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Post by Local News on Jun 30, 2007 10:15:38 GMT -5
Taking the Frankfort tourjacksonenergy.comThe sun shone bright on the Kentucky capital in April when more than 120 students from across the state took part in the Frankfort Youth Tour. The program brings together students selected from their local electric cooperatives to tour Frankfort and learn more about state government. Representing Jackson Energy were Clay County High School student Mallory Garrison and Brittany Payne from Rockcastle County High School. The junior students were selected to attend the program based on an essay contest conducted by the cooperative. During the day-long program the students toured the state Capitol and the Kentucky Vietnam Memorial. They also heard presentations from government officials, including state historian James Klotter, Representative Mike Harmon, and Kentucky Supreme Court Justice William E. McAnulty Jr.
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Post by Local News on Jul 1, 2007 15:19:36 GMT -5
Round-Up grant awarded to clinicjacksonenergy.comDoug Abner, left, accepts an Operation Round-Up grant check for the Community Outreach Clinic from Jackson Energy Vice President of Customer Service Rodney Chrisman.Mention health care these days and just about everyone has a story about the high cost of medical care, prescriptions, or insurance. For some folks in Clay County, that care is more accessible for people who don’t have insurance with the help of an Operation Round-Up grant. The grant, for just under $750, was awarded to the Community Outreach Clinic. Doug Abner was presented the grant and said the funds will be used to purchase equipment for the free clinic, which is open once a week. “The clinic helps people who don't have insurance and this money will go for the purchase of much-needed equipment,” Abner says. Since the voluntary member program began in 2003, more than $25,000 has been awarded to community groups throughout southeastern Kentucky, and grant applications are being accepted for future funding. Operation Round-Up works when co-op members voluntarily have their electric account rounded up to an even dollar amount. For example, if a bill was $94.62 and the member participates in Round-Up, the bill would automatically be rounded up to $95. The additional 38¢ would go directly into the Round-Up account. The average contribution over time would be approximately 50¢ per month. The donated funds will go directly into a trust account that can only be used to fund grants. This account is administered by a seven person board of trustees. “This is an opportunity for our members to become partners with worthwhile community programs in their hometowns for only pennies a day,” Chrisman added.
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Post by Local News on Jul 7, 2007 10:30:14 GMT -5
Clay County Industrial Park on List of Potential Sites for Energy FacilitiesPart of mission to implement Governor Fletcher’s Comprehensive Energy StrategyThe Governor’s Office of Energy Policy (GOEP) today released a list of potential sites for projects to convert coal to liquid or gaseous fuels. The “site bank” is intended to attract potential project developers and educate local and state officials about Kentucky sites capable of accommodating coal conversion facilities. GOEP initiated the site bank process in August 2006. The sites included are: Purchase Regional Industrial Park (Graves County); Lewisport – Hancock County River Front; American Electric Power property west of Henderson; Brier Creek, Breman (Muhlenberg County); Paradise Mine, Central City (Muhlenberg County); River View Coal (Union County); Hopkins County Coal (Webster County); Hopkins County Coal (Hopkins County); Steamport (Webster County); Skillman Bottom (Hancock County); D.B. Wilson Power Station (Ohio County); property adjacent to Reid-Green Power Station (Webster County); Chisholm Mine, Phelps (Pike County); Premier Elkhorn, Myra (Pike County); Clay County Industrial Park; Perry County Coal, Hazard; J.K. Smith Power Station (Clark County); South Shore (Greenup County); CH Development Corbin (Knox/Whitley County). This list does not include additional sites which might also be in consideration by potential companies. “Kentucky is in intense competition with other states to attract these multi-billion dollar projects that will convert Kentucky’s resources into high-value liquid and gaseous fuels,” Governor Fletcher said. “The site bank, along with enactment this year of Senate Bill 196, which authorizes the state to facilitate the permitting of industrial energy facilities, and our ongoing support of research initiatives, demonstrate that Kentucky is eager to work with project developers. We continue to work for legislation to enable Kentucky to offer financial incentives competitive with those offered by other states,” the Governor said. Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary John Hindman said Kentucky is competing with several surrounding states, noting that the state does not currently have financial incentives available to attract these industries. “The site bank process, in which GOEP was able to evaluate key elements necessary to support large-scale energy facilities and then identify several areas of the state that have these characteristics, is one thing Kentucky can do to help project developers and local officials,” Sec. Hindman said. A number of potential properties across Kentucky have the necessary infrastructure and geologic characteristics to attract project developers. Features considered included sufficient acreage (500 hundred or more acres), adequate water supply, strong transportation and electric transmission infrastructure, and available work force. In addition, sites which do not appear ideal at this time may become better suited as technologies develop and knowledge is gained in the construction and operation of these facilities. Coal conversion technology is available and in use today. South Africa and China are world leaders in production of transportation fuels from coal. Pipeline quality synthetic natural gas has been produced economically at the Great Plains Gasification Plant in North Dakota. Interest in the United States is growing rapidly because of escalating gasoline prices, combined with unease over the nation’s increasing dependence on imported oil. “In a large coal-producing state like Kentucky, it is important that we maintain markets for coal, especially with unpredictable future regulations,” said Rodney Andrews, acting director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research. “Supporting facilities that can produce clean diesel or synthetic natural gas using our indigenous resources ensures that the market remains viable. At the same time, this can help reduce national dependence on imported oil. “Our lab has conducted research on liquid fuels from coal for 30 years. The research has been successful and we know how to do it, it is even being carried out in some places. Now we need to start producing these fuels commercially here,” Andrews said. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Kentucky News on Jul 9, 2007 23:07:30 GMT -5
Water Shortage Watch Includes Clay CountyThe Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet has issued a water shortage watch for Clay County and 60 other counties in Kentucky. Citizens living in these areas should closely monitor local news sources for notification from water suppliers on reducing demands for water. All Kentuckians should be aware of the current drought situation and prepare to make adjustments to their use of water. A water shortage watch is issued when drought conditions have the potential to threaten the normal availability of drinking water supply sources. Officials at the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) study rainfall amounts, reservoir levels, streamflows, the Palmer Drought Index and the Drought Monitor when determining drought status. Dr. Stuart Foster, state climatologist, said precipitation deficits for the past four months place all four climatic divisions among the driest periods on record since 1895. Drought conditions across Kentucky range from moderate to severe. The National Drought Mitigation Center indicates that severe agricultural and hydrologic drought conditions have developed south of a line stretching from Calloway County in the west to Jessamine County in central Kentucky and continuing southeast to Letcher County. Drought outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center indicate that extreme and exceptional drought in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee will persist to our south and that drought will continue to build here in Kentucky. Record-low daily flows are being measured in areas of the Green, Barren, Salt, Upper Cumberland and Kentucky River basins. A reversal of current climatic conditions is needed to mitigate these low flows and replenish declining water supplies in rivers and reservoirs. Foster said that while it is certainly possible that the general weather pattern that has led to the current drought situation will change and bring beneficial rains, those who manage and depend upon water supplies should prepare for the possibility that the current drought conditions could intensify rapidly. “Water suppliers in the 61-county watch area and throughout the state should closely monitor their supply sources and notify the Division of Water as water shortages occur,” said Bill Caldwell, Kentucky DOW. For information about current drought conditions in Kentucky and water conservation measures visit the Division of Water Web site at www.water.ky.gov/wateruse/drought. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Kentucky News on Jul 10, 2007 9:03:15 GMT -5
Kentucky Memorial Plaque reflects statistics for 2006Honoring Victims of Traffic AccidentsMANCHESTER, KY – The 913 persons who lost their lives in 2006 on Kentucky highways were remembered recently at the Whitley County Welcome Center located off I-75, Northbound, in Williamsburg, KY. A bronze plate with the 2006 number “913” was added to the monument, the lowest since 2001. Numbers of fatalities for the previous nine years are also listed on the plaque. The passage of a Primary Seat Belt Law in last years regular session of the General Assembly is viewed as the most important safety measure to put the brakes on fatalities and serious injury crashes on Kentucky highways. Kentucky was the first state to erect permanent memorials for citizens who died on our roadways. Monuments to remember persons who lost their lives are located at eight welcome centers across the state, the rest area at Slade and in front of the Kentucky Transportation headquarters in Frankfort. The plaque on each memorial requests a moment of silence for the lives lost. Motorists are often seen pausing to read the statistics and reflect on the lives lost, adding emphasis to their responsibility for safety on our roadways. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet established these markers as a safety issue. Many people place roadside memorials at the site where their loved one died, creating a distraction to drivers as well as a danger to install and maintain. The permanent memorials were placed to discourage these private memorials. As the summer travel season is in full swing, the public is reminded to buckle up, drive smart and stay alert for road construction and the workers making improvements to our highways. The preceding was a press release from....Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways, District 11
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Post by Kentucky News on Jul 13, 2007 8:52:05 GMT -5
2007 Circuit Court Clerks Summer Conference focused on domestic violenceJames Phillips of Clay County was one of nearly 100 circuit court clerks from Kentucky's 120 counties participated in the 2007 Circuit Court Clerks Summer Conference, which was hosted by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in Lexington June 20-22. The conference examined issues of domestic violence and the important role circuit court clerks play in these sensitive cases. "The Office of Circuit Court Clerk frequently deals with domestic violence issues," said Clark County Circuit Clerk David N. Hunt, who is also president of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks (KACCC). "We wanted to ensure that circuit clerks know how to handle these important cases appropriately and with sensitivity." The circuit clerks attended sessions on human trafficking, elder abuse, Circuit Court criminal procedures, legislative updates and new court technologies. A panel of experienced circuit clerks offered their colleagues advice on how to apply sound principles to their daily operations. Jason Nemes, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, spoke at the close of the conference. Representatives from Trust for Life gave a presentation on the ongoing charitable campaign to promote organ donation throughout Kentucky. The KACCC is a sponsor of Trust for Life. Guest speakers included Dr. Neil Websdale of the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice; Gretchen Hunt, staff attorney for the Division of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Pamela Murphy, assistant attorney general and manager of the Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Division, Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of the Attorney General; and Sheila Mason, legislative record compiler for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Also presenting were Kenton County Circuit Judge Steven Jaeger, AOC Deputy General Counsel Sara Boswell Dent, State Law Librarian Jennifer Frazier and AOC Technology Services General Manager Neal Miller. The Department of Judicial Branch Education of the AOC provides annual training conferences for circuit clerks, who are responsible for managing the records of Kentucky’s Circuit and District courts. The Administrative Office of the Courts supports the activities of more than 3,500 Court of Justice employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Kentucky News on Jul 14, 2007 20:09:22 GMT -5
Evelyn Dezarn processes paperwork for Gary Smith using the new AVIS system as Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson, Beverly Craft, Debbie Edwards, Beverly Gray and Melanda Hacker observe. Mike Baker, clerk’s office, absent from photo.GOVERNOR ERNIE FLETCHER AND KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION CABINET PROVIDE CLAY COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE WITH 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGYImprovements Are part of Statewide Plan to Upgrade Hardware and Software in County Clerks’ OfficesTechnology upgrades have been made at the County Clerk’s office in Clay County. Governor Ernie Fletcher and The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announce the installation of new computer equipment for the office. The KYTC is installing the equipment as part of a statewide Automated Vehicle Information System (AVIS) computer upgrade that will take place in Kentucky during the next three years. “It’s hard to imagine, but in some counties this old computer equipment has been in use for about a quarter of a century,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. “Governor Fletcher’s commitment to this project has made the system upgrades possible. The county clerks desperately need new equipment so they can do their jobs more efficiently.” As the result of a Transportation Cabinet initiative, the state’s budget now includes $750,000 over the next two years to replace old terminals, printers, and networks in county clerk’s offices all across the Commonwealth. The two-part AVIS upgrade will include replacement of network equipment and hardware, as well as software enhancements. The network used by the county clerks will be updated, old terminals will be replaced with PCs, and mainframe printers are being discarded in favor of new PC printers that will be used for vehicle registrations. “With the assistance of the Transportation Cabinet, State Legislators and the County Clerk’s association, our office is receiving much needed new equipment,” said Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson. “The use of this advanced technology, replacing computers that we have had since 1983, will enable our office to serve the people of Clay County more efficiently.” “These much-needed improvements will make a world of difference for the county clerks,” said Department of Vehicle Regulation Commissioner Roy Mundy. “This project will bring all the county clerks on board with the same modern computer network. It is the foundation for the new AVIS computer system, as well as future consumer services like digitized plates, on-demand registration stickers, and expanding internet transactions.” The PC’s and ongoing technical support are provided by the Commonwealth office of Technology (COT). The KYTC and COT have now completed the hardware and software upgrades in at least 60 County Clerk’s offices, which is well ahead of schedule. The process for installing new equipment in larger counties is expected to begin later this summer, with the new AVIS system operational statewide within three years. The preceding was a press release from....Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways, District 11
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Post by Kentucky News on Jul 18, 2007 10:30:17 GMT -5
County Clerk will collect tax on out of state tangible propertyIncludes boats, trailers, ATVs and manufactured homesBeginning Monday, July 23, 2007, a procedural change will take effect when taxpayers title or register certain tangible personal property purchased outside Kentucky. Taxpayers should be prepared to pay the 6 percent use tax on items purchased at retail from out-of-state vendors such as boats, trailers, ATVs and manufactured homes, when presenting the property for titling or first-time registration with their local county clerk's office. House Bill 380, passed during the 2006 Kentucky General Assembly, authorizes local county clerks to collect the 6 percent use tax owed on tangible personal property purchased from out-of-state vendors for use in Kentucky. The use tax imposed on these purchases from out-of-state retailers is complementary to the sales tax imposed on in-state purchases to ensure equal tax treatment of retail transactions regardless of where the items are purchased. If proper documentation is provided, the clerk will allow credit for the out-of-state sales tax previously paid on the property or accept any applicable sales and use tax exemptions that may apply to the specific property being presented for processing by the clerk. This new procedure allows taxpayers to pay their tax liability in a timely manner rather than paying interest and possible penalties when contacted by the Department of Revenue after titling and/or first-time registration has occurred. For further information on the collection of use tax on out-of-state purchases of tangible personal property, please call the Division of Sales and Use Tax at (502)564-5170 or e-mail at KRCWebresponseSalesTax@ky.gov. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Local News on Jul 19, 2007 17:23:59 GMT -5
Hidden camera leads to lawsuit vs. hospitalMANCHESTER WORKERS' CHANGING ROOM MONITOREDBy Bill Estep, HERALD-LEADER.COM A room where workers at the Manchester hospital changed clothes was wired with a hidden video camera, according to a lawsuit filed by two women employed at the facility. The complaint by the two women raises the possibility that hospital security officers or others watched employees undressing and dressing for an extended period. "It's clear that they sat there and watched the girls change clothes," said R. Scott Madden of Manchester, one of the attorneys representing the women. "It's a rather novel circumstance and very, very unfortunate for these two ladies and their families." The monitor is thought to have been in either the security office or the main administration office, Madden said. One thing that isn't yet clear is why the device was in use, he said -- whether there was some supposed security purpose or whether people were spying for their own gratification. Eric Lunde, spokesman for the hospital, said in a statement to the Herald-Leader that the camera was in place to monitor and secure drugs used in surgery, and that surgical staffers are provided unmonitored changing areas. Employees are informed of the possible presence of security cameras, and the hospital does not have cameras in any inappropriate areas, Lunde said. "We have the utmost respect for all individuals, and we regret that this upsetting situation has occurred," he said. The plaintiffs in the case are Angel Edwards, an operating-room nurse, and Terry Nitz, a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The suit, filed July 9 in Clay County, is against Manchester Memorial Hospital and its chief officer, Dennis Meyers; two vice-presidents and two security workers; hospital owner Adventist Health System Sunbelt, which is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church; and unknown others. The lawsuit said the hospital has two surgical suites with an adjacent anesthesia office. For years, male and female hospital workers have used that office as a changing room; the hospital does not have a women's locker room and there were problems with changing in restrooms, the suit said. On March 30, Angel Edwards and her husband, Dr. Dana Edwards, were in the office discussing their next surgery when they saw a hole in a ceiling panel. They lifted the panel and found a hidden video camera, the lawsuit said. After calling police, the Edwardses and Nitz confronted Meyers and Lee Wilson, security chief at the hospital. Wilson said when women were changing in the office, a female staffer would monitor the camera, acknowledging that hospital staffers had in fact watched women dressing and undressing, the lawsuit charges. Soon after the blow-up, Meyers had someone tell the Edwardses that if they sued the hospital, their staff privileges would be in jeopardy. As news of the camera spread, one person, not identified in the lawsuit, got so upset he or she cut the cable to the camera. Meyers also asked Dana Edwards to pay $230 for the damage, showing "unbelievable audacity," Madden said. And within a month, the lawsuit said, the hospital terminated Nitz's contract in retaliation for her complaints about the camera and about not getting the same bonus pay as a male employee who was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. The lawsuit charges that the defendants violated state law against voyeurism and eavesdropping; invaded the privacy of Edwards and Nitz; violated hospital policy; and inflicted emotional distress on the women. It also alleges that the hospital discriminated against Nitz because she was female and not a church member, and illegally retaliated against her. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Madden said it isn't clear how long the camera had been in place. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Kentucky News on Jul 24, 2007 17:00:16 GMT -5
Lipps wins Education-at-Work ScholarshipKentucky Education Cabinet Secretary Laura E. Owens presented the cabinet’s Education-at-Work scholarship to 36 Kentuckians July 18 in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. The cabinet gave the $1,000 scholarships to students who are pursuing postsecondary education in Kentucky including Cindy Lipps, 21, of Manchester is studying dietetics at Eastern Kentucky University and is a customer of the Office of Employment and Training. About 200 Kentuckians applied for the ninth annual scholarship competition. Including this year, the cabinet has awarded 246 scholarships totaling $156,000 for postsecondary education. The scholarship began under the former Cabinet for Workforce Development and has grown from 20 scholarships in 1999 to this year’s 36 scholarships. Secretary Owens said she was impressed with the level of commitment the winners have shown toward achieving their education and career goals. “The efforts of today’s recipients show the commitment to make our commonwealth an excellent place to live and work,” Secretary Owens said. “We only can accomplish those goals through raising the levels of education and workforce training of our citizens.” Kentuckians qualified for the scholarship by using one of the services of the Education Cabinet’s Department for Workforce Investment or Kentucky Adult Education in the Council on Postsecondary Education, such as vocational rehabilitation, adult learning centers, GED preparation, secondary Kentucky Tech school, unemployment insurance, job placement, dislocated worker or Workforce Investment Act assistance. Scholarship applicants were required to write an essay on Kentucky’s new ‘Unbridled Spirit’ brand and how it relates to their educational and career goals. The $1,000 scholarships may be used for tuition, books and lab and technology fees. The Education Cabinet coordinates learning programs from P-16, and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. For more information about our programs, visit www.educationcabinet.ky.gov or www.workforce.ky.gov or call 502-564-6606, or visit Kentucky Adult Education at www.kyae.ky.gov or call 502-573-5114. Kentucky Education Cabinet Secretary Laura E. Owens, front left, posed with 2007 Education-at-Work Scholarship recipents who came to the awards ceremony July 18 at the Capitol Rotunda. A total of 36 Kentuckians won the scholarships worth $1,000 each. Pictured with Sec. Owens are (front row, left to right) Leslie Wilson, Tompkinsville; Molly Keck, Gray Hawk; Sarah Lester, Mayfield; Dustin Taylor, London; Laura Fox, Princeton, Cindy Abbott, Mt. Sterling; and Samanthia Farthing, Martin. Middle Row – Cindy Lipps, Manchester; Dana Fields, Lexington; Lacy Hall, Louisa; Krystol Miller, Boston; Brittney Bruner, Harned; and Cassandra Silkwood, Gilbertsville. Back Row – Glenda Daugherty, Battletown; Lorri Damron, Mt. Sterling; and Steven Evans, Campton. The preceding was a press release from....
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Post by Local News on Jul 26, 2007 14:07:23 GMT -5
When the Tales Are Doneby Robert CraftClick Here to orderThis book was written by a Clay County author.Everyone has read a fairy tale or two in their lifetime. Have you ever wondered what a day in that world would be like? Come on, have you ever thought about why the big bad wolf wears women’s clothing? Who would win a fight between Mother Goose and Old Mother Hubbard? Or, how does the ugly duckling handle his self-esteem issues? This book answers the tough questions that have boggled the minds of all mankind for centuries. What happens after their stories are finished? This collection of 14 tales follows various characters throughout the fairy tale community as they interact. Their stories weave and entwine, creating an off-the-wall hilarity and a head-shaking insanity that will make you never able to look at your favorite fairy tale or nursery ryhme the same way. Ever.
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Post by ClayLive on Jul 28, 2007 7:49:50 GMT -5
Blame It On Saltby Charles HouseClick Here to order!This book was written by a Clay County author.In the early 1800s when wealthy salt entrepreneurs mixed with Scotch-Irish settlers it created a volatile mix that led to Kentucky's most unique culture and county.
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Post by Local News on Jul 31, 2007 19:27:05 GMT -5
Author creates girl hero based on folktalesthedailytimes.comBy Melanie Tucker of The Daily Times StaffAnne Shelby’s title character in her book “The Adventures of Molly Whuppie and Other Appalachian Folktales” is like a Harry Potter in disguise. She’s very resourceful, is as brave as can be and in touch with some type of magical powers, said Shelby, via phone from her Clay County, Ky. home. “With those three things, she can do anything.” That includes fooling a deceitful and conniving woman giant, slaying two giant brothers, outwitting an untidy ogre and keeping unwanted boyfriends at bay. Her weapons are mostly a few rocks in her pocket and the wits on how to use them. “Molly Whuppie” was just published by the University of North Carolina Press. Shelby, who grew up listening to folktales in her native Kentucky, became fascinated with the origins of these stories and decided to adapt them to attract new readers. A new hero in townOne thing she noticed was the absence of female heroes. “I was in love with folktales,” this author explained. “But it bothered me that so many of them had women who were just kind of standing around waiting to see how things turned out.” Molly barely stands still. In the very first folktale in the book, she takes out on a journey with her older sisters and has to save them from a tall giant woman set on baking them into bread. The name Molly Whuppie, Shelby explained, comes from an old English folktale she had read, dating back to 1890. Shelby said she loved the name and decided to expand on the adventures of this clever, strong character. Also a storyteller, Shelby said it can be difficult to take a story that is told orally and translate it into something exciting on the written page. You don’t have the advantage of gestures and tones, and there has to be a fine balance between standard English and the spoken word. “When you put a story into writing there is the danger of when you write it of making everyone sound like Hee-Haw,” Shelby said. Using the dialogue is important to get it right but over-done is over-done, she explained. “I did a lot of rewriting trying to find the right mix of non-standard English, which is what I call the way we talk.” Writing down rootsIn addition to this book, Shelby has written five picture books for younger children. One of those is based on her memories of an old country store her grandparents operated in southeastern Kentucky. Her roots are deep in Kentucky soil. “My family has been in southeastern Kentucky since the first ones came over on the boat,” she said. The house Shelby lives in has been in her family for several generations. This folklorist admits to reading “Harry Potter, “although she hasn’t made her way to the final installment. She said Molly Whuppie may not be as flashy as Harry Potter but is certainly enough adventure to go around. “I hope kids will like the adventures of Molly and the humor and I hope they appreciate the language,” Shelby said. She added that folktales are generally told to all ages; Molly Whuppie, therefore, can be entertaining to more than just the youthful crowd. The grandmother of 3-year-old triplets, Shelby treasures time with her husband, son and his family while living removed from city life. She is a singer in addition to writer and works to do her part against mountain top removal.Interest and obsession “Somewhere between interested and obsessed” is where this author said she has huddled for many years in the history of folktales. She is working on another picture book incorporating one of the tales and then it will be time to move on to something else. The University of North Carolina Press is scheduling some appearances by Shelby this fall. She said travel is enjoyable as long as she gets to come home. It took about 10 years for Shelby to write “Molly Whuppie.” Many of the 14 stories are based on the work of Leonard Roberts, a folklorist and also native of eastern Kentucky. Shelby sent her writing to some publishers in New York who told her it was too regional or not commercial enough. Shelby said her book and its publisher are a great fit. She hopes both boys and girls will find something to embrace in this set of tales. “I hope boys and girls enjoy seeing a girl that is brave and clever and strong,” Shelby said. “It takes the pressure off the boys. They don’t always have to be the one who kills the giant. And the girl doesn’t have to wait on the boy to do it.”
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Post by Local News on Aug 4, 2007 9:10:51 GMT -5
ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF CHARGED IN CONSPIRACYBy Bill Estep, HERALD-LEADER.COMAn officeholder in Clay County gave $5,000 to a suspected drug dealer to buy votes for several local candidates in the May 2002 primary and told him to call for more money if necessary, according to a motion filed in federal court. And before the May 2004 primary, the assistant police chief of Manchester delivered money for vote buying to a former state representative who was trying to win back the office, the motion said. The allegations of election wrongdoing in the county are the latest public development in federal investigations that have rocked Manchester and Clay County the last two years with charges of prominent people being involved in drugs and corruption. A two-term county clerk and the former director of the local 911 system pleaded guilty. One magistrate is under indictment for vote buying, and another for tampering with vehicle identification numbers. And this month, a man who served seven terms as mayor of Manchester is scheduled for trial along with the city's assistant police chief and a council member on charges that they took part in a conspiracy of extortion, mail fraud, drugs and arson as they schemed to control the city for their benefit. Those defendants are former Manchester Mayor Daugh K. White, assistant police Chief Todd Roberts and Darnell Hipsher, a city council member. Among other things, White and Roberts allegedly conspired with Vernon Hacker, the one-time 911 director, to have a drug dealer burn down a vacant house that was blocking construction of a new city police building, then protected the man's drug trafficking. White lost his bid for an eighth term in November while under investigation. Roberts is suspended until the charges against him are resolved. The men have denied the charges. The new allegations of vote buying were in a motion Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Smith filed in Roberts' case. The prosecutor wants to present evidence against Roberts of crimes not listed in the indictment against him. The evidence should be admitted because it helps prove Roberts' role in the conspiracy, the motion argues. The motion says that in early May 2002, Manchester and state police arrested a suspected drug dealer named Eugene "Moose" Stewart Jr. and seized guns, jewelry and other property, and $75,000 in cash. A few days later, Stewart got a call to meet Roberts for lunch at a local restaurant. There were a number of officials present at the meeting, according to the prosecutor's motion: then-county Clerk Jennings White; James Garrison, who was Clay County judge-executive; Edd Jordan, sheriff at the time; and Barbara White Colter, a state representative and sister of then-Mayor Daugh White. Jennings White, Garrison, Jordan and Colter were all candidates in the May 2002 Republican primary. Jennings White and Roberts approached Stewart, the suspected drug dealer, "to assist them in the upcoming election of May 2002, by purchasing votes for Jennings White and the candidates present at the meeting," the motion said. In exchange, Roberts said Stewart would get back the property police seized from him, except for the money, the motion said. Stewart agreed. Jennings White met Stewart at a nearby cemetery, gave him $5,000, and told him to pay up to $100 per vote in three rural precincts, according to the motion. "White further advised Stewart that if he ran out of money to call him," the motion says. Roberts' attorneys, Gary Crabtree and William Johnson, have not had time to respond to the motion and could not be reached yesterday. The 2002 Clay County primary was a volatile affair. Jennings White claimed someone tried to assassinate him -- though a witness in a later trial indicated that White had arranged to have his van shot up to gain sympathy -- and a man who had dug up dirt on White was shot. Colter and Jennings White lost the election; he later pleaded guilty to helping a drug dealer launder money. Garrison and Jordan won in 2002 but lost in 2006 and are now out of office. Among other allegations in the prosecutor's motion are that before the May 2002 vote, Kennon White, Daugh White's son, delivered $2,500 to Hacker and Roberts for vote buying. Kennon White lost a campaign for jailer in that race. And during the 2004 primary election, Roberts helped deliver cash from Jennings White for vote buying to Colter, the motion says. Colter tried unsuccessfully in 2004 to win back the state House seat she had lost two years before. Jordan and Colter yesterday flatly denied being at the May 2002 meeting described in the government's motion. "It would take a d**n idiot to go to a public meeting to discuss buying votes," Jordan said. Colter also said she did not get money to buy votes in 2004. She and Jordan said they did not take part in buying votes. Kennon White and Garrison were not available for comment yesterday; Jordan said he never knew of the former judge-executive buying votes. But Jordan said vote buying has long been part of county elections, sometimes involving big money. A man involved in the May 2002 election told him of helping count more than $400,000 used to buy votes against Jordan and others in the race, Jordan said. The former sheriff said people probably bought votes for him at times, but that he never told them to do so and didn't provide money for it. Colter told the Herald-Leader soon after the 2002 primary that before the election, she'd been told that for a certain amount of money, candidates could be included on a slate to receive bought votes. She said she refused to take part. Asked yesterday if anyone had bought votes for her without her knowledge, Colter said, "I hope not." Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on Aug 7, 2007 16:57:54 GMT -5
Long list of crimes blamed on ex-mayorkentucky.comBy Bill Estep, HERALD-LEADER.COMThe longtime mayor of Manchester gave his son a high-paying job with the city, rigged contracts, had the city buy equipment and services from his businesses, and even lowered water bills for friends, according to a motion in federal court. The allegations against former Mayor Daugh K. White come as part of a federal case in which he is charged with conspiring to commit a range of crimes -- including arson, drug-dealing and extortion -- to control the city for his financial and political benefit. The motion, filed yesterday, adds alleged misconduct that was not listed in the indictment against White. Prosecutors want to present evidence about those alleged acts to try to flesh out the conspiracy and prove White was engaged in a pattern of wrongdoing. In a separate motion yesterday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Smith asked that bond be revoked for Todd Roberts, the city's assistant police chief who is charged along with White. The document said there is reason to believe Roberts violated the terms of his bond by having contact with a prosecution witness. The motion did not provide details. A hearing on the issue likely will be held soon. White and Roberts are scheduled for trial this month along with Darnell Hipsher, a city council member. The indictment said the conspiracy involving White and Roberts dates to the late 1990s, when they schemed with Vernon Hacker, head of the local 911 system, to have a drug dealer burn down a vacant house that was blocking construction of a police station and 911 center. The officials then allegedly protected the drug dealer. Hacker and the one-time drug dealer, Bobby Joe "Fabio" Curry, who is a born-again Christian, have pleaded guilty. White, Roberts and Hipsher have maintained their innocence. Attorneys for White and Roberts were not available for comment yesterday after the motions were filed. White, who is in his 70s, was one of Eastern Kentucky's longest-serving mayors, holding office from 1978 until losing his bid for an eighth term last November while under investigation. Roberts is suspended with pay while under indictment. In his long tenure, White used the city like a fiefdom to line his pockets, help friends and family, and stay in power, the new government motion charges. For instance, White and others conspired to extort kickbacks from a contractor, who was not named in the motion but got about eight jobs in town between May 2004 and October 2006. White declared emergencies, issued change orders and took other actions to make sure the contractor got the work without going through the public bidding process, the motion said. White's son Kennon -- whom the mayor had put on the payroll in 2004 at $49,000 a year -- collected cash payments from the contractor, the motion says. White and Hipsher allegedly tried to win favor with voters by having a contractor pave more than 30 private driveways beginning in the fall of 2005. When state auditors caught the problem in April 2006, White and Hipsher schemed to cover up the illegal work by sending invoices to some people, the motion said. Among the other allegations in the motion: • From two years before the 2006 general election, White had city employees lower water bills for friends and associates. White also manipulated the "cut-off list" of people with delinquent bills to keep eligible voters from losing service. • White had the city's insurance policy cover a bulldozer and trailer he owned. White used the equipment on "pet projects" for political allies; he had city employees transport and operate the dozer before an election to prepare hunting roads on the farm of an unnamed public official. • When White's mobile-home sales business in London failed in 2004, he had the city buy several items from the business, including a tractor, without following purchasing rules. • White had city vehicles serviced at a Chevrolet dealership he owned before selling it in 2002. In 1994, the city attorney told White it was against the law for the mayor or council members to profit directly from doing business with the city, "which the defendant ignored." White also ignored similar advice in 1999 with the city's purchase of two Chevy Tahoes from the dealership, the motion said. • From 2002 through 2006, White allowed the city to buy $60,000 of police and fire equipment, such as guns and uniforms, from a business owned by Roberts. • White routinely ignored policies in making city purchases from friends and associates. In 2004, he bought a piece of heavy equipment from two men for $30,000 without taking bids, and in March 2006, he declared an emergency without justification to buy a new Dodge Charger from a business tenant. • White used city funds to make loans to friends. Carmen Lewis, who was on the city council when she defeated White last year, said council members were uninformed about much of the alleged improper activity involving city money. But city payments to his car dealership -- which she strongly criticized in the campaign -- were not a secret, Lewis said. "That's been almost a joke for years," she said. 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