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Financial Aid Tip of the Month, January 2008
Time for college-bound seniors to fill out the FAFSA
High school seniors who are thinking about going to college or trade school this fall are encouraged to gather the information required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more often called the FAFSA.
The FAFSA is the form students fill out to see if they qualify for federal and state grants and loans. Financial aid professionals advise students to send in the FAFSA even if they don’t think they qualify for aid. Many colleges use information from the FAFSA to determine who is eligible for grants and scholarships administered by the school.
The FAFSA asks for information about income, assets and expenses. A formula set by Congress is applied to the information to determine the student’s eligibility for federal and state aid. If the student is considered dependent under federal guidelines, both the student and parents must provide financial information. Nearly all students going directly to college from high school will be considered dependent.
Parents and students who need help filling out the FAFSA should attend the nearest College Goal Sunday location on January 27. Financial aid professionals will go over the FAFSA in detail and answer questions, free of charge. The sessions are sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, in cooperation with the Lumina Foundation, The Student Loan People and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). To find a College Goal Sunday site near you, visit www.kasfaa.com/cgs.
Students who submit the FAFSA online usually get a response a week or two faster than those who mail in a paper FAFSA.
To learn how to plan and prepare for higher education and to access the FAFSA, go to www.GoHigherKY.org. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798 , Frankfort , KY 40602-0798 ; or call (800) 928-8926, extension 7381. For information about low-cost student loans, visit www.studentloanpeople.com; write The Student Loan People, P.O. Box 24328 , Louisville , KY 40224-0328 ; or call (888) 678-4625.

Murder Investigation Arrest
On 10/06/07 at approximately 1:28 a.m. Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper arrested and charged Tonya Henson, age 31 of Hazard, Ky. with Murder in connection with the death of Kenneth Clay.
Mr. Clay was found deceased in his residence on 10/05/07 in the Wabaco Community of Perry County. The victim has been sent to the State Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. The investigation is continuing by Det. Stamper.

Owsley Co. Robberies
On 07/17/2007 at approximately 0200 hours, Kentucky State Police Post 7 received a complaint of an armed robbery at a residence on Doe Creek Road in Owsley County . Trooper Jamie Gross and Trooper Doug Cole responded to this location. While responding to the scene, Trooper Gross initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The driver was apprehended immediately without incident and a passenger fled on foot but was apprehended with the assistance of a KSP Canine. A female passenger was also arrested at the scene of the traffic stop. The suspects are believed to have committed three different armed robberies which have occurred in Owsley County since Saturday, July 14th. The other robberies have occurred on Holly Fork Road and Maulden-Owsley Co. Road. The suspects in the robberies identify themselves as police officers and force themselves into the residence, where they rob the victim, and take items from their home. All three suspects were lodged in the Three Forks Regional Jail. The public is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police Post 7 at 1-800-222-5555 or 859 623-2404 with any information which may help investigators in this case. The investigation by Trooper Jamie Gross is ongoing.

Attorney General Greg Stumbo Issues Consumer Alert Regarding
Bogus Car Ads Offering Bad Deal to Consumers Biting the “Low Price” Bait
Ads appearing in papers across the state
FRANKFORT, KY (July 12, 2007) - Attorney General Greg Stumbo today issued a Consumer Alert to Kentucky consumers warning them of a scam involving late model automobiles being advertised in newspapers at suspiciously low prices.
The ads are located in the classified section of newspapers, not the more prominent ads run by dealerships. Consumer Protection investigators have determined that the advertisements are a scam involving foreign scam artists attempting to lure consumers with a promise of a high quality automobile at a deeply discounted price. In the end though, consumers responding to the advertisements are asked to send large deposits to a bogus escrow company before they can examine the vehicles. Once the “deposit” is sent, consumers never get the automobile or their deposit returned.
“The cars in these classified ads may look like a great deal, but in the end, the old saying holds true, ‘If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is,’” said Attorney General Greg Stumbo.
Once advertisement in the Louisville Courier-Journal listed a 2003 Honda Accord priced at $9,000. The listed suggested retail value for that auto is more than $16,000 according to one online valuation service.   The Attorney General’s office advises consumers to beware of suspiciously priced automobiles and to never send large deposits to escrow services without thoroughly investigating the escrow company.
Escrow fraud continues to plague Internet auction and Internet sales transactions. Some scam artists have set up professional-looking web sites, others may use telemarketers to contact consumers hooked by the deceptive ads. Whenever consumers use an escrow service they’ve never used before, they should exercise caution and do their homework to make sure the service is legitimate. Some helpful tips for avoiding escrow fraud are provided below.
Consumers with questions are encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection at 888-432-9257.
How the scam works:
An advertisement of a late model vehicle is placed in the individually listed classified ads of the newspaper advertising a vehicle at well below the market value. The advertisement lists an e-mail address for interested buyers to send a response. The “seller” of the vehicle states that they have moved out of the country – in one case to the United Kingdom – and that is the only reason they are selling the vehicle. They offer to fly to the buyer’s location if the buyer is serious. The “seller” is unable to give a phone number saying that they have just moved and don’t have a phone yet. The “seller” indicates that the car is in excellent mechanical condition and requests a $1,500 down payment which is to be paid to an escrow company and which is “100% refundable” if the buyer doesn’t like the car or it fails a mechanical test.
The “seller” then asks for the buyer’s contact information so the escrow company (in one case it was identified as “Car Trader”) can contact them to make arrangements for the escrow. Ultimately the buyer is asked to send a cashier’s check or wire funds to the bogus “escrow service.” That’s the last the consumer will hear from the scammer, unless it is to ask for more money.
Red flags to watch for:
Vehicle advertised at price well below true market value.
“Seller” is selling vehicle because they’ve relocated to location outside the country.
“Seller” may not have phone because of recent move and communicates only by e-mail.
Guaranteed, 100% refundable escrow service offered - but will not be legitimate.
“Seller” will be unable to provide verifiable title, but will offer excuses about paperwork problems at the DMV that will be taken care of after the consumer completes the transaction.
Poor grammar and misspellings in the e-mails or websites used by the “sellers.”
Tips for Avoiding Escrow Fraud:
Be wary of a seemingly terrific deal. Scammers post online classified ads and offer items via online auction with very low prices. Remember, these so-called "deals" are just the hook to get you to use a phony escrow company site.
Never disclose financial or personal information like your Social Security number, credit card number, or bank account information until you have verified that the online escrow company you are using is properly licensed.
A buyer or seller who insists on using a particular online escrow company is probably trying to steer you towards a fraudulent escrow services site.
Watch out for escrow company sites that don't have an address and phone number listed. If the site does list a phone number, call the number and be sure you speak to a live person. A generic voice mail is a sign that the company may be fraudulent.
Send the escrow company an e-mail question. If you don't receive a response, don't do business with them.
Sometimes a phony escrow company Web site can be detected by its sloppy content, with spelling and grammar errors and inconsistent information. Other times, the site's information may have been copied from legitimate escrow company sites.
Find out how the online escrow service processes transactions. Steer clear of sites that don't process their own, but require users to set up accounts with online payment services instead. Legitimate escrow companies don't use person-to-person money transfers like Western Union or MoneyGram or direct you to send your payment to an individual rather than a corporate entity.
Fake escrow company sites often display logos from the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign Secure, TRUSTe, and even the Internet Fraud Complaint Center . Check to make sure the escrow company really is endorsed by these organizations.
Avoid escrow company sites with domain names ending in: .org, .biz, .cc, .info, or .US.
(California Department of Corporations)

Governor Fletcher, Transportation Cabinet Officials Provide Perry County Clerk’s Office with 21st Century Technology
Improvements are Part of Statewide Plan to Upgrade Hardware and Software in County Clerks’ Offices
JACKSON, Ky. – (July 12, 2007) – Technology upgrades are being made at the county clerk’s office in Perry 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 a 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.
“This is going to be a very positive change for us,” said Perry County Clerk Haven King. These improvements will save a lot of time for us and our customers. We appreciate the Transportation Cabinet’s interest and investment in our office, which will benefit all residents of Perry County.”
“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 PCs 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 clerks’ offices, which is well ahead of schedule. The process for installing new equipment in larger counties is expected to begin later this year, with the new AVIS system operational statewide within three years.

Financial Aid Tip of the Month, June 2007
Don’t be taken in by something that sounds too good to be true
Parents of college-bound students probably hear a lot of sales pitches from companies that promise to help them find financial aid to pay for college.
There’s no need to pay for this kind of information. It can be obtained free by working with your guidance counselor, checking out sources in the library, doing free online scholarship searches or contacting the financial aid office of the college you plan to attend. GoHigherKY.org, the state’s one-stop college planning Web site, also offers a free scholarship search.
If you decide to use a company to help you find financial aid, make sure you’re dealing with a reputable one. The Federal Trade Commission cautions students to be especially skeptical about scholarship search companies and Web sites that make these claims.
·“You’ve been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship.” Check with a guidance counselor or The Foundation Center at www.fdncenter.org to find out if the foundation is legitimate. Be especially wary if you receive notification that you’re a finalist in a scholarship contest you didn’t enter.
·“We’ll do all the work.” It’s highly unlikely that the company will fill out all the applications for all the financial aid sources it sends you.
·“I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship.” Never give these numbers to a person or company with which you are unfamiliar. You could find your credit card maxed out and your bank account cleaned out.
·“This scholarship will cost some money.” Some legitimate scholarships do have upfront fees, but they shouldn’t be more than $5 or $10.
·"You’re guaranteed to get money for college or your money back.” Read the fine print. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

House Leaders Urge Caution Not Haste On Pension Reform
By: House Speaker Jody Richards
Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark
Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins
Majority Caucus Chair Charlie Hoffman
Majority Whip Rob Wilkey
The closing days of the 2007 session have been dominated by disagreement between the House and Senate about the future of the state's retirement system.
The House and Senate both agree that the retirement system and its $12 billion unfunded liability must be addressed. Based on current contribution levels, the health insurance component of the system will be insolvent by 2013, and the pension fund itself will fail by 2021, according to the system's executive director.
Structural reforms are required, and now is the time to begin discussions about achieving those reforms.
Much attention has been given to the Senate's last-minute proposal to address the retirement system by borrowing more than $800 million and changing the guaranteed benefit plan to a 401(k)-style system that subjects the individual participant to the vagaries of the stock market.
The Senate's plan is very similar to the Bush administration's Social Security privatization proposal, about which debate and discussion have played out publicly for the past several years.
The public first learned of the Senate's pension plan less than two weeks ago on the 24th working day of a 30-day session. This plan has been discussed in only one Senate committee meeting.
We cannot agree to pass legislation that has not been studied, which requires the issuance of over $800 million in taxpayer-financed debt and that could have far-reaching negative consequences for current and future state employees.
There is considerable doubt that the kind of plan offered up by the Senate will sustain retirement security or even reduce costs substantially in the near term.
The Senate proposal would exchange the current guaranteed benefit plan for an individualized account plan that could jeopardize public retirees' futures by exposing them to potentially unwise investments or untimely disturbances in the stock market.
The General Assembly should not hastily adopt this kind of reform without fully exploring its consequences, both intended and unanticipated.
Limited discussion of the Senate's plan to date has also created the impression that moving to a 401(k) style-plan will ensure the system's solvency. There is no evidence that this will happen.
This ignores the real root of the problem, which is the state's pension costs are growing dramatically due to soaring healthcare costs for retirees. The Senate plan does nothing to address these costs.
Within the past seven weeks the governor, by executive order, created a blue ribbon task force to study the pension system and report findings and recommendations by December 1st of this year. Efforts to reform the system should take place within the framework of that panel's deliberations.
The House is represented on that panel and is prepared to participate in its work. We also stand ready to contract with an independent actuary to develop and validate financial projections and assist in designing long-term systemic reforms.
These are the kinds of solutions we should all be discussing.
Public pension solvency is a problem facing many states, not just Kentucky .
Several states have tried to address this by experimenting with a partially privatized system, including West Virginia and Florida . But inconsistent results raise questions about whether a similar system is appropriate for Kentucky .
If adoption of the Senate proposal would cause further erosion of retirement security without necessarily generating the cost savings predicted, we then have to ask: Why the rush?
Given the enormous complexity of the system, and the fact that hundreds of thousands of people are affected, the House believes that a period of thorough, thoughtful examination is needed. We believe adequate consideration of any pension reforms requires more public hearings, actuarial studies and input from all stakeholders. This includes public employees, retirees, teachers, state police, local government employees and the nationally recognized heads of our two retirement systems.
Clearly, the last week of a short legislative session does not provide enough time for a truly meaningful study.
The House accepts its obligation to both current and retired employees, but equally important is our responsibility to look out for all Kentucky taxpayers.
We are steadfast in our resolve to carefully study this issue during the interim. We are committed to sustaining retirement security for public employees, ensuring actuarial soundness in the retirement system, and spending Kentucky tax dollars wisely.
We can achieve all of these goals best by choosing thoughtfulness over haste as we chart a direction for pension reform

MINE ACCIDENT OCCURS IN PERRY COUNTY
Injured miner evacuated to hospital
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2007) – A Perry County miner was injured today in a mining accident at the Blue Diamond Coal Co. No. 74 mine in Perry County.
Samuel H. Melton, 43, of Wooten, in Leslie County, was installing a ventilation curtain when a piece of draw rock fell from between roof bolts, striking him in the head.
The accident occurred at about 9:55 a.m. EST. Melton was removed from the mine by company personnel and airlifted to Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport, Tenn.
The accident has initially been classified as “serious” by the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, which issued a closure order for purposes of an investigation.
It is the first mine accident reported in Kentucky in 2007.

The Mountain Herb Festival
is held in Leslie County on Beyond Yonder Road the 2nd weekend in September every year. With the subtitle "Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselvs and the motto "Do No Harm", members of these elite group are striving in our area to heal the Earth and Ourselves through research into our at-risk medicinal herbs and education throughout the year. For more information about the Mountain Herb Festival or to inquire how you can help "Heal the Earth and Yourself", contact Linda Heller at HealingTheEarth_HealingOurselves@yahoogroups.com.
pic 1 - pickin and grinnin
pic 2 - barefoot cloggers

PIPELINE COMPANY TO PAY $1.52 MILLION TO STATE
Costs and penalties for 2005 oil spill
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2006) – Mid-Valley Pipeline Co. will pay $1.52 million to the state for environmental violations from an oil spill in the Kentucky River near Carrollton in 2005, Governor Ernie Fletcher announced today.
Civil penalties and costs of responding to the incident are contained in a consent decree filed today in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
A pipeline operated by the company ruptured on Jan. 26, 2005, releasing 262,542 gallons of oil into a 16-mile stretch of the Kentucky River in Owen and Carroll counties. Oil eventually entered the Ohio River.
Governor Fletcher, who flew over the spill area and met with officials in Carrollton, said the consent decree marks another step in the recovery process.
“This was an unfortunate incident, and it should serve as a reminder that our environment must be protected, even as we work to meet our energy needs,” Governor Fletcher said.
Mid-Valley Pipeline was cited for polluting the rivers and also for not reporting the spill immediately to the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC). The consent decree also requires the company to provide Incident Command Training for its personnel in Kentucky.
The consent decree calls for the company to pay $120,478.63 to EPPC for response costs, a civil penalty of $1.17 million to the state and $230,000 to a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the environment of Kentucky, as directed by the cabinet.
The public will have 30 days to comment on the decree, which also settled federal claims from the spill.

KENTUCKY HARE SCRAMBLE HITS LESLIE COUNTY
Willie Begley Memorial RV Park/Campground along with the Daniel Boone Trails, hosted Round 6 of the KY Hare Scramble July 9th.   With the fog looming over mountain tops as far as the eye could see, Thousandsticks Fire Department, Coon Creek Fire Department, and Transtar Ambulance waited anxiously on the sidelines for their first time as Event Rescue Squads. With help from the Daniel Boone Trailblazers ATV Club volunteering as course workers, the PeeWee A (ages 7-8) and PeeWee B (ages 4-6) race got underway at 9AM with Noah Chitwood taking 1st place, followed by Alan Hollenkamp taking 2nd in PeeWee B with Breck Harvey taking 1st in PeeWee A. Next up came the Jr Mini and young mini with Taylor Gray taking 1st in the Jr B class.
Because of confusion amongst the officals, course workers, and racers, all results are not in at this time for all of the winners, including the results for the age group of 9 through 15.
By the time the dust settled and the fog had dissipated, 120 plus motorcycles took over the mountain like a herd of elk one would see on a typical day on Daniel Boone Trails.   Bikers line up according to class with Pros in the first row and so on and on with Beginners' Class taking the end. Although there is dispute amoungst the officals as to the winners, New Zealander Phil Whibley took 1st place (unofficially) and had time to change out of his gear and settle in for an interview before all racers had even crossed the finish line.   Although all results are yet to be known, the Beginners' class results are in with Patrick Bailey taking 1st, Keith Parker 2nd, Calvin Barrett 3rd, and Leslie County's own Justin Barnes taking 4th.
By the time the dust had settled and the trails were swept, the muggy weather and hot sun of late afternoon smoldered the start of the ATV race. With 29 ATVs vying for 1st, Jody Estes took hope from all when he crossed the finish line with only specks of color peeking from all the mud he and his ride were caked in. Nathan Beyers took 2nd, Justin Wright 3rd, and Ronnie Mills 4th.   Leslie Countians Kendall Couch and Chris Smith took 4th and 10th place respectively overall.
For a complete list of riders and results, visit www.kyharescramble.com.
With representatives from 40 Kentucky counties, over 10 different states, and even another country competing in the race, this day was one with adrenaline written all over it for racers and spectators alike.
Congradulations to the Leslie County Fiscal Court and the staff of the Willie Begley Memorial RV Park and Daniel Boone Trails for bringing culture from around the globe to Eastern Kentucky.

Twenty-four Die On Kentucky Roadways (June 5 through June 11)
Release on: Monday, June 12, 2006 Contact: Major Lisa Rudzinski
Media Relations Branch     Ph: (502) 695-6344
(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Preliminary statistics* indicate that 24 people died in 20 separate crashes on Kentucky’s roadways from Monday, June 5, 2006, through Sunday, June 11, 2006.
Preliminary data* indicates alcohol was a suspected factor in six of the 20 crashes. Thirteen of the crashes involved motor vehicles, four involved motorcycles, one involved a bicycle and one involved an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). One victim was a pedestrian. Thirteen of the motor vehicle victims were not wearing seat belts. One of the motorcycle victims was not wearing a helmet and the ATV victim was not wearing a helmet. The bicycle victim was wearing a helmet.
One triple-fatality motor vehicle crash occurred in Crittenden. One double-fatality motor vehicle crash occurred in Marion County and one in Allen County. Two single-fatality crashes occurred in Jefferson County. The remaining 15 single-fatality crashes occurred in Bourbon, Calloway, Clark, Daviess, Franklin, Fulton, Grant, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lee, Pendleton, Pike, Russell and Whitley counties.
The four motorcycle fatalities occurred in Calloway, Franklin, Jefferson and Pendleton counties. The bicycle fatality occurred in Bourbon County and the ATV fatality occurred in Knox County.
Through June 11, 2006, a total of 368 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways. This is 18 fewer than reported for this time period in 2005. Of those 368 fatalities, 22 were pedestrians and 30 were motorcyclists, 15 of whom were not wearing helmets. Of the 315 motor vehicle fatalities, 206 victims were not wearing seatbelts and the seatbelt status of 23 of the victims is not known.
Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

Thirteen Die On Kentucky Roadways During Memorial Day Holiday Period
May 30th, 2006
Preliminary statistics* indicate that 13 people died in 11 separate crashes on Kentucky’s roadways during the Memorial Day holiday period from 6 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2006, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 29, 2006.
Preliminary data* indicates alcohol was a suspected factor in three of the 11 crashes. Nine of the crashes involved motor vehicles, one involved a motorcycle and one involved an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Six of the 11 motor vehicle victims were not wearing seat belts, four of the victims were wearing seat belts, and the seat belt status of one of the victims is not known. The motorcycle and ATV victims were not wearing helmets.
A double-fatality motor vehicle crash occurred in Elliott County and one in Marshall County. Two single-fatality motor vehicle crashes occurred in Pendleton.County. The remaining five single-fatality motor vehicle crashes occurred in Allen, Casey, Jefferson, Johnson and Livingston counties. The motorcycle fatality occurred in Owsley County and the ATV fatality occurred in Perry County.
Preliminary statistics show that from Monday, May 22, 2006, through Sunday, May 28, 2006, 23 people died in 21 separate crashes on Kentucky’s roadways. Preliminary data indicates alcohol was a suspected factor in six of those crashes. Eighteen of the victims were involved in motor vehicle crashes, three of the victims were involved in motorcycle crashes and one victim was riding an ATV. One of the victims was a pedestrian.
Of the 23 victims for the week, ten of the 18 motor vehicle victims were not wearing seat belts, five of the victims were wearing seat belts, and the seat belt status of three of the victims is not known. Two of the three motorcycle victims and the ATV victim were not wearing helmets. The helmet status of the third motorcycle victim is not known.
Through May 29, 2006, a total of 325 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways. Of the 282 motor vehicle fatalities, 182 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the 22 motorcycle victims, 13 were not wearing helmets. There have been 21 pedestrian fatalities.
Through the same period in 2005, 357 people had lost their lives on Kentucky roadways.
The “Buckle-Up Kentucky -- It’s the Law and It’s Enforced” campaign runs through midnight on Sunday, June 4, 2006. Traffic safety checkpoints as well as saturation patrols will continue throughout this period with special emphasis on seat belt violations, speeding and impaired driving.
Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.
*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas.