Friday, January 30, 2009

 

Logan County House Fire Kills Five

Five people were killed Thursday morning when a two-story house in Monaville caught fire. Two fire departments and more than twenty firefighters found the house engulfed in flames by the time they arrived.

The sister of one of the victims identified them as Dewayne Ellis, Melinda Dailey, and Dailey's three children...11-year old Kaitlyn, 9-year old Ryan and 2-year old Trey.

 

Federal Prisoner Dies In Martin County

The Big Sandy Federal Prison in Martin County was put on lockdown after an incident Wednesday afternoon between 35-year old Vincent Smith and another inmate.

Smith, who was serving a life sentence for a murder in Washington, DC, was taken to a hospital where he later died.

 

Largest Power Outage In Kentucky's History

What was thought to be the second largest power outage in the state of Kentucky, became the largest in the state's history, when 607,000 homes and businesses were reported without power as of mid-morning Thursday.

The count doesn't include municipal utilities, or, rural electric cooperatives within the Tennessee Valley Authority system.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

 

Post Office Seeks To Cut Delivery

In testimony for a congressional panel Wednesday, Postmaster General John Potter asked for an end to the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week. He says, faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the Post Office was $2.8-Billion in the red last year. Massive deficits could force the agency to cut out one day of mail delivery per week.

 

Letcher Man Could Get New Trial

Letcher County Commonwealth's Attorney, Eddison Banks, says his office is planning to re-try Jeff Allen. In 2006, a jury had found him guilty in the 2003 death of his two-and-a-half year old foster child, Dakota Yonts.

The child died of blunt force trauma with strangulation as a contributing factor. Allen had been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

 

Kentucky Governor Declares Emergency

As a powerful winter storm of ice, snow and freezing rain continued to pound the state, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear declared an emergency. The declaration enabled state resources to be mobilized to assist cities and counties in coping with power outages and other damage caused by ice and snow. Over 60,000 Kentuckians, mostly in western Kentucky, were reported to be without power. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet road crews worked to keep main routes passable. At one point, plows were out in 105 counties. Nonessential state government employees were sent home at 3:00 P.M. KSP and other agencies urged motorists to stay off the roads as weather closed or canceled schools, businesses and other events.

 

Earthquake Hits Kentucky

As Kentucky recieved a blast of wintry weather Tuesday, folks near Williamsburg woke up to a minor earthquake around 6:20 A.M. The U.S. Geological Survey confirms an earthquake, centered four miles from Williamsburg, measured 3.1.

 

KSP Search For Floyd County Shooting Suspect

KSP are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot 29 year old Jeremy Pennington outside his home in Ligon of Floyd County Monday. Pennington, who was shot twice in the leg, was taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. He has told police the person who shot him drove away, but he is unable to provide a description of the suspect or the car.

 

Thousands Without Power. Due To Safety KY Power Has Had To Suspend Restoration Efforts.

Kentucky Power spokesperson Bob Shurtleff has told EKB that over 10,000 of their customers in eastern Kentucky are without service.

3,300 in Martin County

7,859 in Johnson, Magoffin and Morgan counties.

Shurtleff said numerous trees have fallen onto power lines and, in some instances, lines have also snapped.

Shurtleff said due to safety concerns restoration efforts have been suspended until daybreak. He added he doesn't expect workers to make progress until mid-day

 

Several Roadways Closed In Eastern Kentucky

According to the Kentucky Department of Transportation, several roadways in Johnson County are closed due to trees falling across them.

In Johnson County : KY 3388, KY 302 at intersection , KY 40 west at mile markers four and five, KY 1559 at mile markers 0 and 1. Spicy Mountain and KY 1884

In Floyd County : KY 1100.

We have been told trees are falling at such a fast rate it is dangerous for workers to clear the highway. Three vehicles have been damaged due to falling limbs and trees.

 

Several Traffic Lights Out On US 23.

According to the Kentucky Department of Highways several traffic lights on US 23 are not working at this time due to a power outage.

In Floyd County : US 23 and KY 1428 at Big Sandy Community and Technical College, US 23 at Bayes Branch.

In Johnson County : US 23 and KY 1428 at Hager Hill and KY 40 and 321 at Paintsville and US23 and 40 at Staffordville.

Also in Floyd County Routee 110 is closed dure to numerous falling trees.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

 

Mingo and Logan Jobless Rates Decline. Stats Might Not Last Due To Sharp Rise In Unemployment Claims.

The unemployment rate climbed in 47 counties in the month of December. West Virginia's unemployment rate for the month was 4.4 percent.

Mingo and Logan counties bucked the trend as both counties continue to see a decline. Mingo 3.8 percent and Logan 3.6 percent. The lowest unemployment rate in the southern coalfields is Boone County at 2.9 percent.

Other counties in the listening area : Wyoming 4.0 percent, Wayne 4.7 percent, Mercer 3.9 percent, Lincoln 4.7 percent and McDowell 5.4 percent.

The lowest jobless rate in WV belongs to Monongalia County 2.2 percent. The highest Calhoun County at 7.7 percent.

Numbers could be worse for January. Workforce WV says that unemployment claims are up 38 percent so far for the month over the same time period in 2008.

Those numbers don't include the round of layoffs that hit the state last week in manufacturing, mining and gambling. Patriot Coal plans to close a mine in Boone County which
will result in over 200 people losing their jobs.

 

Boone County Man Indicted After Toddler Drowns In Bathtub.

A Boone County grand jury late last week indicted 22 year-old Thomas Manns of Peytona on one count of child neglect causing death after his eight month old son drowned in a bathtub in October, 2006. Authorities say that Manns allegedly left the baby in a bathtub, turned on the water and then left the room. When Manns returned the toddler was face down in the water and unresponsive.

If convicted the Peytona resident faces up to 15 years in prison.

 

Orphanage Coming To Williamson.

Pastor Chris Blevins of Consuming Fire Ministries says that his church will conduct a community meeting on Jan 30th at 6:30pm., at the Thoroughbread Steakhouse located at the Southside Mall . Blevins says that the topic of the meeting will be to lay out plans on the proposed idea of the Sunshine House. The Sunshine House will be the home of an orphanage that will be located in Williamson. Blevins says that the orphanage is needed in the Tug Valley region. The Sunshine House would be a positive to step in addressing the foster care shortage in the area.

 

Eastern Kentucky Man Suffers Fatal Heart Attack While Driving Vehicle.

An eastern Kentucky man is dead after authorities believe Harlan T. Davis suffered a heart attack while traveling on a gravel strip job access road. The press release said Davis' vehicle went into a ditch. The Elkhorn Ambulance Service and the Millard East Shelbiana VFD responded.

 

Police Seeking Person That Robbed Pike County Business At Gunpoint.

The Kentucky State Police say a man walked into Big Creek Pizza at Sydney, Saturday evening with a gun and walked away with an undetermined amount of cash. The incident happened around 8:35 p.m. The male suspect fled the scene on foot. If anyone has any information contact the Kentucky State Police at 433-7711 or 1-800-222-5555.

 

Southside Mall To Host Pike County Chamber of Commerce Town Hall Meeting.

The Southside Mall at Goody will host a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at 5pm. The event is sponsored by the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

The forum’s topic will be on issues surrounding District Six. Residents will be able to ask questions of officials from the local and state levels.

The event is free and open to the public.

 

Pikeville Woman Charged With Child Endangerment

A Pikeville woman has been charged with child endangerment. 26 year-old Natasha Branham was apprehended by members of the Pikeville PD. Officers were notified by Pikeville Elementary School that a child had to be returned to school because no one was at the bus stop to get the child. When police showed up at the residence to follow up on the complaint they discovered that Branham allegedly had been taking pain pills. A two year –old was also present in the residence.

Branham remains in the Pike County Detention Center without bond.

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