[Local News]

Southern Ky. elections bring issues to the forefront

In Clay County, four-term Sheriff Edd Jordan, who complained of voting irregularities after losing in the crowded Republican primary, is running a write-in campaign to try to keep the office. The Republican nominee is Manchester police Sgt. Kevin Johnson; there also is an independent candidate in the race, Finley Hobbs. Several candidates who lost in the primary have alleged there were problems in the election, including that poll workers duped voters into leaving the booth before finalizing their choices, leaving the workers free to change the votes.

'I feel the (primary) election was like putting a gun on you and robbing you,' Jordan said.

A federal grand jury has heard testimony about the election. Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson said he's heard no outcry from the public about alleged election trickery -- only from losing candidates. The election was one of the smoothest the county has had, Thompson said.

Johnson, a one-time deputy under Jordan who outpolled his old boss 2,921 votes to 2,346 in a field of eight in the primary, said as far as he knew there was no scheme in May to steal votes and feels it was a fair election. 'I honestly feel that Clay County wanted a change,' said Johnson.

Jordan himself faced an implication in an unrelated federal corruption case last year that he bought votes in 2002. He has adamantly denied that as a lie from a convicted drug dealer. If anyone can show he's done anything wrong, Jordan said, 'I'll certainly correct it by turning myself in and going to prison.'

Jackson primary skipped

The race for judge-executive in Jackson County is the third showdown between Tommy Slone, the Republican incumbent, and William O. Smith, who held the office three times as a Republican but is running as independent. There is no Democratic candidate. Slone ousted Smith in 1998 and won a rematch in 2002.

Smith said he isn't running as an independent because of any political change of heart, but rather to get Slone out of office. Smith said he had friends running against Slone in the primary and so didn't want to run against them. When Slone won, Smith took up the effort to oust him but had to do it as an independent.

Smith said the county hasn't had any accomplishments under Slone, and joblessness is up. Attracting jobs will be his top priority if elected, Smith said. Slone said Smith apparently is obsessed with the office, and takes a dim view of the tactic of skipping the primary. Slone said he has a number of projects under way, including a flood-control project and new judicial center.

'We've got some pretty good things going on right now if we can just keep it going,' he said.

Read the entire article at....

[Local News]

Smith receives 10 years for shotgun assault
By JAMES-CLIFTON SPIRES/Senior Staff Writer

Randy Todd Smith, whose address is listed as the Clay County Jail, Manchester, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty in Bell Circuit Court of shooting a man last December. Judge James Bowling Jr. sentenced Smith, 47, guilty on Oct. 2 after accepting Smith's Aug. 10 guilty plea to assault in the second degree in connection with the Dec. 2 shotgun shooting of Christopher Gambrel.

Represented by attorney Jennifer Nagle, Smith pleaded guilty to second degree assault after a Bell County Grand Jury indicted him on May 24 on one count of first degree assault in connection with the incident in which Gambrel received serious physical injuries. Because Smith was already serving a previous sentence for an unrelated crime, Bowling ruled that Smith was ineligible for probation and that the new sentence should be served consecutive to the previous sentence.

Read the entire article at....

[url=http://www.middlesborodailynews.com[/url][/url]

[Local News]

All-Terrain Accident claims life of Clay County teen

The collision of a car and all-terrain vehicle in eastern Kentucky has claimed the life of a teenager. Clay County Coroner Jim Trosper says 16-year-old Trenton Thompson of Manchester died Sunday when the ATV he was operating collided with a car.

Read the article at GlobalVillage.com

[Local News]

Employment Report for Clay County, Kentucky
Annual Industry Summary

The Manufacturing has seen the largest decrease in industry presence in Clay County since 2001, going from making up 13.4 percent of employment in 2001 to 5.5 percent of employment in 2005. Accommodation and food services has the largest businesses in Clay County. The industry averages 14 employees per business. This is less than the industry's national average of 19 and less than the Kentucky typical size of 21 for the Accommodation and food services industry.

Clay County is ranked number 73 of 121 total Counties throughout Kentucky according to the relatively size of the employment base in the year 2005. This ranking has moved up from the year 2001, at which time the County was ranked 69 of 121 Counties. In Clay County, Retail Trade, Information and Utilities are the three industries with the highest location quotients. The Retail Trade industry has a US LQ in the county of 1.62. In other words, the percent of total jobs in the Retail Trade industry is 1.62 times greater than the national average, signifying that Clay County produces more than its local requirement of products and/or services of Retail Trade.

In Clay County, Retail Trade, Accommodation and food services, and the Manufacturing industries are the largest employment industries. The Retail Trade is the largest employment industry and makes up 22.4 percent of the total county employment. This totals 606 employees. The Accommodation and food services and Manufacturing industries make up 10 and 5.5 percent of the total jobs, respectively.

Manufacturing saw the largest loss of employment between the years 2001-2005 in Clay County. The industry lost a total of 248 employees during the period, or 62.3 percent of jobs in the industry. The losses in this industry made up 46.2 percent of the total loss in employment during the period. Real estate and rental and leasing is the industry that has grown the most in terms of employment from 2001-2005 in Clay County, changing a total of 30 percent. This is greater than the United States industry change in employment of 4.3 percent. The State of Kentucky felt a shift in employment in the industry of -1.7 percent, since the year 2001.

Read the entire blog at Ecanned - The Economy In A Can

[Local News]

Three cars involved in Tuesday East 80 accident

One person was treated and released following a three vehicle accident 2.6 miles east of Columbia, KY, on KY 80, at 5:30pm, Tuesday evening, October 31, 2006. The passenger, Mui Chu Cheng, 56, Manchester, KY, who was belted, was treated and released at Westlake Regional Hospital in Columbia, KY.

Mui Chu Cheng was a passenger in a 1995 Ford Escort operated by Ching Cheng, 56, Manchester, who traveling west and slowing down for a disabled vehicle. A 2000 Pontiac, operated by Sam Derossett, 18, Columbia, KY, was knocked into a ditch, then the Cheng vehicle struck a 2002 Nissan Maxima, which had no operator.

Sam Derossett had a seatbelt in use and was not injured. A passenger, Michelle Foley, 17, Columbia, KY, was also belted and was not injured. Trooper Mike Woodrum of Kentucky State Police Post 15, Columbia, KY, investigated the incident.

Courtesy Trooper Dwaine Barnett, Public Affairs Officer, Kentucky State Police Post 15, 1118 Jamestown ST, (at Exit 49, Louie B. Nunn Parkway), Columbia, KY.

Read the article at ColumbiaMagazine.com

[Local News]

Clay County has second highest umemployment in Kentucky

Unemployment rates fell in 105 Kentucky counties between September 2005 and September 2006, the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training said yesterday. The jobless rate rose in 13 counties and remained the same in two counties, the agency said in a news release. The highlight of the report was that none of the state's counties had a jobless rate at or above 10 percent. Woodford County recorded the lowest rate, at 3.4 percent. Other counties with low rates were Warren, 3.5; Fayette and Jessamine, 3.6; Boone, Madison and Scott, 3.7; Mason and Taylor, 3.9; and Bourbon and Franklin, 4 percent.

McCreary County had the highest rate, 8.9 percent. Other counties with high rates were Clay, Jackson and Magoffin, 8.6; Muhlenberg, 8.4; Wolfe, 8.1; and Leslie, 7.8 percent. The agency's statistics include non-military employees and jobless Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include people who have not sought a job in the last four weeks.

Read the entire article at....

[Local News]

Sheriff's Department Loses Funds
Jon Sonnheim

The Clay County Sheriff's Department is going to lose some funding. The department was found to have some problems after a routine audit from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund and the Peace Officer Professional Standards (POPS) audit. The problems found according to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet include:

-A court security officer/bailiff was being illegally utilized as a road deputy

-Three court security officers/bailiffs had not attended the required training for their positions.

-The POPS file of Deputy Sheriff Shane Jordan was incomplete.

-The director of Clay County 911 system had been illegally sworn as a special deputy.

-A Clay County 911 telecommunicator had been illegally sworn as a special deputy.

-a copy of a deputy sheriff's GED had not been provided to the DOCJT Compliance Section as requested.

-Numerous Form Fs documenting employment changes within your department had not been forwarded to the POPS office in the time period mandated by law.

As a result of these problems officials from The Department of Criminal Justice Training determined the Sheriff's Office should be disqualified from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund.

Read the entire story at....

[Local News]

City's Records Are In The Hands Of Federal Investigators
Danielle Morgan (WYMT-TV) Reports

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Smith says federal authorities executed a search warrant on the Manchester City Hall Tuesday afternoon. City Clerk Wanda Marcum confirmed federal authorities came to city hall Tuesday morning and spent most of the day in Manchester.

She didn't want to be on camera, but Marcum says they took every record on file in city hall, including water bills, black topping records and city property records. The question Marcum says city hall employees are asking, is why. She says federal authorities gave no reason for being there.

This raid of the Manchester City Hall comes just four weeks after Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Smith told WYMT more warrants would be issued in the on-going federal Clay County drug ring investigation. However, the U.S. Attorney's Office will not confirm whether the city hall search warrant is connected to that case.

Two people have already pleaded guilty in that federal case, to making at least one million dollars from distributing cocaine and prescription pain killers between 1999 and 2005. Former 911 Director and City Councilman Vernon Hacker, as well as former Manchester Assistant Police Chief Todd Roberts have pleaded not guilty in the case and are scheduled to go to trial December 5th in Frankfort.

Marcum says no arrests were made Tuesday, but boxes of records were carried out of city hall.

Read the entire story at....

[Local News]

Jordan's write-in campaign comes up short

In Clay County, four-term Sheriff Edd Jordan fell far short in his bid to keep the office through a write-in campaign. Jordan and other candidates complained of voting irregularities after losing in the primary, including that poll workers duped voters into leaving the booth before finalizing their choices. A federal grand jury has heard testimony about the primary election.

Jordan said he decided to run a write-in campaign because he didn't think the spring race was fair, but lost to the Republican nominee, Manchester police Sgt. Kevin Johnson, who once worked as a deputy for Jordan. Johnson outpolled Jordan 4-1 in the rancorous race, according to unofficial results.

Jackson County

In their third contest, former Jackson County Judge-Executive William O. Smith defeated the incumbent, Tommy Slone, by fewer than 50 votes. Smith served three terms as the county's chief elected official before Slone ousted him in 1998 and then won the rematch in 2002.

Smith was a Republican, but ran this year as an independent. While he wanted Slone out of office, he had friends running against Slone in the primary and didn't want to compete against them, Smith said.

Laurel County

Two top offices in heavily Republican Laurel County will be in the hands of Democrats come January. Incumbent Judge-Executive Lawrence Kuhl, a Democrat, narrowly edged former Republican state Sen. Gene Huff to win a second term.

Huff, a religious broadcaster who served more than 26 years in the state legislature, had said his political connections would benefit the county. Kuhl, a retired banker, had touted his long involvement in community and economic development. Huff said he thought a strong run by a Democratic challenger in the sheriff's race bled over into the judge-executive's race.

In the sheriff's race, Democrat Fred Yaden, a former state probation and parole official, trounced incumbent Republican Gene Hollon by more than 4,000 votes, according to unofficial results. An audit released a month before the election showing several financial irregularities in Hollon's office -- including a deficit of more than $80,000 -- hurt the incumbent.

"I seized on that and just kept hammering away," said Yaden, whose father served as sheriff three decades ago.

Knox County

A critical audit, assault charges and a big registration disadvantage were too much for Knox County Judge-Executive Raymond C. Smith to overcome. Smith, a Democrat, lost his bid for a second term by a substantial margin to school-bus driver J.M. Hall, the GOP nominee, unofficial results show.

Smith had touted accomplishments such as increased police protection and a deal to save the county hospital from bankruptcy, but he was also dogged by controversy, including assault charges and an audit that questioned $2.7 million in spending on his watch.

Smith said no money was missing, but Hall used the audit against him. Republicans also hold a 2-1 registration edge in the county. Smith said Hall ducked debating him on issues. Smith scheduled a public meeting shortly before the election, then took questions next to an empty podium reserved for Hall.

Read the entire article at....

[Local News]

Clay CountyHigh School Mourning Loss Of Two Students In Two Weeks
Jon Sonnheim Reports - WYMT-TV

Many at Clay County High School continue to grieve after the loss of two students in separate accidents in the span of two weeks. But students say the deaths of 16 year old Trenton Thompson and 17 year old Francheska Smith have only brought them closer. Classes are still in session at Clay County High School, the hallways still bustling with traffic, but some seats remain empty now after two students' deaths in the span of only two weeks.

"Unfortunately at Clay County High School, we've had this happen to us several times in the past several years and it's very trying on students and staff alike," Clay County High School Principal Michael J. White said.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story at WYMT-TV

[Local News]

POLICE SAY HACKER TALKED WITH INMATE ABOUT HARMING CURRY
By Bill Estep, SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU

A Clay County official charged in a federal corruption case discussed having a witness against him hurt "bad enough to keep him from making it to court," according to a statement from police. Vernon Hacker, a Manchester city council member and director of the city-county 911 system, talked with an inmate about attacking Bobby Joe "Fabio" Curry in the jail in Laurel County, two police officers said in a document filed in court this week.

The statement marks the second time Hacker has been accused of trying to manipulate testimony against him. In September, a witness said Hacker offered to pay him and others $100 each to testify falsely that they'd heard Curry threaten to kill Hacker. Hacker was indicted in August with Curry and then-assistant Manchester Police Chief Todd Roberts on charges that they had been part of a conspiracy to sell a million dollars' worth of cocaine and prescription pills over several years.

The new allegation against Hacker came from Stevie Garland, 46, a Knox County man charged last month with breaking into the Bimble Post Office and stealing cash and money orders. Garland said that when he and Hacker were together in a holding cell at the federal courthouse in London, he mentioned to Hacker how much he disliked rats -- people who told on him -- and Hacker agreed, according to a document from Edsel V. "Buddy" Blair Jr., and Marcus W. Hopkins. The two, who are assigned to a task force with the FBI, took a statement from Garland.

Garland said Hacker then asked him what it would take to keep Curry from making it to court. Garland responded that he could stomp Curry's head on the floor during a fight, the statement said.

"Hacker said, 'I don't mean to get into a fight, but to hurt him bad enough to keep him from making it to court,'" Garland told the officers.

Garland said Hacker told him "his partner would make it worth his while to take care of Bobby Joe Curry."

The statement does not identify Hacker's partner by name. Garland said Hacker told him the partner was charged with him and had been a police officer -- an apparent reference to Roberts.

"Hacker told Garland that if Bobby Joe Curry made it to court that it would cost them a lot of jail time and money," the officers said in the affidavit.

Hacker's attorney, V. Katie Gilliam, said Hacker denies he had any discussion with Garland about hurting Curry. Garland has a lengthy criminal record that includes charges of burglary, forgery, theft and robbery, according to a court document in his case.

Read the entire article at Kentucky.com

[Local News]

Two Manchester men indicted in Laurel County

• Johnathan Baker, 25, Manchester, first-degree unlawful access to a computer (nine counts), and theft by unlawful taking over $300 (seven counts),

• Nicholas Fletcher, 27, Manchester, unlawful access to a computer (two counts), and theft by unlawful taking over $300 (two counts)

Read the entire article at....
TheTimesTribune.com

[Local News]

Clay County Man Sentenced For Midsouth Fire

A Clay County man will spend the next several years in prison for setting fire to an electronics company. A judge sentenced Leroy Hubbard to ten years in prison today. He pleaded guilty to arson and wanton endangerment last month.

Police arrested Hubbard in April for setting Midsouth electronics on fire in January, 2005. The fire caused millions of dollars in damage to the Annville plant Hubbard used to work for. Officials say Hubbard is under home incarceration right now but is expected to turn himself in by January.

Read the entire story at....

[Local News]

Clay County Federal Corruption Trial Delayed

Two former Manchester city officials charged in a federal drug case will have to wait a little longer to face a jury. The trial for former 911 director Vernon Hacker and former assistant police chief Todd Roberts was moved to February 26th, 2007. It was originally scheduled for December 5th.

The change comes after a judge granted a request by prosecutors to disqualify Hacker's attorney. A new attorney was appointed to represent Hacker.

Read the entire story at....

[Local News]

Ruling: Method not cruel and unusual punishment

The state's method of executing prisoners by lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment, the state's highest court ruled and could have an effect on a Clay County man on death row.

The Supreme Court's unanimous decision yesterday brings Thomas Clyde Bowling Jr. and Ralph Baze, both convicted double murderers, a step closer to execution. But it is unlikely that an execution in Kentucky will happen before the end of the year. The attorneys for the men said they will appeal the decision and might have other legal options. Attorney General Greg Stumbo said yesterday that he has not asked Gov. Ernie Fletcher to issue a death warrant for either man, the first step in setting an execution date.

Stumbo said in a statement that the court's decision moved the process forward, and his office "at the appropriate time, will seek a warrant for execution from the governor."

Fletcher's legal counsel, Jim Deckard, will review the cases "and if appropriate, present the documentation to him so the wishes of the juries may be carried out in accordance with the law," according to a statement released by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The Supreme Court decision affirmed a 2005 Franklin Circuit Court ruling that upheld the state's method of executing prisoners.

Jeff Middendorf, general counsel for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, said the ruling shows "that lethal injection in Kentucky is done in the right way and is constitutional." He said the cabinet is prepared to carry out an execution as soon as the governor issues an execution warrant.

Kentucky has 40 people on death row: 39 men and one woman. Of the 38 states that permit capital punishment, 34 use lethal injection. The last person to be executed in Kentucky was Eddie Lee Harper in 1999, who was the first person in the state to be executed using lethal injection.


Ronnie Lee Bowling

Ronnie Bowling of Clay County was sentenced to death December 9, 1992 in Laurel County for the murder of two gas station attendants in two separate robberies. Bowling shot and killed Ronald Smith, a London, Kentucky service station attendant during the early morning of January 20, 1989. Again, in the early morning of February 22, 1989 Marvin Hensley, a service station manager in London, Kentucky was robbed and killed. Bowling was arrested February 25, 1989.

Story by Beth Musgrave And Jack Brammer, HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS. Click Here to read the entire story