he said, “and we couldn’t do the work as quickly as we do if it weren’t for the help of state and county road crews.”

This track and crossing work are part of a 57-mile refurbishing project in Pike and Floyd counties that involves 98 crossings and 25,000 railroad ties. Work began March 10 and is expected to last at least a month, with the track crew working Monday through Thursday, four-day weeks, for sometimes as long as 16 hours a day. Highway District 12 maintenance workers, Pike and Floyd county road department workers, and street crews from Pikeville have assisted in traffic control at crossing in their respective areas.

Rising costs have made the future of 25 Pike County volunteer fire departments uncertain, according to Firefighter Association President Randy Courtney. He says costs to operate have tripled in the past several years.

The cost of equipment must be approved by NFPA and items cost more than in the past. The Island Creek department sends out letters each year asking for $35 to help and they want to make it mandatory throughout the county.

The say the price is cheap, compared to losing a home. Fire officials plan to propose the fee ordinance to the fiscal court within a month.

They're considering incentives like discounts on water and trash bills to recruit new volunteer firefighters.

A forest fire that started in the Pilgrim area of Martin County, has spread to parts of Pike County. Foresters say it started as five small fires and in just 24 hours spread into the two counties, covering nearly 2000 acres.

Crews are working around the clock, and officials say it was started by arsonists.

Twenty people were recently indicted by a Pike County grand jury.

One of the people that had chaqrges brought against him was Louie Clinton Gauze II , 36, of Huddy. Gauze was arrested last week by the Pike County Sheriff's Department. Authorities believe that he is responsible for stealing six hundred feet of telephone line in the Millard area. Gauze has been charged with receiving stolen property wcich is a Class D Felony.

An inmate in the Pike County Detention Center that was busted a few months ago for having a family member smuggle drugs into him has been indicted.

Nicholas R. Ortega, 38, and a family member Mary Conley Ortega Akers, 37, of Pikeville face four drug charges.

Count I First degree trafficking in a controlled substance including cocaine and oxycontin ( Class C Felony ).

Count II Second degree trafficking in a controlled substance including Lorcet ( Class D Felony )

Count III Third degree trafficking in a controlled substance including clonazepam ( Class A Misdemeanor )

Count IV Possession of Drug Paraphernalia ( Class A Misdemeanor )
................................................................................................................................................................

Steven M. Adkins, 35, of Elkhorn City

Count I : Theft by unlawful taking ( Class A Misdemeanor )

Count II : Eight counts of forgery ( Class D Felony )
.....................................................................................................................................................................

Stephanie N. Sparks, 27, of Pikeville

Charges stem from smuggling contraband into the Pike County Detention Center.

Count I : First degree promoting contraband ( Class D Felony )

Count II : First Degree possession of controlled substance ( Class D Felony )

Count III : Third degree possession of a controlled substance.
...................................................................................................................................................................

Michael Sergent, 31, of Nicholasville

Count I : First degree possession of controlled substance ( Class D Felony)

Count II : Possession of marijuana ( Class A Misdemeanor )
.................................................................................................................................................................

Joseph M. Ball, 26, of Pinson Fork

Matthew L. Dillon, 24, of Stone

Count I : Second degree burglary

Count II : Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
...............................................................................................................................................................

Barry N. Abshire, 44, of Phyllis

Operating a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration of or above .08 or while under the influence of alcohol- 4th offense - Class D Felony
.......................................................................................................................................................................

Ireland Slone, 28, of Pikeville

Count I : Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony)

Count II : Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants ( Misdemeanor )

Count III : Receiving stolen property : Class A Misdmeanor

Count IV : Possession of marijuna Class A Misdemeanor

Count V : Possession of drug paraphernalia Class A Misdmeanor
..............................................................................................................................................................

Debra Fouch, 57, of Belfry

Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
................................................................................................................................................................

Deborah B. Thacker, 45, of Harold

Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
................................................................................................................................................................

Teresa Moss, 51, of Auxier

Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
..................................................................................................................................................................

Misty Tackett of Regina

Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
...................................................................................................................................................................

Jody Pruitt, 32, of Pikeville

Count I : Second degree burglary ( Class C Felony )

Count II : Theft by unlawful taking ( Class A Misdmeanor )

Count III : Four counts of second degree forgery ( Class D Felony )
................................................................................................................................................

Rita Belcher

Ronnie Belcher

First degree criminal mischief ( Class D Felony )
........................................................................................................................................................

Douglas Webb , 39, of McVeigh

First degree promoting contraband ( Class D Felony )
.............................................................................................................................................................

Billy Gibson

Receiving stolen property ( Class D Felony )
.................................................................................................................................................................

Brad Justice, 33, of Elkhorn City

Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
...................................................................................................................................................................

Johnny Rowe, Virgie

Theft by unlawful taking ( Class D Felony )
..................................................................................................................................................................

An indictment in only an accusation

In order to make way for a new bridge to be constructed, the Red Jacket post office is being relocated.The United States Postal Service signed a deal Monday with contractors to build a new building.The West Virginia Department of Transportation has purchased a piece of property from the Red Jacket Kiwanis Club. The site was formerly a playground.According to USPS Media Relations Specialist David Walton, groundbreaking on the new site is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, on March 31.
The West Virginia Division of Highways is planning to straighten Mate Creek Road and remove a bridge that was built in the 1930s. In order for this to be done, the building which houses the post office has to be torn down.Walton said if everything goes according to plan, the new facility should be completed and operating by Aug. 18.The building that now houses the post office is a modular unit, but the new building will be built from the ground up, and will measure approximately 1,000 square feet.The Red Jacket Post Office currently serves approximately 264 customers, but has the capability to serve more.A representative of the Secretary of Transportation’s office said that any information about the bridge would have to come from the district engineer’s office in Huntington. Calls to District Engineer Steve Runyon’s office were not immediately returned.

Courtesy of Tony Christian staff writer Williamson Daily News

Earl Hager of Logan was inducted into the West Virginia Hall of Fame.

The 98 year-old was honored Thursday by Secretary of State Betty Ireland during a ceremony at the Logan County Courthouse.

The Voter Hall of Fame recognizes state citizens who have voted in every General Election for the last 50 consecutive years.

Hager served from 1953 to 1973 in the WV House of Delegates and he also worked for 41 years in the Logan County School System as a teacher and principal

An eastern Kentucky coal company was cited Thursday by the Office of Mine Safety stemming from the death of a coal truck driver that died in January at the Blue Ridge Surface Mine in Letcher County.

The investigation concluded that the death of 29 year-old Roy D. Sturgill could have been prevented if Cumberland River Coal had followed proper procedures.

Sturgill died after his truck backed over a dumping point and continued down the slope.

The inspection found the barrier that was supposed to prevent Sturgill’s truck from tumbling over the wall was not adequate and that the foreman in charge did not ensure work was being done safely.

A Logan County coal miner on his way to work Thursday morning died from head injuries he received while trying to be a good samaritan.

Ricky Collins of Logan was on his way to the Freeze Fork Surface Mine which is located at Ethel. When Collins came to the Stollings Underpass he noticed a 18 wheel rig stuck and blocking traffic. The 44 year-old got out of his vehicle and was guiding the driver of the rig on how to make a right turn, suddenly a piece of equipment broke loose from the rig and struck Collins in the head and face. The Logan County Sheriff’s Department says that the investigation concluded that the mishap was a freak accident and that the victim was trying to do a good deed.

FRANKFORT, KY (March 27, 2008) -- Attorney General Jack Conway today thanked the Senate Judiciary Committee for unanimously passing House Bill 367, legislation that he drafted, which was sponsored by Rep. Johnny Bell (D-Glasgow), that strengthens Kentucky laws prohibiting internet child predators, cybercrimes and other modern law-enforcement challenges.

“I want to thank Sen. Robert Stivers (R-Manchester), the chair of the Judiciary Committee, for his leadership from day one on this important issue,” General Conway said. “Thanks to his leadership and the support of Sen. David Williams (R-Burkesville), we have a chance to bring our laws up to date with changes in technology and put together a bill that will help keep Kentucky families safe. I appreciate the good faith and bipartisan manner in which this bill was handled. It’s simply about protecting children in every corner of Commonwealth.

House Bill 367 will now be considered by the full Senate.

House Bill 367
House Bill 367 prohibits registered sex offenders from using social-networking websites that are frequented by minors, like MySpace and Facebook. Passage of this bill will allow Kentucky prosecutors to criminally charge sex offenders removed from the sites. Since May of last year, MySpace has removed the profiles of 40,000 sex offenders; 350 of those were from Kentucky.

The legislation also requires that sex offenders update their email addresses and online identifiers with the registry in a similar fashion as they update their physical addresses. The email addresses and online profiles will be available in a searchable database that will be accessible to the public. Email addresses will be removed from individual pages on the registry because of the concern that sex offenders may use these email addresses to communicate with each other or create online communities. These changes will bring the registry into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

The bill amends Kentucky’s stalking statute to include cyberstalking, recognizing that threats or harassment can take place online and in person.

The the loophole in current law by clarifying that is a crime for a person to transmit live sexually explicit images of themselves to minors over the Internet via webcam or other technological devices.

Police will also be able to seize personal property, such as a computer or car, which has been used in the commission of online sexual offenses against children.

In addition to the cybersafety legislation, Attorney General Conway has pledged to create an Internet Crimes Unit that will be operational this spring. The group will investigate crimes committed online, from scams to solicitation of minors.

For more information about cybersafety, visit http://www.ag.ky.gov/

Larry Thomas Ramey of Elkhorn City pleaded guilty in federal court for the role he played in a cocaine ring in Pike County.

Ramey admitted he was going to sell 500 grams of cocaine and also he was charged with being in possession of a firearm.

Ramey will be sentenced on June 10, and could receive life in prison..

Justin Frank Moon the former North Mayo Trail Branch Manager of U.S. Bank pleaded guilty in federal court to altering bank records.

Moon was fined $ 3,000 and will serve 30 days in a federal prison.

The crime occurred two years ago.

The Delbarton Police Department captured a fugitive late Wednesday night. Eric Lee Martell of Kalamazoo, Michigan is being held without bond at the Southwestern Regional Jail awaiting extradition back to the Wolverine State where he faces a third degree felony DUI charge.

Authorities say they spotted him driving a vehicle. He was apprehended on the parking lot of the Delbarton One Stop.

The Delbarton Police Department received a tip earlier this week from authorities in Michigan that the 30 year-old was in Mingo County where he has family members.

The Tug Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold there 14 Annual Auction Thursday night beginning at 6 p.m. from the Williamson Fire Department.

The auction is the chapter’s largest fundraiser of the year..

Executive Director Paul McCallister says that they are hoping to raise $ 75,000 through July to cover operating expenses. Last year the local chapter gave $ 13,000 in assistance to disaster victims.

Work at the main crossing from Mossy Bottom to Broadbottom will continue. John Fortune, Appalachian Division Roadmaster, said that some unforeseen problems at this crossing means that it will be “rocked in” for this weekend and not blacktopped until next week.
All crossings will be closed from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. in Pike County .

In Floyd County , Roadmaster Jay Rutherford said that work will begin Wednesday, April 2, on all crossings from the west end of Martin to Allen. Work in Floyd County involves 11 crossings, three of them public and the rest private. Track crews in Floyd County will work from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day Wednesday through Friday. Rutherford said the three public crossings include one at the golf course at Stumbo Park , one on County Road 1070, and one near the CSX office in Martin. “We are working with school transportation officials to make sure that children are transported safely across the tracks while they are closed. We will make sure that children are escorted and work is halted while students are crossing the tracks,” Rutherford said.

He and Fortune both thanked the residents of Pike and Floyd counties for their cooperation and patience. “People have been great,” Fortune said. “This work causes temporary inconvenience, and we try to make it as ‘temporary’ as possible. We just want to thank everyone for being so understanding.”

The track and crossing work are part of a 57-mile refurbishing project in Pike and Floyd counties that involves 98 crossings and 25,000 railroad ties. Work began March 10 and is expected to last at least a month, with the track crew working Monday through Thursday, four-day weeks, for sometimes as long as 16 hours a day. Highway District 12 maintenance workers, Pike and Floyd county road department workers, and street crews from Pikeville have assisted in traffic control at crossing in their respective areas.

Pike County’s five-year solid waste plan, which has roots dating back to 1984, according to Pike Solid Waste Coordinator Mike Lyons, was recently given a green light in Frankfort.

Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford commended the state in working with the county in seeing the 2008-2012 plan approved.

“We’re glad to have approval on the solid waste plan,” Rutherford said. “They’ve always been good to work with and always been very understanding when we have needed to amend it.”

County officials have initiated numerous efforts relating to solid waste, including, of course, countless PRIDE cleanups, recycling awareness and a focus on the county’s landfill at Ford Branch and options for future plans relating to the landfill.

The five-year plan itself also details strengths and places for improvement in relation to collection, disposal, open dumps and litter, enforcement, in addition to public participation and education initiatives.

Eastern Kentucky PRIDE has awarded $142,113 to communities across southern and eastern Kentucky for 2008 Spring Cleanup funds. Through the 2008 Spring Cleanup Awards, Pike County received $3,520.

The grant funds will be used solely for tipping fees to dispose of trash collected during the 2008 PRIDE Spring Cleanup set for April 5th – 19th. Spring Cleanup is a great way to prepare our beautiful region for the busy tourist season.

“Spring Cleanup is a great way to prepare our beautiful region for the busy tourist season,” said Karen Engle, PRIDE President and Chief Executive Officer. “I would like to encourage all citizens to take personal responsibility and volunteer for the 2008 PRIDE Spring Cleanup in your community.”

“Citizens play a vital role in the PRIDE campaign,” Engle continued. “Over the past 11 years, 239,095 PRIDE volunteers have volunteered to clean the waterways and roadways of southern and eastern Kentucky, collecting a total of 508,671 bags of trash.”

The campaign actually got underway Wednesday as work crews cleared debris from along side the highway in the Pounding Mill area.

The 2007-2008 United Way West Virginia Employees Combined Campaign (WVSECC) has completed a very successful fundraising drive. From September 15, 2007 to February 29, 2008, the campaign focused on assistance to youth, families, safe neighborhoods, aging populations and other important endeavors.

“I was very impressed with the 300 plus people who volunteered during the United Way Day of Caring,” said Campaign Chairperson Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts. “Agency coordinators did a great job of educating their co-workers about the impact their contributions have throughout the state. Nonprofit agencies strengthen our communities by demonstrating that all of us in West Virginia care about our neighbors and their families.”

State employees contributed more than $178,000 to statewide nonprofit agencies. United Way of Central West Virginia, spearheading the WVSECC campaign, received over $67,000 with another $110,000 donated to local United Way agencies across the state. Contributions will help West Virginians through charitable organizations such as the Children’s Therapy Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice, West Virginia Health Right and many others.

“The statewide campaign was rewarding, fun and exciting. It was an honor to serve,” said June Robinson, the Statewide Campaign Coordinator. “Thanks go to the agency coordinators for having various creative events enabling employees to contribute to the campaign. Dessert contests, concerts, yard sales and bake sales were among the many innovative ways our state employees helped the United Way WVSECC.”

United Way is a national network of locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and people's lives. While local United Ways tackle issues based on local needs, common focus areas include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening families. The WVSECC enables State employees to donate to local United Way agencies and unaffiliated local, state and national agencies that apply for and meet the criteria as set forth in Section 1 (Eligibility and Participation), of the West Virginia State Employees Combined Campaign Plan & Policy.

For more information concerning the United Way West Virginia State Employees Combined Campaign, contact June Robinson at 558-2440 or via email at jrobinson@wvosea.org, or Janice Amspoker, United Way Campaign Director, at 340-3544.

Representatives with the Kentucky Division of Water contacted Pike officials last week in relation to concerns about Consol Mining’s brine water discharge into the Levisa Fork.

Division of Water representatives assured Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford the discharge waters, which are 12 miles upstream from the Kentucky border, would undergo weekly monitoring.

“Brine water and abandoned mine water has been a concern for some time,” Rutherford said. “Pike County Fiscal Court opposed Consol Energy’s permit. We worked with then-Attorney General Greg Stumbo and got an agreement with the Kentucky Division of Water to do weekly sampling of the Levisa Fork, with the understanding that the Kentucky Attorney General would file suit when any water quality standards are not complied with by Console. We are going to water sample and do everything to make sure fish and wildlife and drinking water is never affected.”

District 3 Magistrate Leo Murphy said the quality of the water once the discharge starts is a concern for everyone.

““We have the Attorney General on board to watch over this and we’ll be monitoring to make sure everything will be all right,” Murphy said. “What we have to live with, we have to live with. But we will stay on top of them to make sure it does not harm the waterway.”

The sampling, which will monitor water quality and algae content, would take place at both the border and also at Fishtrap Lake.

Consol obtained a permit from the state of Virginia to discharge the brine last year, but are just now set to begin. The begin date, which was set for June of last year, was delayed due to persistent drought conditions, officials said.

Tom VanArsdall, manager of the Kentucky DOW Water Quality Branch, reiterated his statements from last year as to the permit conditions.

VanArsdall said that Virginia’s water quality standards for chloride are more stringent than Kentucky’s and are adequate to assure that water quality in the Levisa Fork at the border will comply with Kentucky water quality standards for chloride if the permit conditions are met.

Also, the state of Virginia has established a biological monitoring point one mile upstream of the Virginia/Kentucky border and will share collected data with Kentucky.

In a statement last year, Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, said monitoring was a must, although the cabinet had received data saying no harm would come from the discharge.

“I have been assured by the state of Virginia that the water to be discharged will not harm Kentucky waterways,” Hill said. “Nonetheless, it remains prudent to conduct periodic monitoring to make sure our waters remain safe for aquatic life and as a source of drinking water.”

The brine water is a byproduct of underground coal mining. It will travel through a 19-mile pipeline to the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River where it will be released through a diffuser.


Courtesy : Office of Pike County Judge Executive Wayne T.Rutherford.

A bill that would free up Medicaid funds to provide breast and cervical cancer treatment for uninsured women received final passage today in the House.

Under Senate Bill 98, sponsored by Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr, R-Lexington, coverage through Medicaid would be available for treatment of the uninsured regardless of eligibility. Such coverage is already in place under executive order, but SB 98 would make the program statutory.

The bill will become immediately upon being signed by Governor Steve Beshear.

Clayton Little, chairman of the Pike County Democratic Party, confirmed to East Kentucky Broadcasting that former president Bill Clinton will speak next Thursday, April 3rd at 5:30pm at Pike Central High School. Little added that the event will be open to the public. Clinton makes Pike County one of the stops as he travels through the East Kentucky/West Virginia region campaigning for Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House.

Pike County School Superintendent Roger Wagner says they're not cutting back on necessary rides to and from school, but, with diesel fuel prices as they are, it's costing the Pike County School District about 60-cents a mile.

The district had about $700,000 set aside for fuel costs this year, but, with the price rising, it will put them about $300,000 over budget by summer break. The extra cost will go into next year's budget.

Wagner says fuel costs keep going up without additional funds from the state. The school board plans to meet next week to plan next year's budget. Until state legislators finalize a budget, Pike County school officials say it's a case of "wait and see".

Berry Hall of Floyd county, who was charged last week with two counts of murder for the deaths of his neighbors Alan and Lisa Tackett, has new charges.

He's been charged with four wanton endeangerment charges involving the Tackett children who were home when the shooting occurred.

A pioneer in broadcasting has died.

Bob Harvit the founder of 96.5 WXCC and former owner of 1400 AM WBTH passed away Monday at his home in Miami Beach, Fl at the age of 70.

Harvit purchased WBTH in 1966. He was responsible for purchasing the FM license for WXCC. The now 100,000 watt radio station debuted in the fall of 1978.

Harvit was the recipient of the 1977 WV Distinguished Boradcaster Award.

In November of 2007 Harvit was enshrined into the West Virginia Broadcaster Association's Hall of Fame.

Harvit served on several different occassions as the President of the WVBA.

Kentucky’s primary election is scheduled for May 20th.

The Commonwealth has 60 delegates including eight super delegates that Senators Obama and Clinton are vying for.

It appears the nominee won’t be decided until the Democratic National Convention.

Kentucky will play a vital role in the outcome. Secretary of State Trey Grayson says Kentucky is a swing state. The Commonwealth has picked the winner in the fall race since 1964.

Here is a list of Kentucky’s super delegates.

Moretta Bosley / committee member/ uncommitted

Terry McBrayer / committee member / committed to Clinton

Jennifer Moore / KY Democrat Chair / uncommitted

Nathan Smith / KY Vice Chair / uncommitted

Joe Etta Wickcliffe / committee member / committed to Clinton

Steve Beshear / Kentucky Governor / uncommitted

Ben Chandler / Congressman / uncommitted

John A. Yarmuth / Congressman / committed to Obama

Four Mingo County students are among 180 across West Virginia chosen to participate in this years’ Governor Honors Academy. The three week event will be held this year at Bethany College, located in the northern panhandle.

The Mingo county students are :

John Price of Burch, Isaac Pickleseimer of Williamson , Erica Hatfield of Williamson and Chelsea Phillips of Tug Valley

Students attend workshops, classes and other events.

The academy recognizes academically and artistically talented students.

Other students include


County
Student
Barbour
Jonathan Gregg
Barbour
Morgan Franke
Barbour
Joshua Wentz
Berkeley
Emily Jenkins
Berkeley
Jessica Kawalek
Berkeley
Jeremy Cook
Berkeley
Caroline Miskovsky
Berkeley
James Walling
Boone
Katherine Forester
Boone
Meghan Pauley
Boone
Carl Shaffer
Braxton
Ethan Backus
Braxton
Laura Given
Braxton
Bret Piechowski
Braxton
Joanna Gaines
Brooke
no applicants
Cabell
Alexandeer Williamson
Cabell
Suzann Al-Qawasmi
Cabell
Stephanie Budrus
Cabell
Wesley Vassar
Cabell
Mohit Harsh
Cabell
Michael Ray
Cabell
Yasmine Zeid
Cabell
Samuel Shideler
Calhoun
Anna Sampson
Doddridge
Kyle Kelley
Fayette
Brittney Thomas
Fayette
Stephen Broughman
Fayette
Jessica Nuckels
Fayette
Tiffany Donelow
Fayette
Joseph Dean
Fayette
Jennifer Williams
Gilmer
Judith Gainer
Gilmer
Tiffany Hulse
Gilmer
Andrew Simmons
Grant
Amanda Leslie
Grant
Shaina Wichael
Grant
Bethany Kivett
Greenbrier
Victoria Rodgeers
Greenbrier
Autumn Crow
Greenbrier
Leif Sayvetz
Greenbrier
Mae Scott
Greenbrier
Aaron Seams
Hampshire
Julia Barry
Hampshire
Morgan Davis
Hampshire
Kenneth Taylor
Hampshire
Timothy Allen
Hancock
Claire Juszczak
Hardy
Hannah Salyers
Hardy
Mary Chehi
Hardy
Elizabeth Goodall
Harrison
Joel Abraham
Harrison
Kevan O'Rear
Harrison
Courtney Bell
Jackson
James Akers
Jackson
Trey Rottgen
Jackson
Emily Batten
Jefferson
Olivia Lloyd
Kanawha
Emily Boggs
Kanawha
Catherine Higgins
Kanawha
Nicholas Smith
Kanawha
Sierra Hedrick
Kanawha
Sandeep Patnaik
Kanawha
Claire Oliver
Kanawha
Leslie Thomas
Kanawha
Lesley Cruickshank
Kanawha
Rebecca Kern
Lewis
Rachel James
Lewis
Samantha Lowther
Lincoln
Kaitlin Roberts
Logan
Erin Hensley
Logan
Darrel Gartin
Logan
Andrew Ellis
Marion
Hannah Sweetser
Marion
Brooke Morris
Marion
Meghan Mills
Marion
Arielle Baker
Marion
Bradley Cox
Marion
Kelsey Ash
Marion
Jessica Carr
Marshall
Jessica Mercer
Marshall
Carolyn Kinnear
Marshall
Allison Hall
Marshall
Joseph West
Mason
Katelyn Wilson
McDowell
Ashley Kennedy
Mercer
Alison Lester
Mercer
Lindsay Akers
Mercer
Caitlin Shields
Mercer
Mark Pullins
Mercer
Max Yu
Mineral
Melida Race
Mineral
Karissa Getz
Mineral
Chelsea Willis
Mineral
Daniel Zinn
Mineral
Sara Willingham
Mingo
Erica Hatfield
Mingo
Isaac Picklesimer
Mingo
John Price
Mingo
Chelsea Phillips
Monongalia
Benjamin Becker
Monongalia
Diana Shi
Monongalia
Kristian Warner
Monongalia
Clemens Hsiao
Monongalia
Emily Ngan
Monongalia
Surya Manivannan
Monongalia
Salwa Zahalka
Monongalia
Nicholas Horvath
Monongalia
Alex Abrahams
Monongalia
Brian Chen
Monroe
no applicants
Morgan
no applicants
Nicholas
no applicants
Ohio
Dominick Jebbia
Ohio
Matthew Miller
Ohio
Kaitlyn Pytlak
Ohio
Robert Guy
Ohio
Mary Hvizdos
Ohio
Courtney Yaeger
Ohio
Lauren Joseph
Pendleton
Jamin Holloway
Pendleton
Brian Glover
Pendleton
Rachel Lantz
Pleasants
Priscilla Dillon
Pleasants
Teresa Parlett
Pocahontas
Abbi Hall
Pocahontas
Seth Mitchell
Pocahontas
Benjamin Egan
Preston
Amelia Snyder
Preston
Rebekah James
Preston
Brandon Ullman
Preston
Randy Ratcliff
Putnam
Tyler Browning
Putnam
Nicholas Crouse
Putnam
Roman Taylor
Putnam
Corey Childers
Putnam
Ryan Lago
Putnam
Jenica Hughes
Raleigh
Cassandra Blackburn
Raleigh
James Duncan
Raleigh
Laura File
Raleigh
Gregory Tolliveer
Raleigh
Julianne Wisman
Randolph
Liz King
Randolph
Jillian Josimovich
Randolph
Katelyn Demyan
Randolph
Lydia Nuzum
Randolph
Timothy Hoffman
Ritchie
Hope Hart
Ritchie
Donald Owens
Roane
Emily Shimp
Roane
Vasiliy Lisitsyn
Roane
Rebecca Boyles
Summers
Monica Gilpin
Taylor
Heather Hill
Taylor
Jackson Flesher
Taylor
Rebecca Dougherty
Taylor
Michael Harris
Tucker
Anna Patrick
Tucker
Heather Eye
Tyler
Tiffany Riffle
Tyler
Jeffrey Gaiser
Tyler
Heather Lynch
Tyler
Cullen Grover
Upshur
no applicants
Wayne
Clifford Workman
Wayne
James Hammond
Wayne
Carole Ann Bradley
Webster
Blaise Arbogast
Wetzel
Ava Morris
Wetzel
Cassandra Crihfield
Wirt
Kyrie Williams
Wirt
Darren Nichols
Wood
Elizabeth Dickerson
Wood
Benjamin Province
Wood
Jeremy Wheeler
Wood
Ryan Helmic
Wood
Sara Hardman
Wood
Lucas Pennock
Wood
Michelle Jacobs
Wood
Laura Borrelli
Wyoming
Thomas Bland
Wyoming
Maria Browning
Wyoming
Randall Kennedy
Wyoming
Kayla Winfrey

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that a Warren County Grand Jury has returned a four-count felony indictment against a former Kentucky psychologist for Medicaid fraud.

Investigators arrested 43-year-old Kenneth A. Brasel of Glasgow on Monday, March 24. He is lodged in the Warren County jail on a $20,000 bond. He will be arraigned on Thursday, March 27 at 9 a.m. (CDT) in Warren Circuit Court.

According to the indictment, Brasel fraudulently billed the Kentucky Medicaid Program for psychological services to school children that he did not perform. The indictment alleges that Brasel engaged in the fraudulent billing between 1998 and 2004, and that he concealed a prior felony conviction at the time he sought permission to treat the children. Brasel faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the four Class D felonies.

Senator Johnny Ray Turner, D-Drift, today was appointed to the state budget conference committee to finalize details of House Bill 406, the state spending plan.
"It is a privilege to be selected to serve on the committee that will work toward a compromise on the financial plan that will affect all Kentuckians," said Senator Turner "I am optimistic that we will be able to reach an agreement that will be the best economic plan for our state."
Senator Turner was chosen by Senate President David L. Williams, R-Burksville, to represent the Senate Democratic Caucus as a member of the legislative conference committee.
If the conference committee reaches an agreement, the bill will be sent back to its respective body to be voted upon. If it gains approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the bill will be sent to Governor Steve Beshear to be signed into law.
"As a member of both Senate leadership and the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Senator Turner is a good choice to serve on the budget conference committee. " said Senate Democratic Floor Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond. "Senator Turner will take this opportunity to work toward a compromise that will benefit all the citizens of the Commonwealth."
Senator Turner serves the 29th district, which includes Breathitt, Floyd, Knott and Letcher counties. Along with Appropriations and Revenue, he serves on Committee on Committees; Education; Health and Welfare; Rules, and State and Local Government committees.

Eighteen people died on Kentucky roadways last week, according to the Kentucky State Police. Thirteen of the fatalities were traveling in motor vehicles...four were riding motorcycles.

A five-person fatality occurred on i-65 southbound near the 62-mile marker, when one of the vehicles hudroplaned on the rain slick highway and skidded across the median into the oncoming lane where it struck a vehicle head-on and impacted with another.

According to the KSP, 160 people have lost their lives during 2008...eleven more than for the same period last year.

Jury selection got underway Monday in Cabell County for the murder trial of Bunny Holmes.

Holmes is accused of ordering the murder in 2004 of Logan High School graduate Wendy Morgan.

Two people have already been convicted in the death of the 1992 LHS grad.

Police say that the execution was ordered because Morgan was supposedly stealing drugs from Holmes.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department along with the WV State Fire Marshal’s office is still investigating the cause of a house fire that claimed the life of one person.

The body has been sent to the state medical examiner for identification.

The blaze occurred at Whitesville.

The Pikeville Police Department now has 21 officers. Addison Baisden was sworn in by Pike County District Court Judge Darryl Mullins.

The 29 year –old will spend the next 18 weeks at the police academy in Richmond.

After Baisden returns he’ll spend another 16 weeks riding along with a veteran officer.

The trial of a Phelps man accused of raping his then girlfriend’s six year-old daughter back in 2001 began Monday in Pike County Circuit Court.

The trial of Jimmy Hamilton is expected to conclude on Wednesday.

Hamilton has been charged with first degree rape.

The fight for West Virginia’s Democratic delegates and super delegates continues.
Former President Bill Clinton will make two campaign stops Wednesday in Parkersburg and Beckley.

Last week Senator Hilary Clinton visited Huntington and Charleston.

Senator Barack Obama campaigned in Charleston and Beckley.

West Virginia is playing a major role in this years’ Democratic primary because every delegate vote counts.

A 12 year –old boy in Raleigh County, struck by a West Virginia State Police cruiser early Saturday morning, has died.

Curtis Webb died from injuries after he was struck just after midnight while riding his skateboard in the road in the Beckley area.

A statement from the WVSP says that the trooper didn’t see the boy.

The trooper is on administrative leave while the incident is being investigated..

The West Virginia State Police in McDowell County continue to investigate a weekend incident in which a state trooper shot and killed a man inside of his home after he pointed a gun at troopers.

James R. Creech, 41, of Roderfield was shot and killed in his bedroom after police were called to check on a domestic dispute.

The victim also threatened family members with the gun.

The bodies of Billy Clay Eversole and Brian Rowland were found Saturday in 25 feet of water in a pond in Powell County.

The bodies were found by the Morehead-Rowan County Rescue Squad. The boys had gone fishing Friday night, and Powell County Coroner Carl Wells, Sr. said the boat they were in capsized.

The coroner said neither was wearing a life vest. An autopsy will be conducted.

Pike County officials received confirmation Friday that former President Bill Clinton will visit Pikeville on April 3rd. The purpose of the visit is to campaign for his wife Hilary. Details on the trip are incomplete at this time.

The former head of state will make three other campaign appearances in Kentucky . Bill Clinton is expected to visit Maysville, Frankfort and Morehead.

Kentucky's primary is set for May 20th.

West Virginia’s unemployment rate for February was 5.8 %, an increase of half of a percent from the previous month.

The jobless rate rose in 50 counties, dropped in three and remained unchanged in two.

Here are the jobless figures for Mingo and surrounding counties.

Mingo 5.8 % = + .7 %

Logan 5.7 % = + .6 %

Wayne 6.2 % = + .5 %

Boone 5.3 % = + . 6 %

McDowell 8.1 % = + .4 %

Calhoun had the highest unemployment rate at 11.2 %

The lowest was reported in Monongalia 3.4 %

A Lawrence County grand jury indicted City of Louisa’s police chief and police sergeant on official misconduct charges.

Sergeant Berry Bellomy is accused of ignoring a police call while he was at the home of a former newspaper reporter.

Chief Kevin Adkins and Bellomy are accused of harassing the former reporter.

Both men say they deny the charges and are innocent.

Christmas came early for the Floyd County Fiscal Court. County clerk Chris Waugh gave the county a check for $ 250,000. The money came from excess fees generated by the office over the past year. Waugh stated that this is the most money that his office has ever presented to the county.

Six months ago the county laid off several workers due to a money crunch.

Last month the fiscal court began calling back some county employees to there jobs.