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January 16 2012
Jan 16 2012 11:05AM
Posted 21 days 1 hr 44 mins ago
One boy in Floyd County is encouraging hundreds of people to donate blood to save lives. He has been battling cancer for eight months and has received many blood donations since his diagnosis. Trevor Wright of Prestonsburg is a typical kid. But one thing separates him from other kids. He has ALL, which is a form of leukemia and cancer of the white blood cells. Trevor's battle with cancer started on Mother's Day. His family says faith and blood donors will keep Trevor happy and healthy through his fight against cancer. The Wright family not only wants people to donate for Trevor. They want anyone of any blood type to give blood to save lives. "I'm glad that I can give, and I'll probably be giving pretty regularly now," said Burton. Your blood could save Trevor or someone else. To find out how you can donate blood contact the Kentucky Blood Center nearest to you.
The US Attorney's Office says a Wheelwright, Kentucky, man admitted in federal court Thursday to conspiring to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana in Pike and Floyd Counties. John Hall, aka, “Johnny Boy Hall,” 43, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. Hall admitted that from January 2009 until December of 2010, he received between 220 and 880 pounds of marijuana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Hall agreed to a prison sentence of 10 years. Hall has a prior drug felony conviction which subjected him to a higher sentence for the offenses. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
A Floyd County elected official was in court Wednesday to review his case after allegedly violating the terms of his probation following a drug arrest during the holidays. According to court documents, County Surveyor Curtis T. Blackburn, 63, was arrested Dec. 20, on one count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and one count of controlled substance not in its original container. Blackburn was arrested following a traffic stop near Jenny Wiley Village, when officers noted that a passenger in his vehicle, Kelly Key, had an active warrant. According to the police report, officers were given permission, by Blackburn, to search the vehicle. During the search, officers found “a small dark colored glass bottle containing four round blue pills,” in the back floor board of the vehicle’s passenger side.
Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of copper from some construction sites in Pikeville and police say they have worked at least five cases in the past month. The latest theft happened Friday morning at a site on South Mayo Trail. Pikeville Police say sometime during the overnight hours, thieves took six rolls of copper wire, at least five rolls of copper tubing, and tools. It adds up to an estimated $5,000 worth of equipment. Neighbors are asked to report any suspicious activity around the construction areas. Anyone with information or tips on the copper thieves should contact the Pikeville Police Department.
Another robbery was added to Eastern Kentucky's long list Thursday night. Police say Ramey's Qwik Stop was targeted along with several other convenience stores in the area. Drugs and the bad economy are the only reasons police have as to why there has been a recent increase of robberies in Eastern Kentucky. Ramey's Qwik Stop near the Knott/Perry line is the most recent store on Eastern Kentucky's robbery hit list. Ramey's Qwik Stop robber is said to be a man with a thin body build, who is approximately 5'6" wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and was last seen in a red Pontiac Grand AM heading north on Highway 15. Please call state police in Hazard at 606-435-6069 if you have any information.
January 12 2012
Jan 12 2012 11:33AM
Posted 25 days 1 hr 16 mins ago
Prestonsburg is making improvements in its financial accounting system, but still has more to make, according to the city’s most recent audit. During their regular meeting Monday night, members of the city council reviewed the audit, which showed the city generated $92,356 more in general fund receipts than had been budgeted, and $444,245 more in revenue across all accounts. But CPA David L. Garrett, with Jones, Pack and Associates, which reviewed the city’s books, told council members his firm noted several areas where improvements should be made. Most seriously, from a financial perspective as well as a legal one, was the fact that the city is not paying its health insurance premiums on time.
A Kentucky State Police trooper was involved in a single-car wreck Wednesday afternoon on Route 114, just outside of Prestonsburg. The accident occurred at the entrance to Middle Creek National Battlefield. Police were providing few details, but Observers at the scene reported that the trooper, who thus far remains unidentified, was not seriously injured in the crash.
Sunday crowds of people came together in Floyd County to honor the sesquicentennial of those who died at the Battle of Middle Creek. In honor of the men who fought there, the Friends of Middle Creek organized a Sesquicentennial Ceremony Sunday aft ernoon. Guns fired and cannon roared as the names of fallen soldiers were read and the military units who fought there were mentioned. The blustery winds of war are long silenced in Kentucky, but 150 years earlier 3,000 hungry soldiers ravaged by disease and poorly dressed fought across the fields and up and down the mountain side to determine whether Eastern Ky would call itself Union or Confederate.
This week the Kentucky Educational Standards Board suspended the educational certificates of two Perry County School employees connected to an ACT cheating investigation. The Hazard Herald reports the ACT organization forwarded their investigation into allegations that test scores for several students at Perry County Central and Buckhorn High School had been altered, to the EPSB. the EPSB then opened cases on five employees, so far two of Jonathan Jett's educational certificates have been suspended. Jett was the Assessment Coordinator at the time. The EPSB also suspended the educational certificate of a teacher, Rebecca Dobson who was the Testing Accommodations Coordinator and an ACT complaint says her fingerprints were on the tests in question. Jett and Dobson still deny any wrongdoing.
Bats and other birds create a health hazard at one local state highway maintenance garage. Officials say more than 100 bats and birds are inside the Johnson County state highway office! The building is closed until further notice. Workers at the Johnson County state maintenance garage have to work outside. The doors are locked and no one is allowed inside. "The problem is some birds and bats have taken up housekeeping in the space between the ceiling and the roof," said Sara George with the District 12 State Transportation Department.
Agriculture Commissioner James Comer formally requested that Auditor of Public Accounts Adam Edelen conduct a special examination of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA).
Comer, who was sworn in on January 2, has already made some substantial changes to the KDA but said the audit is necessary to restore morale within the Department and to ensure the integrity of its operations.
Charges against a Southeastern Kentucky man arrested on DUI charges seven years ago have been dismissed. Jimmy Gray was arrested back in 2004 on charges of DUI and carrying a concealed weapon. District Judge Cathy Prewitt dismissed the charges, saying the arresting officer failed to appear and was no longer working for Kentucky State Police. The officer says no one notified him about the hearing as he had retired from the KSP in 2009.
Ashland Police say they have taken into custody the two people responsible for a strong-armed robbery outside the Ashland Children's Clinic on Monday. The man and woman were arrested following a short foot pursuit on 13th Street. Police plan to release their names and the charges against them Tuesday afternoon.
January 11th 2012
Jan 11 2012 10:40AM
Posted 26 days 2 hrs 9 mins ago
Riverview Health Care Center held its annual Hall of Fame ceremony last month, and some familiar names to Floyd County were among those honored. The banquet was held Dec. 15 at the center and recognized both residents and community members for their support. The three residents honored during the ceremony included: Lynn “Jack” Cobbs, who was recognized for his distinguished military service and personal accomplishments. during World War II. He received a purple heart and a bronze star for his service. Recognized for her distinguished service in academia and volunteerism, Danese Fannin Amburgey saw a nee d for an education and began her teaching career at age 19 and Melvina “Nina” Howell, was employed by the Floyd County Board of education as a Cook and Lunchroom manager at John M. Stumbo Elementary School. She retired after 32 years then volunteered for the Salvation Army and the Mud Creek Senior Citizens Center.
A Johnson County grandmother is found guilty in connection with the death of her baby grandson. Alice Stambaugh was charged with manslaughter last year after police say her five month old grandson, Draven, died from an overdose of Benadryl and Soma. During the two day trial in Johnson County, Stambaugh's attorney argued she did nothing wrong and blamed her daughter Heather, the baby's mother. Yesterday afternoon, the jury said otherwise and convicted Alice Stambaugh of 2nd degree manslaughter,and recommended a five year sentence. Heather Stambaugh is also charged, and her trial is scheduled for April.
When you think of the homeless, you usually don't imagine them here. But they are, and without a center like West care in Pikeville, they may have no where to go at all. Homelessness isnt't only a problem for larger cities, but it's right here in Eastern Kentucky. The West care center is not just a homeless shelter however, this center serves several purposes according to director Ray Cox, the center is constantly under danger of having to close it's doors. It's annual operating budget is 160,000 and this year's government assistance was about 5 percent of that, so the other 95 percent of the money comes from the community and the business that make the community up. Yesterday, we saw a local business give back to West Care Shelter in Pikeville, and give back to the community. Kirby Walters from the Walters Auto Group was on hand to present a check for 2500 dollars, which will be matched by Toyota.
Police seized vehicles and other items from a Johnson County home as part of a criminal investigation into the homeowner's wrecker service. State police and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department are investigating alleged stolen cars at Welch's Wrecker Service in Hager Hill. Police are not releasing many details, and no one is charged with anything right now. Johnson County Sheriff Deputies say Marty Welch used a home on Middlefork Road for his wrecker service. Officers say they started investigating the business and owners two months ago. Last Thursday, police executed the search warrant and seized a 2008 Mustang, a 2008 GMC Yukon, several computers, and several other documents from the home. Welch had said he bought car parts on the internet and didn't know they were stolen.
The Perry County grand jury has indicted 20 year old Eric Ison on murder, possession of a controlled substance and DUI charges. Police say Ison was driving under the influence on Kentucky 15 when he hit another car head on last year. 68 year old Bobby Napier was killed in the accident.
A lawmaker is trying to get legislation passed that would allow advertising on the sides of school buses again. Democratic state Rep. Terry Mills of Lebanon is expected to present the proposal to the House Education Committee on Tuesday. The measure would give school districts the option of selling advertising space on the exterior sides of school buses. Money generated from the ads would stay in the district, and the local school board would decide how to use it. Mills had unsuccessfully pressed for the legislation last year. It would prohibit political advertising on the buses. Additionally, ads for tobacco and alcohol products would also be barred.
January 10 2012
Jan 10 2012 10:42AM
Posted 27 days 2 hrs 7 mins ago
There are water outages in Elkhorn City, Marrowbone, Ferrell’s Creek and other areas in Pike County. Water will be delivered today, time and locations are to be announced. Residents in these areas must present a copy of their water bill or driver’s license in order to get water. Pike County Emergency Management personnel are currently delivering water to the Marrowbone, Ferrells Creek and Elkhorn City areas. The nearest fire department is the distribution point in all areas. A boil-water advisory will be in effect until further notice.
At least one person has been killed in a two-vehicle crash in Pike County Ky. Kentucky State Police say the accident happened on U.S. 460 about 3 p.m. Monday. They say the accident scene is just past Millard Middle School. All lanes of the highway were closed in the area for several hours.
Authorities in Pike County are investigating the possibility of a serial arsonist, following a string of suspicious fires in one small area. The most recent blaze occurred New Year’s Eve, shortly after midnight. At that time, Pikeville 911 was notified of a trailer fire on Fife Creek Road. Pikeville Fire Department responded to the call, finding the trailer fully engulfed upon arrival. The fire was the fourth trailer fire to occur in the immediate area since April. All of the trailers were not occupied when they burned. Pikeville Fire Department and the Pikeville Police Department are asking anyone who might have observed suspicious activity prior to or during any of the fires to contact the Pikeville 911 Public Safety Center by calling (606) 437-5111.
One week after Gov. Steve Beshear killed a planned merger between Saint Joseph Health System, Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s Health Care, and the University of Louisville’s University Hospital, two of the players involved announced plans to move forward without UofL. Saint Joseph and Jewish announced plans to merge their health care systems under a new name — KentuckyOne Health — creating the largest health system in Kentucky. The system will collaborate with all health care providers, enhancing existing relationships and developing new partnerships.
Novartis is recalling some bottles of Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin and Gas-X Sunday over concerns that the bottles could contain stray pills from other medicines, or chipped or broken tablets. The news follows Novartis' recent decision to temporarily suspend production at its Lincoln, Neb., plant for "maintenance and other improvement activities."Novartis said that some of the bottles of headache medicine Excedrin and caffeine caplets NoDoz with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2014, or earlier will be subject to the recall. Some of the packages of pain medicine Bufferin and stomach medicine Gas-X with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2013,or earlier will also be affected. The company said it will post more information Monday at www.novartisOTC.com . Customers can also call the company at 1-888-477-2403 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
People in need will benefit from a crash involving a truck hauling potatoes. A tractor trailer hauling some 40,000 pounds of potatoes crashed Tuesday on I-64 in Franklin County, not far from the Shelby County line.
People in one Eastern Kentucky city want to decide for themselves how alcohol sales should be regulated in their community. A petition is circulating for a local option election. Organizers hope to get 150 signatures to put an election on the ballot this spring. It is not a petition for a wet/dry vote. It is a petition to give Whitesburg an option. The election this spring would enable the city to change the current alcohol sales policy or keep it the same. Whitesburg's current policy allows only restaurants that seat 100 people and food sales are at least 70 percent of their profit to sell alcohol.
A daughter of the late Gatewood Galbraith, who ran his fifth gubernatorial campaign last year, says a public celebration of his life is being held next week in Lexington. Molly Galbraith said the event will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST Thursday at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. She said the event is open to anyone who wants to pay their respects to Galbraith.
Janury 9th 2012
Jan 9 2012 10:43AM
Posted 28 days 2 hrs 6 mins ago
An explosion Friday evening in wheelwright was enough to get everyone’s attention. It was not only heard by everyone on Golf Course Hollow Road but felt as well. Andy Akers is the Mayor of Wheelwright and the assistant fire chief, and says this has happened before. Officials say the forest fire actually started on the other side of the mountain in Melvin on Tackett Hollow, and for now, they’re hoping and waiting for rain and colder weather to bring the fire to an end.
Jordan Koskoski’s a former volunteer fire fighter who said he usually takes a midnight stroll through his neighborhood but what he saw this time was anything but normal. Three families were out of a home when after two reported explosions happened Saturday night in the Goble Roberts community of Floyd county. Bobby Carpenter is the Prestonsburg Fire chief and said the fire was not caused by natural gas. The cause of the fire has not been determined but officials said that arson has not been ruled out. The Red Cross is helping at least one of the families and neighbors said the family living in the middle trailer had recently moved from Ohio.
The Floyd County School Board will be recognized in February by the Kentucky School Boards Association. According to Floyd County School Supt. Henry Webb, the Floyd County Board of Education will once again be recognized at the annual conference of the Kentucky School Boards Association. The board has succeeded in meeting all 10 “Advancing Student Achievement to Proficiency” standards.A man with cancer died in a mobile home fire Friday morning. The flames started around 9:00 Friday morning at the home on Wiley Branch Road in Johnson County. Family members say 46 year old Jesse Ball did not make it out in time. Jesse Ball's daughter said her father was home alone in bed when the fire started. The deputy state fire marshal believes an electrical problem sparked the blaze. "So far, all indicators are the southeast corner is where the fire originated. It was a bedroom," said Mike Wiley, deputy state fire marshal. Ball was in the other side of the home. The coroner says he died from smoke inhalation. Casey Meade, her husband, and baby are staying with other family members. Meade says there were no smoke detectors in the home, and she says this should be an example for others to get smoke alarms.
It's an old idea with a new front, but with the same goal of stealing your personal information. A new scam is on the rise and you need to be aware of this one. Shelly Johnson with the Kentucky attorney general’s office says the so-called tech support expert tells the potential victim that they have received an email saying their home computer has a virus. Then the caller guides the person through a series of steps and offers to install what they call anti-virus software that ultimately gives them control over the victim's computer. She said reports have come in of people receiving emails as well. with numbers attached for the recipient to call. She says those are also part of the scam, and not to call the numbers soliciting for the anti-virus software. Legitimate companies like Microsoft of Cisco will never call you to offer tech support or ant virus software.
January 6 2012
Jan 6 2012 10:44AM
Posted 31 days 2 hrs 5 mins ago
The company that owns Otter Creek Correctional Center was sued this week in Floyd Circuit court for damages caused by an escaped inmate. According to the lawsuit, filed on behalf of Linda and Dennis Holbrook, Corrections Corporation of America, the company which owns Otter Creek, was negligent in its handling of an escape by Larry Crump in September. In the complaint, the plaintiffs state that when Crump escaped, outside authorities were not notified for over an hour after prison guards noted him missing. The Holbrooks state that Crump came to their home, which is located less than a mile from the prison after breaking out, rifled through their medicine cabinet and “drank a soft drink” before stealing the couple’s 2005 Cadillac CTS automobile.
The city of Martin filed a lawsuit last week against the Floyd County Fiscal court for allegedly failing to pay nearly $60,000 in fees. According to filings in Floyd Circuit Court, on March 18, Martin entered into an agreement with the county to provide disposal of wasterwater produced from the county’s landfill located at Garth Hollow at a rate of $38 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater/letchate processed, and court documents state that the county has “failed and refused to make payment as required. The City of Martin’s suit states that they terminated the service effective May 15, though the county continued to use the service “for sometime thereafter." Martin is asking for the remainder of the outstanding balance of $57,089.55, with late charges of 5 percent per month on all unpaid balances. Additionally the suit asks for 12 percent interest annually on any judgement until it is paid in full. Martin’s city attorney, Clyde Johnson, could not be reached for comment. Calls seeking comment from county attorney Keith Bartley were not immediately returned.
A murder charge was dismissed against one of four suspects accused of killing a Pike County man and burning down his home. Police say last May, Millard Thornhill was shot and then his home was set on fire. Four people were charged with robbery and murder and one suspect, identified as Jeffery Lowe, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month. But on Thursday, murder charges were dropped against Cynthia Ryan, but she'll still go to prison on other charges. Ryan admitted she went to help rob Thornhill... but said she did not kill him. After a mental evaluation d etermined she was competent for trial, she took a plea to dismiss the murder charges. Another suspect, Randy Thomas, was also in court on yesterday as a trial date was set for February 13th. The final suspect, who's Shannon Turner, is undergoing a mental evaluation to see if she is competent for trial.
An eastern Kentucky county has banned synthetic marijuana. In a special called fiscal court meeting Thursday morning, Letcher County officials passed a ban that would prohibit the possession or sale of several types of cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids. Laurel County also passed the first reading of a simi lar ordinance last month.
The case against a man accused of stabbing a friend in Pikeville will go to the grand jury. 21 year old Daniel Gillispie is charged with assault and impersonating a police officer. Police say he confessed to stabbing 21 year old Tommy Bray at an apartment building on Poplar Street last week. Witnesses say he claimed to be a police officer to get bray to open the door. The judge sent the case to the grand jury and kept his bond at $30,00
A woman is dead after a fire in Knott County. It happened Thursday morning in the Kite community. The coroner says 39-year old Fay Short was found dead after the fire destroyed her double-wide trailer. Officials say a wood-burning stove could be to blame and no foul play is suspected. Nobody else was home at the time.
A Pike County man is in jail on arson charges after a neighbor accused him of trying to burn down his house. Police say a man on High Street in Virgie reported someone setting his house on fire. The flames were contained to the back of the house and no one was injured, and the arrest citation says troopers found Timothy Pryor walking nearby with a gas can. Pryor is charged with arson and alcohol intoxication and his bond was set at $100,000.
On Tuesday night a ten year old child died as a result of an accident on an icy highway 15 that happened on Monday afternoon in Perry County. Staff members at Riverside Christian School say the sudden death of one of their teachers and students was both tragic and untimely. Now they are doing their best to honor the memories of Shirley and Curtis Watts. The Riverside Christian School has students from k through 12 but there are only 40 of them, making it impossible to ignore two desks that are now empty. One of the desks belonged to Shirley Watts, the school's librarian; employees say her passion for teaching and for children was unmatched. The other empty desk belonged to Shirley's 10-year-old grandson....Curtis watts.
A plan to merge several Kentucky Hospitals and the University of Louisville was axed last Friday by Gov. Steve Beshear after concerns were raised with regard to several key political issues. Earlier this year, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare/Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services, along with Catholic Health Initiatives and its Kentucky-based operation, Saint Joseph Health System, the University of Louisville Hospital/James Graham Brown Cancer Center and the University of Louisville had agreed to merge into a statewide health services organization.
Kentucky's Low income Home Energy Assistance Program has received an additional $9.5 million to help the state's poor stay warm through the winter. Gov. Steve Beshear announced the additional funding yesterday, saying the financial help is critical at this time of year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing the funding to help low-income families heat their homes. Kentucky's total funding for the fiscal year is $46.4 million. The money is disbursed by community action agencies across the state. Families can apply through March 31 unless funding runs out before that.
