Less rain chances today and clouds will be dominating for the most part through the weekend, we’ll talk weather I a few minutes
Two more people have been arrested for their part in the destruction of a Martin County religious display. Police say Brian Keith Robinette, 21, and Alexandra Danielle Riddle, 20, both of Wellington, were arrested last Friday, after Devin Morris, 24, of Inez, was arrested earlier in the week. All three are charged with trespassing. Morris and Robinette are also charged with willfully setting fire to land owned by others and desecration of venerated objects, while Riddle is charged with complicity to those same charges. Police say the three were on walking on the God’s Promise Trail in Inez June 7, when they set fire to a prayer altar. Morris is also accused of climbing a radio tower to take a mounted camera and throwing over the hill, for which he was also charged with criminal mischief. Court records say that Robinette and Riddle each confessed to their roles in the incident, with each blaming alcohol for the stunts. The fire setting charge is a felony, punishable by 1-to-5 years in prison. All the remaining charges are misdemeanors.
During its regular meeting on Monday, July 22, the Paintsville Tourism commission had several funding requests for local events on its agenda and opinions differed between members of the commission on funding amounts. In particular, tourism Commissioner Patricia Nelson expressed doubts as to how much money should be allotted to this year’s Arm Drop Revival — as Nelson argued, from the information presented by Gina Rose (widow of the late Kent Rose, who started the event), that most of the business brought in by the event was going to Prestonsburg. In particular, tourism Commissioner Patricia Nelson expressed doubts as to how much money should be allotted for the event, stating that a third of the rooms booked last year were in Paintsville while the rest were in Prestonsburg, and asked what else was in it for them besides 80 some odd rooms being booked. Paintsville Tourism Executive Director Jeremiah Parsons said that the value of the event couldn’t be measured just in the rooms booked alone, from a tourism perspective. Gina Rose added the facts that a youtube channel with over 340 k subscribers stayed in Van Lear as well as many of the race participants did, plus the visits to the coal miners museum and Loretta Lynns homeplace and then Tourism Commissioner John Michael Laney was opposed to Nelson’s points, stating that he knew several of the race’s attendees visited Paintsville’s downtown as well. After discussion, Nelson proposed that the commission match Prestonsburg’s contribution of $15,000 — which prompted Daniels to joke that the commission should contribute $500 more than Prestonsburg — an offer that Laney took him up on, making the motion to award that amount. Commissioner Kay Hall seconded the motion, which passed a roll call vote with one “nay” vote from Nelson.
With Johnson County Schools’ start date of Aug. 7 fast approaching and Paintsville Independent Schools not far behind on Aug. 26, financial crunches can hit families hard as they scramble to get their kids ready for a return to school. On Tuesday, July 30, Central Elementary will host the Johnson County Ready Fest from 9 a.m. through 11 a.m., which includes different community partners and vendors set up with school supplies and hygiene items. Students don’t need to bring anything and the event is open to all Johnson County students.
The Martin County Fiscal Court is applying for $2,175,000 in Local Government Economic Development Fund (single-county coal severance) grants to address various needs. During a meeting Thursday, magistrates approved six resolutions authorizing these grant applications. The court also authorized an application for $75,000 to fund the Martin County Economic Development Authority (EDA) director’s salary for two years.
Kentucky State Police responded to a reported stabbing IN Martin County at approximately 1:47 p.m. Sunday in Tomahawk. The incident allegedly occurred at a residence on Ford Place, but the victim left the scene and went to Milo Subdivision. Upon arriving at Milo Subdivision, officers discovered Jason Jude, 40, who alleged that Tracy Vanover, 52, stabbed him in the arm. Vanover was arrested and charged with second-degree assault-domestic violence.