EKB News

The first baby of 2009 was born at 7:22 am News Years morning at the Pikeville Medical center. Sondra and David Rogers are the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy. Leland Rogers weighed 5 pounds and 13 ounces. The couple reside in the Floyd County community of Weeksbury.

A new law takes effect today in West Virginia. Motorists that goes to the Department of Motor Vehicle Offices across the state to renew there driver licences now must take an eye exam.

If a person fails the screening at renewal , then the person must go to an eye doctor to get cleared to drive.

At the DMV site a person must have 20/40 vision.

If cleared by an eye doctor a person must have at least 20/60 vision .

A resident can avoid an on site screeening as long as they have written proof from an eye doctor within 90 days of renewal.

A Letcher County man died from a an early New Years Day accident. The mishap occurred on Route 610 at Virgie. Authorities identified the victim as 34 year-old William H. Hodge of Jenkins. According to a press release Hodge lost control of his vehicle while traveling west on Rt 610. The pickup truck he was operating struck a guardrail. Hodge was ejected through and out of the passenger side window. Authorities say that Hodge wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

As the new year begins and many think about New Year resolutions, experts say, if you stay focused and realistic, making it through obstacles will be a whole lot easier. Another good idea is to write your resolutions down and post them where they're easily seen. Your 2009 goal will have its ups and downs so don't give up too quickly. Keep working at it and give it your best shot. HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM EKB

A mother and son were transported via helicopter to a Kingsport, TN hospital after they received serious injuries stemming from a single vehicle accident that occurred Wednesday morning on Raccoon Creek Road in Pike County. Authorities say a truck being operated by Teddy Gannon Jr left the roadway and struck a tree. His mother Patty Gannon was a passenger. The Gannon's are listed in critical condition.

Appalachian Wireless Announces their Scholarship Program for 2009
Ivel, KY – December 31, 2008 Appalachian Wireless, a division of East Kentucky Network and the leading provider of high quality wireless telecommunications products and services in Eastern Kentucky, today announced they will increase their Scholarship Program to assist students with higher education expenses.

Gerald Robinette, General Manager/CEO, announced Appalachian Wireless will continue their Scholarship Program that provided a total of $16,000 in the past three years to graduating seniors.

"This Scholarship Program is just another way that we at Appalachian Wireless are investing in the future of our region," stated Robinette. "We are committed to serving our customers and supporting the communities in our service area. By assisting students with attaining their goal of higher education, we touch lives at a personal level, and I am pleased to announce that this year, we will be again be presenting eight scholarships. Eight students will receive a $1,000 scholarship this year." Robinette stated.

Designed to enable Appalachian Wireless customers to ease the burden often associated with costs of higher education for their children, the Scholarship money received by the student can be used for tuition, books, housing, or meal charges. High school guidance counselors will be receiving the application packets over the next few days. A downloadable application also can be found at the Appalachian Wireless website at www.appalachianwireless.com.

Only students who are customers or whose parent or guardian is a customer of Appalachian Wireless will be eligible and the Scholarship will be awarded based on financial need, academic performance, school, and community involvement, personal essays and letters of recommendation. An independent panel will review the application materials. The guidance counselor will be notified of a student's award and students will receive notification of being Scholarship recipient at their year-end awards ceremony.
Interested students are asked to visit the Appalachian Wireless website at www.appalachianwireless.com
or contact Crystal Hamilton at 606/477-2355 or 800/438-2355 if any further information is needed or to answer any questions regarding this new program.

Appalachian Wireless is the premier CDMA technology-based provider of wireless phone services in portions of four states. With over 140 cell sites serving 29 counties, Appalachian Wireless provides the best local digital and analog coverage in 8000 square miles. Headquartered in Ivel, KY, Appalachian Wireless provides the best local customer service to its licensed population base of 670,000 people in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Consumers can purchase phones and service from more than 50 Appalachian Wireless stores and authorized dealers. More information about Appalachian Wireless can be found at www.appalachianwireless.com. You Always Get More With Appalachian Wireless.

29 year old Joshua Ridings of Owensboro is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12th. He plead guilty in October to a federal charge of crossing a state line to engage in a sexual act with a person under the age of 12. Authorities say, in February 2007, Ridings abducted an 11 year old girl from North Wheeling, West Virginia and took her into Belmont County Ohio where he sexually assaulted her. Kidnapping, first-degree assault and second-degree assault charges are pending. Under a plea agreement, he coud spend 40 years in prison.

CHARLESTON, WV – First Lady Gayle Manchin and the Manchin 2009 Inaugural Committee are pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for the Inaugural Ball. The ball, which will follow the official theme of the celebration, “A New West Virginia,” will be held 8 p.m. Monday, January 19 at the Charleston Civic Center.
“The Inaugural Ball is definitely one of the highlights of the two-day Inaugural festivities,” First Lady Gayle Manchin said. “We have made many great strides over the past four years and it is truly a new West Virginia. We are excited about celebrating our progress with fellow West Virginians, and this ball gives us a chance to visit with them.”
Tickets for this event are priced at $50 per person, the same amount as four years ago, and are available by calling the Civic Center box office at 304-345-7469. Tickets may also be purchased at the ticket window in the Civic Center’s lobby. The Civic Center takes Visa, Master Card, American Express, cash or check. The attire for the event is black tie optional. Please note: The Civic Center will be closed on Jan. 1.
Individuals do not need an invitation to obtain a ticket. Any member of the public can purchase a ticket through the Civic Center. Additional information regarding the entertainment for the ball will be released shortly. All other Inaugural events, including the church service, parade and official Inauguration ceremony are free and open to the public. A schedule of events follows.

Sunday, January 18, 2009
High Noon Ecumenical Mass
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral
1114 Virginia Street, East
Charleston, WV
Noon
Free to the Public

Monday, January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Program of Tribute and Remembrance
Asbury United Methodist Church
501 Elizabeth Street
8:30 a.m.
Free to the Public

Inaugural Parade
Kanawha Boulevard, between Capitol Street and Greenbrier Street
10 a.m.
Free to the Public

Inaugural Ceremonies
West Virginia State Capitol
Capitol Steps, North Side
1 p.m.
Free to the Public

Inaugural Reception
Immediately following the Inaugural Ceremony
Capitol Rotunda & Cultural Center Great Hall
Entertainment, Light Refreshments
Free to the Public

Inaugural Ball
Charleston Civic Center
8 p.m.
Ticket Required ($50 per person)

A Martin County girl who received burns to over 80 percent of her body from a house fire that killed her grandmother is still recovering at a Shriners Hospital in Boston, MA. Nine year-old Brittany Luster remains in critical condition. Terry Fraley with Net Ambulance Service in Inez says the girl received two more grafts on Sunday and also remains on a ventilator. Fraley added hospital officials have told the family the youngster could be hospitalized through April. If anyone is interested in making a contribution to the Luster family to go toward medical expenses contact Terry Fraley at 606-298-0061

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear today said he is asking the state’s retirement system boards to enact policy changes that will provide more than $37 million in immediate relief to cities, counties and school districts struggling with shortfalls in the wake of the country’s financial crisis.
Specifically, Beshear recommends that cities and counties be permitted to spread their required contribution obligations over a 10-year period instead of the current five-year required time frame. The move, which has been found to be actuarially sound by the Kentucky Retirement Systems (KRS), would provide about $37.5 million of immediate relief to cities and counties next fiscal year, while ensuring a fiscally sound pension system.
“Just as the state is struggling to cope with the worst national financial crisis since the Great Depression, cities and counties are straining to provide the most basic services to their residents,” said Gov. Beshear, who was joined in today’s announcement by Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, Sylvia Lovely, executive director of the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) and Bob Arnold, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo). “My proposal will provide more than $37 million of immediate relief to our local governments in a way that keeps our pension systems financially sound for years to come.”
Gov. Beshear’s recommendations are in response to the report of his bipartisan Public Pension Working Group, chaired by Finance and Administration Cabinet Sec. Jonathan Miller. Gov. Beshear said he hoped the KRS board would meet prior to the start of the upcoming legislative session to address his recommendations.
“Allowing additional time to achieve full funding of the actuarially required contribution is a critical component of our strategy to bring desperately needed financial relief to county government,” said Bob Arnold of KACo. “We look forward to working with the governor and legislative leaders to assure that the public pension system and the local governments that support that system remain financially strong.”
“With city budgets already cut to the quick, this proposal is an important component in our efforts to make employer contribution rates immediately more affordable for cities,” said Sylvia Lovely of KLC.
“Governor Beshear’s proposal is a responsible and fair approach that ensures the soundness of the retirement system and bridles the increasing costs to local governments,” said Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson.
“First, cities must do right by their citizens, who have every right to expect excellent services,” Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry said. “But responsible public officials also want to do right by public retirees by honoring the retirement agreements that were made with them when they were hired. Striking a balance is hard, particularly in this economic climate and particularly when some retirement costs have not been adequately addressed in decades. The Governor’s proposal will help us through a very difficult year.”
Today’s recommendations encompass a broad range of other pension reform issues, including providing financial relief to cities and counties, pursuit of securities’ litigation claims, refining state funding procedures, and reforming the delivery of health care. Other recommendations include:
Adopting effective securities’ litigation policies to enable the pension systems to claim millions of dollars of damages from Wall Street losses where companies have engaged in illegal or unethical practices;
Exploring creative health-care reforms adopted in other states to provide affordable health benefits, while ensuring the long-term financial stability of the funds;
Promoting the state’s existing optional defined contribution, 401(k)-style plan, the Kentucky Public Employees’ Deferred Compensation Authority, to encourage individual retirement savings;
Providing more oversight and transparency of pension system funds to enable the Governor and the General Assembly to ensure that the systems are properly funded; and
Amending enabling law to authorize the Kentucky Asset Liability Commission (ALCo) to issue pension-related bonds when funds are appropriated by the General Assembly to pay off unfunded liabilities of the pension systems. Specifically, consideration should be given to authorize the issuance of bonds, if market conditions are favorable, to repay funds to the KTRS pension fund that have been used to cover health insurance costs for KTRS members.
House State Government Committee Chairman Mike Cherry has pre-filed legislation to provide the $37.5 million of relief to cities and counties, if the KRS board doesn’t adopt the recommendations.
“I strongly commend Rep. Cherry for his leadership on the pension issue, both in terms of his pre-filed bill but more importantly for shepherding the significant pension reform and modernization legislation passed in last summer’s special session,” said Gov. Beshear.
“I think this extended timetable is fair and reasonable,” said Rep. Mike Cherry. “Given the current stark economic situation, any relief we can responsibly provide to our cities and counties should be done.”
“Each of the governor’s recommendations help ensure the objectives of HB 1 from this year’s special session,” said Sec. Miller. “These objectives are to provide teachers and state employees a safe and secure retirement, in a manner that is sustainable into the long term for Kentucky taxpayers.”

Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies say meth crackdowns are happening all across the county. In just ten days they've located four meth labs and arrested eleven people through the Christmas holiday.

The first bust occurred at Slone's Branch where officials arrested Paul Jenkins, Misty Walters and Jay Krauter.

The second bust resulted in the arrest of Billy and Melissa Shepherd of Tutor Key. The third was at Flat Gap. Arrested were Chris Kestner, Ryan Selvage, Jerry Ward and Alice Ramey.

Deputies spent the past weekend shutting down a meth lab on Airport Road in Hager Hill. William Hill and Randall Branham were arrested.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (December 29, 2008) - Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that his Medicaid Fraud & Abuse Control Unit has recovered $2.37 million from Pennsylvania-based Cephalon, Inc., one of the world’s top ten biotechnology pharmaceutical companies.

The recovery resulted from a joint investigation by the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units and the federal government, which disclosed that Cephalon improperly marketed the sleep disorder drug Provigil, the seizure drug Gabitril and the painkiller Actiq for uses that had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Marketing drugs for off-label use is a dangerous practice that can have tragic consequences for patients,” General Conway said. “I appreciate the work of our team to investigate this case and secure reimbursement for the Kentucky Medicaid program.”

As part of its illegal “off-label” marketing scheme, Cephalon provided millions of dollars in educational grants to induce physicians to prescribe Provigil, Gabitril, and Actiq for non-approved uses. In some instances, Cephalon’s promotion of the off-label use of Gabitril as a remedy for anxiety, insomnia, and pain, resulted in reports of seizures in patients did not have epilepsy. The occurrence of seizures prompted the FDA to require Cephalon to send a warning to physicians advising them of the risks in connection with off-label Gabitril use.

Cephalon paid a total of $425 million in damages and civil and criminal fines and penalties to resolve the off-label marketing claims. This settlement reimburses Kentucky, the other participating states and the federal government for excessive amounts paid by the Medicaid program as a result of Cephalon's improper off-label marketing campaign.

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

Bruce Smith, 33, of Kimper: second –degree assault
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Tommy M. Bennett of Elkhorn City : operating a motor vehicle while license is suspended or revoked for driving under the influence.
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Darrin T. Varney, 21, of Hardy : theft by unlawful taking
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Noah Adams, 20, of Freeburn

Jeremy Young, 21, of Phelps

Jeremiah Young, 20, of Phelps

Two counts of theft by unlawful taking and third degree criminal mischief
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David A. Woodyard, 34, of Huntington, WV

Che M. McCoy, 34, of Huntington, WV

Jessica A. Holley, 26, of Huntington,WV

Jill Adkins , 30, of Huntington , WV

Receiving stolen property
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Jessica Stambaugh , 26, of Whitesburg

Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, operating motor vehicle without an operators’ license.
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Drannon A. Adkins , 22, of Elkhorn City : two counts of fraudulent use of credit card.
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Johnny Dye, 37, of Pikeville : two counts of theft by unlawful taking.
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Roger Collins of Shelbiana

Nacoma Harmon of Kimper : receiving stolen property
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Michael L. Lathey, 50, of Pikeville: fourth degree assault
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Hurley D. Mullins , 32 : second degree escape and second degree persistent felony offender.

Mullins was serving a five year sentence at the Pike County Detention Center . Mullins began serving the term on November 5th of this year. He walked away from a work release detail in the Millard area.
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Michael Lathey, 50, of Pikeville

Constance Lathey , 48, of Pikeville

First degree wanton endangerment
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Tommy M. Bennett, 43, of Elkhorn City

Operating a motor vehicle while alcohol concentration of or above .08 or while under the influence of alcohol, possession of controlled substance
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William Gibson, 51, of Shelbiana : attempt to obtain a controlled substance by fraud.

According to Workforce Kentucky , Pike County's unemployment rate for the month of November seven tenths of a percentage point while the commonwealth's rose slightly.

Kentucky's unemployment rate rose to 6.6 percent. Pike County's dipped to six percent.

Floyd County increased by three-tenths to 6.6, Magoffin rose by over one percent to 10.3, Johnson increased by one percent to 7.1, Martin saw a slight increase to 7.2, and Letcher reported a three-tenths of a percent increase to 6.6 percent.

FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Preliminary statistics* indicate that ten people died in ten separate crashes on Kentucky's roadways during the Christmas holiday period from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 24th through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2008.

Nine of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and none of those victims were wearing seat belts. Single vehicle crashes occurred in Bourbon, Breathitt, Campbell, Fayette, Floyd, Madison, Pulaski, Rowan and Wayne counties. One fatality involved a pedestrian in Jefferson county.

Through December 28, 2008 preliminary statistics* indicate that 811 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2008. This is 50 fewer than reported for this time period in 2007. Of the 628 motor vehicle fatalities, 391 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the 89 motorcycle fatalities, 53 were not wearing helmets. Twenty-three people have been killed in ATV crashes and 21 of those were not wearing helmets. Sixty-five pedestrians have been killed. A total of 174 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

An investigation is underway involving shots fired early Sunday morning outside the Fluid Nightclub on 4th Avenue in Huntington.

Police say a fight inside the bar spilled onto the streets outside where shots were fired. One person was hit by gunfire but has not yet been identified.

The Kentucky State Police and a forensic team from Frankfort are attempting to identify the remains of a charred body found over the weekend in rural Clay County.

Police were called Saturday morning to the scene of a burned truck in the Redbird Wildlife Management Area.

Officials say identification could take some time because of the extent to which the body was burned. The burned-out truck was first discovered on Friday by a grandfather and grandson who say they didn't think much about it until they found the body while scouting for deer and elk the following morning.

KSP are searching for a hit-and-run vehicle which hit 62 year old James R. Chapman of McVeigh Saturday evening. Police say he was walking along U.S. 119 near Belfry when he was first struck by a Jeep Cherokee driven by Crystal D. Blair of Canada, Ky. A second vehicle, a light-colored car, also hit Chapman then fled. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information involving the second car is asked to call the Pikeville KSP at 606-433-7711.