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Post by Kentucky News on Apr 18, 2007 22:01:16 GMT -5
Rawlings and Stinson Park walking track awarded crumb rubber grantStan Cave, chief of staff to Governor Ernie Fletcher, and Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), announced recipients of crumb rubber grants totaling $1.2 million today during an Earth Week kickoff in Frankfort at the agency’s government recycling warehouse. The grants are from the Waste Tire Trust Fund, established by the 1998 Kentucky General Assembly to receive a $1 fee from each sale of a new tire in the state. The fund is dedicated to managing the 5 million scrap tires generated in Kentucky each year and to developing markets for recycled tire products. Crumb rubber, made from recycled scrap tires, is used for mulch on playgrounds, for fitness/walking tracks, landscaping and for reduction in soil degradation on athletic fields. “This is a prime example of turning a problem into a solution,” Cave said at the ceremony. The one project listed for Clay County was for the city of Manchester for the Rawlings and Stinson Park, walking track and playground. The grant totaled $27,750. For more information about the waste tire program, call EPPC’s Division of Waste Management or go to www.waste.ky.gov/branches/rla/waste+tires.htm. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Local News on Apr 23, 2007 15:26:38 GMT -5
Program that investigates drug trafficking gets national honorBy Bill Estep, HERALD-LEADER.COMAn investigation that has focused on drugs and public corruption in Clay County has been honored nationally. The task force that has carried out the investigation won the 2007 "Best Investigative Effort" award from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, according to a news release from the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The task force is an initiative of that program, based in London. "This was huge for the Appalachia HIDTA," said director Frank Rapier. "I was extremely proud." The investigation honored has resulted in charges against several prominent people in Clay County, and it opened a window on links between drugs and public corruption. Those charged in the investigation include former Manchester Mayor Daugh White; Assistant Manchester Police Chief Todd Roberts; onetime 911 director and city council member Vernon Hacker; two-term county Clerk Jennings B. White; and Kenneth Day, a former county election commissioner. Day admitted running a major cocaine and marijuana ring, and also described how he bought votes. Jennings White pleaded guilty to laundering drug money for Day. Hacker said he, Daugh White and Roberts schemed with a drug dealer to burn down a house the three wanted cleared to make way for a new city office, then protected the man's drug activities. Daugh White and Roberts have denied the charges and are awaiting trial. Doug Abner, a minister who has helped lead a fight against drugs in Clay County, said the investigation has given local people hope for a better community and inspired them to get involved. "It's made a lot of difference," Abner said. The primary officers involved in the investigation were Timothy Briggs, a special agent with the FBI; Kentucky State Police detectives Marc Hopkins and Greg Pace; and Edsel "Buddy" Blair, an officer with the London Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Smith has prosecuted the cases. The task force worked with other HIDTA participants, such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, and with authorities elsewhere in the country. So far, the investigation has resulted in 35 arrests in Kentucky and other states; the seizure of 8,500 pounds of marijuana, 11 pounds of cocaine and five pounds of methamphetamine; and collection of more than $6.9 million in such forfeited assets as money and vehicles, according to the Appalachia HIDTA. The investigation continues. The Appalachia HIDTA competed against 27 others in the country for the award. The HIDTA program is designed to bring together federal, state and local police in a coordinated attack on drug trafficking. The Appalachia HIDTA is made up of 27 counties in Kentucky, mostly in the eastern part of the state with historic high levels of marijuana production; 29 counties in Tennessee; and 12 in West Virginia. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Kentucky News on Apr 25, 2007 17:04:58 GMT -5
Clay County Agricultural Diversification funds to be used for food processing center The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Governor Ernie Fletcher, approved $2,583,458 in agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth during their monthly board meeting on April 20, 2007 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office in Frankfort. State and County Agricultural Development Fund projects approved for funding at the April meeting included $277,173 for Appalachian Alternative Agriculture in Jackson County: $154,700 in Jackson County funds; $25,000 in Clay County funds; and $97,473 in state funds. These funds will be used to construct a food processing center, a docking station for the mobile processing unit, and a farmers’ market pavilion. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by ClayLive on May 1, 2007 22:23:01 GMT -5
Know Your Legal Rights Submitted by: Mary Gilbert
If you have property in Clay County, you better make sure, no one is trying to take it from you, or have it auctioned off on the court house steps.
About two years ago, a man went to the court house and took my grandfathers name off the deed to the propety and put his name on it, without any of us family members knowing it. The only way we found out was it came out in the newspaper, that our land had been put in someone elses name.
Now about a month ago, another track of land which I am also an heir in, is going to be auctioned off on the court house steps, due to the fact that one brother and one sister, want it sold... even though there are 10 other siblings who do not want it auctioned off... so what are our choices? Wait and bid on property that already belongs to us? What leagal right do we have???
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Post by Local News on May 3, 2007 15:45:08 GMT -5
Manchester man indicted on more drug chargesA convicted felon from Manchester, Ky., Henry Shell, was indicted by a federal grand jury today for conspiring to distribute cocaine, distributing cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the indictment, from January of 2004 until March of 2007, Shell, 33, conspired with others to distribute a quantity of a mixture with a detectable amount of cocaine. The indictment also alleges that during the time of the offense, did carry and brandish a 9 millimeter pistol. Also, that as a convicted felon, possessed a .380 caliber pistol and eight rounds of ammunition for the pistol. If convicted, he faces a up to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years supervised release. Any sentence following conviction will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kentucky State Police. The Indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen C. Smith. Appearances before the United States District Court in London, Ky. have not yet been set. The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The preceding was a press release from....Kentucky office of the FBI
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Post by Kentucky State Police on May 7, 2007 21:44:49 GMT -5
Fatal Crash on US 421 in Clay CountyOn Saturday, May 5, 2007, approximately 7:15 AM the Kentucky State Police responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on US 421, 2 miles north of Manchester, in Clay County. Upon arrival Trooper Charles Johnson discovered Unit one a 1986 GMC Van, driven by Deborah K. Reese, 34, of Booneville, KY was northbound on US 421 when it left the rain soaked roadway and struck a tree. Ms. Reese, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, was ejected and received fatal injuries. There were no passengers in the vehicle and alcohol involvement is not suspected. Ms. Reese was pronounced dead at the scene by Clay County Coroner Jim Trosper. Trooper Johnson is in charge of the investigation. The preceding press release was from Kentucky State Police Post 11 in London which serves the following Kentucky Counties: Clay, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne, and Whitley.
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Post by Local News on May 9, 2007 16:02:54 GMT -5
Hipsher indicted on racketeering chargesBy Bill Estep, herald-leader.comThree officials in Manchester committed a variety of felonies as they conspired for several years to control city affairs for their own personal, financial and political benefit, a federal grand jury has charged. A new indictment charged former Manchester Mayor Daugh K. White, assistant Police Chief Todd Roberts and city Councilman Darnell Hipsher with racketeering. White and Roberts were already under indictment on a number of charges, including conspiring to protect a drug dealer. The dealer had burned down a vacant house at their request in order to clear the way for the construction of new offices for the 911 dispatch center and police department, according to court documents. The new indictment adds charges against Hipsher, who has been on the city council since October 2000, according to the indictment. The three men charged in the indictment are scheduled to be arraigned Monday on the new charges. White and Roberts pleaded not guilty to an earlier indictment in the case. An audit that concluded the city paid to have private driveways paved led to some of the new charges. The indictment said White and Hipsher told Elmo Greer & Sons, a road contractor based in London, to pave more than 30 private driveways in the city and then attempted to cover up the improper work. Another new charge is that White conspired to get kickbacks from a contractor. White lost re-election as mayor last November, but was in office during the period covered in the indictment from June 1999 through the end of 2006. Roberts has been assistant police chief since 1998; he is suspended pending the outcome of the charges against him. The new indictment naming the three officials was returned last week but unsealed Monday. unsealed Monday. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local Sports on May 9, 2007 16:08:03 GMT -5
Ex-Cat Bennett returns to coachingWinston Bennett, Bill WhiteFormer University of Kentucky basketball player Winston Bennett was named head coach of Mid-Continent College on Tuesday. Bennett played in the NBA before joining Coach Rick Pitino as an assistant coach at Kentucky. Bennett was an assistant for the 1996 national championship team in Lexington. Bennett is currently working with Champions For Life with Clay County High School graduate, Bill White. White, who is a banker in New Albany, Indiana and Bennett have a radio show on WKJK 1080 AM in Louisville Saturdays from 9:05 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. You can hear a streaming verson of their program at www.winstonandbill.com.
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Post by Kentucky News on May 11, 2007 20:30:07 GMT -5
Illegal Internet Drugs headed for Clay County seized by KBIAgents of the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation (KBI) have seized drug shipments headed to Clay County from a shipping hub in the Lexington area. The packages were shipped to Kentucky residents from an unlicensed pharmacy in Miami, Florida. The KBI seized 3,279 phentermine pills, contained in 47 separate packages, with an estimated street value of more than $10,550. The drugs seized were destined for Clay County and other Kentucky counties including: Fayette, Scott, Woodford, Harlan, Laurel, Clark, Pulaski, Franklin, Casey, Montgomery, Knox, Russell, Madison, Anderson, Boyle, Bourbon, Letcher, Bath, Scott and Perry. "The pill bottles themselves are suspicious," said Attorney General Greg Stumbo. "They do not have the name, address, phone number or DEA number of the pharmacy, nor do they have the name of the prescribing physician, as required by both state and federal law. They basically contain only the customer and prescription name on the bottle." To date, KBI has seized more than $1.5 million in illegal Internet pharmaceuticals. Phentermine is a central nervous system stimulant that also acts as an appetite suppressant. The drug is similar to amphetamine and causes elevated blood pressure, a faster heart rate and can have dangerous side effects when taken without doctor supervision. It is medically prescribed to treat obesity in people with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes (Source: Drugs.com) "This is exactly the kind of drug shipment our laws are designed to combat," said Attorney General Stumbo. "Already, many illegal pharmacies refuse to ship to Kentucky so our enforcement efforts are having a positive result." Under Kentucky’s Internet Pharmacy Law, drug sellers must obtain a permit from the Board of Pharmacy. A toll-free number where patients can consult with a qualified pharmacist must be maintained. Pharmacies must also comply with the KASPER monitoring system and display certification that it is a "Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site." KBI agents are working in cooperation with Kentucky State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Attorney’s Office, Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Board of Pharmacy, Florida Office of the Attorney General and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in their efforts to crack down on rogue Internet Pharmacies shipping drugs into Kentucky. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Local News on May 21, 2007 13:38:48 GMT -5
Hubbard arrested for abuse of residentAttorney General Greg Stumbo today announced the arrest of Harold Dwayne Hubbard, age 23, for allegedly abusing a 29-year-old resident of a London, Kentucky assisted living facility by throwing him to the floor and putting him in a wrestling hold that resulted in pain and injury to the victim. Hubbard, of Manchester, Kentucky, is charged with Knowingly Abusing a Vulnerable Adult, a Class C Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The incident is reported to have taken place on February 14, 2006 at 1104 South Main Street in London KY. The location is a community assisted living facility operated by New Foundations, which has previously run 17 similar houses in the area. “This is the second case of a worker at this facility being charged with caring for a resident and instead injuring them,” said Attorney General Stumbo. “KBI agents are working diligently to crack down on abuse of our most vulnerable citizens. These victims deserve justice and my office will fight to see that they get it.” On April 6, 2007, Attorney General Stumbo announced the arrest of Charles R. Gabbard, age 23, for allegedly abusing a 41-year-old resident of the Bush House, also operated by New Foundations. In that incident, Gabbard is reported to have tackled the resident to the ground in front of the facility, fracturing the victim’s left arm. Gabbard is presently awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month. Kentucky Bureau of Investigation agent John Dudinskie worked closely with the London Police Department and the Laurel County Adult Protective Services in this investigation. Gabbard was arrested by KBI Agents and is being held in the Laurel County Jail on $25,000 bond. Other investigations are ongoing at New Foundations. No further information regarding those investigations can be made public at this time. However, anyone with information on incidents of abuse that have occurred at any New Foundations location is encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit’s Abuse Tip Line at 1-877-ABUSE-TIP (877-228-7384). The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Local News on May 27, 2007 8:10:43 GMT -5
Vote buying alleged for 2002 primaryBy Bill Estep, HERALD-LEADER.COM A candidate for magistrate in Clay County took thousands of dollars from a local official and distributed some of it for vote-buying, a federal grand jury has charged. The grand jury indicted Fred Clinton Johnson on one count of conspiracy to commit election fraud in the May 28, 2002, primary election. Before the election, then-County Clerk Jennings B. White and other unnamed people delivered about $9,000 to Johnson "to pay voters for voting," the indictment said. Johnson later distributed part of the money to others, including family members, to buy votes, the indictment charges. Johnson, who owns a service station, beat seven other Republicans by a wide margin in that primary and then won the general election. He won re-election last year, so is in his second term. In an interview, Johnson acknowledged getting money from White before the election, but said he did not use it to buy votes. "That would be a falsehood," he said of the charge. Rather, Johnson said he took the money because that kept it from being used to buy votes against him. "If I hadn't've taken it, it would have been throwed against me," he said. Johnson said he held onto the money and gave it to federal agents a year ago when they contacted him. He said he thought the charge would not be a problem -- that he would be able to work it out once he goes to court. The charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Federal agents did not arrest Johnson; a magistrate-judge issued a summons for him to report to court June 8. The 2002 primary in Clay County was an unruly affair, with an alleged attempt on White's life, the shooting of a man who had dug up dirt on White and so much disorder at a polling place where people could vote early that the sheriff shut it down twice. White lost in that race and later pleaded guilty to getting involved with a major drug ring while he was still in office. White, a wealthy businessman, admitted laundering money for the drug ring, which was run by pawn-shop owner Kenneth Day. Day testified that he bought votes in 2002. He also bought votes earlier when he was a county election commissioner, Day said, describing how he picked precinct officers who would signal whether people selling their vote had cast ballots for the candidates they were supposed to. In other testimony, a confessed drug dealer said he went along while White delivered envelopes around the county before the 2002 primary -- an implication he was distributing vote-buying money. The grand jury indicted Johnson Thursday, just days shy of a five-year time limit to file charges in federal vote-fraud cases. The charge was made public Friday. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on May 31, 2007 14:26:45 GMT -5
Parts of Kentucky In Moderate DroughtDrought has cut hay production by 50%A shortage of rain is causing problems in parts of Kentucky and water districts are asking residents to conserve. The National Weather Service says much of the state is abnormally dry, though rains could be on the way later in the week. That would help the state's farmers, who say hay production is averaging about 50 percent of their normal crops right now. Officials say Jackson in eastern Kentucky is down eight inches from last year. Water districts are ordering residents to stop watering their lawns, washing their cars and filling swimming pools.
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Post by Local News on Jun 17, 2007 21:02:28 GMT -5
Stivers' Proposal outlines coal-fuel tax breaksLiquification plants sought for KentuckyBy Jack Brammer, kentucky.comKentucky would offer tax breaks worth hundreds of millions of dollars to promote the use of coal as alternative transportation fuel under a proposal presented yesterday to state legislators. In the plan presented by state Sen. Robert Stivers, Kentucky would provide $315 million worth of tax incentives over 25 years to a $2.5 billion coal-to-liquid plant that would produce 30,000 barrels of fuel a day. Smaller plants would get fewer incentives, but all of the tax breaks would be based on the performance of the plant, said Stivers, R-Manchester. "Taxpayers would get to recoup the tax incentives," he said. Developers are discussing with the state at least three coal-to-liquid projects, he said. They are a 30,000 barrel-a-day plant in Western Kentucky and 10,000 barrel-a-day plants in Pike County and near Ashland. Stivers, co-chairman of the Special Subcommittee on Energy, presented the tax incentive plan at a meeting at the Tennessee Valley Authority coal power plant in Muhlenberg County. More specifics of the plan will be discussed Monday at an energy symposium in Pike County and a legislative budget committee hearing next week in Northern Kentucky, he said. Stivers emphasized that the plan, which has been developed by state senators in recent weeks, is "not carved in stone." Stivers also said a bill to accomplish it would have to originate in the House because it involves taxes. Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican seeking re-election in November, is considering a special legislative session this summer, possibly in early July, to take up the plan. Both Stivers and Adkins said yesterday that it is up to Fletcher to decide whether to call a special session. Stivers said he thinks most legislators would favor a special session if the governor can show them "this needs to be done at this time." "Regardless of when we address this in session, we are a policy-making body and need to work on this energy plan," Stivers said. "Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana already have put together incentive packages for coal-to-liquid plants." The tax plan outlined yesterday by Stivers would require all incentives to be negotiated with the five-member Kentucky Energy Development Authority, made up of the state finance secretary, budget director, economic development secretary, chairman of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority and director of the University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research. The minimum investment for an alternative fuel plant would be $750 million, he said.
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Post by Kentucky News on Jun 26, 2007 10:34:32 GMT -5
Jackson, Clay remain one-two in county unemploymentUnemployment rates fell in 73 Kentucky counties between May 2006 and May 2007, rose in 45 counties and remained the same in two counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Education Cabinet. Jackson County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 13.3 percent. It was followed by Clay County, 11.2 percent; Magoffin County, 10.7 percent; Harlan and Owsley counties, 9.9 percent each; Wolfe County, 9.5 percent; Leslie and McCreary counties, 9.3 percent each; Fulton County, 8.9 percent; and Muhlenberg County, 8.7 percent. Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 3.6 percent. Other counties with low unemployment rates were Fayette County, 4 percent; Shelby County, 4.1 percent; Boone and Scott counties, 4.3 percent each; Franklin, Jessamine, Mason and Oldham counties, 4.4 percent each; Anderson, Henry, Larue and Warren counties, 4.5 percent each. Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state and counties figures. Learn more about the Office of Employment and Training at www.workforce.ky.gov. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Kentucky News on Jun 30, 2007 10:10:49 GMT -5
Circuit Judge Candiate Filings Now Open The state constitutional officer races will not be the only races that many Kentuckians see on the ballot this fall. Special elections for judicial positions, such as those that were created by House Bill 382, as enacted by the 2006 General Assembly, will also appear on the 2007 ballots. Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced that as of today there will be six additional circuit judge positions appearing on the ballot due to judicial vacancies, and there is a short window for candidates to get their names on the ballot. “With so many other high profile races on the ballot this fall, it might be easy to overlook special elections to fill judicial vacancies,” noted Secretary Grayson. “I would encourage all interested and eligible citizens to contact our office as soon as possible for a candidate filing packet if they are interested in filing for one of these races.” The effective date of the vacancies requires candidates to file for the office with the Secretary of State no later than August 14, 2007, 4:00 p.m., EDT, for placement on the 2007 general election ballot. The Office of the Secretary of State has received notification from Chief Justice Joseph Lambert of vacancies in office in the following judicial circuit: Counties of: Clay, Jackson and Leslie (Circuit Judge, 41st Judicial Circuit, 1st Division) Some of the qualifications for a circuit judge include: U.S. citizenship, a resident of both the Commonwealth and of the district from which he is elected for 2 years next preceding his taking office, licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least 8 years. Candidates must file with the Office of the Secretary of State and must provide a $200 filing fee when submitting their judicial nominating petition. Judges elected to these judgeships will serve the remainder of the term with next elections to be held for the circuit judgeships in 2014. Candidate filing packets can be obtained by calling the Election Division in the Office of Secretary of State at (502) 564-3490. Also available is a candidate filing guide, “Declaring Your Candidacy.” This publication focuses primarily on candidate filing procedures, sample candidate filing forms for attaining ballot access, qualifications for each elective office, and other important and pertinent election information that will directly or indirectly affect candidacy. The guide is available online at www.sos.ky.gov/elections. “Our office stands ready to help any potential candidate with questions he or she may have, and we hope to see spirited interest in these positions,” remarked Secretary Grayson. The preceding was a press release from....
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