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Perry cocaine busts
Two cocaine cases yield 3 arrests, counterfeit cash
HAZARD Three people were arrested last week including an illegal alien following undercover drug investigations into cocaine trafficking in Perry County.
On Tuesday afternoon, June 17, UNITE detectives and officers from the Hazard Police Department, Perry County Sheriffąs Office and Kentucky State Police K-9 unit arrested two Georgia men after they sold approximately 12 ounces of cocaine during an undercover drug transaction in a Hazard shopping center parking lot. Jose M. Escobar Canoles, age 29, of Pinehurst Drive, Smyrna, Georgia, and 51-year-old Arnie J. Lewis, of South Highway 27, Carrollton, Georgia, were each charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
During the arrest, the officers discovered a loaded handgun on the front floorboard of their 2007 Chrysler 300-C along with $1,000 in counterfeit $100 bills. The case against Canoles, who is an undocumented alien, and Lewis will be presented to a federal grand jury for possible indictment.
On Monday, June 16, detectives from UNITE and deputies from the Perry County Sheriffąs Office charged 68-year-old Bill Stewart, of Middle Ridge Road in Bonnyman, with one count each of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree possession of a controlled substance. Police had received complaints that Stewart was selling cocaine from a hotel room in Hazard.
Because Stewart had an outstanding Floyd County arrest warrant for theft by deception over $300, officers went to the hotel to serve the warrant. During a search of the room officers found approximately one-quarter ounce
of cocaine, $518 in cash, and various equipment used to prepare cocaine for sale.
All three suspects were lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail.
For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at www.operationunite.org

PRIDE donates wetlands book to local public library
SOMERSET, KY — If your summer project is to build a wetland, then you should visit your local library to check out Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair. Eastern Kentucky PRIDE recently donated copies of the book to every public library in the 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky, as well as the region’s NRCS and Conservation District offices.
“Referring to Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair is the next best thing to our working together to restore a wetland,” said author Tom Biebighauser, a wildlife biologist for the Daniel Boone National Forest and international wetlands expert. “My hope is that you’ll be encouraged to jump in and build a wetland after reading this book, whether for fish and wildlife habitat, flood control, groundwater recharge, environmental education, or simply for the beauty they add to our landscape.”
“This book will lead to fun, family-friendly activities that help the environment, and we are pleased to be part of that,” said Tammie Wilson, PRIDE vice president and chief financial officer. “I want to thank Norma Pellerin, the Lake Cumberland regional librarian for the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, for helping us distribute the books to the libraries in PRIDE’s service area.”
The book is a step-by-step guide for building wetlands that look and function like natural wetlands. The highly effective techniques described were developed by Biebighauser over 25 years building wetlands across North America. His groundbreaking work has earned him national awards and international instructor engagements.
For the history buff, the book features photos and stories about the systematic draining of the nation’s wetlands for agriculture and development. In Kentucky, for example, over 81 percent of the state’s original 1.5 million acres of wetlands were drained.
Nationwide, efforts are being made to protect and restore wetlands, which are basically areas of shallow water. The saturated soils in these habitats create unique soil and biological conditions, even in those wetlands that dry seasonally. Wetlands absorb floodwater, filter pollutants, and provide plant and wildlife habitat. For more information, visit www.kypride.org/educators/wetlands.php.
PRIDE is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental cleanup and education in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky.

PHOTO CAPTION: With guidance from Tom Biebighauser, McBrayer Elementary School in Rowan County built this wetland with a PRIDE grant as an outdoor classroom. Photo by Tom Biebighauser.

Powell County gets new Superintendent
Jackson City Superintendent withdraws name
The Powell School Board called a special meeting on June 26, to announce the hiring of the new superintendent. The gym at Stanton Elementary School was full of anxious school employees and members of the public waiting to see who the Board was going to hire.
The Board had been searching for a new superintendent for over a month, interviewing potential candidates. The decision was unanimous by all Board members, choosing Evelyn Neely for the position. The Board gave Neely a four year contract for $110,000 a year.
The decision came after one of the top candidates, Tim Spencer took his name out of the running last week.
When Neely walked into the school, she was already in tears and she simply said “There is no place like home, I love the community and the people in the community. It is an honor to get to come back and be trusted with your children.”
Board member Dr. Thompson said “This was a tough decision, the Board has respected everyone who has given an opinion, and we have worked hard to make the best decision for the children.”
Evelyn Neely, who had been employed by Powell County Schools in the past, closed by saying, “My door is always open, it is never about me it is always about the children. I will work as hard as my body will let me.”
After the meeting was adjourned Neely stuck around to hug old colleagues, even some that she was up against for the job; however there were no hard feelings.
Since Lonnie Morris is set to retire on June 30th, Neely will have to jump right into her new position as superintendent.
She has the background that will surely help her out. She has been a teacher, principal, and most recently was the superintendent of Breckinridge County Schools in Hardinsburg, KY.

Missing Louisville man found in Red River Gorge
After an intensive search of the Red River Gorge area for a two week period, authorities recovered the body of a Louisville man who was missing. On Sunday, June 15, 37 year old Joseph Sanders left his home to go camping in an area that he had grown up in.
Authorities say that Sanders borrowed his sister’s car and left to go camping near Pumpkin Bottom Campground. His uncle owns land there and he had visited there many times in the past, according to State Police.
. Sander’s car and supplies were found on Friday, June 23, after the missing person report came in. According to authorities, his unopened tent was found next to his car and across the river from that spot, they found his sleeping bag and backpack. Searchers searched all during the weekend for Sanders. Efforts to find him continued until Saturday morning at approximately 10 a.m. when his body was recovered from the gorge. Details about his death have not been made available at press time.

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