Saturday, March 20, 2010

 

Possible Murder-Suicide In Kanawha County

WEST VIRGINIA....
Kanawha (kaw-naw-wah') County Sheriff's Deputies say, when they responded to a home on Spring Fork Drive in the Cambells Creek area around 10:30 P.M. Friday night, they discovered 39 year old Anita Hicks dead inside the home from multiple gunshot wounds. Her husband, Leonard, had suffered a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was taken to a hospital where he was placed on life support. Deputies say evidence indicates this was a murder-suicide attempt.

 

Body Of Volunteer Firefighter Recovered

WEST VIRGINIA....
The body of Glasgow volunteer firefighter Donnie Adkins was recovered in Piney Creek Friday afternoon after hundreds of volunteers throughout the state, including the State Fire Marshal, Sterling Lewis, countless firefighters, EMS, law enforcement and the National Guard had searched since his body was swept away by floodwaters on March 13th. Adkins was found about 4.5 miles from where his boat capsized during a water rescue in the Beaver Creek area near Beckley.

 

Suspected Purse Snatchers Arrested

WEST VIRGINIA....
Twenty-four year old Esta Blackburn and 50 year old Ronald Ray McComas, both of Huntington, were arraigned in Cabell (cab'-el) County Magistrate Court Friday evening after police determined they committed three unarmed robberies involving elderly women who had their purses snatched from them. Two previous incidents occurred in the 600 block of Roby Road and the 900 block of 14th Street in Huntington. Friday a third incident occurred around 4:00 P.M. at Gabriel Brothers on US Route 60. Blackburn and McComas are charged with three counts each of second degree robbery.

 

Pedestrian Killed In Hit And Run

WEST VIRGINIA....
West Virginia State Police say Zachary Thompson was hit and killed by a vehicle on Centerville Road in the Prichard area of Wayne County around 1:00 A.M. Saturday morning. Troopers say the vehicle that hit Thompson and then fled the scene was a burgundy Ford Ranger.

 

W. Va. PSC Approves Rate Increase

WEST VIRGINIA....
The West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved a rate increase for more than 220,000 customers of Mountaineer Gas Company. The company sought a 6.6% rate increase, but, on Friday, the PSC approved a 4% increase effective March 29th followed on November 1st by another .07% increase However, because of a commission-ordered reduction in the company's costs for purchasing natural gas, residents should see their monthly bills actually go down an average of $44.

 

Gun Buyers To Get Tax Break

WEST VIRGINIA...
West Virginia lawmakers want to give gun buyers an annual break from the state sales tax. The Legislature sent the governor the necessary bill Saturday after it passed the Senate 25-9. It earlier won House approval 96-2. The bill sets the sales tax holiday during the first weekend of each October. Supporters say it should help businesses that sell firearms, particularly in border counties. Critics include the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, which faulted Oklahoma lawmakers for a similar proposal earlier this year. It frowns on temporary tax measures. State officials estimate it would save consumers, and cost general revenue, around $25,000 a year.

 

Error In Coal Severance Bill

WEST VIRGINIA...
Lawmakers thought they passed the necessary legislation, but a fatal flaw is blocking their bid to redistribute coal tax revenues. Just before their session ended Saturday, the House and Senate voted to dedicate 5 percent of the severance tax on coal to the county where it was mined. The state levies the tax on natural resources as they are extracted. The Senate had amended the bill to readjust severance tax rates for green lumber. But, that new paragraph was left out of the bill when a joint House-Senate conference committee negotiated a final version. That error prevents the bill from being sent to the governor. Lawmakers are in extended session to complete next year's budget, and may have time to pass a corrected bill.

 

Murder Convictions Reversed

KENTUCKY...
The Kentucky Supreme Court has reversed four murder convictions, citing legal errors that might have tainted the trials. Those reversals came down in decisions released Thursday. The high-profile Madison County case involving Ronald Crabtree was among those affected. Justices concluded that Judge William T. Jennings had erred by not allowing the jury to consider a finding of manslaughter in the death of a 2-year-old in Richmond in 2007. Crabtree is serving a 45-year sentence after his conviction on charges of wanton murder and criminal abuse. All of the cases were sent back to lower courts for further action.

 

KY Supreme Court Rules On Lawson Documents

KENTUCKY...
The case involving contractor Leonard Lawson continues in the news. The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's order to dismiss an appeal by reporters seeking aging documents from an anti-trust case involving a Lawson owned company, dating back more than 25 years. The documents were part of a 1983 case that involved Kentucky highway contractor Leonard Lawson, who was acquitted earlier this year of bid-rigging charges. Justices held that The Courier-Journal, the Lexington Herald-Leader and The Associated Press erred by not naming the attorney general in the appeal.

 

Tombstones As Fill Material

KENTUCKY...
Sometimes fill material is hard to find. A southcentral Kentucky city is using discarded tombstones to fill drainage ditches at a park. Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler said the city obtained "excess monument rocks" from a local company and the stones were the ideal size for filling ditches at Rocky Hollow Park. The monuments were rejected due to broken or damaged stones or erroneous inscriptions.

 

Robber's Disguise Not Effective

KENTUCKY...
A grand jury in Richmond has indicted a man in two robberies in which the suspect dressed as a woman. Indictments from the Madison County grand jury Wednesday charge 40-year-old Troy Noel Lear of Brodhead with two counts of first-degree robbery for holdups at a Berea bank and a hotel in Richmond. Investigators told The Richmond Register that the robber in the bank heist showed a gun and an electronic stun device was the threat in the hotel robbery. While the robber dressed as a female, police said witnesses knew he was a man. Lear is held in the Madison County Detention Facility.

 

Clay County Vote Fraud Trial Ends

KENTUCKY...
Testimony has ended in the trial of eight prominent Clay County residents accused of vote fraud. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Friday that prosecution and defense attorneys will present closing arguments in the trial Monday and Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves says jurors will begin deliberating Tuesday.
Those on trial include former Clay Circuit Judge R. Cletus Maricle; former Clay County school superintendent Douglas Adams; county Clerk Freddy W. Thompson; Thompson's father-in-law Charles Wayne Jones, a former county Democratic election commissioner; William Stivers, also a former election official; Magistrate Stanley Bowling; and William "Bart" Morris and his wife, Debra. All eight have denied the charges. Testimony ended exactly a year to the day that federal authorities fanned out across Clay County to make arrests in the case.

 

Wild Turkeys Plentiful In KY

KENTUCKY...
Turkey hunting in Kentucky will likely provide the best results in years. State wildlife specialists say the spring turkey hunting season might be one of the best in a decade. A wild turkey biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, says the reason is record reproduction in 2008. Conservation officers and wildlife biologists counted 3.7 turkey chicks per hen in 2008, the most ever counted in the state. Kentucky's 23-day spring wild turkey season begins April 17 and closes May 9. The youth-only weekend, for hunters under age 16, is April 3 and 4. The fish and wildlife department says there are about 220,000 wild turkeys in Kentucky and some 90,000 people hunt turkeys in the state.

Friday, March 19, 2010

 

Prestonsburg Drug Dealer Gets Record Sentence

KENTUCKY...
A two-day drug trial resulted in what prosecutors believe to be the largest recommended sentence for an accused drug dealer in the county’s history. Gary Warrick, 43, of Town Branch Road in Prestonsburg, was found guilty by a Floyd County jury on two counts of first-degree trafficking of methadone and an additional charge of persistent felony offender. The jury recommended a maximum sentence of 20 years for the trafficking charges and then another maximum recommendation of 10 years to run consecutively on the persistent felony offender charge. Floyd County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner said a recommended sentence of 30 years on a drug trafficking case is a first for his office. Warrick will be in court for formal sentencing on April 23 before Floyd Circuit Court Judge John David Caudill.

 

Cabell County Awards Contract

WEST VIRGINIA....
At their regularly scheduled meeting this week, Cabell County commissioners voted to award Oval Construction of Charleston a $1.24 million contract for construction of a new ambulance station along U.S. 60 on the east end of Milton. Oval was the second-lowest bidder, but commissioners determined the lowest bidder should be rejected based upon its failure to meet criteria. Commissioners also approved an estimated $53,773 in material costs for a water extension project in Milton. The water project extends public water to an estimated one-mile stretch of unserved customers, including the Girl Scout Camp.

 

Federal Bonding To Be Reallocated

WEST VIRGINIA...
Through a federal stimulus program, West Virginia was allocated $90 million in bonding capacity allowing local governments in 44 eligible counties to issue tax-exempt bonds for public projects. The West Virginia Economic Development Authority says county commissions and municipalities in only 14 eligible counties took advantage of the program and applied to issue bonds totaling $36.8 million, leaving $53 million in bonding capacity which the authority plans to reallocate by April 1st. The deadline for issuing bonds is December 31st, and any portion of West Virginia’s allocation that hasn't been used by then will be lost.

 

ARH/Union Reach Contract Agreement

WEST VIRGINIA....
More than 2,300 Kentucky and West Virginia union workers will soon vote on a proposed new contract with Appalachian Regional Healthcare that was agreed upon this week by United Steelworkers and ARH negotiators. The Steelworkers union, which represents ARH workers, says it expects to hold meetings with workers next week, and a vote on the contract will follow.

 

Cemetery To Be Relocated

WEST VIRGINIA....
West Virginia Division of Highways Cemetery Coordinator Ivan Kapp says, beginning Monday, a family cemetery along the Raleigh-Wyoming county line is being moved to make way for a section of the Coalfields Expressway from Sophia to Mullens. The Division Of Highways plans to move the remains to a new site it will build called Allen Creek Cemetery. Officials say all families have been contacted and the agency is waiting for a judge to approve the plan. The DOH has contracted with Chafin Funeral Home of Delbarton to relocate the remains.

 

Yeager Airport Announces Additional Flights

WEST VIRGINIA....
During a reception at the University of Charleston Thursday, American Airlines announced that, beginning April 6th, its American Eagle division will be offering the second competing route from Yeager Airport to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. United Airlines' United Express already offers a route to Chicago, and, by adding American, Yeager doubles the number of seats to Chicago everyday while going from two flights a day to four and offering a choice of two network carriers. Senator Jay Rockefeller says the new nonstop jet service will create more competition essential to maintaining affordable fares.

 

ATV Accident Kills Mingo County Man

WEST VIRGINIA....
Mingo County officials say an ATV ride turned deadly Thursday evening when, around 7:30 P.M., 47 year old William James Copley, of Delbarton lost control of his four-wheeler in the Upper Bias Hollow of Delbarton. According to witnesses, Copley and 30 year old Sara Doyle, also of Delbarton, were riding off of a hill and it appeared Copley had no use of his brakes. The ATV traveled over an embankment, where both Copley and Doyle were found around 50 feet from the road. Doyle was airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital

 

Death Row Inmate...Can He Be Executed?

KENTUCKY...
A Kentucky death row inmate seeking to end his appeals could have an execution date set for next month, but whether he can be put to death remains in question. The Kentucky Supreme Court rejected the last mandatory appeal of 61-year-old James Hunt, who is seeking to fire his public defenders and waive all remaining appeals. Once the court issues the mandate making the decision final, by law, Hunt's execution date would be set the fifth Friday after the ruling is issued. In this case, that could be as soon as April 16. But Kentucky is currently barred from carrying out executions while it reenacts its lethal injection protocol. The state supreme court threw out the three-drug method in December, saying Kentucky officials improperly adopted it and could not execute any inmate until it was properly readopted. That leaves open the question of whether Hunt's execution can be legally carried out if the protocol isn't adopted by the scheduled execution. Hunt was sentenced to death on July 28, 2006, in Floyd County for the murder of his estranged wife, Bettina Hunt.

 

Man Killed At Lexington Landfill

KENTUCKY...
A worker at a Lexington landfill who was flown to UK Hospital Wednesday morning following an accident involving a one-thousand pound metal container has died of his injuries. The incident happened at about 11 a.m. at the landfill on Hedger Lane near the Fayette-Clark County line. Managers say 26-year-old Jesse Hodges was crushed between two dumpsters while they were being loaded. The manager said employees were emptying one dumpster into another with materials when apparently, a chain got caught. Hodges went inside the dumpster to get the chain loose. When that happened, the dumpster rocked and pinned him against both containers. The manager says workers were able to get the dumpster off Hodges after only a few seconds.

 

Endangered Bats

KENTUCKY....
Thirty-one year old Lonnie Skaggs of Sandy Hook, Ky. was sentenced Thursday to eight months in federal prison and one year supervised release while 20 year old Kaleb Dee Morgan Carpenter of Olive Hill, Ky. received three years probation. Each pleaded guilty to a charge of killing an endangered species, admitting that, in December 2009, they used flashlights, rocks and their feet to kill endangered Indiana bats in Laurel Cave at Carter Cave State Park. Prosecutors say combined they killed 23, but Skaggs admitted he killed an additional 82.

 

Flowers On Mountaintop Removal Mines?

KENTUCKY...
Gov. Steve Beshear has signed a bill intended to restore native flowering plants on mountaintops that have been defoliated by mining. The intent is to bring back pollen-producing vegetation that honeybees need to survive in the central Appalachians, where mining has obliterated entire ridgetops and the blooming trees and shrubs that once grew on them. The new law puts the spotlight on an issue that has received little attention in the debate over a controversial mining method known as mountaintop removal: how it affects Appalachia's insect population, particularly honeybees that need flowering plants to survive. In mountaintop removal mining, forests are cleared and rock is blasted apart to get to coal buried underneath.

 

Stolen Heavy Equipment Located

KENTUCKY...
Kentucky State Police say one man has been charged and more arrests are expected after investigators tracked down 43 pieces of heavy equipment stolen from Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio worth $1.3 million. KSP said in a news release that the investigation involved two separate theft rings. Police say among the vehicles recovered were semis, flatbed trailers, excavators, dump trucks, backhoes, bulldozers, wood chippers, bucket trucks and a Ditch Witch. The release says most of the equipment was found in the northeastern Kentucky counties of Carter and Lewis, and the rest in the outskirts of Portsmouth, Ohio.
Police did not disclose the name of the man arrested, who was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property.

 

House Clears School Makeup Bill

KENTUCKY...
Kentucky school districts especially hard hit by winter storms or swine flu could seek a waiver from some makeup days under a bill that has cleared the state House. The bill is a recognition that some districts are facing the prospect of long makeup periods due to a series of winter storms along with last year's swine flu outbreak.
The measure won House passage on an 81-16 vote Thursday. It now goes to the Senate.
The proposal would apply to school districts that have missed 20 or more instructional days. School boards in those districts could ask the state education commissioner to waive the makeup of school days missed beyond 20 days, up to a maximum of 10 days.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

 

Operation Clean Sweep Set At Jenny Wiley Park

KENTUCKY....
The public is invited to participate in the 2010 “Operation Clean Sweep” to be held Saturday, March 20th, at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Registration begins at 9:00 A.M. at the Jenny Wiley Executive Golf Course. A complimentary cookout will be at the office at 2:00 P.M. for all volunteers. “Operation Clean Sweep” T-shirts will be given to all volunteers who pick-up two bags of trash (limit one shirt per person while supplies last). For additional information, contact Trinity Shepherd at (606) 889-1790 or Stonney Burke at (606) 886-6709.

 

Committee Passes Bill For ATV Trails

KENTUCKY....
House Bill 173, sponsored by Rep. Keith Hall, D-Phelps, was unanimously approved Thursday by the House Committee on Tourism Development and Energy. A system of ATV trails in eastern Kentucky would connect to similar trail systems in West Virginia and south-western Virginia. The bill the committee approved was very different from the original bill which would have elevated the Kentucky Recreational Trails Authority to the level of a state agency and given it power to require that people buy a permit before hiking or riding on state lands. Hall said he changed the bill because the original would have cost several million dollars.

 

Pike County Road Projects

KENTUCKY....
House Bill 292 outlines nearly $300 million in road projects. Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says, while the money will pay dividends for the state and county road programs, officials are working with Senator Ray Jones, as the budget bill moves through the Senate. Officials are working in an effort to get more money. Rutherford expressed disappointment because of a lack of money for the Mountain Parkway. Officials say $193 million will go toward projects in fiscal year 2010, which includes 30 bridge replacements, many in Pike County. Renewed funding for U.S. 460 and U.S. 119 are parts of the plan

 

Cocaine Found At Airport

KENTUCKY...
A cleaning crew has found more than 14 pounds of cocaine in a bathroom at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Brian Bell says the drugs were discovered Monday, hidden in a pair of sweat pants in a carry-on bag and stashed in a locked bathroom stall. The bathroom is inside the Federal Inspection Services area. There was no identification on the bag. In a news release, customs officials say the presence of customs agents likely scared the person carrying the drugs. The total weight of the seized cocaine is 14.7 pounds. There were no immediate arrests.

 

Man Shot After Intending To Shoot A Dog

KENTUCKY...
A Pulaski County man has been fatally shot after apparently going to shoot at a stray dog that was chasing his livestock. The Commonwealth Journal in Somerset reported that 62-year-old Steven W. Quaid's wife went to look for him Tuesday afternoon when he didn't return to their house and found him dead. Pulaski County Sheriff's officials said Quaid had been shot once in the head, apparently with a bullet from his own rifle. An autopsy is being conducted in Frankfort and investigators hope it yields clues about how Quaid died.

 

Prison Bathroom Described As A "Slaughterhouse"

KENTUCKY...
Twenty-year-old Ashley Cox, the Corbin woman accused of murdering her newborn baby, appeared in Oldham County court Wednesday afternoon for a probable cause hearing. During the hour-long hearing, the judge heard gruesome testimony from the detective that investigated the case. Kentucky State Police Detective Todd Harwood explained what he learned from his investigation and what may have happened on Sunday, March 7, when Cox drove from Corbin, KY to LaGrange to visit her boyfriend, an inmate at the Roederer Correctional Complex. Detective Harwood said Cox was accompanied by her boyfriend's family. Witnesses told him Cox went to the restroom, complaining she did not feel well, and that after 20 minutes, the boyfriend's family checked on her. During a search of the facility, Harwood said a nurse found the 6-pound-5 ounce newborn's body in a trash can. Harwood said the infant's body was wrapped in towels soaked in blood, and her mouth was stuffed with toilet paper. Harwood said when he questioned Cox she denied being pregnant. The judge ruled there was enough evidence to send Cox's case to a grand jury. She is charged with murder and concealing the birth of an infant, and remains in the Oldham on a $2.5 million bond.

 

Seniors Could Opt Out Of Jury Duty

KENTUCKY...
A House committee has approved a bill that would allow senior citizens to opt out of jury service if they so choose. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on Wednesday. It now goes to the full House for consideration. Democratic state Rep. Tom Riner of Louisville is sponsoring the measure that would allow people at least 70 years old to have their names removed from potential juror lists. The measure cleared the committee despite concerns voiced by some members about its constitutionality.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

 

Ky. Man Indicted For Alleged Presidential Threat

KENTUCKY....
Twenty-seven year old Johnny Logan Spencer Jr.of Louisville is scheduled for arraignment on Friday after being indicted on a charge of making a threat to kill President Barack Obama. Officials say he posted a poem containing the language "DIE negro DIE" on a white supremacist Web site in August 2007. However, it failed to come to the attention of federal authorities until after Obama's election in 2008, and officials didn't learn Spencer's identity until last month. Spencer argues the poem is protected by the First Amendment, but a federal magistrate judge ruled last month that he could be prosecuted.

 

Senate Passes Amanda's Bill

KENTUCKY....
The Senate voted 38-0 Wednesday to pass House Bill 1, a bill dubbed Amanda's Bill, which is aimed at protecting domestic violence victims. The legislation now goes back to the House for consideration of changes made in the Senate. The Senate version would allow judges to order electronic tracking devices for people who have violated domestic violence orders while the House-passed version would allow judges to order people named in domestic violence orders to wear the ankle monitors. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's lead sponsor, says he plans to review the Senate changes before deciding whether to agree or seek a comopromise. Stumbo says he will meet withlegislators and advocacy groups to see what they have to say. If the House does not accept the changes, a conference committee will be formed to attempt a compromise.

 

Suit Filed Against Otter Creek Prison

KENTUCKY....
In a suit filed Monday, a Hawaii inmate claims she was sexually assaulted and raped in June 2008 by two guards at the Otter Creek Correctional Center, a private prison owned by Corrections Corporation of America and located in Wheelwright, Kentucky. In September, the state moved all 128 of its female inmates out of privately-run Otter Creek into a state-run prison after 23 female inmates, including seven from Hawaii, alleged they were sexually assaulted. At least six prison workers have been indicted in that case.

 

Committee Passes Prison Legislation

KENTUCKY....
The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a bill that would make sexual contact between prison staff and an inmate a felony. Senator Julie Denton, R-Louisville, the sponsor of Senate Bill 17, told the House Judiciary Committee that the Department of Corrections has been pushing for some time to make sexual contact between staff and prisoners a felony. Kentucky is one of three states that presently considers the act a misdemeanor.

The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation barring inmates from filing frivolous suits against the Kentucky Department of Corrections until all administrative means have been exhausted to resolve complaints. The legislation would also apply to inmates filing lawsuits against county jails and private prisons. The bill has already been approved by the Senate.

 

Doctor's License Revoked After Harlan County Conviction

KENTUCKY....
Dr. Visu Vilvarajah (vil-va-rah'-zhah), a Tennessee doctor who was convicted of illegally writing prescription painkillers for about 350 people in Harlan County has had his medical license revoked by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Vilvarajah, an anesthesiologist who ran a pain clinic in Nashville, was arrested last year along with his ex-wife, Dr. Mireille Lalanne. A criminal defense attorney testifying before the state board Wedneday suggested Dr. Vilvarajah pleaded guilty because he felt he couldn't get a fair trial in Harlan County. Lalanne was placed on five years probation.

 

Coroner Rules Cliff Death Non-Conclusive

KENTUCKY...
A central Kentucky coroner says a man found dead over the weekend likely fell from a cliff. The body of 26-year-old Jeffrey Shivel was discovered Saturday near the Dix River in Rockcastle County. County Coroner Billy Dowell found Shivel's body had sustained trauma consistent with a fall from a considerable height. Dowell said an investigation continues and foul play had not been ruled out. Shivel's body was found Saturday by a photographer who was recording the search for Shivel, who had not been seen since Superbowl weekend.

 

Bill Allowing Concealed Weapon In Vehicle Being Considered.

KENTUCKY...
Kentuckians would be able to stow guns in any enclosed compartment built into vehicles under a measure that's headed to the Senate for consideration. The House approved the bill Tuesday on a vote of 94-4. The legislation would loosen current restrictions that require concealed weapons to be carried only in glove compartments.
Lawmakers amended the bill to prohibit people with a history of drunken driving from carrying loaded guns in their cars. The legislation is House Bill 453.

 

Kentucky Blood Center NCAA Competition

KENTUCKY...
The Kentucky Blood Center will make it possible to attend the Final Four and Championship games of the NCAA Tournament. From now through March 31, every volunteer who donates blood will have a chance to win free hotel accomodations and tickets to the Final Four on April 3...and Championship Games on April 5, in Indianapolis. The blood donor and his/her guest will become a part of the biggest moment in college sports. The drawing will be held April 1.

 

KSP Announces Highway Fatality Numbers

KENTUCKY...
Statistics indicate nine people died in eight separate crashes on Kentucky roadways for the week beginning March 8. Seven of those victims were not wearing seat belts. One double-fatality crash occured in Clay county and alcohol involvement is suspected as a contributing factor. 114 people have died on Kentucky roadways thus far this year...31 less than for the same period last year.

 

Pikeville Begins Water Line Project

KENTUCKY...
The City of Pikeville announced the Sandy Valley Water Line Replacement Project has begun. The Project will replace two miles of aging asbestos cement water main along US23 between Stonecoal and Cowpen. The Project represents the first in a planned series of city projects to eliminate faulty, aging pipes. A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at the office of Senator Ray S. Jones on Monday, March 22. The public is invited to attend.

 

Pikeville Coca-Cola Supports Shriners

KENTUCKY...
Pikeville Coca-Cola has announced their continued financial support for the Shriner's Childrens' Hospitals. They have donated $6000 to the hospital as well as $3000 to the Hillbilly Clan #1, Outhouse #2 for the purchase of Hillbilly Days T-shirts. The shirts will be sold by the Shrine Club as a fundraiser...which will help support the hospital. Joe Adams, Coca-Cola Sales Center Manager, said, "Pikeville Coca_Cola looks forward to another year of aupporting the Hillbilly Days Festival and the Shriner's Hospitals for Children.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

 

Senate Committee Passes Meth Related Bill

KENTUCKY....
Tuesday, the Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 211, a bill that would limit a person's monthly purchase of medicine containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to no more than 7½ grams, less than the current limit of 9 grams per month. Under the bill, offenders convicted of crimes related to the production of methamphetamine would be blocked from purchasing medicines with pseudoephedrine, commonly used in making meth, for a period of five years.

 

Fatal Shooting In Floyd County

KENTUCKY....
Kentucky State Police report 29 year old Michael Whitaker was fatally shot Tuesday morning in Hueysville, and his uncle, Russell Neeley, is charged with tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a handgun. Police say Whitaker was found dead on Coolwater Creek in Floyd County, and they believe the two had an altercation prior to the shooting. Whitaker's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office in Frankfort for autopsy, which is hoped to determine whether the shooting happened in self-defense. Meanwhile, Neeley is being held in the Floyd County Detention Center on $1 million cash bond.

 

House Committee Passes School Waiver Bill

KENTUCKY....
Due to heavy snows and the flu, many eastern Kentucky school districts missed more than 20 days this year. Tuesday, the House Education Committee approved House Bill 487 which would require Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to grant a school district’s request to waive up to 10 make up days, if the district has missed more than 20 days. Representative Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) says, while the bill applies only to this school year, a more permanent solution is needed. Richards says, “Other states are going longer, and we’re cutting days.” House Bill 597, which has been sent to the committee, would allow much more flexibility for school districts to plan their calendars, including how to make up days with longer hours or more days. It is opposed by the Kentucky Education Association.

 

State Aid For Schools Passes

KENTUCKY....
The Kentucky Senate voted 34-0 Monday to inoculate school districts from a potential cut in state aid due to high absenteeism caused by the swine flu outbreak. The measure would allow school districts to choose their highest student attendance averages from the past three years to help determine how much state aid flows to each district. The measure is supported by the Kentucky School Boards Association which says, without it, some districts could be penalized with a reduction in state aid for keeping schools open during unusually high student absences.

 

Trial Underway For Deputy Sheriff Accused Of Murder

KENTUCKY...
Testimony in the trial for a former eastern Kentucky volunteer deputy accused of wanton murder began Monday in Rockcastle County. Scott Moore, who is accused of fatally shooting 22-year-old Leslie Cox in 2007 while trying to break up a fight in Harlan County, has pleaded not guilty. Kentucky State Police and the Harlan County sheriff were called to the stand. Mike Cornett with the KSP testified that Moore had beer in his car the night of the shooting, but Harlan County Sheriff Marvin Lipfird told jurors Moore didn't appear to be under the influence.

 

"Portrait of America" Tour

KENTUCKY...
The "Portrait of America" road tour stopped in Pikeville Tuesday at the East Kentucky Expo Center. Its purpose was to raise awareness of the 2010 Census. The keynote speaker for the event was Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford. The colorful vehicle used to transport the people and equipment involved in the ten city tour will make a stop in Prestonsburg and Paintsville today, as the "Portrait of America" tour continues.

 

Pike County RAM Gets Federal Help

KENTUCKY...
Members of the United States Public Health Services Rapid Deployment Team have agreed to assist in the 2010 Pike County Remote Area Medical program. Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says, "It's an award-winning program that deserves all the attention it gets. When an invaluable service is offered to the people of Pike County and the U.S. Public Health Service volunteers to be involved it speaks volumes about the impact and benefit of this program.” Service Director of Training and Medical Readiness Commander Kimberly Elenberg, RN, said her initial meeting in Pikeville to discuss RAM went very well. “I met with people in Pikeville and they all seemed very passionate,” she said. “Paul Hopkins, the Judge-Executive, the doctors; they all seemed very interested and it was obvious RAM is something that is very important to them.” Pike County Social Services Director Carol Napier expects this year’s RAM to be even bigger than last year’s, and she feels the more trained people who get involved the better.

Monday, March 15, 2010

 

Coal Bill Passes Senate

KENTUCKY....
The Kentucky Senate voted 33-0 Monday to pass House Bill 283, a bill that would increase the fees paid by coal companies when applying for mining permits. Under current law, companies pay a fee of $375 for the applications, but the legislation would set new fees ranging from $750 to $2,500 for each application, depending on whether the companies are looking to expand a mining operation or open a new one. The bill is being supported by coal company officials who know the additional revenue would help hire more staffers to speed up the permitting process.

 

Thieves Sought In Laurel County

KENTUCKY....
Gary Cunagin, the owner of London Farm Services in Laurel County, is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest involving thousands of dollars worth of stolen equipment. Cunagin says, when he arrived at the business Monday, he found thieves had used a forklift and a truck owned by the business to steal four John Deere lawnmowers, worth about $10,000 each, and two smaller ones. Police say the thieves got away with about $80,000 worth of equipment.

 

Funding Acquired For Thacker Road

KENTUCKY....
Residents on Thacker Road in Hatfield have been without a useable bridge since the floods of May and June 2009, leaving them isolated and nearly stranded for almost a year. Last month, Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford and District 6 Magistrate Chris Harris each sent a letter to B.D. Wilson, Commissioner of the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, requesting emergency funds to assist in the repair or replacement of the bridge. The letters stated that the bridge, which belongs to the county, was in deplorable condition prior to enduring the flood waters and afterwards became unsafe. A letter from Wilson dated March 8th notified Rutherford that emergency funds in the amount of $39,600 are being processed. The Pike County Fiscal Court declared the situation an emergency and estimated repair costs at $49,500. Wilson requested he be notified and given the total cost of the project when the repairs are complete.

 

Pike County Hosts KACo Program

KENTUCKY....
The Kentucky Association of Counties’ Mobile Driving Simulator is in Pikeville for the next few weeks, and every employee who drives a county-owned vehicle is required to go through the two-hour simulation. The simulator is programmed to mimic many different driving conditions and situations, and the service is provided free of charge. Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says, “This is part of the county’s way to keep insurance costs down and increase safety awareness. Of all automobile accidents, 95% are a result of driver error. Pike County has a very large fleet of vehicles – 413 to be exact – and by providing this education course the county’s insurance rates will be lowered.”

 

Beshear Urges Insurance Group To Share Surplus

KENTUCKY....
The Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company, which takes in roughly $125 million a year in premiums, recently reported to the Department of Insurance that it has a $154 million surplus along with a $357 million cushion required to pay current and future claims. Governor Steve Beshear sent a letter last week to the worker’s compensation self-insurance group urging it to disperse some of its surplus to struggling small businesses. Then Senate Majority Floor Leader Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) filed legislation that would force KEMI to do the same.

 

Early Releases Questioned

KENTUCKY....
In a letter to lawmakers last week, the Kentucky Association of Counties, the Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association, the Kentucky Jailers’ Association and the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association, among other groups, objected to a House cost-cutting proposal to speed the release of some nonviolent prisoners. Several local government groups estimate the early releases of prisoners, many held in county jails, would cost Kentucky’s counties more than $20 million a year. The state pays those jails $31.34 per day, along with a small medical stipend, to house each state inmate. The letter says the early release would have a dramatic effect on county jail budgets and raises public safety concerns. The groups question whether the safer and more frugal approach would be to consider those in jail for misdemeanor crimes before considering early releases for felons.

 

Warning Concerning NCAA Tickets Scam

KENTUCKY...
Fans who want to follow the University of Kentucky Wildcats, the University of Louisville Cardinals or the Murray State University Racers along the road to the NCAA Final Four should use caution in order to avoid con artists when buying tickets and travel packages, warns the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Kentucky. The BBB warns fans to be careful if buying tickets from individuals online or from unfamiliar sources. If buying tickets from a brokerage, first check the company’s BBB reliability report. If people buy from scalpers, or from individuals through classified ads or the Internet or elsewhere, they are taking a big chance. If tickets turn out to be fake, or if you get no tickets at all after paying, there won't be much you can do to get recourse.

 

KSP Arrest Shooting Suspect

KENTUCKY...
Kentucky State Police arrested 28 year old Jimmy Levering of Louisa Monday afternoon after three people were shot in two separate incidents early Monday morning in Lawrence County. Troopers say the incidents happened near Fallsburg Grocery Store on Fullers Ridge. Sherry Smith, one of the victims, died at St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, Wv. Jimmy Levering's wife, 29 year old Wilma Levering, and Smith's boyfriend 44 year old Ronald Young, suffered multiple gunshot wounds, had been taken to hospitals for treatment. Levering was found around 3:00 P.M. on a rock ledge in the woods near Fallsburg, not far from the scene of the second shooting. Jimmy Levering is charged with murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

 

Shelters Open In West Virginia

WEST VIRGINIA...
A handful of emergency shelters are now open for those affected by the flooding.
While the heaviest rain has moved out of the region, creeks and streams are still spilling out of their banks in some areas.

Fayette County has opened a shelter at the Lewis Center on Central Avenue in Oak Hill.

Kanawha County has opened a shelter at the Pratt Volunteer Fire Department.
Another shelter at Riverside High School will open at 1pm.

Raleigh County has opened a shelter at the Dream Center in Beckley. The Center is located at 224 Pinewood Dr, behind the Family Worship Center.

According to Eyewitness News the torrential rains have moved out of the area, but, a flood warning is in effect as downstream rivers received the runoff.

 

Big Deals At Toyota Dealerships

KENTUCKY...
Toyota dealers were understandably nervous going into the next few months after all the problems the company has been facing with braking flaws and acceleration problems. But, despite all the bad press, people are flocking to dealerships more than ever before to take advantage of unprecedented deals put forth by the company to gain back customers. The sales numbers are unexpectedly robust, with some dealerships seeing double digit sales over the weekend. It may not be so bad after all for Toyota.

 

Food Prices Move Higher

KENTUCKY...
Prices are getting higher at easterm Kentucky grocery stores, especially for a wide range of produce. But it's not just in the eastern mountains. Fruits and veggies are taking a bigger bite out of the grocery budget across the state while prices go up for some specific produce like tomatoes and strawberries, prompted by bad weather where they're grown; Florida, California and Texas. Now the question becomes..how much longer will your dollar buy less?

 

Ohio Men Accept Plea Deal

KENTUCKY...
Two Ohio men, 20 year old Carlos Lamar Robinson and 20 year old Tajh Eugene Barton, both of Dayton, who are two of six accused of taking part in the sexual assault of a female inside a Hazard hotel last year have entered guilty pleas to amended charges of sexual misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. During a pretrial conference, a plea deal was announced that would sentence them to 12 months, while 231 days of that time would be served, with the remainder served as supervised probation for 24 months. Other conditions of the agreement will require them to testify truthfully in other cases, stay away from the victim, and not return to Perry County. Robinson and Barton will return to court for a status hearing on May 13th, the date set for the jury trial for each of four remaining men. The trial will be held in Perry Circuit Court.

 

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Offering Scholarships

KENTUCKY...
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is awarding up to 10 new scholarships for the 2010-2011 school year for students to pursue civil engineering technology degrees at two schools in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System: Bluegrass Community & Technical College in Lexington and Big Sandy Community & Technical College in Prestonsburg. The new Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship Program will prepare students for work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet upon graduation. Each scholarship student will receive $2,500 per semester toward an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology from KCTCS. In return, scholarship students agree to work for a year for the cabinet for every year they receive the award.

 

Floyd County Could Get Millions In Road Funds

KENTUCKY...
A $3 billion two-year road plan now headed to the Senate includes over $57 million for Floyd County with the biggest chunk tied to the construction of new Route 680, also known as the Minnie-Harold connector. $34.5 million is set aside for road construction from Minnie to Little Mud Creek Road in 2012, and $3.3 million is budgeted for right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation this year for a section between Little Mud Creek Road and Tackett Creek. The other road construction project listed in the two-year plan is $7.6 million to relocate Route 122 at Meade Hill. That project is slated to begin during the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. Other projects are in the works for Floyd County.

 

Bunning Praised In Home Area

KENTUCKY...
Republican U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, who single-handedly held up a $10 billion spending bill containing money for jobless benefits, is being heralded as a hero in his home town. While Democrats cast him as unsympathetic toward jobless Americans, some 400 people paid $60 to $100 each to reserve seats to honor him at a dinner Saturday evening where scores of politicians lavished him with praise. To his supporters, he is known as a budget hawk standing against out-of-control federal spending. Secretary of State Trey Grayson told the attending crowd that, “Jim Bunning has been right more than he’s been wrong, and history will show that he, more than anyone else, predicted some of the economic problems we’re having now and worked to try to prevent them.” Bunning said, “I’m extremely worried about the condition of the United States of America presently. You cannot keep charging things to the national credit card.”

 

Kentucky Connected To Gun Smuggling

KENTUCKY...
Following a seven month investigation dubbed Operation Folkstone, Canadian federal agents say they have busted a gun-smuggling operation that brought weapons from Kentucky across the border into Canada. 22 arrests were made this week after undercover detectives in Windsor, Canada, bought illegal guns in a hotel parking lot. Regina Lombardo, a special agent with the ATF in Canada, says two months passed between a gun being legally purchased in Louisville, Kentucky and it being found in Toronto. In addition to the guns, authorities seized several vehicles, $400,000 worth of cocaine and $75,000 in cash. According to Canadian reports, a gun can be purchased in the U.S. for somewhere between $200 and $300, but can be sold for around $2,000 on the streets of Toronto.

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