Thursday, March 18, 2010
Operation Clean Sweep Set At Jenny Wiley Park
KENTUCKY....
The public is invited to participate in the 2010 “Operation Clean Sweep” to be held Saturday, March 20th, at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Registration begins at 9:00 A.M. at the Jenny Wiley Executive Golf Course. A complimentary cookout will be at the office at 2:00 P.M. for all volunteers. “Operation Clean Sweep” T-shirts will be given to all volunteers who pick-up two bags of trash (limit one shirt per person while supplies last). For additional information, contact Trinity Shepherd at (606) 889-1790 or Stonney Burke at (606) 886-6709.
The public is invited to participate in the 2010 “Operation Clean Sweep” to be held Saturday, March 20th, at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Registration begins at 9:00 A.M. at the Jenny Wiley Executive Golf Course. A complimentary cookout will be at the office at 2:00 P.M. for all volunteers. “Operation Clean Sweep” T-shirts will be given to all volunteers who pick-up two bags of trash (limit one shirt per person while supplies last). For additional information, contact Trinity Shepherd at (606) 889-1790 or Stonney Burke at (606) 886-6709.
Committee Passes Bill For ATV Trails
KENTUCKY....
House Bill 173, sponsored by Rep. Keith Hall, D-Phelps, was unanimously approved Thursday by the House Committee on Tourism Development and Energy. A system of ATV trails in eastern Kentucky would connect to similar trail systems in West Virginia and south-western Virginia. The bill the committee approved was very different from the original bill which would have elevated the Kentucky Recreational Trails Authority to the level of a state agency and given it power to require that people buy a permit before hiking or riding on state lands. Hall said he changed the bill because the original would have cost several million dollars.
House Bill 173, sponsored by Rep. Keith Hall, D-Phelps, was unanimously approved Thursday by the House Committee on Tourism Development and Energy. A system of ATV trails in eastern Kentucky would connect to similar trail systems in West Virginia and south-western Virginia. The bill the committee approved was very different from the original bill which would have elevated the Kentucky Recreational Trails Authority to the level of a state agency and given it power to require that people buy a permit before hiking or riding on state lands. Hall said he changed the bill because the original would have cost several million dollars.
Pike County Road Projects
KENTUCKY....
House Bill 292 outlines nearly $300 million in road projects. Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says, while the money will pay dividends for the state and county road programs, officials are working with Senator Ray Jones, as the budget bill moves through the Senate. Officials are working in an effort to get more money. Rutherford expressed disappointment because of a lack of money for the Mountain Parkway. Officials say $193 million will go toward projects in fiscal year 2010, which includes 30 bridge replacements, many in Pike County. Renewed funding for U.S. 460 and U.S. 119 are parts of the plan
House Bill 292 outlines nearly $300 million in road projects. Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says, while the money will pay dividends for the state and county road programs, officials are working with Senator Ray Jones, as the budget bill moves through the Senate. Officials are working in an effort to get more money. Rutherford expressed disappointment because of a lack of money for the Mountain Parkway. Officials say $193 million will go toward projects in fiscal year 2010, which includes 30 bridge replacements, many in Pike County. Renewed funding for U.S. 460 and U.S. 119 are parts of the plan
Two Sentenced For Killing Endangered Bats
KENTUCKY....
Thirty-one year old Lonnie Skaggs of Sandy Hook, Ky. was sentenced Thursday to eight months in federal prison and one year supervised release while 20 year old Kaleb Dee Morgan Carpenter of Olive Hill, Ky. received three years probation. Each pleaded guilty to a charge of killing an endangered species, admitting that, in December 2009, they used flashlights, rocks and their feet to kill endangered Indiana bats in Laurel Cave at Carter Cave State Park. Prosecutors say combined they killed 23, but Skaggs admitted he killed an additional 82.
Thirty-one year old Lonnie Skaggs of Sandy Hook, Ky. was sentenced Thursday to eight months in federal prison and one year supervised release while 20 year old Kaleb Dee Morgan Carpenter of Olive Hill, Ky. received three years probation. Each pleaded guilty to a charge of killing an endangered species, admitting that, in December 2009, they used flashlights, rocks and their feet to kill endangered Indiana bats in Laurel Cave at Carter Cave State Park. Prosecutors say combined they killed 23, but Skaggs admitted he killed an additional 82.
Cocaine Found At Airport
KENTUCKY...
A cleaning crew has found more than 14 pounds of cocaine in a bathroom at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Brian Bell says the drugs were discovered Monday, hidden in a pair of sweat pants in a carry-on bag and stashed in a locked bathroom stall. The bathroom is inside the Federal Inspection Services area. There was no identification on the bag. In a news release, customs officials say the presence of customs agents likely scared the person carrying the drugs. The total weight of the seized cocaine is 14.7 pounds. There were no immediate arrests.
A cleaning crew has found more than 14 pounds of cocaine in a bathroom at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Brian Bell says the drugs were discovered Monday, hidden in a pair of sweat pants in a carry-on bag and stashed in a locked bathroom stall. The bathroom is inside the Federal Inspection Services area. There was no identification on the bag. In a news release, customs officials say the presence of customs agents likely scared the person carrying the drugs. The total weight of the seized cocaine is 14.7 pounds. There were no immediate arrests.
Man Shot After Intending To Shoot A Dog
KENTUCKY...
A Pulaski County man has been fatally shot after apparently going to shoot at a stray dog that was chasing his livestock. The Commonwealth Journal in Somerset reported that 62-year-old Steven W. Quaid's wife went to look for him Tuesday afternoon when he didn't return to their house and found him dead. Pulaski County Sheriff's officials said Quaid had been shot once in the head, apparently with a bullet from his own rifle. An autopsy is being conducted in Frankfort and investigators hope it yields clues about how Quaid died.
A Pulaski County man has been fatally shot after apparently going to shoot at a stray dog that was chasing his livestock. The Commonwealth Journal in Somerset reported that 62-year-old Steven W. Quaid's wife went to look for him Tuesday afternoon when he didn't return to their house and found him dead. Pulaski County Sheriff's officials said Quaid had been shot once in the head, apparently with a bullet from his own rifle. An autopsy is being conducted in Frankfort and investigators hope it yields clues about how Quaid died.
Prison Bathroom Described As A "Slaughterhouse"
KENTUCKY...
Twenty-year-old Ashley Cox, the Corbin woman accused of murdering her newborn baby, appeared in Oldham County court Wednesday afternoon for a probable cause hearing. During the hour-long hearing, the judge heard gruesome testimony from the detective that investigated the case. Kentucky State Police Detective Todd Harwood explained what he learned from his investigation and what may have happened on Sunday, March 7, when Cox drove from Corbin, KY to LaGrange to visit her boyfriend, an inmate at the Roederer Correctional Complex. Detective Harwood said Cox was accompanied by her boyfriend's family. Witnesses told him Cox went to the restroom, complaining she did not feel well, and that after 20 minutes, the boyfriend's family checked on her. During a search of the facility, Harwood said a nurse found the 6-pound-5 ounce newborn's body in a trash can. Harwood said the infant's body was wrapped in towels soaked in blood, and her mouth was stuffed with toilet paper. Harwood said when he questioned Cox she denied being pregnant. The judge ruled there was enough evidence to send Cox's case to a grand jury. She is charged with murder and concealing the birth of an infant, and remains in the Oldham on a $2.5 million bond.
Twenty-year-old Ashley Cox, the Corbin woman accused of murdering her newborn baby, appeared in Oldham County court Wednesday afternoon for a probable cause hearing. During the hour-long hearing, the judge heard gruesome testimony from the detective that investigated the case. Kentucky State Police Detective Todd Harwood explained what he learned from his investigation and what may have happened on Sunday, March 7, when Cox drove from Corbin, KY to LaGrange to visit her boyfriend, an inmate at the Roederer Correctional Complex. Detective Harwood said Cox was accompanied by her boyfriend's family. Witnesses told him Cox went to the restroom, complaining she did not feel well, and that after 20 minutes, the boyfriend's family checked on her. During a search of the facility, Harwood said a nurse found the 6-pound-5 ounce newborn's body in a trash can. Harwood said the infant's body was wrapped in towels soaked in blood, and her mouth was stuffed with toilet paper. Harwood said when he questioned Cox she denied being pregnant. The judge ruled there was enough evidence to send Cox's case to a grand jury. She is charged with murder and concealing the birth of an infant, and remains in the Oldham on a $2.5 million bond.
Seniors Could Opt Out Of Jury Duty
KENTUCKY...
A House committee has approved a bill that would allow senior citizens to opt out of jury service if they so choose. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on Wednesday. It now goes to the full House for consideration. Democratic state Rep. Tom Riner of Louisville is sponsoring the measure that would allow people at least 70 years old to have their names removed from potential juror lists. The measure cleared the committee despite concerns voiced by some members about its constitutionality.
A House committee has approved a bill that would allow senior citizens to opt out of jury service if they so choose. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on Wednesday. It now goes to the full House for consideration. Democratic state Rep. Tom Riner of Louisville is sponsoring the measure that would allow people at least 70 years old to have their names removed from potential juror lists. The measure cleared the committee despite concerns voiced by some members about its constitutionality.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Ky. Man Indicted For Alleged Presidential Threat
KENTUCKY....
Twenty-seven year old Johnny Logan Spencer Jr.of Louisville is scheduled for arraignment on Friday after being indicted on a charge of making a threat to kill President Barack Obama. Officials say he posted a poem containing the language "DIE negro DIE" on a white supremacist Web site in August 2007. However, it failed to come to the attention of federal authorities until after Obama's election in 2008, and officials didn't learn Spencer's identity until last month. Spencer argues the poem is protected by the First Amendment, but a federal magistrate judge ruled last month that he could be prosecuted.
Twenty-seven year old Johnny Logan Spencer Jr.of Louisville is scheduled for arraignment on Friday after being indicted on a charge of making a threat to kill President Barack Obama. Officials say he posted a poem containing the language "DIE negro DIE" on a white supremacist Web site in August 2007. However, it failed to come to the attention of federal authorities until after Obama's election in 2008, and officials didn't learn Spencer's identity until last month. Spencer argues the poem is protected by the First Amendment, but a federal magistrate judge ruled last month that he could be prosecuted.
Senate Passes Amanda's Bill
KENTUCKY....
The Senate voted 38-0 Wednesday to pass House Bill 1, a bill dubbed Amanda's Bill, which is aimed at protecting domestic violence victims. The legislation now goes back to the House for consideration of changes made in the Senate. The Senate version would allow judges to order electronic tracking devices for people who have violated domestic violence orders while the House-passed version would allow judges to order people named in domestic violence orders to wear the ankle monitors. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's lead sponsor, says he plans to review the Senate changes before deciding whether to agree or seek a comopromise. Stumbo says he will meet withlegislators and advocacy groups to see what they have to say. If the House does not accept the changes, a conference committee will be formed to attempt a compromise.
The Senate voted 38-0 Wednesday to pass House Bill 1, a bill dubbed Amanda's Bill, which is aimed at protecting domestic violence victims. The legislation now goes back to the House for consideration of changes made in the Senate. The Senate version would allow judges to order electronic tracking devices for people who have violated domestic violence orders while the House-passed version would allow judges to order people named in domestic violence orders to wear the ankle monitors. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's lead sponsor, says he plans to review the Senate changes before deciding whether to agree or seek a comopromise. Stumbo says he will meet withlegislators and advocacy groups to see what they have to say. If the House does not accept the changes, a conference committee will be formed to attempt a compromise.
Suit Filed Against Otter Creek Prison
KENTUCKY....
In a suit filed Monday, a Hawaii inmate claims she was sexually assaulted and raped in June 2008 by two guards at the Otter Creek Correctional Center, a private prison owned by Corrections Corporation of America and located in Wheelwright, Kentucky. In September, the state moved all 128 of its female inmates out of privately-run Otter Creek into a state-run prison after 23 female inmates, including seven from Hawaii, alleged they were sexually assaulted. At least six prison workers have been indicted in that case.
In a suit filed Monday, a Hawaii inmate claims she was sexually assaulted and raped in June 2008 by two guards at the Otter Creek Correctional Center, a private prison owned by Corrections Corporation of America and located in Wheelwright, Kentucky. In September, the state moved all 128 of its female inmates out of privately-run Otter Creek into a state-run prison after 23 female inmates, including seven from Hawaii, alleged they were sexually assaulted. At least six prison workers have been indicted in that case.
Committee Passes Prison Legislation
KENTUCKY....
The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a bill that would make sexual contact between prison staff and an inmate a felony. Senator Julie Denton, R-Louisville, the sponsor of Senate Bill 17, told the House Judiciary Committee that the Department of Corrections has been pushing for some time to make sexual contact between staff and prisoners a felony. Kentucky is one of three states that presently considers the act a misdemeanor.
The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation barring inmates from filing frivolous suits against the Kentucky Department of Corrections until all administrative means have been exhausted to resolve complaints. The legislation would also apply to inmates filing lawsuits against county jails and private prisons. The bill has already been approved by the Senate.
The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a bill that would make sexual contact between prison staff and an inmate a felony. Senator Julie Denton, R-Louisville, the sponsor of Senate Bill 17, told the House Judiciary Committee that the Department of Corrections has been pushing for some time to make sexual contact between staff and prisoners a felony. Kentucky is one of three states that presently considers the act a misdemeanor.
The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation barring inmates from filing frivolous suits against the Kentucky Department of Corrections until all administrative means have been exhausted to resolve complaints. The legislation would also apply to inmates filing lawsuits against county jails and private prisons. The bill has already been approved by the Senate.
Doctor's License Revoked After Harlan County Conviction
KENTUCKY....
Dr. Visu Vilvarajah (vil-va-rah'-zhah), a Tennessee doctor who was convicted of illegally writing prescription painkillers for about 350 people in Harlan County has had his medical license revoked by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Vilvarajah, an anesthesiologist who ran a pain clinic in Nashville, was arrested last year along with his ex-wife, Dr. Mireille Lalanne. A criminal defense attorney testifying before the state board Wedneday suggested Dr. Vilvarajah pleaded guilty because he felt he couldn't get a fair trial in Harlan County. Lalanne was placed on five years probation.
Dr. Visu Vilvarajah (vil-va-rah'-zhah), a Tennessee doctor who was convicted of illegally writing prescription painkillers for about 350 people in Harlan County has had his medical license revoked by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Vilvarajah, an anesthesiologist who ran a pain clinic in Nashville, was arrested last year along with his ex-wife, Dr. Mireille Lalanne. A criminal defense attorney testifying before the state board Wedneday suggested Dr. Vilvarajah pleaded guilty because he felt he couldn't get a fair trial in Harlan County. Lalanne was placed on five years probation.
Coroner Rules Cliff Death Non-Conclusive
KENTUCKY...
A central Kentucky coroner says a man found dead over the weekend likely fell from a cliff. The body of 26-year-old Jeffrey Shivel was discovered Saturday near the Dix River in Rockcastle County. County Coroner Billy Dowell found Shivel's body had sustained trauma consistent with a fall from a considerable height. Dowell said an investigation continues and foul play had not been ruled out. Shivel's body was found Saturday by a photographer who was recording the search for Shivel, who had not been seen since Superbowl weekend.
A central Kentucky coroner says a man found dead over the weekend likely fell from a cliff. The body of 26-year-old Jeffrey Shivel was discovered Saturday near the Dix River in Rockcastle County. County Coroner Billy Dowell found Shivel's body had sustained trauma consistent with a fall from a considerable height. Dowell said an investigation continues and foul play had not been ruled out. Shivel's body was found Saturday by a photographer who was recording the search for Shivel, who had not been seen since Superbowl weekend.
Bill Allowing Concealed Weapon In Vehicle Being Considered.
KENTUCKY...
Kentuckians would be able to stow guns in any enclosed compartment built into vehicles under a measure that's headed to the Senate for consideration. The House approved the bill Tuesday on a vote of 94-4. The legislation would loosen current restrictions that require concealed weapons to be carried only in glove compartments.
Lawmakers amended the bill to prohibit people with a history of drunken driving from carrying loaded guns in their cars. The legislation is House Bill 453.
Kentuckians would be able to stow guns in any enclosed compartment built into vehicles under a measure that's headed to the Senate for consideration. The House approved the bill Tuesday on a vote of 94-4. The legislation would loosen current restrictions that require concealed weapons to be carried only in glove compartments.
Lawmakers amended the bill to prohibit people with a history of drunken driving from carrying loaded guns in their cars. The legislation is House Bill 453.
