Thursday, March 19, 2009
Clay County Officials Indicted
In a continuing federal investigation into public corruption in Clay County, a federal grand jury has indicted six Clay County officials and charged them with racketeering and other crimes. The grand jury charges Clay County School Superintendent Doug Adams, County Clerk Freddy Thompson, former Circuit Judge Cletus Maricle, Clay County Democratic Party Chairman Charles Wayne Jones and election officers William E. Stivers and Paul E. Bishop schemed to buy votes in the 2004 May Primary. The officials are also charged with bribery, extortion and mail fraud in an attempt to affect the outcome of the elections.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:21 PM
Pike County Officials Hold Town Hall Forum
Pike County officials held their third of a series of town hall forums Tuesday at the Southside Mall in South Williamson. Pike County District 6 Magistrate Chris Harris announced plans to break ground on the largest waste water project in Pike County's history. The system will serve everyone from Forest Hills to the head of Pond Creek. The first phase of the project will cost $3 million and will be funded with coal severance money. He also announced a new phase with the landfill which will cost $6 million, to be funded through the issue of bonds. It will take us through 2020.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:09 PM
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Georgetown Man Charged With Attempted Murder
Kentucky State Police say 26 year old Jason StClair Wilson opened fire at a home on King George Drive in Georgetown around midnight early Wednesday morning. Police report, following a birthday celebration for one of the three children belonging to him and his ex-girlfriend, 25 year old Stephanie Buchanan, Wilson shot Buchanan in the left hip and shot 18 year old Darrell Brown, in the face. Wilson is charged with two counts of attempted murder, six counts of wanton endangerment and one count of burglary. Buchanan and Brown are listed in fair condition at U.K. Hospital.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:05 PM
Corrections Officer Attacked By Inmates
Corrections officers are urging Governor Steve Beshear to negotiate a contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to address safety concerns and staffing shortages they say exist in the state Department of Corrections. Robert Sharp, a corrections officer at the Kentucky State Reformatory at LaGrange, was released Wednesday (today) from Baptist Hospital Northeast after being jumped and beaten Monday in a stairwell. Sharp was the only corrections officer on duty in the dorm of 160 inmates when two inmates, 29 year old Clifford Taylor and 31 year old Shawn Thacker, allegedly attacked him. The inmates were charged with third-degree assault.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:50 PM
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Pike County Man Indicted For Manslaughter
Among indictments handed down last week by the Pike County grand jury: Forty one year old Billy Ward of Melvin, Ky. was indicted for DUI, failure to maintain control, second and fourth degree assault and manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend, 29 year old Alicia Caudill. On November 28,2008, while traveling on Penny Road near Virgie, Ky, Ward crossed the center line and collided with another vehicle. Caudill was flown to Cabell Huntington Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:39 PM
KSP Attempting To Locate Missing Pikeville Woman
Kentucky State Police are attempting to locate 24 year old Crystal Gayle Branham Hall who was last seen on Kentucky Avenue in Pikeville, the street where she resided. Family members say they haven't had any contact with her since March 1st. She's described as being 5ft. 4inches tall, weighing 107 pounds, shoulder length red hair, brown eyes and possibly a tattoo H on her lower leg. Anyone with information is urged to contact KSP at 1-800-222-5555 or 606-437-7711.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:19 PM
Pike County Magistrate Elected Second Vice President KACo
Chris Harris, Pike County Magistrate of District 6, was recently elected, by members of the Kentucky Magistrate's Association, as second vice president of the Kentucky Association of Counties, putting him in line to be KACo president in 2012. The association lobbies officials at state and federal levels about issues affecting county governments.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:09 PM
Monday, March 16, 2009
Johnson County Trial Continued
The trial for Robert Drown Jr. of West Virginia was scheduled to begin Monday (today) in Johnson County but was continued until May 5th. Drown is facing capital murder charges for the May 2007 deaths of 31 year old Jennifer Ison and her two daughters, 10 year old Shannah and 3 year old Marissa, which occurred in Carter County. Kentucky State Police say Jennifer, who had a short-term relationship with Drown, was strangled. Shannah died from blunt force trauma to the head, and Marissa died in the fire when their mobile home in Hitchens was burned. One of the girls was sexually assaulted. If convicted, Drown faces the death penalty.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:20 PM
Kentucky Cracks Down On Across State Line Meth Ingredients
In hopes of detecting people who bring meth ingredients across state lines, Monday (today) Governor Steve Beshear, joined by law enforcement officials, announced a pilot partnership promoting teamwork between Kentucky and Indiana. Kentucky will expand its electronic monitoring system into Indiana to track sales of over-the-counter cold and sinus drugs. Officials say nearly one-third of all meth labs found last year in Kentucky were in Jefferson and Bullitt counties.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:57 PM
Floyd County Father And Son Claim Murder
Forty four year old Robie Dean Miller and Robie Lee Miller appeared in court Monday (today) charged with last week's murder of 27 year old John Salisbury, who was shot to death at a strip mine site in Hippo of Floyd County. Police say Salisbury was shot at least twice, and investigators say his own gun may have fired the shots. The Millers, father and son, both claim to have shot Salisbury. Witnesses say the shooting occurred after Salisbury attempted to show pictures of his dead goats he believed Miller's dog killed. The case now goes to the grand jury. Robie Lee Miller's bond is $1 million. Robie Dean Miller's bond is $100 thousand.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:45 PM
Hazard Hotel Party Leads To Rape Charges
Twenty one year old Justin Wright was arrested early Monday morning at the Super 8 Motel in Hazard and charged with rape, assault, unlawful transaction with a minor and unlawful imprisonment. He's accused of supplying alcohol to at least three minors in his motel room and raping and assaulting a 15 year old girl he met over MySpace on the Internet.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:36 PM
House And Senate Scrap CATS
Senate Bill 1, the proposal to scrap the decade-old school testing system known as CATS passed the House and Senate with no opposition Friday.
The bill now goes to Governor Beshear who says it includes "positive elements" to improve education. Negotiations are focused on a final version of an interim test to be given until state education officials develop a new permanent test by the 20011-12 academic year.
The bill now goes to Governor Beshear who says it includes "positive elements" to improve education. Negotiations are focused on a final version of an interim test to be given until state education officials develop a new permanent test by the 20011-12 academic year.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 1:31 AM
