Martin County, Ky – A Sunday night traffic stop in Martin County led to the seizure of about 16 grams of suspected meth and the arrest of two Inez men. Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office say they stopped the vehicle around 8 p.m. and arrested 65‑year‑old Gary Gamble Sr. and 47‑year‑old Gary Gamble Jr. Gamble Sr. is charged with first‑degree trafficking in meth, first‑degree possession of meth and first‑degree possession of another controlled substance, while Gamble Jr. is charged with first‑degree possession of meth. Deputies say they also recovered digital scales and plastic baggies consistent with packaging narcotics.
Johnson County, Ky – A forest fire on Davis Branch near Rockhouse burned in the hills above nearby homes on April 3, according to Johnson County Emergency Management Director Paul Burchett. He says the fire started around 3 p.m., and the cause has not been determined, since it began on top of a hill. No evacuations or home damage were reported. Burchett says the Kentucky Division of Forestry built a containment line so the fire could burn itself out while West Van Lear firefighters protected houses. Agencies on scene included West Van Lear Fire, the Division of Forestry and Paintsville‑Johnson County Emergency Management. Burchett says rain moving in overnight helped extinguish the fire and reminded residents to follow burning restrictions and use caution with any open burning.
Johnson County, Ky – A Johnson County woman faces several charges after state police say she fired shots along KY-40 late Friday night. Troopers say they were called to a home on Route 40 in Williamsport around 11:50 p.m. on April 10 for reports of gunfire. They say they found Misty D. Barker holding a revolver and that she did not drop the weapon until Johnson County deputies arrived and eventually convinced her to put it down. According to police, two juveniles had stopped along the road to report a forest fire when they heard gunshots. Investigators say Barker then stood in the roadway with the gun and allegedly threatened to kill the juveniles. She was arrested and taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on charges of third-degree terroristic threatening and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.
Paintsville, Ky – A former Johnson County teacher has pleaded guilty to a felony involving a minor. Prosecutors say 51‑year‑old Kevin D. Conley of East Point admitted on April 13 to using electronic communications to try to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other illegal acts. Conley, a former AP geography and social studies teacher at Johnson Central High School, is no longer with the district. Prosecutors say he’ll serve one year in prison and must register as a sex offender, with sentencing set for July 24.