Thursday, April 02, 2009
Mingo County Explosion Causes Damage
Firefighters in Chattaroy of Mingo County say, when they responded to an explosion around 2:00 A.M. Thursday (today) at View Avenue in Howard Hollow, they found one house leveled and flames shooting 20 to 30 feet in the air and a mobile home next door destroyed by fire. Crews say what appeared as some kind of gas explosion destroyed the two homes and damaged ten others, including a church, while several doors were blasted off their hinges and windows were blown out of homes and cars. No injuries were reported.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:01 PM
Morehead Toddler Had Abdominal Infection
An autopsy report has shown 2 year old Nathaniel Jones, whose unresponsive body was found by his mother, Tiea Jones, Monday had an abdominal infection. Additional tests results are being awaited to determine the actual cause of death. The toddler's body was found in their home on Barber Road, just outside Morehead.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:27 PM
Big Sandy Regional Detention Center Records Subpoenaed
Thursday (today) officials with the Kentucky State Police and the Department of Corrections recovered all records, including inmate information and financial documents, at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville of Johnson County. Police confirmed that, although the documents could provide information on a criminal investigation involving the March 27th. death of inmate, Sherry McFadden, it also involves financial questions. A grand jury subpoena was served Thursday (today) after authorities received several complaints regarding potential criminal conduct. Anyone with information or complaints is asked to call KSP at (606) 433-7711.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:53 PM
Food Stamp Increase Boosts Communities
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Kentucky food stamp recipients are, beginning this month (April), to receive an increase in their monthly benefits. Governor Steve Beshear says the extra funding, through the federal stimulus package, will boost the communities, and, although recipients get the primary benefit, the money goes to local businesses who employ local workers, making it an everyone wins situation.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:40 PM
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Clay County Man Accused Of Alleged Threats
FBI Special Agent, Timothy S. Briggs, has revealed in a sworn statement that 20 year old Richard Brian Hubbard, an acquaintance of Clay County officials charged with corruption, has, using the popular social networking site MySpace, sent two witnesses a threatening photo of himself holding a pistol. The complaint, filed pubicly Tuesday, accuses Hubbard of sending the photo at 2:39 A.M. March 24th., about 12 hours after a hearing on prosecutors' request to keep a key defendant, former Circuit Judge R. Cletus Maricle, in jail until the trial on May 19th.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 4:58 PM
PSC Approves East Kentucky Power Rate Increase
Tuesday the state Public Service Commission approved a 7% rate increase for East Kentucky Power Cooperative, whose 16 co-ops provide electricity to a half-million homes, farms and businesses in central and eastern Kentucky. According to figures, typical residential customers will see a monthly increase between $5.60 and $6.75 on average. Primarily the increase is tied to a new $528 million coal-fired power generating unit at the Spurlock power station in Maysville. The rate increase totals $59.5 million overall.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 4:29 PM
Nearly A Five Hour Standoff In Pike County
Kentucky State Police report a nearly five hour standoff Tuesday on Biggs Branch Road in the Millard area of Pike County resulted in the arrest of Richard Gooslin. Police say Gooslin barricaded himself inside his home after, as the result of a family argument, he opened fire on family members who had allegedly stopped by the home to pick up something. Police say, after four and one half hours, Gooslin surrendered peacefully, but,once inside the cruiser, they tazed and pepper sprayed him when he began to kick the windows and screen of the vehicle. He's charged with five counts of wanton endangerment while other charges are pending.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:34 AM
Pike County Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
The East Kentucky Expo Center was the site of the annual Membership Luncheon Tuesday. The keynote speaker was Pike County native Jimmy Cauley. Cauley is a political consultant who has worked in the campaigns of several prominent officeseekers.
He was the campaign manager of now President Barack Obama, when Obama was seeking the senatorial seat in Illinois. Cauley was named Campaign Manager of the Year in 2008, a national award given to the top consultant in the nation.
Cauley gave the assembled Chamber members and guests insights into how a political campaign is conducted. He hinted that he may soon be involved in the upcoming senatorial race in Kentucky.
He was the campaign manager of now President Barack Obama, when Obama was seeking the senatorial seat in Illinois. Cauley was named Campaign Manager of the Year in 2008, a national award given to the top consultant in the nation.
Cauley gave the assembled Chamber members and guests insights into how a political campaign is conducted. He hinted that he may soon be involved in the upcoming senatorial race in Kentucky.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:48 AM
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Stimulus Money Puts Eastern Kentucky Youth To Work
Communities in Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Martin and Magoffin counties will receive part of a $2 million program aimed at providing summer jobs for the youth. One thousand young people in the Big Sandy Area, ages 16 to 24 , will be earning money while they gain valuable work experience. As part of the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program will work with Community Action Agencies in 23 eastern Kentucky counties to put an estimated 3,000 young people to work. The program begins May 1st.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:11 PM
Pike County Receives Stimulus Funds For Energy
Pike County, which is trademarked as the Energy Capital of America, has been awarded $282,000 in federal block grants through the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The U.S. Department of Energy announced last Thursday the money will provide formula grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions as well as improving energy efficiency. The round of funding builds on a prior investment of more than $123 million in Kentucky weatherization and energy funding that came on March 12th. Pike County is the only county in the Big Sandy Region to receive funding.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:55 PM
Pikeville College Fundraiser
Pikeville College Development Directors say they need around $4 million to provide scholarships to help each student of about 90% of their nearly one thousand undergraduate students who receive the scholarships to pay for classes, books and boarding. These students depend on the scholarships and financial aid, and this sometimes leaves them picking up the phone in search of donations. For the next two weeks, students and faculty are conducting a fundraiser in which they will be calling people seeking donations which will be used to further their education.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:55 PM
More Tests Needed To Determine Cause Of Toddler Death
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday (today) to determine the cause of death for 2 year old Nathaniel Jones, whose unresponsive body was found around 11:00 A.M. Monday morning. Police report the toddler's mother, Tiea Jones, found the toddler in their home on Barber Road, just outside of Morehead. He was taken to St. Claire Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The coroner says additional testing must be done before a final conclusion on the cause of death can be made. He has confirmed the child was sick the night before his body was found.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:15 PM
Monday, March 30, 2009
Four Hour Fire Destroys Home In Mingo County
It appears an electrical problem caused a four hour fire around 3:30 A.M. Monday (today), which destroyed a home on Prarie Lane in Dingess (Mingo County). Firefighters say the fire started near the kitchen and laundry room area.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:59 PM
Two Kentucky Tornadoes Confirmed
Monday (today) the National Weather Service confirmed an F3 tornado touched down Saturday afternoon near Henderson and churned for twelve miles through Union and Henderson counties. The tornado struck five miles south-southeast of Waverly, tracked through Corydon and ended six miles southwest of Henderson, destroying six homes and causing major damage to ten others. The damage trail was 300 yards wide, and peak winds were 140 mph. An F1 tornado hit near Morganfield, tracking for two miles southeast of the city with peak winds of 90 mph. Two known injuries were reported.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:59 PM
Customers And Retailers Say Tax Goes Beyond Reason
Beginning Wednesday, the newly passed tax increase on tobacco products will kick in. The Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation last month to double the state tax on cigarettes to 30 cents per pack. Coinciding with a 62 cents federal tobacco tax increase, it will tack 92 cents onto the cost of a pack of cigarettes in Ky. A 6% sales tax on retail alcohol sales will also begin Wednesday. The increases are expected to raise more than $150 million in fiscal 2010. Some retailers, as well as customers, are voicing their opinion, saying a tax has to be reasonable, and this goes beyond reason.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:43 PM
Job Fair A Rousing Success!
The Job Fair in Pikeville Friday went so far beyond predictions it's hard to explain. Perhaps the numbers will give you a feel for this event sponsored by The Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Over 2200 attendees, nearly 400 "on the spot" interviews, 7280 applications taken by businesses and industries.
The East Kentucky Expo Center was swarming with people looking for work in this area...an area that has proven toa be much more stable than most others as far as employment is concerned. The pool of applicants included individuals from Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.
Following an evalustion of the 7000 plus applications, it appears the projected figure of 1000 "hires" will be comfortably exceeded.
The East Kentucky Expo Center was swarming with people looking for work in this area...an area that has proven toa be much more stable than most others as far as employment is concerned. The pool of applicants included individuals from Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.
Following an evalustion of the 7000 plus applications, it appears the projected figure of 1000 "hires" will be comfortably exceeded.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 1:10 AM
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Crews Clean Up Martin County Spill
Crews in Martin County were kept busy Saturday, when just before 10:00 A.M., an accident involving a semi and a passenger vehicle occurred on Milo Road. A pickup truck going South on Route 1884 and a Schlumberger semi going North collided, causing the semi to go over a hillside into a yard and leak approximately 100-150 gallons of hydraulic oil and other fluids. Schlumberger sent crews to clean up the spill, and Emergency Management was on the scene to ensure the spill was cleaned up.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:34 PM
Governor May Call Special Session
There's talk that, if a panel of state economists predicts a revenue shortfall of five percent or more for the next fiscal year, Governor Beshear may call back state legislative lawmakers who just returned home Friday. Some lawmakers believe they will be called back in the next month or so. They believe Beshear may want to re-visit unresolved bills, such as House Bill 229 which deals with expanded gaming, a bill to bring the movie industry to our state and a proposal to bring Nascar's Sprint Cup Series to the Kentucky Motor Speedway.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:11 AM
Lawyer Request Hearing For Client Expected To Plead Guilty
The attorney for longtime Pineville mayor Bob Madon filed a motion Friday seeking a hearing in which Madon is expected to plead guilty after being accused of buying votes in the November 2006 election. His son, 45 year old Brent Madon, was charged along with him and has since pleaded guilty and was expected to testify against his father. No date has been set.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:02 AM
Among Pike County Indictments
Among those indicted last week by the Pike County Grand Jury are 28 year old Harlan Keith and 19 year old Dusting Morley, both of Elkhorn City. They're accused of setting the Elkhorn City Elementary School gym on fire, causing over $1,000 in damages. They were indicted on charges of first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespassing, third-degree burglary and second-degree arson. Also among the indictments was 34 year old Darren Little of Pikeville who was indicted for possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest, second-degree escape and third-degree assault against corrections officer Jeremy Childers.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:25 AM
