Friday, September 04, 2009
Georgetown Man Gets Ten Years
Timothy Brown of Georgetown has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution after pleading guilty in June to second-degree manslaughter, abuse or neglect of an adult, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a minor and 8 counts of theft of more than $300. Brown was charged in the 2008 death of his disabled sister, 31 year old Penny Brown, whose mummified remains were found in the trunk of his car. Investigators say he acted out of greed when he killed his sister, cashed her checks after killing her and placed her body in his car.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:41 PM
Fairground Fires Considered To Be Arson
Fire investigators say a three-alarm-fire Tuesday morning at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds is being investigated as arson. The likelihood that the fire was intentional came after it was discovered that a minor fire broke out at the grounds Monday afternoon but was put out and failed to be reported. Early Tuesday morning, four barns were destroyed and others suffered damage, estimated to be more than $1 million.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:34 PM
Thursday, September 03, 2009
KSP Report Deadly Pike County Accident
Kentucky State Police report 23 year old Stephen Balo was driving a dirt bike east on State Route 460 at Draffin in Pike County Wednesday night when he was hit by a car driven by Deborah Ratliff, causing Balo to collide with another vehicle. Balo was flown to Johnson City Memorial Hospital, while his passenger, 22 year old Eric Hatfield of Elkhorn City was pronounced dead at the scene, after both men were thrown from the dirt bike.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:40 PM
Kentucky's First Swine Flu Death Confirmed
Thursday (today), at the Governor's Pandemic Influenza Summit in Frankfort, Kentucky health officials confirmed the state's first swine flu death. It was announced that a Lexington woman in her 50s with significant underlying health conditions had died Monday, becoming Kentucky's first death from H1N1. Health officials are recommending people get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:32 PM
Magoffin County Couple Indicted After Causing Mistrial
A Magoffin County Grand Jury has indicted 64 year old Gladys Allen and 18 year old Jarred Allen on charges of jury tampering and retaliating against someone participating in legal process. Charges stem from alleged threats to jurors and Commonwealth's Attorney Graham Martin during a trial last month for Chester Allen on charges of sodomy first-degree, which resulted in the judge declaring a mistrial.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:23 PM
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Otter Creek Corrections Officer Faces Felony
A Floyd County Grand Jury has indicted 54 year old Charles Prater of Hueysville, a former corrections officer at Otter Creek Correctional Center in Wheelwright. Prater was charged with first-degree rape after being accused of forcibly raping a female inmate on June 13th. , making Prater's charge the first to be a felony. Since 2006, five corrections officers have been accused of misdemeanor sexual abuse charges at the prison. Four have been convicted, while the fifth is scheduled for trial this month.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:12 PM
Work Release Escapee Captured
Kentucky State Police captured 25 year old Anthony Puett, a Pike County Detention Center escapee, just before midnight Wednesday in the Shelbianna area after he escaped Tuesday while on work release in Peyton Creek in the Millard area of Pike County.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:05 PM
Stabbing Leaves Morehead Man In Critical Condition
Kentucky State Police responded to a stabbing at Bluestone Road in Morehead just before 10:30 P.M. Tuesday night. Authorities arrested 30 year old Jason D. Branham of Winchester and charged him with first-degree assault after he allegedly stabbed 34 year old Michael D. Ritchie of Morehead. Ritchie was taken to St. Claire Regional Medical Center before being flown to U.K. Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:52 PM
Kentucky To Receive Millions In Drug Settlement
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has announced Kentucky will receive approximately $5.4 million as part of a health care fraud settlement from criminal and civil lawsuits filed against drug giant Pfizer. Nine lawsuits were filed against Pfizer alleging the company paid kickbacks to doctors and health care professionals to use Pfizer products while the company marketed drugs for use not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:59 PM
Floyd County Blasting Nets Fine For Contractor
The Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement has fined Austin Powder Company $10,000, while citing them for the unsafe use of explosives and a "flyrock" incident caused by unsafe practices. Last week, a Friday afternoon blast sent a 9 ft. high, 4 ft. wide and 6 ft. deep boulder downhill into the home of Billy Tussy on Caney Fork Road in Martin of Floyd County, knocking it off its foundation and severely damaging the rear of the home. The site was licensed to Frasure Creek Mining.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:45 PM
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Kidnap Suspect Released After Pleading Not Guilty
Twenty-three year old Scott Blackwood was released fromthe Pike County Detention Center on a $40,000 cash bond after pleading not guilty to charges including attempted kidnapping. Blackwood was arrested Saturday at the Pikeville Wal-Mart after allegedly traveling from Oklahoma to meet with a female juvenile he met via Internet. When Blackwood arrived at Wal-Mart with plans to take the girl to Oklahoma, he was surprised when a decoy vehicle contained police officers.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:31 PM
Fire Destroys Barns At Kentucky Fairgrounds
On the second morning after the closing of the Kentucky State Fair, a three-alarm blaze at the fairgrounds was reported around 2:08 A.M. Tuesday (today). While the first Louisville Fire and Rescue unit arrived at 2:13 A.M., just five minutes after the fire was reported, and the blaze was under control shortly before 3:00 A.M., four barns were completely lost, a fifth sustained heavy damage and three had minor damage.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:23 PM
Kentucky Schools Gear-Up For Swine Flu
As the school year begins, state health and educational officials are alerting school districts of the expected return of the H1N1 swine flu and are urging officials to be prepared to take action against increased flu activity. The state Department of Public Health is reminding Kentuckians to stay aware of new developments associated with the flu and to focus on practicing good health habits. Some school health coordinators say their schools are prepared, but there should be more focus on what to do when a school is closed for an extended period of time due to the flu. Officials say the educational process on how to handle the situation is important in helping to reduce the number of cases and may prevent long term disruptions in schools. Having a comprehensive plan could help keep down spreading of the virus.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:59 PM
Monday, August 31, 2009
Meta Double-Kwik Robberies Continue
Some are filling up with more than gas as Double-Kwik convenience stores continue to be a hotbed for robberies. Kentucky State Police are once again searching for a male suspect who, while wearing a gray hoodie, gloves, jeans, brown boots and having his face covered with a black ski mask, robbed the Meta Double-Kwik late Sunday night. The clerk says, while he was sweeping the front lot, the suspect entered the store, took an undetermined amount of cash from the register along with several cartons of cigarettes, ran out the back door and escaped in a red 1992 Ford F-150 with a missing tailgate.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:38 PM
Court Overturns Conviction For Pike County Mother
A new trial date will be set for Rhonda Justice after a Court of Appeals recently overturned a manslaughter conviction, sending her case back to Pike County. Two years ago, Justice was convicted after being accused of leaving her 4 year old handicapped son, who required 24 hour supervision, unattended while she was allegedly under the influence. According to her original indictment, on April 1,2004, four year old Joshua Justice drowned in a neighbor's pool.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:29 PM
Prestonsburg Man Gets Jail Time
Despite an earlier warning to stop soliciting money from motorists, Prestonsburg Police recently arrested 38 year old Ritchie Luster at the intersection of Route 114 and Glyn View Plaza Road where he was taking up money. After claiming he was hearing voices and seeing things, Luster was taken to Mountain Comprehensive Care where he cursed police and staff before attempting to run. While being led to the police cruiser, he began fighting police and was subdued by pepper spray. Luster was ordered to serve 30 days in jail, followed by a 90 day probation, and to pay fines in connection to charges.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 5:58 PM
Harlan County Inmates Face Additional Charges
Seven inmates at the Harlan County Detention Center are facing additional charges after being charged last week with engaging in organized crime and promoting contraband. Following allegations that 26 year old Joshua Mendoza of Cumberland had brought a bag of marijuana, hidden in a body cavity, into the jail when arrested August 25th., Mendoza and other inmates were charged with selling it.
Charged were:
26 year old Joshua Mendoza of Cumberland
24 year old John Jenkins of Cawood
24 year old Brandon J. Brock of Lynch
25 year old Beau Benson of Wallins
24 year old Jeremiah Bustle of Loyall
22 year old Joshua Neice of Ermine
31 year old Donald Hensley of Baxter
Charged were:
26 year old Joshua Mendoza of Cumberland
24 year old John Jenkins of Cawood
24 year old Brandon J. Brock of Lynch
25 year old Beau Benson of Wallins
24 year old Jeremiah Bustle of Loyall
22 year old Joshua Neice of Ermine
31 year old Donald Hensley of Baxter
# posted by Homer Owens @ 5:42 PM
Swine Flu Could Create Problems For Kentucky Schools
Health officials have announced it's likely to be Thanksgiving befor a significant number of Americans who get the swine flu vaccine are protected. Roughly 50 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be available by mid-October. But, with an increasing number of cases expected to hit Kentucky schools, school nurses could need reinforcements. The number of school nurses in Kentucky falls short of industry and governmental standards, with one nurse for every 1,877 students, while schools should have one nurse for every 750 students.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 5:32 PM
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Legislators Urge End To Prison Contract
Following recent sexual assault allegations, nine state legislators, including House Speaker Greg Stumbo, sent a letter Friday urging Governor Steve Beshear to end Kentucky's contract with Corrections Corp. of America at Otter Creek Correctional Center in Wheelwright. In response, Beshear spokesman Jay Blanton says the state has no place to house the 425 inmates. CCA officials say they're willing to meet with legislators to address their concerns.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:31 PM
Floyd County Mine Halts Operation
The Office of Mining and Reclamation immediately issued an imminent danger cessation order for Frasure Creek Mining Friday when a boulder tumbled downhill into the home of Billy Tussy on Caney Fork Road in Martin (Floyd County). The company is working with the state to secure the site after blasting caused severe damage to the home and placed nearby homes in danger, causing those families to be evacuated.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:01 PM
