Saturday, July 25, 2009
Left Beaver Firefighters Respond To Accident Which Killed One Of Their Own
Flags are flying at half-staff at all Left Beaver fire stations following an ATV accident in Neds Fork of Floyd County Thursday night which took the life of volunteer firefighter 18 year old Shawn Page. Firefighters did not know it was one of their own when they responded to the call for help when the ATV Page was riding in the mountains crashed, but they say he was truly dedicated to the community and will be sadly missed. Visitation began Saturday (today) at the Nelson-Frazier Funeral Home with the funeral to be Monday at 1:00 P.M.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:54 PM
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Mingo County Judge Refuses To Step Aside
Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury has denied that he is friends with Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship or that he has accepted donations from Blankenship. Thornsbury also says his former campaign manager and current business partner declined the job of administering a medical monitoring fund. He says he has no conflict of interest that would prevent him fromfairly presiding over a coal slurry pollution case against Massey Energy's Rawl Sales and Processing. Thornsbury says he won't step aside.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:11 PM
Mingo County Commission Agrees To Pay Law Firms
The Mingo County Commission has agreed to pay $11,320 to the H. Truman Chafin Law Firm and $7,315 to Flaherty, Sensabaugh and Bonasso following an attempt in 2008 to remove Lonnie Hannah from the county sheriff's office. The commission, however, refused to pay Jack Spence $5,000 for serving or attempting to serve 100 subpoenas to those whose signatures were either signed or forged on a petition to remove Hannah. The commission said it didn't hire Spence, but Hannah hired him and should pay him.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:00 PM
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Governor Beshear Introduces Running Mate
The Democratic team in the 2011 gubernatorial race has now been finalized. Governor Steve Beshear has picked Mayor Jerry Abramson of Louisville. Abramson and his wife, Madeline, were introduced to eastern Kentuckians at the Wendell Ford Airport in Hazard Wednesday (today). The governor was glowing in his recital of the accomplishments brought to the ticket by Abramson, who has served as mayor of Louisville for twenty years.
While talking with Mayor Abramson, it was easy to see why his successes in public service were so numerous and effective.
Although we are nearly a year and a half away from the gubernatorial race of 2011, election laws require candidates to officially file for office before fundraising can take place. Had this been in the 1950s, the past two days would have been considered a political whistlestop, but, with the modern convenience of air travel, Beshear and Abramson had stops on Tuesday in Bowling Green, Paducah and Owensboro, and Wednesday (today) in Hazard, the Ashland area and in Northern Kentucky.
The 64 year old Beshear and the 62 year old Abramson vowed a vigorous campaign as they will attempt to secure a second term as governor for Steve Beshear.
While talking with Mayor Abramson, it was easy to see why his successes in public service were so numerous and effective.
Although we are nearly a year and a half away from the gubernatorial race of 2011, election laws require candidates to officially file for office before fundraising can take place. Had this been in the 1950s, the past two days would have been considered a political whistlestop, but, with the modern convenience of air travel, Beshear and Abramson had stops on Tuesday in Bowling Green, Paducah and Owensboro, and Wednesday (today) in Hazard, the Ashland area and in Northern Kentucky.
The 64 year old Beshear and the 62 year old Abramson vowed a vigorous campaign as they will attempt to secure a second term as governor for Steve Beshear.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:53 PM
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Murder Trial Of Floyd County Man Rescheduled
The jury trial for 37 year old Jonathan Pente of Harold has been rescheduled for November. Police say Pente was traveling north in the southbound lane of U.S. 23 at Harold in October 2008 when his truck struck a van driven by then 23 year old Christopher Boley of Pikeville, resulting in the death of 63 year old Loretta G. Elswick, also of Pikeville. Police say Pente fled the scene on foot but was arrested a short time later. A toxicology report revealed he had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit. In October, Pente pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and three counts of first-degree assault. He remains in the Floyd County Detention Center on a $500,000 cash bond.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:36 PM
Coal Train Derails In Mingo County
Mine safety officials are investigating the derailment of five coal train cars which occurred around 7:30 A.M. Tuesday (today) at Alpha Natural Resource's Black Bear Preparation Plant in Wharncliffe, near Gilbert in Mingo County. Four people received non-life-threatening injuries when the train struck a loading facility. While the cause remains under investigation, officials say the train crew was shoving an empty train under the loadout when it apparently hit a support, resulting in the facility falling and causing a building to collapse, trapping the workers.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:26 PM
Monday, July 20, 2009
Double-Kwik Becomes Hotspot For Robbery
It appears that a thief, or thieves, are targeting Double-Kwik convenience stores in the area as a hotspot for robbery. Within one week, Kentucky State Police are investigating a third robbery within a 20 mile radius of Pikeville. Just before 3:00 A.M. Sunday morning, a male suspect, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, entered the Double-Kwik in Allen (Floyd County) and robbed it at knifepoint then fled on foot.
Someone robbed the Ivel Double-Kwik (Floyd County) around 1:00 A.M. exactly one week earlier (Sunday July 12th.). The Meta Double-Kwik (Pike County) was robbed just before midnight last Tuesday night.
Someone robbed the Ivel Double-Kwik (Floyd County) around 1:00 A.M. exactly one week earlier (Sunday July 12th.). The Meta Double-Kwik (Pike County) was robbed just before midnight last Tuesday night.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:29 PM
Angry Plaintiffs File Motion In Mingo County
The plaintiffs in a lawsuit claiming Massey Energy has poisoned hundreds of wells with coal slurry have filed a motion in Mingo County Circuit Court demanding Judge Michael Thornsbury step aside from the case. The plaintiffs say Thornsbury is friends with Massey Chief Executive Don Blankenship, and that Thornsbury hired his business partner and former campaign manager to administer a medical monitoring fund and has created bias among the courthouse staff, while committing cronyism at its worst. Thornsbury is expected to respond at least by Wednesday. Massey says it will respond in court.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:12 PM
Mingo County Included In Flood-Damaged Road Contracts
The West Virginia Department of Transportation says flood-damaged roads in southern West Virginia are far and wide. So far, the state has awarded five contracts in Mingo County, four in McDowell County, five in Mercer County and nine in Wyoming County, totalling well over $20 million, and four more are expected to be awarded soon.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:04 PM
Court Appoints Fourth Lawyer For Triple Murder Suspect
During a hearing Monday (today) for triple murder suspect and West Virginia sex offender Robert Drown of Kenova, Jim Gibson was appointed to co-counsel for Drown, making him the fourth court appointed attorney in the case. Drown's accused of killing 31 year old Jennifer Ison and her daughters, 10 year old Shanna and 3 year old Marissa of Carter County. A status hearing was scheduled for August 17th., but there may also be a hearing later this month. The trial has been moved to Johnson County.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:55 PM
Beshear Redirects Funds For County Road Repair
Governor Steve Beshear is redirecting about $21 million to be used by counties across the state for road repair. A list of roads needing the most attention would be prepared by county leaders, and, after being agreed upon by the Department of Highways, the money would be approved.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:49 PM
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Miss Bowling Green Crowned Miss Kentucky
In Lexington Saturday night, Mallory Ervin, Miss Bowling Green, was crowned Miss Kentucky, winning a $10,000 cash scholarship, a Lexus to use during her year of service and the opportunity to compete in the 2010 Miss America pageant in January.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 4:57 PM
State Lottery Sales Increased For Fourth Straight Year
Kentucky lottery officials report that in the fiscal year ending June 30th., sales totaled $810.5 million, a 4.2% raise from the previous year's level. Officials say it's the fourth straight year lottery sales set a state record. For the full year, the lottery transferred $204.4 million to the state, up from $192.1 million the previous year. Scratch-off tickets saw a 7% sales increase, while reaching $504.1 million.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 4:47 PM
Eight Thousand Possible Clean Energy Jobs In Kentucky
According to a report by Chattanooga's Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies, in the next three years, thousands of new jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy in several Kentucky counties could be created. According to the Ochs Center, environmental and economic justice organizations are encouraging East Kentucky Power Cooperative to abandon plans for a newly proposed coal-fired power plant, and, instead, invest in wind, solar and hydropower programs. East Kentucky Power Cooperative responded to the report by saying the proposed plant is the most affordable and reliable option for meeting Kentucky's growing demand for power. The Ochs Center says East Kentucky Power would be doing Kentuckians a great service by enabling such job growth while providing clean, reliable electricity.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 4:16 PM
Missing Floyd County Man Found In Lake Cumberland
Kentucky State Police say the body found inside a truck submerged in about twenty feet of water in Lake Cumberland Thursday has been identified as 63 year old Sampie Sparkman of Garrett in Floyd County. The discovery was made about 200 feet out from the Slate Branch Road boat dock in Pulaski County. On May 15, 2008, Sparkman left Floyd County to visit family in Somerset but failed to arrive.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 4:06 PM
