EKB News

Governor Steve Beshear says in September, state revenue dropped by 4.6% He also announced he has assembled a team of top government officials to look for ways to protect and expand the state's economy.

Earlier this year, Kentucky lawmakers approved a 2-year, $19-billion state budget, expecting state revenue would increase by 2.6% over the next two fiscal years.

State officials say they're seeing more people apply for unemployment benefits, and officials with the National Employment Law Project, say the state is one of ten states that have less than six months of unemployment trust funds left.

With falling gas prices, drivers are finally smiling at the pumps, but, they say there's doubt the prices will remain lower.

They fear, as we enter colder weather, they'll shoot back up. Oil prices have tumbled about 40% since peaking at $147 a barrel on July 11. A drop below $85 a barrel is considered an almost certainty in the current environment.

Although prices rose slightly to $90 a barrel on Tuesday, analysts say they will continue to head lower. For now, motorists say the few cents in their pocket is just as good as it is in the oil procucers pockets.

Before Wednesday's rains, 25 fires in Kentucky had burned nearly 300, mainly in the Red River Gorge area. Some sections received nearly an inch of rain, and , even though it was not a significant amount, it gave firefighters a much needed rest.

Most of them had been working for over a week. The National Weather Service says, although the rains may have helped with forest fires, parts of the state remain in a severe drought and it is expected to stay that way into December.

They say the state needs one or two rains a week for several months to end the drought situation.

A Mingo County woman was awarded $ 300,000 by a Pike County jury in a medical malpractice case.

According to attorney Hootie Smith, his client Rhonda Hall of Varney, West Virginia went to Dr. Mary Lyn Lu on April 25th, 2006 to have a mole removed from her lip. The doctor told Hall that she had a cancerous liason on the side of her nose. Smith said that the doctor, without performing a biopsy, removed the liason two days later and she also failed to remove the mole. Hall was left with a with a permament scar.

As it turned out the liason was not cancerous. It took the jury two hours to reach a verdict.

According to the IRS, people have until October 15th to file their income tax returns to receive stimulus checks.

More than 67,000 Kentuckians haave not yet claimed their share of $20-million.

Officials say the Prestonsburg Tiger Mart was robbed again Tuesday morning in the same way it was robbed last month.

This time, police arrested 43-year old Gregory Hill who was found at a motel in Ivel, thiry minutes after the robbery. Police found a bandana in his car, along with money and a toy gun in the motel room.

James Cyrus was arrested and charged with last month's robbery...arraignment is set for today (Wednesday).

The Pike County Fiscal Court approved several roads into the county system.

District 1 : Spring Branch Road .15

District 2 : Smallwood Road .08
Tackett Drive .03
Big Branch .34


District 4 Basil & Alfred Lane .11
Ratliff Lane .12
S&P Road . 07


District 5 Taylor Hill .07

Whispering Hills .17


District 6 Stone Back Alley .10

The Pike County Fiscal Court voted to change the observance of Halloween to Thursday, October 30th from 6 p.m. until 8p.m. Originally October 31st was set , but members on the governing body felt that the date needed to be changed because of high school football.

Again, kids in Pike County, Halloween will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, October 30th.

The Pike County Fiscal Court voted Tuesday to approve $100,000 in funding to the senior citizens fund. Director Carol Napier says the funding is sufficient and there will be no cuts in services .

Mingo County Circuit Court Judge Mike Thornsbury conducted several sentencing hearings

Here are the sentencings :

Joseph Keith Damron was sentenced to one to five years in prison. Damron must also pay taxable costs, drug screen fees, home conefinement fees. Damron was convicted of conspiracy to commit grand larceny.

Clifford William Perkins , Jr was sentenced to serve one to 15 years in prison and was fined $ 1,000. Perkins was convicted of one count of trafficking cocaine.

Lou Ann Perkins was sentenced to one to five years in prison and fined $ 1,000. Perkins was convicted of one count of trafficking Methylendioxymeth amphetamine.


Michael Ferrell was sentenced to one to 15 years for trafficking Oxycodone. Ferrell must also pay a $ 1,000 fine.

Dustin Keith Bowens was sentenced to serve 12 months in jail, pay the jail bill, attorney fees in addition Bowens must also pay a $ 500 fine.

Jonathan Pente of Harold pleaded not guilty to murder Monday morning in Floyd County Circuit Court. Pente is being held in the Floyd Coutny Jail on a half a million dollar bond.

Pente is accused of driving the wrong way on U.S. 23 at Harold Friday night colliding with another vehicle head on which resulted in the death of Pikeville resident Loretta Elswick.

Pente has also been charged fleeing the scene of an accident.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin will be at the Williamson Fire Department at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The governor will help unveil new equipment that the department recently purchased and he will also give Fire Chief Jerry Mounts a proclamation to commerate the 100th anniversary of the department

Williamson Postmaster John Masters has announced that effective today the retail window at the Williamson Post Office will be as followed.

Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m till 12 :30 p.m. and then from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until noon

Preliminary statistics* indicate that eleven people died in eleven separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, September 29 through Sunday, October 5, 2008.

Six of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and three of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Motor vehicle crashes occurred in Fayette, Floyd, Garrard, Jefferson and Woodford counties. The suspected use of alcohol was a factor in three of these crashes

Former property owners will join federal and state officials on Saturday, October 11, to celebrate the completion of US 119 in Pike County. The first public hearing on the road was held by Joe Dean Anderson, now retired, an engineer with Highway District 12. The last section, from Scott Fork to Bent Branch, opened to traffic in March of this year – 42 years later.

Governor Steve Beshear will join US Congressman Hal Rogers as well as Judi and Paul Patton to mark this historic occasion. “We also hope that local and state officials from Mingo and Logan counties in West Virginia will be there,” said Kevin Damron , Chief District Engineer.

Letters were sent to people whose property was acquired for the US 119 project. “We only had current addresses for a handful of people,” Damron said. “If someone didn’t get a letter, please don’t be insulted. We want you to come and bring your family! We also want people to bring unframed photos of the homes and businesses and cemeteries, whatever was in your family that used to be there and isn’t now because of the US 119 project. We will make a display with them and give them back to you before you leave.”

Events during the celebration include the exhibit of photographs; a PowerPoint® presentation about the project which shows areas before, during, and after construction; and dinner on the grounds for everyone who attends. The Jaguars will provide music for the dinner.

“We are just going to have a big party and we want everyone to share it with us!” said Sara George, Highway District 12’s information officer. “This is the longest-running and most expensive road and bridge-building project we’ve ever had in Eastern Kentucky , and that’s reason enough to celebrate.”

Twenty-two people were recently indicted by a Pike County Grand Jury.

Jonathan Thornsberry , 25, of Sidney

Nathan J. Young , 27, of Sidney

Both men charged with cultivating marijuana less than five plants.
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Gary D. Lowe , 31, of Shelbiana : Flagrant Nonsupport.
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Billy Bartley, 21, of Pikeville : Ist Degree Bail Jumping.
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Israel Boyd , 42, of Prestonsburg

Dwayne Williams, 37 of Whitesburg

Both men charged with second degree escape and first degree persistent felony offender.
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Billy Varney, 50, of Pikeville: Trafficking in marijuana.
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Bobby Anderson , 53, of Phyllis: Fourth Degree Assault
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Dale S. Slone , 37, of Kimper : Theft by unemployment fraud.
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Robert R. Lucas, 34, of Pikeville : Two counts of Identity Theft.
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Charles A. Lawson, 20, of Varney

Matthew L. Palmer , 20, of Pikeville

Chadrick J. Gibson, 20 , of Pikeville

Theft By Unlawful Taking, second degree burglary.
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Michael J. Ray , 28, of Varney , of Receiving Stolen Property.
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Adam Pierce, 23, of Freeburn , Receiving Stolen Property
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Riley Nathan Hinkle , 31, of Pikeville

Nancy West , 28, of Pikeville

Both are accused of Two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and second degree persistent felony offender.
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Raymond Stewart , 44, of Rockhouse : Theft unlawful taking
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Brandon Saunders , 22, of Pikeville :Ist Degree Burglary and theft by unlawful taking
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Gene Adkins , 39 , of Phyllis : First degree promoting contraband
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James Price , 35, of Hellier: Fourth Degree Assault
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Veronica Little , 43, of Hellier :Fourth Degree Assault

Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced today that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $500,000 to the Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) to support its Appalachian Housing Program. Approximately 120 low-income housing units in eastern Kentucky’s most distressed areas are expected to be constructed or renovated through this initiative in 2009.

“The beautiful and majestic Appalachians Mountains have played a major role in the development of Eastern Kentucky’s history and culture. As we all well know, their steep peaks and valleys create a high risk for flooding, and hence a premium on buildable land. Unfortunately, this raises housing costs beyond the reach of many low- and middle-income families, and I believe more emphasis ought to be placed on helping these rural Americans obtain quality and affordable housing,” stated Rogers. “Kentucky’s Appalachian Housing Program aims to make home ownership a reality in this region, where the geography presents unique challenges, and this funding from ARC will help 120 families in eastern Kentucky realize their dreams of owning a home by financing the site development and utilities necessary to build.”
KHC’s Kentucky Appalachian Housing Program is responsible for helping the KHC allocate more resources in Kentucky’s Appalachian counties. With ARC assistance, KHC will make this $500,000 available for site development and utilities work needed to construct or rehabilitate low-income housing units in 37 economically-distressed counties. Local and regional housing organizations will apply for the funds through KHC. In addition to the ARC grant, local housing agencies and KHC will coordinate the use of matching funds from local, state and federal sources, as the expected cost of the homes to be completed or rehabilitated is approximately $5 million.

The Mingo County Commission late last week hired two new deputies for the Mingo county Sheriff's Department.

At the recommendation of Sheriff Lonnie Hannah the governing body approved the hiring of Larry Thomas of Gilbert and Blake Sipple of Matewan.

Thomas has worked for the Gilbert Police Department while Sipple has worked for the Williamson PD.

A Mingo County ambulance service is the centerpiece of controversy.

Larry Bonham , Attorney for the West Virginia Insurance Commission recently told the Williamson Daily News that STAT Ambulance has allowed its workers' compensation policy to lapse as of August 8th.

Bonham filed a motion in US Bankruptcy Court stating that although the company filed for Chapter 11 in January of last year, the company must continue to follow state laws in order to operate. Bonham says that includes having workers compensation insurance.

The OIC is asking Judge Ronald G. Pearson to lift an automatic stay so their council can pursue action against the company.

Bonham says that during the time without coverage, STAT has several claims filed against it.

Bonham told the newspaper ( WDN ) that if STAT owner Jason Smyth obtains workers comp in the near future he would dismiss the case.

Last month a STAT ambulance was involved in a fatal accident in which a patient died and two workers were injured.

A Floyd County man has been charged with murder and fleeing the scene of an accident after a fatal automobile crash Friday night on U.S. 23 at Harold.

According to the Kentucky State Police 37 year-old Jonathan Pente of Harold was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S.23 when the truck that he was operating collided head on with a van that was being driven by 21 year-old Christopher Boley of Pikeville. A passenger in Boley’s vehicle 63 year-old Loretta G. Elswick of Pikeville was pronounced dead at the scene. Also injured in the crash were 36 year-old Todd Elswick and Brent Elswick both of Pikeville. Following the crash Pente fled the scene on foot, but he was soon apprehended.

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson says that the deadline to register for the November 4th General Election is Monday, October 6th. Grayson says that if a registered voter has moved from one county to another they must update there new information. As of September 15th, 2.8 million residents are eligible to vote.

Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy has released a $479,000 grant to Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) to assist with the acquisition of a $4.7 million linear accelerator, used in radiation therapy for the treatment of cancerous tumors. Rogers secured this funding as a part of the FY08 Omnibus Appropriations Act, signed into law on December 27, 2007.
“Far too many eastern Kentuckians suffer from cancer and heart disease, and one of my top priorities has been to ensure that they have access to affordable treatment at the cutting edge of medical research,” stated Rogers. “The Pikeville Medical Center has made tremendous strides for the people of our region through its top-notch cancer research, practical treatment of cancer and implementation of leading edge advancements in cancer care. I am pleased to lend federal support to PMC’s acquisition of a new linear accelerator because that means residents of eastern Kentucky won’t have to travel far to get the best possible caner treatment.”
Pikeville Medical Center is a full service multi-faceted hospital providing a vast array of medical services to thousands of eastern Kentuckians, and is one of the most significant providers of cancer-related services in the region.
The new linear accelerator will allow medical professionals to provide cancer patients with increased doses of radiation therapy with greater localization, which reduces ancillary exposure to organs and vital systems. Such “high dose radiation” (HDR) treatment allows physicians and surgeons to treat breast, gynecologic and prostate cancers more directly after surgery by delivering radioactive source material directly to the affected site. Pikeville Medical Center also plans to install a comprehensive cancer center electronic medical record for radiation and medical oncology, which interfaces with other clinical systems to monitor all patient information necessary for treatment and scheduling. Such electronic records enhance the capability of oncologists to link patients to national cancer trials and enroll them in research protocols, thus providing patients with access to the very latest in cancer treatment.
Through his role as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rogers works to secure funding for important initiatives in the fifth Congressional district.

Kentucky has been recognized as the seventh most tech-savvy state government in the nation, according to the Center for Digital Government’s (CDG) 2008 Digital States Survey.

The biennial survey, which is in its eighth year of publication, is the original and only continuous survey of state governments’ use of information technology. This year marks Kentucky’s highest ranking in the survey and its second consecutive appearance in the top 10. The last time the prestigious survey was published in 2006, Kentucky finished in eighth position. Prior to that, Kentucky was ranked 12th in 2004 and 24th in 2002.

The survey covers a wide range of topics from technology infrastructure to online applications and new Web 2.0 technologies provided to citizens. This year’s survey also included a first-in-nation measure of sustainability efforts, especially in the area of Green IT. Kentucky's seventh place ranking in the survey followed Utah, Michigan, Virginia, Arizona, California and Washington. South Dakota and Maryland followed Kentucky in eighth and ninth position, with Tennessee and Pennsylvania tied for tenth.

"Kentucky's outstanding position in this national survey is something that both citizens and government employees can be proud of," said Gov. Steve Beshear. "It's also a timely reminder that many government services are available online. During these times of rising gas prices, we will continue to emphasize e-government as a way to help citizens avoid unnecessary trips to government offices."

"Technology and innovative government services go hand in hand," said Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller. "I'm proud of our technology accomplishments and the work of our Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT). They are working diligently to see that Kentucky citizens have hundreds of electronic government services available to them 24 hours a day with just a click of a mouse."

"We're very appreciative of the national recognition that this ranking brings to the Commonwealth of Kentucky," said Finance and Administration Cabinet Deputy Secretary Lori Flanery, who is also the acting commissioner of COT. "Our goal is to provide convenient, innovative and cost-effective government services for the citizens of Kentucky, and this award is proof we're doing just that."

Kentucky is one of only three states in the nation to be ranked in the top 10 in both the Digital States Survey and the recently released Brookings Institution e-government Study. The only other states to achieve this honor were California and Tennessee.
Sec. Miller also praised the efforts of Kentucky Interactive, LLC for its work in supporting the commonwealth's e-government initiatives. Kentucky Interactive, LLC, is the commonwealth's strategic partner responsible for developing, hosting, managing and marketing the official Kentucky.gov Web portal and e-government solutions using a self-funding model. The Kentucky.gov portal provides a large number of interactive e-government services and over one million pages of electronic information without the use of appropriated tax dollars. Visit http://kentucky.gov.

Senator Ray S. Jones II, D-Pikeville, today addressed the Administrative Office of the Courts to receive approval to start work on a new state-of-the-art justice center in Pike County.
“This courthouse is long overdue in Pikeville and I am pleased that AOC recognizes the need to move this project forward,” said Senator Jones, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I commend Pike County Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford, Chief Circuit Judge Eddy Coleman and members of the board who have diligently worked to see the ground broken on this project.”
Senator Jones cites several reasons for the immediacy of getting this project underway. “Pike County’s courthouse is terribly overcrowded and in need of repair,” he said. “In addition, there are several safety concerns in the current building.”
Along with being too small, the building has numerous problems including a roof in need of repair, deterioration of the exterior finish and a plumbing system and elevators that need to be upgraded. The new building will include space for Family Court and Drug Court, as well as the traditional District and Circuit court operations.
The new justice center will also have space for judges’ chambers, Circuit Clerk offices and prisoner handling facilities. It will be designed with an emphasis on safety, separating the public, court personnel and prisoners.
In 2002, Senator Jones and former Governor Paul Patton campaigned to get the courthouse project moved up on AOC’s priority list. Senator Jones and Rep. W. Keith Hall, D-Pikeville, were successful during the 2006 legislative session in getting $28.4 million allocated for the Pike County Courthouse.
“I will continue to monitor this project closely to ensure that this project stays on schedule,” Senator Jones said. “The courthouse is a point of pride for any community. Pike County deserves a safe, modern facility.”