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| Skeletal Remains in Estill Co. 1-01-08 The Kentucky State Police Post 7, Richmond , is currently investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains found on 12/25/2007 at 4:00 p.m. in Estill County . The remains were discovered in an overgrown and unused cemetery that dates back to the 1800’s. The cemetery is behind the Bunt Gross Tire Service and the Oak Tree Inn on KY 52. According to Dr. Emily Craig, State Forensic Anthropologist, the remains have been there no longer than three months. The remains are of an adult male wearing blue jeans, blue flannel shirt, white t-shirt, blue toboggan, red plaid boxer shorts, and black shoes with white socks. The remains will be taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for autopsy. No cause of death has been determined at this time and no age or race of the individual has been determined. The investigation is continuing. KENTUCKY FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST WITH WILDFIRES IN IDAHO AND OREGON Division of Forestry provides 19 firefighters and one information officer FRANKFORT , Ky. (July 12, 2007) – Fourteen full-time and five seasonal Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) firefighters are leaving today to assist in fighting wildfires in Idaho . An additional employee left Wednesday to assist with information and communications on a large fire in Oregon . The U.S. Forest Service requested assistance from the Kentucky Division of Forestry yesterday. The Kentucky firefighters are expected to be on the fire lines in Idaho for up to 14 days, but may return sooner if wildfire conditions improve. The firefighters will assemble today between 2 and 3 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service fire cache in London . The firefighters will be on personal leave from their state jobs. Their salary, both while fighting the fires and during additional travel days, as well as their travel expenses will be paid for by the U.S. Forest Service. KDF Director and Kentucky State Forester Leah MacSwords said providing the assistance will not hurt fire preparedness in Kentucky . “Despite severe drought conditions in our state, the occurrence of wildfires has been low, which allows us to provide these resources,” she said. Directions to the London fire cache may be found at the U.S. Forest Service Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boonefire/Intell_Links3.htm. 14th Region All-Star For the first time in 14th Region history, there will be a 14th Region All-star Showcase on June 4th beginning at 6:00 pm for underclassmen and 8:00 pm for seniors at the Hazard High School Softball Field. In case of rain, the rain dates will be set for June 5th and plan C for June 6th at 6:00 and 8:00 pm. All players and coaches were selected by the coaches within the 14th region. Team 1 coaches Candi Fannin (Hazard) and Jamie Couch (Knott Co.). Team 2 coaches Shirley Beard (Estill Co.) and Danny Fugate ( Jackson City ). Seniors - Team 1 Ramie Adams – Letcher Lindsay Hart - Letcher Brittani Slone – Hazard Allie Noble - Hazard Leslie Walker – Hazard Shelby Massey - Hazard Ashley Williams – Jenkins Kayla Asher - Leslie Amanda Melton – Leslie Brea Gibson - Knott Heather Click – Knott Erica Smith - Knott Jessica Mullins - Buckhorn Seniors - Team 2 Savannah Tharpe – Powell Angie Anderson - Powell Brooke Reynolds – Estill Brittany Thomas - Estill Sondra Hall – Estill Brittany Sloas - Breathitt Amanda Morris – Breathitt Lindsay Spencer - Breathitt Morgan Burton – Wolfe Tiffany Wilson - Wolfe McKenzie Brewer – Wolfe Britni Bailey - Owsley Underclassmen - Team 1 Rachel Thacker – Jenkins Hillary Brashear - Jenkins Emily Walker – Jenkins Megan Mosely - Knott Kendra Thomas – Knott Sammy King - Knott Allison Feltner - Perry Central Chelsea Long - Perry Central Heather Sturdivant - Perry Central Caitlin Wheeler- Buckhorn Ashely Hall – Hazard Emily Brashear - Hazard Ashely Turner – Cordia Shanna Napier - Cordia Kayla Morgan – Leslie Beth Wooton - Leslie Kayla Burton - Letcher Underclassmen - Team 2 Rebecca McCoy – Powell Shelby Barnett - Powell Paige Crabtree – Powell Brittany Tincher - Jackson City Randi Barnett - Jackson City Kayla Smith - Jackson City Kay Smith - Lee Hayley Neiderman - Lee Tess Arvin – Estill Amanda Edwards - Estill Shelby Rader – Estill Lyda Arvin - Estill Breanna Deaton – Breathitt Brittany Collins - Breathitt Whitney Noble – Riverside Mika Turner – Owsley Kaci Knack - Wolfe Meth Lab Located in Jackson Co. On 3/11/2007 at 2130 hours, the Kentucky State Police Post 7, Richmond , received information concerning a possible meth lab located near the Jackson County High School and Middle School. Detective Dustin Hon was able to obtain a search warrant for the residence. The search of the residence yielded various components for the production of methamphetamine , including ammonia production. Also found in the search were four grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, morphine and various items of drug paraphernalia. Detective Hon was assisted by Trooper Brent Lynch, KSP Drug Enforcement Special Investigations, Jackson County Sheriff's Department and the US Forestry Service. Barry Collett was lodged in the Jackson County Jail. The Kentucky State Police encourages the public to report any suspected drug activity to our anonymous drug tip-line at 1-800DOPETIP. HIGHWAY FATALITIES AT FIVE YEAR LOW Officials credit primary seatbelt, other safety measures in helping to save lives FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 3, 2007) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Kentucky State Police and highway safety groups are encouraged by the trend in highway fatalities on the state’s roadways. Initial statistics indicate traffic fatalities in 2006 were at a five-year low, with 78 fewer deaths than in 2005. The year-to-year fatality count dropped for the first time since 1999. “Governor Fletcher’s unwavering commitment to improve highway safety for the people of the commonwealth is saving lives,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. “The single most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and be safe in a vehicle is to buckle our seatbelts. As we begin a brand new year, this is an excellent time to make the commitment to buckle up. It is a decision that could determine whether you live or die in a serious crash.” The primary seatbelt law, which was championed by Governor Fletcher and approved by the Kentucky General Assembly last year, is now being enforced. The law allows officers to pull over motorists exclusively for not buckling up. Motorists were given a six-month grace period before actual citations were issued. As of January 1, 2007, violation of the law results in a $25 fine. Research from the University of Kentucky ’s Transportation Center and from the Kentucky Institute of Medicine revealed projections concerning the impact that the primary seatbelt law will have on Kentucky families and the state’s economy: ·At least 62 fewer fatalities per year ·388 fewer incapacitating spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries ·1,051 fewer non-incapacitating injuries from accidents involving passenger vehicles and light trucks ·$40.9 million savings to Kentucky ’s Medicaid budget over 10 years, including $2.2 million the first year and $585,000 per year for long-term medical care ·Kentucky will save $324 million in comprehensive costs (lost life years and productivity) Kentucky ’s new graduated drivers’ license and quick clearance laws are also being credited with making our highways safer. For more information about highway safety, visit the cabinet’s website at http://transportation.ky.gov/ or http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/. KYTC District 10 Design Team Wins Statewide Award for Excellence for Perry County Bridge JACKSON, KY. - (Sept. 25, 2006) -- An entry submitted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10's design team was chosen as the winner of an award for excellence in statewide competition. The award, for projects costing less than $1 million to build, was presented at the recent 2006 Partnering Conference in Louisville. The award was presented for the KY 476 bridge spanning Lotts Creek in Perry County that was completed in 2004. "A number of unique factors presented themselves during this project," said Linda Wagner-Justice, District 10 chief district engineer. "The proximity of a railroad bridge and the subsequent use of the old bridge's abutment since it was tied to the railroad bridge abutment was just one of the design challenges. Dealing with contaminated soil from a former gas station was another. Preserving a nearby residence and dealing with issues arising from the relocation of their septic system was yet another. In the end, all these obstacles were overcome and we were able to design a project that replaced a narrow, substandard bridge with a safe, modern structure." The district dedicated the award to Pete Craft, in honor of one of the original members of the design team who lost his battle with cancer before the bridge was completed. "In the district office, we have unofficially called this bridge the 'Pete Craft Bridge' in his honor," Wagner-Justice said. This project began in 1994 and involved no fewer than five in-house designers. Current members of District 10's design team are Corbett Caudill, Aric Skaggs, Barry Evans and Brent Weddington. The district's environmental coordinator is Jeff Allen and the preconstruction branch manager is Chuck Allen. The award is named for William S. Gulick, a former Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineer, and is presented annually. From left, Aric Skaggs, Hazard; Brent Weddington, West Liberty; Barry Evans, West Liberty; Jamie Duff, Jackson; and Corbett Caudill, Hazard. Missing from the photo are Jeff Allen, District 10 environmental coordinator and Chuck Allen, preconstruction branch manager. Drive Smart Kentucky-School is Back in Session Frankfort, KY (August 14, 2006) – It's back to school time for hundreds of thousands of students, parents, educators and school staff! The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Drive Smart Program remind drivers to be alert and "drive smart!" “Traffic is increasing in and around school zones and school buses are on the road again,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. “Safety on our highways and in school zones is the responsibility of every driver. We all need to be especially aware of the extra road and pedestrian traffic that comes with the start of school. The importance of highway safety cannot be overstated. Please buckle up, slow down and drive smart.” “As adults, we must remember how exciting it was to start school each year when we were children,” added Education Cabinet Secretary Virginia G. Fox. “If we can keep that thought in front of our minds, we will all be better prepared to be especially cautious in school zones and whenever we are driving near a school bus.” Driving safety tips include: •Allow yourself enough time to get to school or to work. Leave earlier to avoid the potential “to speed” getting to your destination on time. •When entering a school zone, obey all of the signs. Know that the flashing yellow lights are there to remind you that you need to reduce your speed. Fines for speeding in a school zone when lights are flashing may be doubled. •Pay extra attention at crosswalks. Take an extra look to be sure that no students are crossing. •Obey all signs, safety patrol and officers in your school zone. They are there to make the drop-offs and pick-ups run smoother. •When you approach a school bus picking up a child, it is the law to stop. When the flashing lights come on and the red stop sign extends that means STOP. When you are on a four or five lane highway and you are approaching a bus that is coming to a stop to pick up a child, motorists that are in the same two lanes as the bus must stop. If you are a vehicle in the opposing lanes, you may continue. Motorists must take extra precautions at bus stops even after the bus completes its stop. Some children might run out into the roadway. •Make sure that your child is in their safety seat or restrained properly when you are taking them to school. •Slow Down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops. •Be Alert and ready to stop. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. “We want everyone to get to school and back safely,” said Commissioner of the Department of Transportation Safety Tim Hazlette. “Our department is working cooperatively with safety advocates to enhance our highway safety education and awareness campaigns to reduce preventable tragedies on Kentucky’s roadways.” In an effort to further enhance highway safety, Governor Fletcher signed an executive order last month creating the new Department of Transportation Safety within the Transportation Cabinet. The department includes the Division of Traffic Safety Research and Education and the Division of Traffic Assistance and Security. The department is responsible for reviewing highway safety data, identifying major causes for fatalities and injuries, and developing and implementing the necessary safety measures to educate and protect citizens. In addition, the department provides critical highway condition and weather information on a 24-hour, 7-day basis. For more information about the Drive Smart Program and highway safety programs you can log on to http://www.drivesmart.ky.gov, or http://highwaysafety.ky.gov. You can also go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/kids/bussafety for additional safety tips and information. Meat Goats and Mineral Supplements Feeding is an essential aspect of goat production and may be the highest expense of any meat goat operation. Goats raised for meat need high quality feed in most situations and require an optimum balance of many different nutrients to achieve a successful operation. Because of their unique physiology, rates of weight gain are smaller for meat goats than cattle or sheep. Goats require many minerals for basic body function and optimum production. Providing free choice a complete goat mineral or a 50:50 mix of trace mineralized salt and dicalcium phosphate is advisable under most situations. Major minerals likely to be deficient in the diet are salt (sodium chloride), calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Most forages are high in calcium, so calcium is low only if high grain diets are fed, which would be unusual for goats. Low quality, weathered forages will be deficient in phosphorous, especially for high and average lactating doses. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous in the diet is important and should be kept about a two to one ratio. Grass tetany can occur when goats in early lactation are grazing lush, leafy small grain, annual ryegrass/legume pastures. Under those conditions, it is advisable to provide a mineral mix that contains 5 to 10 percent magnesium. Trace minerals likely to be low in diets are copper, zinc and selenium. Selenium is marginal to deficient in most areas of the southeastern United States and many commercial trace mineralized salts do not contain it. Trace mineralized salts that include selenium should be provided to the goat herd at all times. Producers should make sure that the trace mineralized salts they buy contain selenium. In case selenium is absent, they should encourage their local feed store to include it in the mix or to order trace mineralized salts that contain selenium. Taking the steps to ensure quality mineral supplements to a goat herd will benefit the operation and allow for maximum profit potential. For more information, contact the Breathitt County Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. Remember Food Safety When Planning for the Holidays FRANKFORT, KY. (May 23, 2006) – Picnics are a favorite means of celebration during Memorial Day weekend and throughout summer. The Department for Public Health wants to help you practice safe food handling techniques when eating outdoors and protect yourself, your family and friends from foodborne illness. Follow these tips for packing a safe picnic basket: ·Plan ahead. Try to plan the right amount of food to take, so you will not have to worry about the storage or safety of leftovers. Place perishable food in a cooler with ice freezer packs. Replenish the ice as it melts. ·Pack safely. Keep cold foods cold. Place cold food in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Don’t put the cooler in the trunk; carry it inside an air-conditioned car. At the picnic, keep the cooler in the shade. Keep the lid closed and avoid repeated openings. Use a separate cooler for drinks so the one containing perishable food will not be constantly opened and closed. In addition, remember these food safety tips: ·Keep hands and utensils clean when preparing food. ·Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten. ·Run firm-skin fruits and vegetables under running tap water or scrub with a clean vegetable brush while rinsing with running tap water. ·Food left out for more than two hours may not be safe. Do not eat anything that has been left out in the hot sun. ·When grilling, cook hamburgers and ribs to 155 degrees Fahrenheit or until the center is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Cook ground poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and poultry parts to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat precooked meats until steaming hot. ·Do not partially grill extra hamburgers to use later. Once you begin cooking hamburgers by any method, cook until completely done to ensure any bacteria are destroyed. ·When taking foods off the grill, put them on a clean plate. Do not put the cooked items on the same plate that held the raw meat. ·Put leftover foods in the cooler promptly after grilling or serving. Discard any leftovers after one hour of being left outside. If there is still ice in the cooler when you arrive home, the leftovers are safe to eat. The Department for Public Health wishes all Kentuckians a safe holiday. For more information about safe picnic planning, call Pam Hendren in the Food Safety Branch at (502) 564-7181 or your local health department’s environmental health specialist. Old Store Building burned Another old building gone up in smoke in town. I was in the Clerk's Office this mornig. Mayor Long was in there talking with some and they figer the building was built around 1950 by Charlie Thompson. He had a grocery store in it. James H Wilson ran a store there for several years as well as his Daughter. Charlie and Family lived above the store. Dennis (Coon) Campbell had a store there for awhile. Arthur "Pig Tale" Dean had a John Deer shop in the basemant for years. I am sure there is more to the building than I know. At the this time there was a game Room there called Boss Hog's. Bill Hall was the owner. As I understand someone noticed smoke coming from the top floor sometime Saturday nite. Also the Beattyville Fire Department was on stand by. Shelia's Bueaty Shop (Shelia Fry McIntosh) was close but wan't hurt bad. One outside wall was scorched. Just thought this might be of interest to some. hree more drug suspects arrested BOONEVILLE -- Three people wanted in connection with an Operation UNITE drug roundup in Owsley County on Thursday, March 30, have been arrested. Each of the three individuals turned themselves in at the Owsley County Sheriff’s Office. As of Friday afternoon, 13 of 18 people sought by police have now been charged, noted Mike Luttrell, manager of UNITE’s Kentucky River Drug Task Force. Those charged Friday were: • Christian Duff, age 20, Wolf Creek, Booneville, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. • April Mayes, age 31, Highway 30, Lerose, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. • Josh Terry, age 24, Highway 11, Booneville, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. All three were lodged in the Three Forks Regional Jail in Beattyville. BYF Officers Retire Lewis Buddy Watkins, Rose Wolfe and Danny Fugate all left the Breathitt Youth Foundation (BYF) that they have been a part of for many years. They wished the best to all the remaining board members. Together they have a combined experience working with children of well over 50 years. They encourage everyone to continue to support and watch the children of Breathitt County play ball every chance they get. From left to right are: Buddy, who served as Treasurer and Vice-President, Rose, who would never take an officer position, worked and kept things in order year after year and Danny who served as Vice President and President. Long delays likely on KY 52 in Lee County at Sharp Rock for construction blasting Jan. 20, 2006 - Motorists on KY 52 east of Beattyville in Lee County will encounter long traffic delays for blasting on a $3.7 million safety improvement project at Sharp Rock. Today at noon, contractors will close the road for blasting and cleanup of debris. This closure will last until approximately 3 p.m. Similar closures can be expected intermittently over the course of the next three or four weeks as work on the rockfall mitigation project continues. Electronic message boards will be placed near Jackson and Beattyville to alert drivers to the possibility of delays. During these closures, through traffic can either use KY 11 and KY 30 through Booneville; or KY 11, KY 715, the Mountain Parkway and KY 15 through Campton as a detour route between Beattyville and Jackson. Motorists should watch these message boards for up-to-date information regarding the possibility of delays. Construction activities are scheduled on a tentative basis and are subject to change depending on weather conditions. Motorists are urged to use caution in the work zone and are asked to "Drive Smart" when workers and equipment are present and operating. KSP Offers Driving Tips For Deer Hunting Season 11-9-05 Deer hunting season brings increased movement of wildlife throughout the state. As a result, motorists are more likely to encounter deer on or near roadways and should be alert to avoid collisions. Vehicle crashes involving deer on roads kill nearly 100 people nationwide each year and cost millions of dollars in insurance claims, according to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. The average deer/automobile collision results in approximately $2,000 per claim for repairs and injuries. While the percentage of deer collisions resulting in a fatality is relatively low in Kentucky as compared to the nation, it is extremely important to recognize this ever-present risk, especially at this time of year when nearly 50 percent of all collisions with deer occur. Kentucky State Police Commissioner Mark Miller suggests that motorists follow these defensive driving tips to help avoid hitting a deer: * Be extra cautious in the early morning and evening hours. Deer are most active during these low-light periods when humans see worst and reaction time is slow. * Stay alert when driving through a known deer-crossing zone. If you see one deer, look for more. They often travel in herds. * Drive at a moderate speed, especially on roads bordering woodlands, parklands, golf courses and streams. However, remember that many deer crashes occur on busy highways near cities. * Use high beam headlights if there is no oncoming traffic. High beams will reflect in the eyes of deer on or near the roadway, providing increased driver reaction time. * Upon seeing a deer, immediately slow down. Do not swerve---this could confuse the deer about where to run. It could also cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car. It is generally safer to hit the deer rather than running off the road or risking injury to other motorists. * Deer are often unpredictable, especially when faced with blinding headlights, loud horns and fast-moving vehicles. Don't expect them to stay where they are. They can dart in front of you at the last moment, stop in the middle of the road, cross quickly and return to the road or even move toward an approaching vehicle. * Deer whistles on cars provide little help and blowing the car horn doesn't always solve the problem. Blowing the horn may cause them to move, but not necessarily in the direction you want. * Always wear your safety belt. Historically, most people injured or killed in deer/auto collisions were not properly restrained. For more information on deer hazards, including maps of deer collisions by county, visit the Kentucky State Police website at www.kentuckystatepolice.org and click on KY Deer Collisions located in the bottom right corner of the home page. Estill Co. Murder victim Robert Jason Rucker 9-16-05 The Kentucky State Police Post 7 Richmond is currently investigating a homicide that occurred in the limits of Irvine. On 9/7/2005 at 0219 hours, KSP Post 7 received a call from the emergency room of Marcum Wallace Hospital stating that Robert Jason Rucker had been brought into their facility with a head wound received in an assault. Mr. Rucker subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The Estill County Deputy Coroner, Tony Murphy, pronounced the victim dead at Marcum Wallace Hospital. KSP detectives responded to the scene and through investigation arrested two people in connection with the death of Mr. Rucker. The suspects, Christoper Paul Wasson, age 28 and Emmons "Dale" Farthing, age 25, were taken into custody at 0550 hours and were charged with Murder and Tampering With Physical Evidence. Both were lodged in the Estill County Jail. It is believed that the victim died of blunt force trauma to the head. The body of the deceased has been transported to the State Medical Examiners Office in Frankfort, where an autopsy will be conducted. The case remains under investigation by KSP Detective Ken Bradley. |
