EKB News

The office of Pike County Judge Executve Wayne Rutherford is negotiatiin with an Okalhoma based company for the possibility of locating in Pike County.

The company, Progressive Resources, is already looking at possible sites for their operation. The company works with the natural gas industry to enhance gas recovery and increase production. This venture could create approximately thirty jobs for the region.

The Kentucky State Police say 35-year old Larry Wayne Kendall, who fled the state to avoid prosecution on sex charges involving a child, was arrested in Huntsville, Alabama.

He faces multiple counts of rape, sexual abuse and sodomy. Four children in the home where he was arrested were placed in the custoey of Alabama social workers...they were ages 2, 3, 7 and 10.

The Kentucky Supreme Court is allowing a death row inmate a hearing to determine whether he and his trial judge had a deal to avoid execution.

Donald H. Johnson claims he and his atorneys met off the record with Floyd County Judge John David Caudill and he agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life without parole for 25 years. Caudill denied the meeting occurred.

Johnson was convicted for the 1989 murder of Heather Madden, who was found stabbed to death at a coin-operated laundry where she worked.

Defense lawyers for road contractor Leonard Lawson and Lawson aide, Brian Billings, filed motions Thursday saying they plan to file several motions, including motions to dismiss charges against them based on prosecutorial misconduct. The lawyers say the motions need to be heard prior to the November 12th trial.

Howard Mann, lawyer for former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert, says he will likely file a motion also asking for a delay. The three are accused of tampering with the bidding process for $130-million of state road contracts in 2006 and 2007.

The Kentucky State Police say Trooper Cory Nokes of Bell County, was rappelling from a helicopter into a marijuana field Tuesday afternoon when his rappelling equipment malfunctioned. He fell 40 feet into the field.

He was flown to UK Hospital where he underwent treatment for a broken leg and dislocated ankle. Hospital officials report he is in fair condition.

Senator Hillary Clinton will campaign for Democratic Candidate Bruce Lunsford in Pikeville on Saturday. She's expected to speak at the Pikeville Airport at 11:30am.

Pikeville officials say the Secret Service visited the area Wednesday to prepare. Seanator Clinton will campaign in Lexington at 2:00pm.

Pikeville, Ky.— Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford recently signed an executive order to make this year’s observance of Halloween in Pike County on October 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“It is necessary for the welfare and protection of the children of Pike County and maintenance of effective law enforcement to establish a uniform date and time for Halloween Trick or Treat activities throughout the County,” Judge Rutherford said.

Judge Rutherford urges all citizens to abide by the dates and times set forth for the observance of Halloween.

A Pike County resident was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon after he lost control of his ATV and slammed into a hill side. The accident occurred in the Phelps area. The person has been transported to a Tennessee hospital. Authorities did not release his name.

The Pike County Health Department will offer a FREE Drive-Thru Flu Clinic on October 3, 2008.

The clinic will be held at Pike County Central High School between the hours of 10:am and 12:00Noon. You will be able to stay in your vehicle while getting your Flu shot. Wear a loose fitting piece of clothing that will enable health care technicians to get to your upper arm with ease.

Shots will be given until all shots are gone...first come, first served.

Between July 1 and September 1, Kentucky State Police conducted 1103 safety road checkpoints across Kentucky, resulting in 342 DUI arrests, 405 seat belt violations, 29 drug arrests, 120 child restraint violations, 254 suspended license violations and the recovery of four stolen vehicles.

KSP officials announced they've saved 3770 gallons of gasoline by concucting the checkpoints, resulting in a savings of about $14,000.

PAINTSVILLE Nine Johnson County residents have been arrested following an undercover drug investigation conducted by Operation UNITE.
Police are asking the public¹s help in locating four additional suspects, who are either deliberately avoiding apprehension or have moved to a new residence.
The arrests began in mid-August after indictments were returned a Johnson County Grand Jury.
³We purchased Hydrocodone and Morphine from these suspects during our investigation, which spanned approximately five months,² said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for UNITE.
Most of the arrests took place during the first seven days of September, with assistance of officers from the Paintsville Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff¹s Office and Kentucky State Police.
While many of the suspects were located without difficulty, four have avoided apprehension:
€ Loucinda Hall, age 40, last known living in East Point, wanted for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, four counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and four counts trafficking in marijuana.
€ Wendal LeMaster, age 28, last known living on KY 1559 in Stambaugh, wanted for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Patrick Osborne, age 43, last known living on Frank Street in Paintsville, wanted for first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and second-degree persistent felony offender.
€ Glenn Staniford, age 27, last known living on U.S. 23 in Lowmansville, wanted for second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
³Anyone who knows where these individuals may be are encouraged to call the UNITE Drug Tip Line at 1-866-908-6483,² Smoot said, noting that callers may remain anonymous.
Those who have already been arrested and processed through the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center are:
€ Jerry R. Allen, age 55, Airport Drive, Hagerhill, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Larry Blackburn, age 56, Bear Hollow, East Point, second-degree complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Crystal Scott Chaffins, age 26, Main Street, Paintsville, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.
€ David Michael Chaffins, age 25, Main Street, Paintsville, complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.
€ Samantha Hodge, age 22, Jefferson Avenue, Paintsville, second-degree complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Brittany Hurt, age 20, Williams Branch, Wittensville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Thurman Meade, age 32, Dogwood Fork, Wittensville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Lavon Pennington, age 41, Patterson Creek, Flatgap, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Cheryl Vanhoose, age 29, Sixth Street, Paintsville, three counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts endangering the welfare of a minor.

Pikeville, Ky.— Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford called together law enforcement and prosecutors on Monday, Sept. 16, to commend them for the progress they have made against metal thefts and unscrupulous junk dealers, and to discuss how to make more headway against the perpetrators of metal theft in the future.

In attendance were Pike County Sheriff Charles “Fuzzy” Keesee, Pike County Sheriff’s Deputy Melvin Sayers, Pike County Sheriff’s Detective Richard Ray, Pike County Attorney H. Keith Hall, Pike County Assistant Attorney Roger Varney, Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney Rick Bartley, Kentucky State Police Post 9 Captain Jeffrey Caudill, and Erin Fields, a law intern in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office.

“I’m glad we could all meet today to discuss this problem and I want to open the meeting by asking how the Fiscal Court can help. These thieves are robbing people all over the county,” said Judge Rutherford.

“It’s great that Judge Rutherford has brought us together. The public is upset. We got a tough job on our hands. All the tools to arrest and prosecute these thefts must be made available. And taken advantage of,” added Sheriff Keesee.

Bartley told attendees about House Bill 106, a new law that was passed this year by the Kentucky State legislature, which places harsher regulations and penalties on metal and catalytic converter theft. The bill, which was signed by the governor into law on April 11, creates a new section of KRS Chapter 433.

The law requires junkyards to keep a copy of the driver license and car tag of anyone who sells to them such items. Bartley said the law went into effect two months ago and his office has put Ms. Fields in charge of traveling to all the junkyards in Kentucky to distribute posters notifying metal sellers of the new law and the harsher penalties attached. He said Ms. Fields would also notify junkyard owners of the harsher penalties they now face.

Bartley advised Judge Rutherford that the law allows counties to pass additional regulations against metal theft, as long as the regulations do not weaken the state law. He also said his office planned to host county-wide training sessions for local law enforcement throughout the Commonwealth in recent months.

“Most junkyards are already cooperative (with law enforcement), but some require a warrant. But once they have been educated (about the new law) there won’t be any excuse (for non-compliance),” Bartley said.

Everyone in attendance agreed that the new law was a good step towards allowing law enforcement to more aggressively prosecute those who buy and sell stolen metal.

“Private and public property has been stolen by these low down thieves. And their spoils are being bought by certain junk dealers who are looking to make a quick buck. I think we are all here today to seek out a way to stop this metal theft,” said Hall.

Sheriff Keesee and Captain Caudill decided to coordinate more on investigating metal thefts.

“These metal thieves have stolen from the tax payers thousands of dollars. These are low-down predators. If possible, I want the Pike County Fiscal Court to pass laws under the general powers of the county to give our law enforcement agencies and prosecutors more to work with. Commonwealth Attorney Rick Bartley says KRS Ch. 433 now lets the county do that. County Attorney Howard Keith Hall and his staff will prepare county ordinances for the Fiscal Court to consider. There are good, honest, decent junkyard dealers, but there are bad apples, as always. We must look for a way to put them out of business,” Judge Rutherford said.

“The KSP and Sheriff are doing all we can. We need a way to put dishonest junk dealers out of business. I would like to see a county license put in place. I hope the KRS will let the Fiscal Court do this,” said Captain Caudill.

Judge Rutherford said the group will meet again in the near future, and will invite Tim Mosher, President and Chief Operating Officer of Kentucky Power, a company that has been hit hard by metal thefts. He said everyone who attended the past meeting is committed to lowering the number of these metal thefts, crimes which are aided by the dishonest junk dealers who purchase the stolen material.

The Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Division of Fleet Management has launched a pilot global positioning system (GPS) program on several of its vehicles around the state.
“Our use of GPS technology on cars within the state fleet represents a win-win for Kentucky taxpayers,” said Jonathan Miller, Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet. “The technology can improve productivity and help reduce fuel usage and other hidden expenses, thus saving the state money and promoting a cleaner environment. It could also be a life saver if an accident ever occurred,” said Miller.
GPS allows tracking of speeds and usage, sending an email to the Cabinet’s Division of Fleet Management alerting them of unauthorized use, excessive idling or speeding. The technology also allows for geofencing – tracking the position of the vehicle at any given time. In addition, GPS will alert Fleet Management if a vehicle experiences an engine problem, becomes disabled or is involved in a traffic accident. The GPS system can also be equipped with a key ring containing a panic button.
Only a select few of the state’s vehicles will be equipped with a GPS tracking system and vehicles chosen for the pilot program will remain unknown to the drivers. All vehicles will display a sticker informing the driver of the possibility that the vehicle is equipped with the GPS system.
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Caption: Pikeville Dentist William Collins recently received Delta Dental of Kentucky’s 2008 SmileMakers Award and a $1,000 check for his contributions to the 2008 Pike County RAM Expedition. Collins said he will donate the money to the Pike Forward Foundation for next year’s RAM Expedition. Pictured, from left, are Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford, Rutherford’s wife Patricia, Collin’s wife Pam, Collins, Pike Forward President Roger Ford, and Delta’s President and CEO Clifford T. Maesaka, Jr.

Gov. Joe Manchin this evening has signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in preparation for fallout from Hurricane Ike, which is threatening Texas’ Gulf Coast.
The declaration allows West Virginia to have in place emergency response mechanisms to help assist with hurricane relief. It also automatically activates the state’s anti-price-gouging protections on items such as gas.
“If people are caught price gouging, they will face stiff penalties,” Manchin said. “By signing this order, I’m giving us the tools we need to respond to the emergency, but I also hope all businesses get the message that unfair competition and price gouging will not be tolerated in West Virginia,” Manchin said.
Any person, contractor, business, or other entity found to have violated any such price gauging provisions within the period of this State of Emergency shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Kentucky State Police Post 9 has rescheduled the Trooper Island Motorcycle Benefit Ride.

Due to the possibility of extremely higher gas prices and possible fuel shortages, as a result of Hurricane Ike, the benefit ride scheduled for Sunday, September 14, 2008 has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2008. This decision was not made lightly but rather in the best interest of all involved.

We hope that everyone understands the reasons for the rescheduling and apologize for any inconvenience.

Anyone needing information regarding the ride may contact TFC Scott Hopkins at 606 433-7711.

Logan City Council passed an ordinance late last week stating that if a person has five delinquent parking tickets, there vehicle will be booted and abandoned vehicles will be towed.

City officials say that the new ordinance is already paying dividends as several people are taking care of previous parking tickets and also parking at meters.

The two and a half year saga between Sgt Glen Messer and the Mingo County Sheriffs Department appears to be over.

The WV State Supreme Court denied a request to hear the appeal from the 12 year veteran.

Messer was serving an indefinite suspension.

The controversy began when Sheriff Lonnie Hannah suspended Hannah after he accused Messer of falsifying overtime records following a training session at the West Virginia Police Academy.

A circuit court judge ruled in favor of Meeser. However Hannah appealed to the high court and won.

School bus drivers in West Virginia are now banned from using there cell phones while behind the wheel. The policy was approved by the West Virginia Department of Education. Around 240,000 students across the state ride buses.

25 members of the Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron have traveled to the Texas Coast to help with rescue operations . The aircraft is loaded with medical and rescue gear as well as communications and navigational equipment.

Marshall University on saturday held the grand opening of two new freshman residence halls.

The residence halls are 161,000 square feet that includes 782 dormitories.

The fourstory buildings include a theatre, conference room, classrooms, landry, study areas and a cafe.

49 year-old Randy Hagans a former chaplain at the Otter Creek Correctional facility in Floyd County has been charged with third degree sexual abuse of an inmate.

The Prestonsburg resident is accused of having unwanted sexual contact with the alleged victim from Febuary to August of this year.

Hagans is scheduled to be appear in court on October 22nd.

Ottor Creek houses female inmates from Kentucky and Hawaii.

Three people that are accused of bid rigging pleaded not guilty in federal court in Lexington, Kentucky.


Construction contractor Leonard Lawson, former Kentucky Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert and Lawson aide Russell Billings are accused of conspiracy, misapplication of property and obstruction of justice after the FBI conducted a yearlong investigation.

From Belfry to Logan residents crowded gas pumps Friday afternoon to fill up there gas tanks trying to beat raising gas prices as Hurricane Ike pounded the Gulf Coast. Residents waited in line up to 45 minutes in some locations.

Some gas stations ran out of gas due to the demand and a few others placed a limit on how much customers could buy.

In The Tug Valley gas prices are over $ 4.00 a gallon. Logan County is reporting gas as high as $ 4.30 per gallon. The attorney generals in Kentucky and West Virginia are looking into possible price gouging.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says that most gas stations in Kentucky receive there gas from the midwest.