Friday, May 01, 2009
Kentucky Detects Probable Swine Flu Case
Kentucky health officials are awaiting further test results, but are reporting another probable case of swine flu, this time in a middle-aged Lexington man who recently traveled to Alabama, which has reported at least four probable cases. Kentucky confirmed its first case Thursday involving a Bowling Green woman who is hospitalized in Georgia. Officials are awaiting test results involving a Bowling Green infant.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:30 PM
Pike County Deputy Allegedly Rapes Female Driver
A Pike County deputy finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Pike County Deputy Sheriff, 52 year old William "Bill" Hatfield of Buskirk, has been charged with first-degree rape after being accused of sexually assaulting a female driver during a traffic stop late Thursday night on U.S. 119 in the Meta community of Pike County. Hatfield was arrested and taken to the Pike County Detention Center and placed on a $10,000 bond. Friday he made his initial court appearance and pleaded not guilty. Sheriff Charles "Fuzzy" Keesee says Hatfield was placed on unpaid suspension and his office is cooperating with the state police investigation.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:12 PM
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Floyd County Double Kwik Robbed
In less than a week, Kentucky State Police are investigating a second armed robbery of a Double Kwik in Floyd County. The latest robbery occurred around 4:30 A.M. Thursday morning in Harold, after the first occurred Tuesday in Ivel. In both robberies, the suspect entered the stores wearing white pantyhose over his head and brandishing a hand gun. In Thursday's (today's) robbery, the suspect was dressed in black, similar to the clothing worn in the first robbery.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:41 PM
Contract Worker Drowns At Red River Gorge
Eighteen year old Xavier Holley of Edenton, North Carolina drowned Wednesday while swimming with a female friend who saw him disappear beneath the surface of water in the Red River Gorge in Menifee County. The female made it to the bank and yelled for help, which was heard by two hikers who called 911. Search and rescue personnel found the body in 8 ft. to 9 ft. water, 10 to 12 ft. from the bank about 45 minutes later. Holley and the female were contract workers who were helping clear debris from the January ice storm.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:29 PM
Judge Stops Controversial Prison Release Program
Since May, the state Department of Corrections has released more than 3,000 people from prison or parole under a controversial parole credit program. Circuit Judge David A. Tapp, who had earlier barred releasing prisoners from his area in southern Kentucky, extended the ban statewide in a ruling made public Thursday (today) and ordered the Department of Corrections to stop the release of felons from parole supervision. David L. Dalton, assistant to Commonwealth's Attorney Eddy Montgomery, says he will ask those released be rearrested or placed back under supervision. Tapp ruled Kentucky had applied the new provisions illegally.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:15 PM
Jenkins Hospital Closes
The Letcher County Community Hospital in Jenkins has sold to Wellmont Health Services and closed its doors for the last time. The sale and closure leaves over two dozen workers without jobs. At this time, the community is most concerned about the loss of the emergency room services. The clinic that will replace the hospital will offer some medical treatment and extended hours six days a week but no emergency room.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:06 PM
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Two Trials For Nighbert, Lawson And Billings
U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves has ordered two seperate trials, the first involving former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert and road contractor Leonard Lawson is scheduled for June 23rd. in Covington, with no date yet set for the second involving Nighbert, Lawson and Lawson aide Brian Russell Billings. The first trial involves bribery and conspiracy charges while the second involves obstruction of justice. The three men have entered not guilty pleas to charges of steering state highway construction contracts to Lawson's companies.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:17 PM
WWI- Era Veteran Dies
Robley Henry Rex, a WWI-era veteran who would have turned 108 this coming Saturday, died Tuesday at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Louisville, where, when he was 105, he was still volunteering three days a week and had logged more than 14,000 volunteer hours. At his 107th. birthday party last May he was presented the Governor's Award for Outstanding Service. In 2005, he was named National Volunteer of the Year by the national Veterans of Foreign Wars. Born in 1901 in Hopkinsville, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 18 and spent time in France and Germany before being discharged in 1922.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:02 PM
KSP Seek Suspect In Floyd County Robbery
Kentucky State Police are searching for a male suspect who robbed the B P Doublekwik in Ivel around 3:15 A.M. Tuesday morning. Troopers say he was wearing white gloves and had his head covered with white panty hose when he entered the store and robbed it at gunpoint before fleeing on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:54 PM
Judge Amends Sypher Release Conditions
Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin has modified release conditions for Karen Sypher, estranged wife of University of Louisville equipment manager Tim Sypher. On Tuesday, Whalin took out language barring Sypher from speaking ill of University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino. Sypher's lawyer, Thomas Clay, says the language infringed on her right to free speech. She was charged Friday with trying to extort $10 million from Pitino. A preliminary hearing is set for May 13th.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:44 PM
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Firefighters Battle Fires And Fatigue
Forest Rangers say the wind, along with hot, dry temperatures, have them battling thousands of acres of forest fires in Pike County as well as other parts of the state. More than 3,000 acres are burning in the Big Sandy region, and some firefighters say it's the worst they've ever worked. They are using bulldozers to set fire lines, but fires are being pushed across the lines by gusts of wind. Homes and businesses have not yet been threatened, but firefighters say, although they're battling fatigue from working 16 hour days, they won't give up until the job is done.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:34 PM
Perry County Firefighters Battle 900 Acre Fire
Forest fires have burned more than 900 acres in Perry County. Forest Rangers say, since late Sunday night, they've been battling fires in the Lotts Creek area, and, although they're working hard to keep flames away from homes, fires have jumped every line they've drawn.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:57 PM
Monday, April 27, 2009
KSP Investigate Motel Robbery
Kentucky State Police are seeking information involving a robbery at the Super 8 Motel in South Williamson which occurred early Monday morning. Authorities say, just after midnight, a man and a male teen, estimated to be about 15 years of age, entered the motel, jumped the counter while brandishing a knife and demanded cash before fleeing on foot. If you have information, you're urged to call KSP at 800-222-5555.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:57 PM
Kentucky Fires Kept Crews Busy
State and federal forestry officials say higher than normal winds and hot, dry weather sparked fires which kept them busy over the weekend as they battled 13 blazes in eastern Kentucky. On Saturday, crews were containing one fire near Prater Creek in Floyd County when a second fire, expected to be arson, began on an adjoining ridge. Crews also battled fires in remote areas including Pike County. Parts of the Red River Gorge--from east of KY 77 and north of KY 715 to Gladie Creek--were closed on Sunday and will remain closed as firefighters work to contain a blaze which was expected to burn more than 1,000 acres. The fire was discovered Friday afternoon on the ridge above the Indian Staircase, and officials say it dropped off the cliff and began burning in several different lines. Officials say they're thankful the Red River Gorge fire held at 175 acres on Monday. Seven other mountain fires were reported Monday (today)--three in Pike County, two in Magoffin and one each in Johnson and Floyd counties. With four fires remaining from the weekend, Monday's total was brought to 11 in those four counties.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:58 PM
Pikeville Medical Health Screening Center Now Open
The dominating reason most people fail to get the medical attention they need is the cost involved. Pikeville Medical Center is now cutting in to that problem by offering a comprehensive diagnostic work-up at an unbelievable price ... free. Now open in Coal Run Village near Advance Auto is a facility that will "run the numbers" on your most vital medical functions. Open Monday through Friday, this permanent location is staffed with highly trained medical professionals. Pikeville Medical Health Screening Center ... helping you spend less on your health care.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:44 PM
Railroad Layoffs In Williamson
Workers at a rail yard in Williamson will be indefinitely furloughed beginning at the end of the month. Thirteen employees in the mechanical department, who maintain and repair railroad cars for Norfolk Southern, will be laid off, leaving about 79 employees in that department.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 1:28 PM
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Pike County Prepares For Second RAM Expodition
The 2009 Pike County Remote Area Medical (RAM) Expodition is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 27th. and 28th. at Pike County Central High School. The event is Pike County's second RAM expodition and was brought to the county by Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford to provide free healthcare services to residents of eastern Kentucky. Stan Brock,who achieved fame in the 1970s as a co-host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom tv series founded RAM in 1985.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 5:30 PM
Former Governor Puts Up Challenge Grant
In an effort to keep a medical van operating, former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones has put up $70,000 in a challenge grant designed to raise an equal amount to replace $140,000 the legislature did not provide to keep the van that serves eastern Kentucky on the road. Since 2003, the van has made weekly stops in Wolfe, Lawrence and Morgan counties to provide healthcare to the needy, more than half of them uninsured. There are about 2,000 patients a year treated.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 5:07 PM
