Heat is the topic of talk today as temperatures will be pulling towards that 90-degree mark with sunshine and the weekend looks just as hot, more on the weather is on the way…
One person is dead after a high-speed police chase in Wise County. Police said the pursuit began in Hazard, leading to the Kentucky-Virginia state line. Once across the state line on U.S. Highway 23, deputies with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office began pursuing the car. While on the chase, police said the car crossed a median, driving against traffic going the opposite direction. The chase reportedly ended in a crash, leading to one person’s death and sending four to the hospital, including the suspect. Police said charges are pending as they investigate. The identity of the suspect and person who died have not been released.
A manager of Cardinal Country Mart in Stanville was arrested Monday and charged with embezzling more than 100,000 dollars. Nancy Powell from Banner was arrested just after 630 Monday evening and reportedly told police she has a problem with gambling and used the money to settle debts. She’s looking at between 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted. She’ll be in court Monday.
He’s rejected a plea deal twice and accused of murdering a 30-year young Pike county man in a Floyd County Motel in 2020. He’s not pleaded guilty to murder, but he has said he was guilty of facilitation to kidnapping and second-degree assault in connection to the death of Wesley Hook of Pikeville in June 2020. 50-year-old Enos Little was indicted on murder and kidnapping charges that police said happened at the Alpike Motel in Ivel Kentucky and Hook’s remains were found in his burned-out car around Robinson Creek not long after. Garland Arnett is Little’s attorney and entered the amended pleas via video from jail. This status conference said that a plea agreement was entered April 29th and offered Little 15 years in prison in exchange for guilty pleas to amended charges, that would run consecutively with a five-year term that Little is serving in a Pike County case. Little would be behind bars for ten years on the assault and five years on the kidnapping charge. Little’s lawyer, Arnett answered Judge Johnny Ray Harris when Harris asked if that was the plea he was talking about with “Yes, Your Honor.” With that part being settled, Judge Harris scheduled sentencing for Tuesday, the 9th of July at 11am. Now, there’s more to this, along with Little, 37-year-old Eric Deleon and Krystal Williams, also 37 of Pikeville were also indicted in October of 2020 by a Floyd County Grand Jury on Murder and kidnapping charges related to Wes’ death. The indictment alleges these three worked together and restrained or aided in unlawful restraint of Wesley Hook and eventually resulted in his death. Deleon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years, while Williams pleaded guilty to amended charges and got ten years.
(Enos Little)
Almost a ten percent decrease in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023 across Kentucky, except Johnson County, who saw 12 people die of overdoses last year, up from 8 in 2022. Why is that? Well, according to sheriff Scott Hazlette this is a tough fight, and most of it, according to coroner JR Frisby, has to do with Fentanyl, Frisby said that he knows of more overdose deaths in 2023, and said he noticed on all the reports that Fentanyl was showing up. It’s a common denominator among so many of these deaths, and fighting it is a whole other challenge. Scott Hazlette is the Sherriff of Johnson County and says the fight is raging on, but the spread of drugs and limited resources makes it tough. Hazlette said that the office encourages reports but unless you know someone who can get you in, it’s near impossible, save for staggering on them during a traffic stop or service call. If you have any information on drug dealing or use, call the JCSO at 606-789-3411.
Paintsville Independent Schools Superintendent David Gibson announced June 11 that he will retire effective July 1. Gibson made the announcement at the end of the city school board’s regular meeting and said he had “thoroughly enjoyed” his seven years as superintendent. Gibson also said he is thankful for the friendships he has made while superintendent and singled out board secretary Robin Fairchild and transportation director John Doug Miller.
