Saturday, July 17, 2010
Mother Accused Of Leaving Baby In Hot Car
KENTUCKY....
Whitesburg Police say, Friday evening, 32 year old Purlina Gibson of Dry Fork left a 2-month old baby in a hot car, along with a 5 and a 6 year old, for half an hour while she was inside a grocery store, where she has been accused of shoplifting. The baby, which had been covered with a blanket, was taken to the Whitesburg ARH Hospital, where he was listed as being in stable condition. Gibson was transported to Letcher County Jail where she faces charges including wanton endangerment and criminal abuse.
Whitesburg Police say, Friday evening, 32 year old Purlina Gibson of Dry Fork left a 2-month old baby in a hot car, along with a 5 and a 6 year old, for half an hour while she was inside a grocery store, where she has been accused of shoplifting. The baby, which had been covered with a blanket, was taken to the Whitesburg ARH Hospital, where he was listed as being in stable condition. Gibson was transported to Letcher County Jail where she faces charges including wanton endangerment and criminal abuse.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:20 PM
Ross Files Lawsuit
KENTUCKY....
Diana Ross, the mother of slain 29 year old Amanda Ross has filed a lawsuit against Opera House Square I LTD, the gated community where her daughter lived before being gunned down September 11th. Ross alleges officials allowed former State Representative Steve Nunn to access the facility after Ross told them she had an active emergency protective order against him and expressly requested steps be taken to eliminate his access to the premise where the two had once lived. The lawsuit is seeking an undetermined amount of cash and a jury trial, while prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for 57 year old Nunn. Diana Ross is also suing Cincinnati Insurance Company for breach of contract, claiming the company refused to cover medical expenses for Amanda Ross even though she paid dues which were used to purchase the policy.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:19 PM
Letter Seeking Additional Energy Assistance Funds
KENTUCKY....
U.S. Representative John Yarmuth, one of six signees, has sent a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to release additional funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Community Action Partnerships took applications from hundreds of people all week. The money distributed this past week was left over from the winter program, and released throughout the state by Governor Steve Beshear because of the recent heat wave. The letter states that, less burdened by energy bills, low-income families have more to spend on essentials, and can avoid the choice between paying energy bills and putting food on their tables.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:18 PM
Sentencing Postponed For Johnson County Constable
KENTUCKY....
Sentencing has been postponed for Johnson County Constable Terry Eugene Ward who pleaded guilty earlier this month to four counts of doctor shopping. In court Friday, his attorney said Ward is in rehab and asked if he could be allowed to finish rehab before being sentenced. The judge agreed and re-scheduled sentencing for August 6th. The commonwealth's attorney is requesting he be banned from holding public office.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:17 PM
Magoffin County Court Security Officer Charged
KENTUCKY....
Magoffin County Court Security Officer Shelly Swiger has been arrested and charged with three counts of wanton endangerment after Kentucky State Police say he fired gunshots at family members after his wife received facial injuries while taking part in a fight at her family's home in Barnett Creek. Police say Swiger's wife went to the residence where the argument occurred, and then Shelly Swiger went to the home where he made threats against the people involved in the argument with his wife. Police say he drew a weapon and shot into the air before someone fired shots back. Swiger was released on a $5,000 cash bond and is due in court on August 2nd.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:16 PM
Whitley County Grand Jury Considering Sheriff Case
KENTUCKY....
Commonwealth's Attorney Allen Trimble called upon three experts Friday to testify before a Whitley County grand jury to determine if indictments will be handed down in the case against current Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge who is facing allegations of criminal wrong doing, along with his office. Friday's grand jury meeting was the first of what could be several, as more witnesses are expected to testify. The grand jury will meet again on July 30th. Trimble says the meetings will last at least 90 days, but he's unsure if there will be an extension or if the jurors will meet the deadline to vote on a decision.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:15 PM
Toll Plan For New Ohio River Bridges
KENTUCKY....
The Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority, along with the states of Kentucky and Indiana, have prepared and submitted a report to the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency,saying $3 tolls would fund more than half of the $4.1 billion cost to build two new Ohio River bridges and reconstruct the Spaghetti Junction, a busy downtown Louisville interchange. The report anticipates $2.2 to $3.3 billion of the cost could come from tolls, while the other could come from federal financing and possibly items such as parking fees and a dedicated sales tax. The bridges authority expects to give the Federal Highway Administration a more detailed financial plan by the end of the year, including how much and where tolls would be charged.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:14 PM
Beshear Announces Head Of Advance Battery Research
KENTUCKY....
Kentucky has plans of becoming a major player in advance battery research. Friday, Governor Steve Beshear announced Ralph Brodd, who has done battery research for both industry and the federal government, will lead the Kentucky-Argonne National Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center in Lexington. Brodd says the U.S. has fallen behind in developing electric vehicles and batteries for them, but he sees the center as helping expand Kentucky's manufacturing base and creating jobs. Beshear says research at the center will strengthen the auto industry and improve reneweable energy technolgy. The center is a collaboration among scientists from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:12 PM
Comair Jury Trial Delayed
KENTUCKY....
A jury trial which was set to begin this next week to decide whether Comair owes the family of Bryan Keith Woodward tens of millions in punitive damages has been delayed. Woodward was a victim of an August 27, 2006 Comair 5191 plane crash at Lexington's Blue Grass Airport which killed 49 of the 50 passengers on board. Jamie Hebert, the widow of Woodward, was awarded more than $7 million in compensatory damages at a separate trial last December. Attorneys for Comair and Hebert have been ordered to decide whether they would prefer to move the trial to December, January, 2011, or February, 2011. The new trial will look more closely at the actions of the pilots, who steered the plane onto the wrong runway.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:11 PM
UMWA President Cricizes Massey Safety
WEST VIRGINIA....
Last week, United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts, said in a congressional hearing that "shortcomings in existing laws" have made it hard for MSHA to protect miners at Massey's operations. Thirty-two year old Steven Cain was inside Massey Energy's Justice No. 1 Mine in Boone County on October 8, 2008 when an overloaded supply car was blocked by a high-voltage cable, leaving the crew needing to navigate a tight turn. Cain got off the train, squeezed himself into a corner, and held the energized power cable over his head so the train could pass. As the train rounded the bend, the overloaded supplies pressed too close to the mine wall, trapping Cain between a supply car and the wall, crushing him to death. MSHA didn't fine Massey or its subsidiary, Independence Coal Co. Last month, Massey settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Cain's family, agreeing to pay $2.1 million.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:05 PM
House Passes Succession Bill
WEST VIRGINIA....
Saturday, the West Virginia's House of Delegates voted 46-37 to pass its version of Governor Joe Manchin's special election proposal for filling the vacant seat left by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd. After defeating the measure earlier Saturday by a 42-45 vote, the House advance a measure setting an August 28th special primary and then adding it to the November 2nd general election. An insufficient majority voted to make the bill effective from final passage in a separate, 50-34 roll call, leaving its status in doubt. The state Senate passed its version of the succession bill Friday afternoon on a 29-1 vote. Manchin has also added 10 more bills to the special session, most of which deal with revise proposals from May's session on education.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:04 PM
Charleston Woman Sues West Virginia State Police
WEST VIRGINIA....
A Charleston woman has sued former trooper Derek Snavely and the West Virginia State Police, accusing Snavely of forcing her to have sex with him, and West Virginia State Police didn't tell Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants that Snavely falsified his duty log. Based on the report, Plants decided not to prosecute Snavely. Plants says, if State Police knew Snavely, who is now the police chief in Hinton, had falsified his duty log, it should have been included in the case file. In response to a series of questions from the woman's lawyer, Mike Clifford, State Police said Snavely clearly altered his duty log from the time he met with the woman until the end of his shift.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:02 PM
Woman Pleads No Contest
WEST VIRGINIA....
Deborah L. Smith pleaded no contest Friday to first-degree arson after being accused of starting a fire that caused nearly $1 million in damages to her ex-husband's home. Smith, formerly known as Deborah Keaton, was named in an October 2008 indictment charging her with involvement in a January 31, 2008, fire at the home of Barboursville businessman Rick Keaton which was located inside a gated community near the Huntington Mall. Plea negotiations included a four year probation. If Smith violates probation, Cabell Circuit Judge Dan O'Hanlon could impose the agreement's eight year prison sentence.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:01 PM
FEMA Grants Top $3 Million
WEST VIRGINIA....
Since the Obama administration approved a disaster declaration for Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties that suffered damage by flooding and mudslides from severe storms on June 12th, nearly 1,800 households have registered with FEMA for state and federal disaster assistance. Federal disaster grants totaling more than $3 million have been approved to help businesses and residents. The aid is primarily for temporary housing or repairs.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:59 PM
Jury To Resume Deliberations
WEST VIRGINIA....
The jury will resume deliberations Monday morning in the case for Jonathan May, 18, and Austin Vantrease,18, of Delaware, who are charged with felony malicious assault in the beating of former West Virginia University student Ryan Diviney. During a fight last November, Diviney suffered brain damage which has left him in a vegetative state. WVU neurosurgeon Dr. Julian Bailes and WVU trauma surgeon Dr. Jennifer Knight testified that Diviney suffered bleeding, blood clots and bruising of the brain from some type of significant blow to the head. The two teens took the stand in their own defense, saying they did not intend to permanently injure Diviney. May told the jury he punched Diviney once in the face because he thought Diviney was charging at Vantrease, and he saw Vantrease kick Diviney in the head while Diviney lay motionless on the ground.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:58 PM
Commission Declines To Fund Chemical Alliance Zone
WEST VIRGINIA....
Because of an "extremely tight" budget, the Kanawha County Commission has declined to fund the Chemical Alliance Zone, a South Charleston-based group that promotes the chemical industry in the region. For the first time in years, the commission says it can't afford to contribute $25,000. The funding was included in the commission's preliminary budget in March, but stripped from the commission's final budget approved last month. The Kanawha County Commission has notified Chemical Alliance that it could submit another request later this year, and the commission would consider the request if county revenues exceed budget forecasts.
The Chemical Alliance Zone, which is housed in the West Virginia Education Research and Technology Park in South Charleston, supports the chemical industry in Kanawha, Cabell, Wayne and Putnam counties.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:57 PM
Huntington Police Shoot Runaway Bull
WEST VIRGINIA....
A 1,500-pound bull jumped from a moving cattle trailer near the Hal Greer Boulevard exit off Interstate 64 Friday morning. It spent most of the day in the woods below Huntington High School before finally being tracked down and shot by Huntington police officers. At about 8:00 P.M. officers spotted it in a wooded area near Norwood Road, about 150 yards from the neighborhood. The decision to terminate it came because night was falling and the bull only had two open areas to flee...the interstate or into the neighborhood, where kids were playing Friday evening. Wayne County resident Willis Mills cautioned police about the bull's aggressiveness, saying that was why he was taking it to the butcher when it escaped.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:55 PM
Friday, July 16, 2010
Kentucky Unemployment Rate
KENTUCKY...
Kentucky's unemployment rate has dropped to a 16-month low. The state Office of Employment and Training said Thursday that the jobless rate fell to 10 percent in June, down from a revised figure of 10.4 percent in May. Labor market analyst Justine Detzel said the state's lower rate is due to a decline in the civilian labor force. Detzel said some people who have been unemployed for a long time are becoming discouraged and dropping out of the labor force. The 10 percent statewide rate in June is the lowest since February 2009, when unemployment stood at 9.6 percent. Kentucky's jobles rate in June 2009 was 10.8 percent. Detzel said that in the past year, Kentucky's nonfarm employment has expanded by 26,500. That marks the second straight month that there's been a year-over-year increase in nonfarm employment.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:36 PM
Shooting In Perry County
KENTUCKY...
THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE AT POST 13 HAZARD, RECEIVED A CALL OF A SHOOTING IN THE ROWDY COMMUNITY OF PERRY CO. KSP UNITS WERE IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE AND ALSO TO THE HAZARD APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL TO CONTACT THE VICTIM, DANIEL STIDHAM, AGE 25 OF ROWDY, WHO HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED THERE BY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE SHOULDER. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INDICATE THAT THE VICTIM AND HIS FATHER, MACK SIZEMORE, ALSO OF ROWDY KY, HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A VERBAL ARGUMENT WHICH ESCALATED INTO THE VICTIM BEING SHOT. MR. SIZEMORE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT, CHARGED WITH ASSAULT 1ST DEGREE AND PLACED IN THE KENTUCKY RIVER REGIONAL JAIL IN PERRY CO. MR. STIDHAM WAS LATER FLOWN TO THE UK MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT AND IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION. THE INCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION BY DETS. GARY SANDLIN AND CLAYTON STAMPER OF THE HAZARD POST.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:18 PM
Pikeville College To Offer Master's Degree
KENTUCKY...
Beginning with the fall 2010 semester, Pikeville College and Morehead State University (MSU) will work together to offer what has been referred to as “the model Teacher Leader (TL) master’s program for Kentucky.” “Pikeville College is excited to collaborate with Morehead State University on the Teacher Leader program,” said President Paul Patton. “We are pleased to provide this new opportunity to our students and to the teachers in this region. This master’s degree program focuses on education and leadership, both of which will enhance the classroom experience, advance student learning and develop leadership potential.” Through the partnership, aspiring teacher leaders will register as MSU students, but will attend classes at the Pikeville College campus and online. Classes will be taught by both Pikeville and MSU faculty. A foundational concept of the TL program is the idea that proven research and educational theories must be tested, tried, and evaluated in today’s classrooms. Therefore, program participants will be involved in field-based work in each of the core courses, having opportunity to examine “what is” and compare that with “what may be.” Aspiring Teacher Leaders will be able to choose from three areas of specialization, including reading/writing (with an option to pursue the national board certification), Interdisciplinary P-5, and middle grades. For more information, contact James Hurley, Pikeville College vice president and special assistant to the president, at jhurley@pc.edu or call (606) 218-5272, or e-mail David Barnett, Morehead State University department chair of Foundational and Graduate Studies in Education, at d.barnett@moreheadstate.edu or call (606) 783-2261.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:17 PM
Homeland Security Funding For KY
KENTUCKY...
U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05) announced that $11,045,187 in federal funding has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Kentucky to build and sustain national preparedness capabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Through training programs, volunteer efforts, medical response exercises and more, this funding will increase awareness and help to ensure a stronger response effort in case of an emergency.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:14 PM
Magoffin County Vehicle Accident
KENTUCKY...
Kentucky State Police Post 9 in Pikeville received a complaint of a child that had been struck by a vehicle in Magoffin county. The 18 month old child was air lifted to Cabell Huntington Hospital and is in stable condition. The operator of the vehicle left the scene and was later located after being involved in another traffic accident. 33 year old Stephanie Watkins was arrested and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on criminal and traffic charges. Accident is under investigation by Trooper Donnie White.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:13 PM
K-Mart Stores Burglarized
KENTUCKY...
Three K-Mart Stores across Kentucky have been broken into recently and police are still searching for the burglar. The man got away with jewelry from the Versailles K-Mart, but also tried to burglarize stores in Erlanger and Louisville. Due to security alarms the burglar wasn't successful at taking anything from the other two store locations. Versailles police believe the suspect to be a former K-Mart employee because he seemed to know exactly what to do once inside the stores.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:12 PM
Toyota Complaints Being Examined
KENTUCKY...
A Toyota spokesman says the automaker doesn't plan to release the results of its probe into complaints of unintended acceleration until the government finishes its own investigations. Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Mike Michels says the carmaker's examination of more than 2,000 complaints of surging cars is far from complete. Several government agencies, including NASA and the Department of Transportation, are also conducting their own probes into complaints of unintended acceleration. Michels says the automaker has found a number of causes for unintended acceleration so far, including misplaced floormats, sticking gas pedals and driver error in some cases.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:11 PM
Appliance Rebates Still Available
KENTUCKY...
There's still time for Kentuckians to apply for appliance rebates. Kentucky first lady Jane Beshear said Thursday that nearly $1.7 million in unclaimed funds remain in the state's Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. During the program's first phase, residents could reserve rebates. But nearly half of Kentuckians who reserved a rebate have not purchased an appliance, making those unclaimed funds available. The state says the unclaimed funds will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Under the program, Kentucky residents who buy an eligible Energy Star replacement appliance from a Kentucky retailer may be eligible for a rebate.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:09 PM
Land Between The Lakes Deer Hunts
KENTUCKY...
The drawing for quota deer hunts at Land Between the Lakes is approaching and hunters have until July 31 to apply. The applications are online at www.lbl.org.
In late August, hunters who applied can revisit the website and use their login information to see if they were drawn. They can also print out permits and maps from the site. Deer taken at LBL are "bonus deer" in that they don't count toward state quotas. All permits will be for both bucks and does. There is a limit of one antlered buck on LBL. Land Between the Lakes is a 170,000-acre national recreation area that lies between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:08 PM
Mine Safety Grants
KENTUCKY...
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is looking for states and nonprofit agencies that want to develop training for emergency preparedness and prevention in underground mines. MSHA will award $500,000 in safety and health training grants to help identify, avoid and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. As many as 10 $50,000 Brookwood-Sago grants will be awarded in September. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18. The grants are named after the 13 men who died in two explosions at the Jim Walter Resources mine in Brookwood, Ala., in 2001 and 12 men who died in an explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia in 2006.
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is looking for states and nonprofit agencies that want to develop training for emergency preparedness and prevention in underground mines. MSHA will award $500,000 in safety and health training grants to help identify, avoid and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. As many as 10 $50,000 Brookwood-Sago grants will be awarded in September. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18. The grants are named after the 13 men who died in two explosions at the Jim Walter Resources mine in Brookwood, Ala., in 2001 and 12 men who died in an explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia in 2006.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:07 PM
Byrd's Successor Appointed
WEST VIRGINIA....
During a Friday afternoon press conference at the Capitol, Governor Joe Manchin officially appointed 36 year old Carte Goodwin to the vacant Senate seat of longtime U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd. Goodwin served as Manchin's general counsel from 2005 until early 2009. He has also served as Chairman of the state School Building Authority, Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Judicial Nominations and as a member of the Consolidated Public Retirement Board. His wife, Rochelle, works as State Director for U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller. Goodwin says his sole objective will be to work hard and fight for West Virginia families. The state Senate passed its version of the U.S. Senate succession bill Friday afternoon, on a 29-1 vote, before adjourning until Saturday at 1:00 P.M.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 3:06 PM
Manchin Suspends Taxes For Flood Victims
WEST VIRGINIA....
To help flood victims in Lewis, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties who suffered damages by June storms, Governor Joe Manchin has suspended state sales and use taxes on the purchase or installation of mobile homes, house trailers, modular homes or similar units. The tax suspension, which expires August 31st, also applies to cleaning supplies, bottled water and building materials such as doors, hot water heaters, plumbing supplies and fixtures and bathtubs.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:23 AM
Huntington Police Make Arrests
WEST VIRGINIA....
Officers were busy Friday morning as they made arrests involving two separate shooting incidents which occurred on 9th Avenue this week. Huntington Police arrested 35 year old Ernest Johnson and charged him with malicious wounding after they say he shot 40 year old John Pinkney around 6:30 A.M. Friday morning. They also arrested 19 year old Jason Sadler of Huntington, but originally from Detroit, early Friday morning in connection with the shooting of Rebecca Noble, which happened Tuesday morning on 9th Avenue. Officers say they found a .40 caliber pistol in the glove box of the car after conducting a traffic stop in which they arrested Sadler. Police say Sadler also goes by the name of Jamim Mark.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:32 AM
Man Charged With Stabbing
WEST VIRGINIA....
Charleston police have arrested 42 year old Daryl Arnaz Smith and charged him with malicious wounding. Authorities say Smith and Julia Wright, 32, also of Charleston, had been engaged in an argument when Smith stabbed Wright in the back. The woman then allegedly swiped at Smith, cutting him in the left thigh, and ran to call 911. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:27 AM
Putnam County Accident Kills One
WEST VIRGINIA....
Putnam County Deputies say they believe James Wiseman of Liberty came upon a slip in the road while riding his motorcycle on Silver Street in Poca shortly after 3:00 A.M. Friday morning, lost control and went over an embankment. Wiseman was pronounced dead at the scene.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:22 AM
Man Charged With Sunoco Robbery
WEST VIRGINIA....
Raleigh County sheriff's deputies say 44 year old Chester Hayes of Bradley went into the Sunoco station on Route 19 in Bradley, Thursday morning, wearing a ski mask, took money from the clerk as a cash drop was happening and then fled the scene. He was taken to the Suthern Regional Jail and placed on a $100,000 bond.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:05 AM
Climate Ground Zero Activists Charged
WEST VIRGINIA....
Climate Ground Zero activists Katie Huszcza, Colin Flood, Jimmy Tobias, and Sophie Kern have been charged with trespassing, obstructing and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor after Huszcza and Flood chained themselves to a high-wall mining machine at a mine operated by Massey subsidary Marfork Coal Co. Wednesday night. Massey officials say the machine was being operated at the time. Massey says the protest was the latest act of civil disobedience in an ongoing campaign by activists to stop mountaintop removal mining, but the Marfork mine isn’t a mountaintop removal operation. The activists remained in jail Friday.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:50 AM
Alcan And Union Extend Contract
WEST VIRGINIA....
Officials with Alcan Rolled Products and hundreds union workers have extended their current contract again until 11:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 24th. The extension will allow time for members of the United Steelworkers Union Local 5668 to vote on the latest tentative contract agreement between the two sides. That agreement was reached late Thursday night after two days of negotiations. The tentative agreement includes the company's complete guarantee against layoffs tied to the new work reorganization and contracting out of work language. It's the third offer to come up for a vote. Informational meetings and voting are expected to be scheduled for sometime next week.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:38 AM
West Virginia Suffering Drought
WEST VIRGINIA....
Despite recent rains, parts of eastern West Virginia are experiencing a drought, with seven counties having moderate drought conditions and nine others being abnormally dry. In 2007, Governor Joe Manchin declared a drought emergency for 42 counties and the state asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for financial assistance.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:35 AM
Projects Approved For Lottery Funds
WEST VIRGINIA....
Lottery revenue generates approximately $170 million per year for the state of West Virginia. During the July 15 meeting of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, 45 projects were approved to receive revenue from the West Virginia Lottery that will be used to finance about $150 million in capital improvements for state colleges, state buildings and state parks. Sixty percent of the bond money is designated for higher education facilities, and the remaining 40 percent is divided between state buildings and state parks. The bonding program provides up to $10 million per year for the next 30 years. Other lottery allocations include $18 million to the School Building Authority and $5 million for the state’s community and technical colleges in addition to the $10 million approved for the WVEDA Lottery Revenue Bonds. Of the $100.2 million approved for higher education projects, the largest allocation of $23 million will be used for renovation of West Virginia University’s White Hall. The funding includes $30 million for 11 projects at the state Capitol, Culture Center and other buildings at the complex in Charleston.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:31 AM
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mine Operator Probated
KENTUCKY....
Fifty-seven year old Alger B. Jent of Kite in Knott County has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in April to three of four counts of violating mine safety laws set forth by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. While inspecting the mine on the Pike and Letcher county line in June 2008, MSHA investigators from Pikeville found roof bolts that were too weak and too short. Jent, who operated the mine, admitted he failed to follow MSHA's roof control plan and there were roof bolts in the mine that did not meet safety requirements. Under the conditions of his probation, he will not be allowed to own or operate a mine for at least two years.
Fifty-seven year old Alger B. Jent of Kite in Knott County has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in April to three of four counts of violating mine safety laws set forth by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. While inspecting the mine on the Pike and Letcher county line in June 2008, MSHA investigators from Pikeville found roof bolts that were too weak and too short. Jent, who operated the mine, admitted he failed to follow MSHA's roof control plan and there were roof bolts in the mine that did not meet safety requirements. Under the conditions of his probation, he will not be allowed to own or operate a mine for at least two years.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:42 PM
Views On Kentucky Furloughs
KENTUCKY...
Governor Steve Beshear is ordering six furlough days for state employees in the next year. On July 13, we caught up with the leaders of the Kentucky Legislature who were in town for an economic summit by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to hear what they had to say about the pending furloughs. "Actually, he vetoed the portion of the budget which directed those saving to come from personal service contracts and other contracts with the government and we believe he should go to those sources before he does furloughs," said Sen. David Williams (R-Burksville), the Senate President. "It's his prerogative and he does have the authority." "In the other situation, we would have had to fire somewhere in the neighborhood of four to five hundred workers," said Rep. Greg Stumbo, (D-Prestonsburg) the House Speaker. "So every state worker that I talked with said we'd rather have a furlough than a massive layoff." The six days of furloughs will save the state about $24 million for Kentucky's revenue strapped budget.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:34 PM
KFC Considering Closures
KENTUCKY...
Some KFC restaurants could shut their doors in an effort to make the chain more profitable overall. On Wednesday,YUM chairman and CEO David Novak told industry analysts that the company plans to do whatever it takes to make KFC a fast food leader. KFC's second quarter revenue in the U.S. fell seven percent. In China, the chain is highly profitable and posted a 33 percent rise in operating profit in the second quarter.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:32 PM
Postsecondary Education Council To Meet In Pikeville
KENTUCKY...
The Council on Postsecondary Education will meet Thursday, July 22, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. EDT in Room 125 of the Community Technology Center, Hambley Boulevard, Pikeville, Ky. The session is being planned by Pikeville College and will be an opportunity for Council members to learn about Pikeville College and other institutions in the area. No formal action will be taken. An evening reception and dinner is planned for the CPE members and representatives of Pikeville College Thursday, July 22, 2010, beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT at the East Kentucky Expo Center, 126 Main Street, Pikeville, Ky. The Council on Postsecondary Education will meet Friday, July 23, 2010, at 9 a.m. EDT in Room 125 of the Community Technology Center, Hambley Boulevard, Pikeville, Ky. A Council member work session will precede the Council meeting from 8:00-9:00 a.m. EDT in Room 125 of the Community Technology Center.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:31 PM
Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse Charges
KENTUCKY...
A former high school teacher who admitted to having a sexual relationship with a student has pleaded guilty to sex abuse charges. 35-year-old Beulah Nicole "Niki" Sumner was a special education teacher at Warren East High School. Police says she had been carrying on a sexual affair with a 17-year-old male student at the school over several months. She pleaded guilty Monday to six charges of first-degree sex abuse. Warren County Commonwealth's Attorney Chris Cohron has recommended a six-year prison sentence. Sumner must also get sex offender treatment and be listed on the state sex offender registry for 20 years. She will be sentenced Sept. 20. Sumner was arrested Jan. 28 and fired from her teaching job the same day.
A former high school teacher who admitted to having a sexual relationship with a student has pleaded guilty to sex abuse charges. 35-year-old Beulah Nicole "Niki" Sumner was a special education teacher at Warren East High School. Police says she had been carrying on a sexual affair with a 17-year-old male student at the school over several months. She pleaded guilty Monday to six charges of first-degree sex abuse. Warren County Commonwealth's Attorney Chris Cohron has recommended a six-year prison sentence. Sumner must also get sex offender treatment and be listed on the state sex offender registry for 20 years. She will be sentenced Sept. 20. Sumner was arrested Jan. 28 and fired from her teaching job the same day.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:29 PM
Jury Set In Sypher Extortion Trial
KENTUCKY...
A group of 16 jurors has been seated to hear the trial a woman charged with trying to extort University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. Attorneys selected the eight men and eight women after three days of winnowing a pool of more than 90 people in the case of Karen Cunagin Sypher. Attorneys made their selections from a final group of 52 jurors. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to begin July 26.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:27 PM
Deputy Jailer Faces Drug Charges
KENTUCKY...
A deputy jailer in southern Kentucky has been arrested on drug charges. Police say 45-year-old Lisa Marlene Patrick of Scottsville is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Daily News of Bowling Green reports Patrick's arrest Monday came after a two-month investigation by the Allen County Sheriff's Office and Kentucky State Police.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:25 PM
Bunning: Steinbrenner "Smart" To Die
KENTUCKY...
Outgoing Kentucky U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning had some high praise for New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, who died Tuesday. "Because he was smart enough to die in 2010, there is zero tax liability on the estate tax," Bunning was quoted as saying Wednesday. The 78-year-old Republican, who is retiring after two terms, made the comment during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush. One of those cuts was a repeal of the estate tax for the year 2010 only. Last year, Bunning apologized to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for saying he believed she could die within a year from pancreatic cancer. He made the remark after she had a small cancerous tumor removed.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:24 PM
Texting While Driving Now Illegal
KENTUCKY...
Texting while driving is no longer allowed in Kentucky. The practice became illegal on Thursday, as the new law banning the practice takes effect. A statement from Gov. Steve Beshear's office says Kentucky had more than 57,000 crashes last year that were attributed to driver distraction and inattention. Of those, 200 involved fatalities. Beshear says he thinks the new law will help reduce fatal crashes. The law bans texting for drivers of all ages while the vehicle is in motion except to report illegal activity or to request medical or emergency aid. Violators will receive warnings until Jan. 1, then they will be fined.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:23 PM
Coal Gasification Plant
KENTUCKY...
The Kentucky Division of Water held a public hearing to invite comments on a wastewater discharge permit for a planned coal gasification plant in western Kentucky. The hearing for the Cash Creek Generation plant focused on proposed modifications to the wastewater permit. The state had issued a final wastewater permit for the plant in February. But it made revisions to it after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in May challenged the issuance of the permit. The estimated $2 billion project in Henderson County would convert coal into synthetic natural gas.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:21 PM
Driveway Shooting In Ohio County
KENTOCKY...
Police are investigating the death of a woman who was shot in a driveway in western Kentucky. Police say 67-year-old Charlotte Brown had just pulled into a residence in Ohio County when she was shot Tuesday night. A witness told police Brown was shot in the back by 37-year-old Michael A. Johnson. Johnson had pulled up to the driveway on an all-terrain vehicle and fired on Brown as she stepped out of a truck. Johnson fled on the ATV and was found a short time later in the doorway of his house. Police say his wrists were slashed. He was charged with murder and jailed in the Ohio County Detention Center after being treated at a hospital.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 6:20 PM
School Bus Drivers Needed In Floyd County
KENTUCKY...
The Floyd County School District is searching for some new drivers to ensure transportation for a large number of students across the area. The Floyd County School District Transportation Department will host a Bus Driver Recruitment Fair today and July 23. The fair will be held at the bus garage located in Martin from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. “The purpose of the event is to provide information to individuals who want to make a difference in the life of a child by becoming a Floyd County school bus driver. Floyd County bus drivers will be available to share information, and to answer questions you may have about how to become a member of the bus driver team. Just look for the big yellow buses,” said Beverly Crisman, director of community education. For additional information about the recruitment fair, contact Karen Johnson, transportation director.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:12 AM
UK To Offer Hayride Farm Tours
KENTUCKY...
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will reveal some of its latest research to fruit and vegetable growers next week. The school's Horticultural Research Farm in south Lexington will be giving tours on July 22 beginning at 5 p.m. EDT. The tours will repeat two to three times until dark. Visitors will be able to choose one of four tours. Among the projects visitors will see are trials for specialty melons, raspberries and blueberries, organic apple production and bioenergy crops. John Strang, a UK extension horticulture specialist, says in a news release that visitors will travel the farm on wagon, but can stop and talk to experts about any of the projects.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:59 AM
Marijuana Bust In McDowell County
WEST VIRGINIA....
West Virginia State Police troopers were conducting a follow up investigation at the home of Jonathan Cox, 20, of Keystone in McDowell County when they found marijuana plants growing on the front porch. While searching the home, they discovered16 plants along with drug paraphernalia. Cox and 18 year old Shannon Workman, who was staying at the home, were arrested and charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, conspiracy and unlawful possession of marijuana. Each was released on $10,000 bonds.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:51 AM
Manchin Makes Key Changes To Succession Bill
WEST VIRGINIA....
Governor Joe Manchin made a few key changes to the senate succession bill before sending a final copy to state lawmakers Thursday afternoon. State Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, says the bill no longer includes the "opted out primary". He says there will be a primary election in connection with the special election to fill the unexpired term following the death of U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. The governor's original plan would have eliminated the primary election if only one candidate was on the ballot from a particular party.
The governor's bill was also changed to remove language that delegated what are usually legislative powers over an election to the secretary of state. The bill does give the secretary of state some flexibility when it comes to setting dates for overseas early voting. But Kessler says setting the date of the election and early voting periods will remain a legislative duty. The Senate and House judiciary committees began working on the bill Thursday afternoon.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:34 AM
