EKB News

Nine suspects wanted in connection with an undercover drug investigation appeared for arraignment in Floyd County Circuit Court this week.
Arrest warrants will be issued for three other individuals who failed to show up for their court date. Chief Regional Circuit Judge John David Caudill had sent each of the suspects a letter ordering them to appear in court following recent indictments issued by a Floyd County Grand Jury.
Operation UNITE detectives and an investigator from the Kentucky Attorney General¹s Office of Criminal Investigations have been investigating these cases for about eight months. The charges involved the illegal sale of a variety of drug types.
Appearing for arraignment on Tuesday, October 21 were:
€ Jason L. Branham, age 29, of Branham Street, Wheelwright, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and first-degree persistent felony offender. He was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center in lieu of a $45,000 bond.
€ Kendra L. Little, age 21, of KY 306, Wheelwright, one count first-degree possession of a controlled substance. She was released on a $5,000 bond.
€ Steven A. Meade, age 36, of KY 306, Wheelwright, one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. He was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
€ Robert S. Mitchell, age 22, of Bryant Branch, Hi Hat, one count first-degree possession of a controlled substance. He was returned to the Pike County Detention Center on unrelated charges.
€ Monica Short, age 23, Cliffside Drive, Prestonsburg, one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. She was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
Each of these suspects are scheduled to appear in court on January 26 for pretrial conferences.
Appearing for arraignment on Wednesday, October 22 were:
€ Russell Johnson, age 57, of KY 306, Wheelwright, six counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, three counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Johnson was allowed to remain free on an $80,000 bond posted on prior UNITE charges that are still pending.
€ Angelia L. Mitchell, age 36, of Cliffside Drive, Prestonsburg, one count trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school. She was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
€ Stana M. Muse, age 34, of Bryant Branch, Hi Hat, one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. She was released on a $10,000 bond.
€ Brittney G. Newton, age 22, of Cliffside Drive, Prestonsburg, one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. She was released on a $10,000 bond.
Each of these suspects are scheduled to appear in court on January 15 for pretrial conferences.

Last week EKB reported that Kentucky has nearly three million residents registered to vote which is a record. Now, West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland has announced that the Mountain State set a new record with 1.2 million registered voters breaking a 56 year record.

Ireland says there are 675,305 Democrats, compared to 353,437 Republicans.


Ireland expects a 70 percent voter turnout. Sixty-six percent turned out in the 2004 presidential race.

Different national polls show that Republican John McCain has anywhere from a 6 to 11 point lead in West Virginia. West Virginia Has five electoral votes.

The price for unleaded gasoline in parts of Pike County fell again Wednesday night to $ 2.70 a gallon. Oil prices on Wall Street fell to $ 67.50 a barrel. The wholesale price for unleaded dropped to $ 1.58 per gallon as the government reported big increades in U.S. crude and gasoline supplies, adding to growing evidence that an economic downturn is drying up demand for energy.

The Energy Information Administration says crude stocks jumped by 3.2 million barrels last week, slightly more than the 2.9 million barrel increase expected by analysts survey by energy research firm Platts.

The Unemployment Compensation Division of WORKFORCE West Virginia announced today that nearly $76,549.07 in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits was recovered during the third quarter of 2008.

The division detected fraud in claims filed by 84 individuals during the period and requested warrants on 23 of those cases.
In all cases where fraud is detected, the claimants are penalized. Penalties include a 52-week disqualification from receiving future unemployment benefits, repayment of overpaid benefits, possible fines and jail time, and potential civil suits.
Warrants were issued for unemployment fraud to residents in the following counties: Cabell, Greenbrier, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monongalia, Nicholas, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Upshur, Wood and Wyoming.

Mingo County officials announced Halloween in Mingo County will be observed from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, October 30th.

A setting for country and mountain music since it was founded in 1939, historic Renfro Valley Entertainment Center near Mt. Vernon, Kentucky hosted a gathering of a different sort on September 17th when leaders from six (6) area development districts gathered for the Kentucky Appalachian Forum on Cancer. The forum was hosted by the Kentucky Cancer Program (KCP) through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Civic, health and community leaders from Cumberland Valley, Lake Cumberland, Kentucky River, FIVCO, Big Sandy and Gateway Area Development Districts met to discuss the cancer incidence and mortality in the central Appalachian area and what Kentucky communities can do to lessen their burden of cancer.

Rep. Danny Ford, from the 80th District, welcomed the attendees. Warren Brunner, respected photographer and journalist, and his wife from Berea, KY, discussed their highly acclaimed portrait and photo-documentary work in the mountains. Described as "the Norman Rockwell of Appalachia", Warren's photographs characterize the strong Appalachian values which so influence health and social issues in the mountains--particularly the region's strong sense of community, emphasis on faith, and family ties.

Data presented by epidemiologist Jaclyn Nee with the Kentucky Cancer Registry put 5 of the 6 districts consistently in the top five districts in the state for all indexes of cancer risk--the top 4 cancer sites being: lung, colorectal, breast and cervix cancer. Katie Bathje, program coordinator for the Kentucky Cancer Consortium, discussed Kentucky's Cancer Action Plan and the need to adapt it to include strategies very specific to the Appalachian region.

Four best practice programs were presented to the group—1) a project by Gateway District Health Department promoting Gardasil vaccinations to girls, through the schools, to prevent cervical cancer; 2) Faith Moves Mountains--a faith based initiative promoting breast and cervical cancer screening and other advocacy; 3) Kentucky Homeplace--an award winning lay health adviser program; and 4) the Lung Health Program of King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, providing preventative follow up on patients with lung health issues.

Forum participants divided into discussion groups to decide what these four best programs had in common that makes them so successful in East Kentucky and how that knowledge can be put to use to implement local lung, colorectal, breast and cervix cancer interventions.

Regional District Cancer Council Roundtables will convene in October and November to share the conclusions of the forum participants and discuss specific projects which will utilize the knowledge gleaned from the forum. The forum in the Big Sandy district will be held November 5, 2008 at the Kentucky Highlands Entrepreneur Center in Paintsville from 10:00 until 2:00.
For more information the District Cancer Council Roundtable in Big Sandy Area Development District, or about cancer resources in the district, contact Becky Simpson at 606-789-3270 or by email at: rssimp2@uky.edu. Additional information is also available on the Kentucky

Three people are currently being held at the Southwestern Regional Jail, after they were accused of kidnapping and brutally beating a Mingo County woman.

Erica Collins, Marika Davidson and Alexandria Hatcher are accused of luring the victim from a Williamson bar, telling her they were going to give her a ride home.

Authorities say the trio kidnapped the woman and beat her. The motive was attempted robbery.
The victim is recuperating in a local hospital.

The defendants are charged with first degree robbery, kidnapping, malicious wounding, and petit larceny.

Imagination Library of McDowell County, West Virginia has enrolled an unprecedented number of pre-school children. The announcement came as the Department of Education and the Arts and its program partner, the Dollywood Foundation, reviewed the tremendous response from families in the county. Based on census data, there are 1440 eligible children for Imagination Library in McDowell County. Since the launch of the program on June 1, 2007 nearly 1500 children have registered with 1,122 currently participating and more than 375 children ‘graduating’ beyond the years of eligibility. Initiated June 1, 2007, Imagination Library provides books to families with children ages newborn to five and registers families through the local public libraries.

The McDowell County program far exceeds the national norms set by the Dollywood Foundation, which estimates that 70% of eligible children can be registered over a five-year period. McDowell County has far surpassed this expectation in only 16 months. “This news is exciting,” said Cabinet Secretary Kay Goodwin. “Families continue to see the value of books and the impact literature has on their children. The McDowell County response is proving that reading is important to families.”

“These numbers are breathtaking,” said Robin Taylor, state program director. “The Imagination Library encourages children’s literature in the home, an important tradition to start and maintain.” A free age-appropriate book is mailed monthly to each registered child. This means that newborns could receive up to 60 books before their fifth birthday. Children are registered by their parents or guardians who promise to read to the young people. Imagination Library is supported by the West Virginia Library Commission through the McDowell Public Libraries, the McDowell County Women, Infants and Children Office (WIC) and McDowell County Schools. Funding for the books and postage is provided by Governor Joe Manchin III and the West Virginia State Legislature.

McDowell County was the first of six counties in West Virginia that has started an Imagination Library. Others include Barbour County, Clay County, Mingo County, Webster County and Lincoln County. New Imagination Libraries are slated for additional counties later this year and in 2009.

Imagination Library provides children, ages birth to five years, with free hard-back, age appropriate books, giving parents the opportunity to encourage the love of reading. The literature selected for the program is designed to provide children with a solid foundation toward a successful education.

The Department of Education and the Arts provides statewide leadership and innovation, enhancing arts and minds throughout West Virginia. Composed of five agencies and a number of special programs originating from the Cabinet Secretary’s Office, the Department seeks to reinforce the rich heritage of culture, education and artistic creation in West Virginia. Education and the Arts celebrates the perseverance and resilience of the “Mountain Character” through public broadcasting, libraries, rehabilitation, professional development, community volunteerism and culture and history.

For more information concerning Imagination Library, contact Robin Taylor at
304-558-2440 or via email robin.j.taylor@wv.gov

The Pike County Fiscal Court enttered into a contract with Summitt Engineering. It will allow the company to conduct a study on what needs to be done to construct a proposed Hatfield - McCoy River Trail System.

The study is expected to be ready by the spring.

The project calls for a trail for people to ride canoes from the Martin County line to the Virginia line.

The study cost projected to be $ 10,000.

The Pike County Fiscal Court entered into two interlock agreements on Tuesday.

One agreement is with the Pike County Board of Education. It allows the county to perform work on school property at the request of the school board.

The other agreement is with Elkhorn City. The county can maintain roads and sidewalks at the request of the town and at the discretion of the fiscal court.

American Standard has closed its Paintsville plant in Johnson County, after being in operation more than 40 years.

County officials say many of the jobs will go to Mexico. American Standard officials have cited increasing energy costs and the plant's distance to interstate highways as factors in their decision to close.

Johnny and Gail Cline of Gilbert has set a state record. The Cline’s grew a cushaw that weighed 57 pounds. Tom Clark with the State Department of Agriculture said the previous record was 42 pounds.

A cushaw is a type of squash.

Deborah Ramsey Tackett, 39, of Virgie : Theft or receipt of stolen credit/debit card.
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Warren Keith Stapleton, 30, of Elkhorn City : Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants - third offense. Operating motor vehicle while license is suspended or revoked for driving under the influence – third offense. Prescription drug not in proper container.
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Ronnie J. Kinser, 39, of Stone : Theft by unlawful taking.
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Timothy J. Westmoreland, 31, of Phelps : Promoting contraband , first degree.
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Thomas Bartley, 22, of Virgie

Jordan Holbrook , 22,of Jonancy

Christopher McPeek , 20 , of Virgie

Janelle Ratliff, 39, of Pikeville

Each are charged with third degree burglary. Theft by unlawful taking, Two counts of receiving stolen property.

All four are accused in connection with the breaking in of Virgie Middle School.
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William C. Perrigan , 28, of Pikeville : Receiving stolen property.
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Joseph K. Edmonds , 21, of Pikeville. First degree robbery. Theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property. Persistent felony offender second degree.
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Daniel Walters, 31, of Pikeville. Three counts of receiving stolen property.
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Henry L. Campenella, 23, of Freeburn.: Fourth degree assault, resisting arrest and menacing.
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Troy Frazier , 41, of Phelps : First degree criminal mischief.

Randal Brown , 60 , of Little Robinson Creek pleaded guilty to one count of theft by unlawful taking. Under the plea agreement Brown will serve two years probation if he pays restitution in a timely manner.

Kristie Taylor, 32, of Hellier pleaded guilty to fourth offense DUI. The plea agreement calls for Taylor to serve three years of prison time.

Tommy Sincell, 33, of Varney, West Virginia pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault. Sincell got into an altercation with a family member. At the request of the victim, Sincell will serve five years probation.

West Virginia's unemployment rate for the month of September currently stands at 3.7 percent. The jobless rate statewide is at a 32 year low.

The jobless rate fell in Mingo and surrounding counties.

Mingo 4.1 %, Logan 3.8 %, Wayne 3.7 %, Boone 3.4 %, Wyoming 4.0 % and McDowell 5.5 %.

Since September of last year Mingo has seen a decrease of 1.2 % in the unemployment rate.

The trend continues for counties throught the listening area. Logan 2.5 %, Wayne .3 %, Boone 1.0 %, Wyoming 1.3 % and McDowell 1.6 %.

Mason County has the highest unemployment rate at 5.9 %

The Lowest is Monongalia at 2.5 %, followed by Putnam at 2.9 %.

The unemployment for the nation is 6.1 %.

Preliminary statistics* indicate that thirteen people died in eleven separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, October 13 through Sunday, October 19, 2008. Eleven of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and seven of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Motor vehicle crashes occurred in Adair, Bracken, Floyd, Hardin, Larue, Lawrence, Pulaski, and Trigg counties. The suspected use of alcohol was a factor in one of these crashes.

A triple-fatality motor vehicle crash occurred in Clinton county. Candi J. Byers age 29 of Albany was traveling south on US 127 when she lost control of her vehicle and slid into the path of Brenda S. Logan of Albany which was traveling north. Both occupants of Ms. Byers' vehicle (Candi J. Byers & Kasen Byers) and the passenger of ms. Logan's vehicle (Belinda L. Logan) were pronounced deceased at the scene by Clinton County Coroner, Steve Talbott. Brenda S. Logan was flown to University of Kentucky hospital in serious condition.

One ATV fatality occurred in Floyd county and the victim was not wearing a helmet. One pedestrian fatality occurred in Jefferson and the suspected use of alcohol is a factor in that crash.

Through October 19, preliminary statistics* indicate that 616 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2008. This is 87 fewer than reported for this time period in 2007. Of the 460 motor vehicle fatalities, 287 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the seventy-eight motorcycle fatalities, forty-six were not wearing helmets. Twenty-four people have been killed in ATV crashes and twenty-two of those were not wearing helmets. Forty-nine pedestrians have been killed. A total of one-hundred and twenty seven fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas.

Voters across Kentucky have begun casting ballots for this year’s election. While not all Kentuckians can head to the polls before Election Day, Kentucky law does provide opportunities for some voters to cast absentee ballots before the November 4, 2008 election.
“Kentucky law provides Kentucky voters with a number of opportunities to cast a ballot,” stated Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, the Chief Election Officer of the Commonwealth. “I hope that all citizens will plan for Election Day accordingly, and if they need to cast an absentee ballot, will take the appropriate steps to do so.”
Most county clerks’ offices across the Commonwealth have already begun in-house absentee voting, where voters actually vote on voting machines similar to those used on Election Day. All county clerks’ offices must allow in-house absentee voting at least twelve working days before Election Day. The actual start date for this voting may vary depending on whether the offices open on Saturdays. Voters will have until November 3, 2008 to cast an in-house absentee ballot.
Voters might also be eligible to apply for a mail-in absentee ballot. Those applications are available from voters’ respective county clerks’ offices and must be received during office hours in those offices by October 28, 2008. After receiving an approved application, county clerks will mail a ballot to the respective voters, and voters will have until 6:00 p.m. local time on Election Day to return their ballots to the county clerk.
There are a variety of reasons why a voter might request to cast an absentee ballot, including:
• Advanced age, disability, or illness • Military personnel, their dependents, and overseas citizens• Students who temporarily reside outside the county • Other voters who temporarily reside outside of Kentucky, such as a vacationer • Voters incarcerated but not yet convicted • Voters’ employment takes them out of the county all hours the polling place is open• Voters who will be out of the county on Election Day • Military personnel confined to base who learn of it within seven days or less of an election• Voters who have surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day, and the voter’s spouse• Pregnant women in third trimester• Election Officials
Voters are restricted as to whether they can use in-house absentee voting or mail-in ballots according to their reason for casting an absentee ballot.
Grayson also reminded voters that with the start of in-house absentee voting, electioneering laws are now in effect for the building in which the absentee voting is located. Electioneering is prohibited inside in-house absentee voting locations during the hours in which absentee voting is being conducted. Electioneering materials shall not be affixed to the interior or exterior of any in-house absentee voting location during that time as well. For more specific rules about electioneering, citizens are urged to contact their local board of elections or the State Board of Elections.
To learn more information about absentee voting or to use the Voter Information Center, a service that will confirm voter registration and provide pertinent election information to registered voters, please visit: http://www.vote.ky.gov/.
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a CSX train derailed Sunday afternoon in the Auxier area of Floyd County. According to police, the train collided with a boulder on the tracks, derailing four cars.

A Haz-Mat team was on the scene, but they reported they do not suspect leakage on any dangerous materials. It is routine for a Haz-Mat team to be called to the scene of any train incident. There were no reported injuries.

Police are investigating an incident in which the parents of an 8-month old boy with a fracture of the femur bone waited three days before seeking medical attention for the infant.

Kentucky State Police arrested Michael S. Norman and Kathy Massie and charged the couple with criminal abuse, 3rd degree, in connection with breaking the leg of their son. Norman claimed he dropped the infant which resulted in the injury.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin paid a visit to Logan last week for the site dedication of the future Logan State Office Building.

A 50,000 square foot, five story state of the art complex will be built on 133 Stratton Street.

Manchin said that the Department of Health and Human Resources, Tax and Revenue Department and Workforce West Virginia will re-locate . The agencies are currently housed in seperate buildings throughout the city.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held early next year.

A Mingo County man has been released on a $ 10,000 bond .

Roy Tiller of Varney was charged eith terroristic threatening.

One of Tiller's neighbors called police to inform them that Tiller was planning to release dangerous chemicals into the Varney water supply.

State Troopers confiscated two sealed canisters that apparently posed no threat.

However, the canisters were sent to Charleston for testing.

The STOP anti- drug group based in Gilbert was recently awarded a grant by the state for
$ 148,057. The Logan County Board of Education also received funding worth $ 120,313. The money will be used for anti-drug programs.

Pikeville, Ky.—District Six Magistrate Chris Harris and the rest of the Pike County Fiscal Court will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for the recently completed pier and cabin at Grants Branch Park on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

“For those who have never been to Grants Branch Park, it is truly a beautiful place. A picture of the park was even placed in the recent publication of the Kentucky Parks magazine,” said Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford.

“While Pike Countians have enjoyed the fishing, picnicking, beauty and tranquility of Grant's Branch Park for many years, it is great to finally be able to celebrate some major improvements to what I believe is the most beautiful park in Pike County,” said Pike County District Six Magistrate Chris Harris.

“The community is invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremonies, tour the cabin, the fishing pier and even take a slide down the new play structure if they feel up to it,” he added.

Grants Branch is located in McVeigh, near Belfry. From Pikeville, go Hwy 119 towards Belfry. Turn right onto State Hwy 199. Grants Branch Park is located on State Hwy 199 about 5.1 miles from the 119 Exit.

Pikeville, Ky.—The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS) recently announced that it has awarded the Pike County Emergency Management Office a $92,000 grant to place mobile data systems in county fire trucks.

“This money will make Pike County’s emergency services stronger than it is already. Each of our fire departments will have access to a vast array of data at their fingertips when they need it the most—in the middle of an emergency,” said Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford.

Pike County EMS Director Doug Tackett, who wrote the application for the grant, said he was “ecstatic” about receiving the money. “We’ve been working on this project for three years now, and this money will finally allow us to complete it.”

He said mobile data units are computers that allow emergency responders access to information they might need when preparing or responding to an emergency.

Pike County/Kentucky Firefighters Association President Randy Courtney was also excited about receiving the grant money. “Any tool or device that will help firefighters respond more quickly and gives us more information is always a plus for the citizens of Pike County,” he said.

With the devices, firefighters can connect to fire departments, hospitals, police stations and other first responders locally and statewide, and they can communicate to them through text messaging. The ability to communicate through text messaging as an alternative to communicating by radio will be very helpful to first responders, Tackett said.

Additionally, mobile data systems contain mapping information, a global positioning system, and contain information regarding hazardous materials.

Tackett said the Pike County EMS Office began asking the KOHS for money for mobile data units in 2006. He said the KOHS awarded the Pike County EMS Office $74,000 in 2006 and $14,000 in 2007. He said the most recent award of $92,000 will allow Pike County EMS to install a mobile data system in a fire truck at every fire department in the county. He hopes to have the remaining systems installed by February.

Ultimately, Tackett said he would like to install mobile data systems in all the fire truck in the county, but cannot currently afford to do so. He said most fire departments have one truck that they take to every emergency, so his immediate goal is to install a system into each station’s main fire truck.




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