Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Pikeville Medical Company Owners Sentenced
According to a U.S. District Court in Louisville, 60 year old Carolyn Sue Davis and 76 year old Otis Davis, both of Pikeville, were sentenced July 1st. to two years supervised release. The two owners of J&J Medical Inc. were sentenced for accepting kickbacks of more than $55,000 from Life Medical Systems, a pharmaceutical mail-order company to which they referred patients from 2003 to 2004. Carolyn Davis was sentenced to 8 months, to be served concurrently with a 5 year sentence on a previous conviction in a 2005 fraud case. Otis Davis was convicted in the case and was released in the fall of 2008. Each will be fined $800. In 2005, when the Davises were found guilty, they were also ordered to pay restitution of $171,000. In a separate case last year, a civil judgment of more than $433,000 was won against them. DeWayne Logan, of Ohio, part owner and operator of Life Medical, was sentenced to six months home incarceration, two years probation and fined $500.
Twenty-Seven Million In Federal Funds For Kentucky Road Repairs
Following the devastation of the January ice storm, the Federal Highway Administration is sending $27 million to Kentucky to help pay for repairs to the state's transportation system. The money is part of a $201 million appropriation being made available to 15 states. Under the program, Kentucky will be reimbursed for repairs to highways, bridges and other road structures, such as traffic signals, signs, guardrails and lighting, and the money can help pay the cost of debris removal.
Judge Rules Bid-Rigging Indictment Case Will Continue
U.S. District Judge Karl Forester has refused to dismiss a superseding indictment against former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert, road contractor Leonard Lawson and Lawson aide Brian Billings. Forester says the high profile bid-rigging case will continue despite claims of "vindictive prosecution". A hearing in the case is set for July 9th. to determine whether the release of documents involving testimony Lawson provided to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office during a 1983-1985 investigation of bid-rigging regarding Lawson owned Mountain Enterprises should be released to newspapers.
Second Reading Scheduled For Paintsville Alcohol Ordinance
The second reading of the rules and regulations for alcohol sales in Paintsville is planned during a special called meeting of the Paintsville City Council to be held Thursday night. The proposed ordinance would allow restaurants, hotels, stores and caterers to sell alcohol from 6:00 A.M. to midnight, with no sales allowed on Sunday, while other rules follow state laws. If the proposed ordinance passes, business owners can begin to apply next week for licenses, which cost anywhere from $25 to $3,000.
Obama Names New MSHA Head
President Barack Obama has chosen Joseph Main, the retired longtime safety and health administrator for the United Mine Workers of America, to head the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. It has drawn praise from safety advocates and criticism from the coal industry. Main's nomination was seen as a signal of a change of directions in terms of mine safety in this country, a 180-degree shift from the policies of the Bush administration and its favoring of coal industry executives, who were left disappointed by the decision. Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, says it will be frustrating to have someone with an agenda that is pro-union.
Monday, July 06, 2009
FEMA Deadline Approaches
Here's some dates you may want to make note of...July 27th. and July 28th. If you are eligible for individual federal disaster assistance, you now have until July 27th. to apply for aid. The deadline for disaster loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster-related real and personal property losses is July 28th., two dates you should be aware of... July 27th. for individual assistance through FEMA...and July 28th. for loan assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Anthrax Scare In Pikeville.
The scene from downtown Pikeville, KY as anthrax contamination precautions were underway at the federal courthouse building on Main Street.Haz-Mat crews and the FBI, along with city, state and local officials, were on the scene at the federal courthouse Monday after, what witnesses say was a white powder, was found inside the federal building. Several people were decontaminated outside the courthouse, and nine were transported to the Pikeville Medical Center.
According to a U.S. Marshal, Mike Klein, a Big Sandy Detention Center inmate sent letters to about 25 to 50 places, including the London, Pikeville and Frankfort federal courthouses. The letters threatened anthrax exposure, which led to evacuations of the buildings. The inmate has told prison officials the white substance inside the envelopes was Sweet N Low artificial sweetener. At least four congressional offices, U.S. Representatives Geoff Davis, Brett Guthrie, Ed Whitfield and John Yarmuth, received letters in the mail Monday morning. The downtown portion of Pikeville was reopened shortly after 4:00 P.M. Law enforcement officials from the Pikeville Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, the Pike County Sheriff's Department, the FBI and the U.S. Marshal's Service are involved in an ongoing investigation.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
State Auditor To Arrange Meeting With Kentucky League Of Cities
State Auditor Crit Luallen says she'll contact the Kentucky League of Cities Monday to arrange the first meeting to discuss what she calls a serious concern over spending. Luallen says her decision to audit the League was partly based on the organization's decision to stop releasing documents to the Lexington Herald-Leader, a decision which was reversed Thursday, although Luallen says it won't stop her work. She says her office will proceed with plans to conduct an audit. She also plans to audit the Kentucky Association of Counties.
Lawsuit Surrounded By Question Of Who Actually Employed Billy Gillispie
A big question involved in a lawsuit filed against the University of Kentucky Athletics Association by former men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie is not whether he coached the U.K. team, but, rather, who was actually his employer. The university announced in a news release on May 28th. that Gillispie worked for the university, not the athletics association. However, 2007 tax returns, filed by the U.K. Athletics Association, lists Gillispie as the organization's highest paid employee, more than $1,220,667 with contributions to employee benefit plans and deferred compensation of $293,524. Failure to give accurate information with the IRS could risk the organization's tax-exempt status. If Gillispie worked for U.K. University, his lawsuit must be heard in Kentucky.
Mingo County Men Charged With Pike County Robbery
Forty-four year old John William Fields of Williamson Towers (East Williamson) and 49 year old Arvil Martin of Dan's Branch near Chattaroy had been arrested Thursday and were arraigned Friday morning on charges of receiving and transporting stolen property from the Family Dollar Store at Sidney, Kentucky. Kentucky State Police are seeking the store manager, Tim Cook, whom they plan to charge with burglary and grand larceny. They say Cook staged a robbery in the wake of a June flooding at the store which resulted in approximately $2,000 in stolen merchandise. The case remains under investigation.
TEA Party Protestors Spend Fourth Of July At Capitol Steps
As millions celebrated the 4th. of July and the freedoms represented in our country by the holiday, "TEA Party" protestors gathered statewide and nationwide, while hundreds of Kentuckians gathered Saturday at the Capitol steps in Frankfort to protest taxes and government. The TEA stands for taxed enough already.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Happy Fourth Of July
People spent Independence Day in many different ways. While some remained at home and enjoyed a barbecue in their own back yard, some packed area state parks and some took to the roads. Several gathered with family and friends to enjoy cookouts , but, most of all, many took the time to reflect on the sacrifices and services others gave to preserve our nation's independence and to think on what the holiday really is, and that's more than parties, food and fireworks. While fireworks were rained out in some areas and had to be rescheduled, people remained hopeful that everyone enjoyed a safe holiday. Kentucky State Police, along with national police forces, traveled the roads in a campaign called "Over The Limit--Under Arrest." Troopers watched for speeders, seatbelt violators and drivers who were impaired.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
State Auditor Announces Audit For KACo And Kentucky League Of Cities
State Auditor Crit Luallen says she's appalled following a revelation that a provision in the insurance policy that the Kentucky Association of Counties has sold to 112 counties covers defense attorney fees for elected officials. The liability insurance plan has paid for more than $300,000 in criminal defense bills for five elected county officials accused of job-related crimes since 2001, and the total doesn't include pending cases. On Wednesday, Luallen announced her office wants to get to the bottom of excessive spending and inadequate oversight within KACo and the Kentucky League of Cities, and she sent letters to the organizations that spelled out her authority to conduct an investigation.
Waste Conversion Company Considering Clay County
Nothing is final yet, but Manchester city officials say they've reached a mutual agreement with Waste Not Technologies, a waste conversion company that's considering a site in Clay County to construct a new plant. Officials say it's possible more than 1,000 jobs could come with it. Waste Not Technologies is looking at a few other possible sites, but, if the company decides to build in Manchester, they hope to break ground by fall and open late in 2010.
Stolen Payroll Checks Surface In Eastern Kentucky
Police in Kentucky say they believe someone has stolen payroll checks and created fake banks and businesses, allowing them to cash bogus checks across eastern Kentucky. So far, the checks have been found in Letcher and Perry counties. Business owners say they're being scammed for hundreds of dollars. Police say a female suspect has cashed the checks, so far, at Jenkins IGA (Letcher County) and the Happy IGA (Perry County), but there could be more. The suspect is about 6 ft. tall and a white female with shoulder length blonde hair.
Pike County Miners At Cam Mining Get Permanent Layoffs
Four months after Cam Mining in Pike County laid off hundreds of miners in March, remaining miners were permanently laid off Wednesday. Officials declined to release details involved with the shutdown.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Convicted Knott County Judge Executive Says KACo Paid Legal Fees ...A Pleasant Surprise!!!
When Kentucky's elected county officials find themselves charged with abusing their public office, in most cases, their legal bills are paid by a taxpayer-bought insurance policy provided through the Kentucky Association of Counties. Prosecutors say they're surprised a taxpayer-bought policy pays fees for an elected official accused of crimes against taxpayers. Knott County Judge Executive Randy Thompson says it was a pleasant surprise to learn the county's insurance through KACo would cover his defense after being indicted on vote-buying charges stemming from the 2006 election, for which a U.S. District Court in Pikeville convicted him last year. KACo has covered legal fees for other elected officials in Kentucky, and, while some think it's o.k., others say it increases public mistrust of officials and is an epidemic in the state that has to stop.
Pike County Judge Executive Makes Census Top Priority
You may think you don't count, but you could make a difference in future federal funding. As a formal commitment to assure that every citizen in Pike County is counted, Pike County Judge Executive Wayne Rutherford has signed a proclamation making the 2010 Census a top priority for all elected and appointed officials. The Census labels Pike County as a "hard-to-count" area. The Pike County Census Committee, which consists of representatives from numerous community partner agencies and organizations, applies localized knowledge to better inform the public about the Census. Any organization within an area, with experience in outreach programs, can become a Census partner. Upon submitting an application, the organization may become eligible for $2,499 towards products and $2,999 towards services to promote the Census, while the money cannot be used for food nor advertisements.
Third Ward Williamson City Councilman Resigns
When newly elected members of the Williamson City Council were installed in office Tuesday afternoon, Third Ward Councilman Doffie Hall, who resigned two weeks ago, citing health problems, was missing. He tendered a resignation letter on June 14th., saying his deteriorating health problems, surgery, cancer and etc. had caused him to come to a conclusion he was unable to serve. He says the citizens deserve 100%, and his health will not allow him to do that.
