Category: News & Opinion

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON COUNTY

A Sadieville man was killed Friday in a two-vehicle crash near Corinth in Grant County, Kentucky State Police said in a news release.

Jeffery Adams (42) died at the scene; Adams was passenger in a 1998 Dodge Durango driven by Amy Lemons (38) of Sadieville. Lemons was reportedly traveling west on KY 330, when she lost control on the slick road, and crossed into the path of a 2003 Dodge 3500 driven by Rodney Milner (51), of Berry.

Lemons was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, and listed in fair condition Friday; Milner was taken to St. Elizabeth Edgewood, where he was treated and released.

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/02/3621156_sadieville-man-dies-in-crash-of.html

http://www.news-graphic.com/breaking_news/article_081e77ec-92ca-11e4-a284-c32669819711.html

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KENTUCKY

Investigators from the NTSB arrived in Lyon County yesterday to investigate a tragic plane crash that occurred Friday night. Marty Gutzler (48) and his wife Kimberly Gutzler (46) were returning to Illinois from a holiday with family in Key West with their daughters, Piper (9) and Sailor Gutzler (7) and their cousin Sierra Wilder (14), when some trouble arose. According to State Police, Gutzler declared an emergency to air traffic control and proceeded toward the nearest airport, Kentucky Dam State Park Airport. Weather reports of the time show that cloud cover was around 600ft, which would have made visual landing at the airport difficult. The twin engine Piper Seneca crashed less than ten miles from the airport; seven-year-old Sailor was the sole survivor. A website has been established to assist in the “emotional, physical, and educational support” of Sailor Gutzler at www.sailorgutzlerfund.com.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150508153443/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/NTSB-on-scene-of-deadly-Western-Kentucky-plane-crash-287462251.html

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NATION

Jurors will be selected from a pool of about 1,200 today for the case gainst Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man charged with the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Jurors will decide whether Tsarnaev carried out the twin bombings that killed three and injured more than 260 near the finish line of the marathon on April 15, 2013. If found guilty, jurors will also decide whether he should be put to death.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150510153634/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Jury-selection-to-get-underway-in-marathon-attacks-287488141.html

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ENTERTAINMENT

The eldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry, “Little Jimmy Dickens“, passed away on Friday at the age of 94. Dickens last appeared on the Opry on December 20th in a celebration of his birthday, the day prior. Dickens was hospitalized a few days later on December 25th for a stroke. The song-writer and performer joined the Opry in 1948 after being discovered by Roy Acuff. Dickens is perhaps best known for his small stature, rhinestone studded accouterments, and comical novelty songs–including his number-one hit, “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.”

https://web.archive.org/web/20150726092847/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Little-Jimmy-Dickens-oldest-Opry-member-dies-at-94-287391501.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Jimmy_Dickens

 

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WEATHER

An arctic front will bring the coldest air of the season to the region beginning Wednesday. Temperatures will fall during the day, reaching the lower teens by late afternoon. Wednesday night will be the coldest–plan on lows around zero degrees. The combination of the very cold temperatures and brisk winds will create bitter wind chills Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning as low as 5 to 10 below zero.

Now is the time to prepare for these cold conditions. Take precautions to keep water pipes from freezing. Make sure you have heat sources prepared. Make arrangements for outdoor animals. Check on friends and family–especially those who may have limited heat sources. Finally…dress properly for the cold and wear plenty of layers.

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1757 – Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering, the traditional and gruesome form of capital punishment used for regicides.
• 1781 – American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.
• 1846 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Territory with the United Kingdom.
• 1896 – An Austrian newspaper reports that Wilhelm Röntgen has discovered a type of radiation later known as X-rays.
• 1914 – The Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and that it would pay a “living wage” of at least $5 for a day’s labor.
• 1919 – The German Workers’ Party, which would become the Nazi Party, is founded.
• 1925 – Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States.
• 1933 – Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay.
• 1944 – The Daily Mail becomes the first transoceanic newspaper.
• 1949 – United States President Harry S. Truman unveils his Fair Deal program.
• 1957 – In a speech given to the United States Congress, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces the establishment of what will later be called the Eisenhower Doctrine.
• 1972 – United States President Richard Nixon orders the development of a Space Shuttle program.
• 1974 – Warmest reliably measured temperature in Antarctica of +59 °F (+15 °C) recorded at Vanda Station
• 2005 – Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System, is discovered by the team of Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory.

KENTUCKY

Executive Assistant to the Governor, Colmon Elridge, is considering entering his bid for a run as Kentucky State Treasurer. Elridge would be the second African-American to attempt to win a state office in Kentucky. Elridge has been working in the Governor’s office as an assistant to the Governor since 2007. Elridge is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, and Harrison County High School.

http://wuky.org/post/beshear-senior-staffer-hoping-make-ky-electoral-history

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/colmon-elridge/8/9ab/322

A Nelson County youth’s suicide is being blamed on bullying that she had received online. Twelve-year-old Reagan Carter took her life two days prior to Christmas, apparently after harassment received from other girls of Bardstown Middle School became too much for the youth to handle. “They don’t think about the long term consequences about what that’s doing to another human being, who has feelings and who has thoughts, and who has a really big heart,” said Megan Hack, Reagan’s mother. Bardstown police say they’re investigating Reagan’s death.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150501135152/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Nelson-County-mother-blames-bullying-for-daughters-death–287309781.html

NATION

Three time New York Governor Mario Cuomo passed away yesterday evening in Manhattan, due to heart failure. Cuomo was 82. Cuomo’s death came hours after his son and current New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, gave his second inauguration address at the Erie and Buffalo County Historical Society.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/02/us-usa-politics-cuomo-idUSKBN0KB00F20150102

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lost-giant-former-new-york-gov-mario-cuomo-dies-n278256

General Motors is recalling roughly 92,200 trucks and SUVs for defective ingnition lock systems. GM says that the issue comes from lock acutators being set a bit wide, resulting in difficulty in turning the key when the temperature of the vehicle’s interior is exceedingly hot. Vehicles included in this recall are Chevrolet Silverado light-duty and heavy-duty pickups; Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra light duty and heavy-duty pickups; and Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT. For more information on the current recalls, please visit:
http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/images/US/Release_Images/2014/05-2014/recalls/Recalls-Running-Total.pdf
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gm-recalling-83000-more-vehicles-according-to-reports/

 

WEIRD

Seventy-five year-old Arthur Lampitt is recovering following surgery related to injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred 51 years ago. After lifting and moving concrete blocks a week or so ago, Lampitt reported feeling great pain in his arm–radiating from an area where he had discovered nearly a decade ago that an unknown metallic object had been embedded. When Lampitt previously discovered the unknown object by passing through a metal detector, Doctors advised him to let it be, as it caused no pain and wasn’t creating any danger at the time. Once his arm began to “grow” this time around, Lampitt decided it was time to have the object removed. What surgeons discovered was a seven-inch turn signal lever from Lampitt’s former 1963 Thunderbird–a vehicle he had totaled half a century ago. Lampitt hasn’t decided what he’ll do with the signal lever, but he’s stated that he will keep it as a trophy of some sort.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1860 – The discovery of the planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France.
• 1920 – The second Palmer Raid takes place with another 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists arrested and held without trial. These raids take place in several U.S. cities.
• 1942 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.
• 1945 – World War II: Nuremberg, Germany (in German, Nürnberg) is severely bombed by Allied forces.
• 1959 – Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.
• 1967 – Ronald Reagan sworn in as Governor of California
• 1974 – United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo.
• 1976 – The Gale of January 1976 begins, which results in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, resulting in at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.
• 2006 – An explosion in a coal mine in Sago, West Virginia traps and kills 12 miners, while leaving one miner in critical condition.

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

Harrison County EMS is searching for a few good medics to add to their team. If you believe you have the right stuff, stop by their offices located on Rodgers Park and fill out an application. For more information, call: 859.234.1515.
https://www.facebook.com/HarrisonCountyEms/posts/1005542226127365

Pendleton County will be receiving a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the construction of a new building to house the ambulances and office of Pendleton County EMS. The new structure will move Pendleton County EMS outside of the 500-year floodplain–far from their current location that presently lies within the 100-yr floodplain. The new building will also allow for an additional ambulance bay, ample storage for equipment, and a hazardous materials decontamination room. The grant is administered by the Department for Local Government and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-Stream.aspx?viewMode=ViewDetailInNewPage&eventID=%7b3D33C15A-9B99-4F81-88CD-B59A30A472C8%7d&activityType=PressRelease

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NATIONAL

Chick-Fil-A announced yesterday that the restaurant chain is investigating a possible breach of consumer credit card data. The company is currently working with IT security firms and law enforcement officials in their investigation into the matter. According to the restaurant chain’s website, the investigation stems from financial institutions and payment verification services contacting the company about suspicious activity originating from cards that had been used at certain Chick-Fil-A locations. The website also states that initial reports of the discrepencies came on December 19th. No information as to which locations or the number of patrons affected has been released.

KENTUCKY

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting donations of used, natural Christmas trees for use as fish habitats. By submerging the trees, a type of reef is created, thereby creating over and a nursery area for young fish; the trees also attract baitfish and algae, bringing food for young fish and other aquatic organisms. For more information on Fish and Wildlife’s Christmas tree recycling program, visit: http://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Xmas_Tree_Recycling.aspx
http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-Stream.aspx?viewMode=ViewDetailInNewPage&eventID=%7b3B259E22-92B2-498D-A44F-38CBE9E83603%7d&activityType=PressRelease

Six flu-related deaths have occurred across the state this year, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health–of the six deaths, five were adults, and one was a child; the deaths were reported in Fayette, Spencer, Boyd, Mason, Owen and Boone counties. Health officials report that with the numbers of people having been tested for the flu after the holidays, Kentucky has officially reached the peak levels–the typical period for a peak in flu season occurs between January and March.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150914234208/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/6-flu-deaths-reported-in-Kentucky-287160071.html
http://www.lex18.com/story/27729646/six-flu-related-deaths-reported-in-kentucky

Governor Steve Beshear released a list of 2014’s accomplishments on Monday, announcing his pride of the Commonwealth’s achievements. “We’ve fought our way through the Great Recession during the past seven years to get to this point – employment rates back at pre-recession levels, real investment in our schools and health care for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. I’m grateful for the outstanding accomplishments in 2014,” Beshear said. Included in Beshear’s list are Kentucky’s reports on business investment, lowered unemployment rates, increase in medical insurance coverage, and increases in educational funding.
http://www.kyforward.com/beshear-says-kentucky-accomplished-much-in-2014-sees-great-momentum-for-2015/
http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/governor/20141229top10.htm

NATIONAL

Fiat Chrysler has recalled approximately 67,000 trucks from their 2006 and 2007 model years. Chrysler said that the issue stems from a problem where a wire in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break in trucks equipped with manual transmissions.; the fault could then allow for the vehicle to move when the ignition key is in the on position, or prevent the engine from being started altogether. The recall comes after an investigation where a child managed to start a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 without depressing the clutch–another child was killed when the vehicle lurched forward and struck the child. Models included in the recall are: Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and Mitsubishi Raider pickups that were made between July 2005 and June 2006.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150907191627/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Chrysler-recalls-67000-pickup-trucks-287088751.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/chrysler-recalls-67000-pickup-trucks-27880530

WORLD

Reports of debris from AirAsia 8501 off the coast of Borneo were confirmed yesterday by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency. Some of the identifying debris that has been recovered include pieces of the jet’s interior, and luggage. The flight’s “black-boxes” have yet to be recovered. Seven bodies have been retrieved from the area, thus far–one reported to have been a female wearing a flight attendant’s uniform. According to a report by The Washington Post, the attendant has been identified as 20-year old Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/12/31/airasia-wreckage-recovery/21090565/

WEIRD

Brasstown, North Carolina, population 240, will not be dropping a ‘possum this New Year’s Eve, despite a twenty year tradition, thanks to efforts made by PETA. A law passed earlier this year in result of an ongoing legal battle does allow for the community to continue their tradition, however according to Clay Logan–organizer of the event–the ruling came too late for him to acqurie the proper permits. In years past, community members would collect a live opossum and lower the animal caged in a plexiglass cage in a fashion similar to the “ball-drop” in New York’s Times Square. Hopes are still high that the event will be attended without the traditional lowering of an opossum. The event has drawn as many as 4,000 people in previous years, featuring gospel sings, and an annual “Miss Possum” contest where local men compete in makeup, heels, wigs and ladies’ formal wear. “Don’t call it a drag show, though,” Mr. Logan said. “It’s Southern gentlemen dressed up like Southern ladies.”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/possum-drop-will-go-on-without-a-live-animal-1419888968
http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/2014/12/29/no-live-opossum-at-nc-possum-drop/21006717/

Hasbro has issued a voluntary recall following complaints of an accessory upsetting parents due to it’s phallic like appearance. The accessory in question is a part of the Cake Mountain set from Hasbro’s Play-Doh Sweet Shop line of toys; the accessory is supposed to function as an “icing extruder” for the imaginary play, however the design of the accessory does seem to resemble a penis to many. Hasbro has said that customers who bought the toy and would like the replacement part, can call them at 1-800-327-8264.

http://www.local12.com/template/cgi-bin/archived.pl?type=basic&file=/news/features/top-stories/stories/archive/2014/11/hXSx401l.xml#.VKPkTSvF_ng

http://rare.us/story/check-out-the-new-play-doh-toy-thats-pissing-off-parents/

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1862 – American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signs an act that admits West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two.
1878 – Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, filed for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine, and he was granted the patent in 1879.
1879 – Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
1923 – The chimes of Big Ben are broadcast on radio for the first time by the BBC.
1944 – World War II: Hungary declares war on Nazi Germany.
1946 – President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II.
1983 – The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government.
1991 – All official Soviet Union institutions have ceased operations by this date and the Soviet Union is officially dissolved.
1999 – The United States Government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties.

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

The Cynthiana Harrison County Public Library will be ringing in the new year during a special “Happy Noon Year” party on Wednesday at 11AM; the party–open to children 6mos through 2nd grade–will take the place of the library’s regular Story-Time hour. The event will take place across the street from the library, at the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact the library at 859.234.4881.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=760457000689196&id=179196648815237

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Harrison Memorial Hospital honored members of the Board of Directors at their December meeting, which was held on Dec. 18th. Eight members recieved the Calvin Martin Perfect Attendance Award, as well as desk clocks crafted by Don Wynn–the clocks were crafted from wood that had been retrieved from the hopital’s former “South-Wing”. Those that received these honors were: Doug Hampton, John Lair, Dr. Brian Mulberry, Jane Thomas, Gerald Fields, Larry Wiley, Dr. Derek Clarke and Paul Tucker. The award is named in honor of former member Calvin Martin; Martin was approaching 10 consecutive years of perfect attendance when he passed away just hours before the October 1999 board meeting.

Other honors presented at the meeting included the presentation of plaques to members leaving the board. Those exiting the board at the end of the 2014 year are: Jane Thomas, Dr. Derek Clarke, Steve Moses, and Doug Hampton.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/harrison-memorial-hospital/trustees-honored-on-hmh-board-appreciation-night/783962981674778

 

KENTUCKY

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott announced yeterday that he will be stepping down from his position effective midnight this coming Friday. Scott–a 67 yr-old Republican–has served as a Justice for 10 years; Scott states that serving on the Sumpreme Court has been a “great honor”, though the position limits court member’s abilities in finding solutions to Kentucky’s problems. It is rumored that Scott may consider running for governor in 2015.
http://wuky.org/post/scott-stepping-down-ky-supreme-court

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A new program at the University of Kentucky is working to educate students on hunger and nutrition while feeding members of the community. Campus Kitchen–a national community service initiative–focuses on collecting unused and left-over foods from school cafeterias and delivering meals to community members in need. At UK, the effort has collected foods from UK Dining and produce from the school’s College of Agriculture Food and Environment’s Horticulture Research Farm, and delivered meals to Lexington charities such as the Catholic Action Center, Salvation Army and Hope Center. You can find more information on the UK Campus Kitchen efforts on facebook at facebook.com/ckkentucky.
http://www.kyforward.com/uk-students-tackle-food-waste-problems-while-also-helping-feed-lexingtons-hungry/

NATIONAL

Gallatin, Tennessee authorities are asking citizens in Louisville, Kentucky to be on the lookout for two teens that have been missing since Christmas Day. Police believe that 16-year-old Kathryn Allman and 17-year-old Tristen Dutiel may be in the Louisville area, based on recent activity on a debit card belonging to Kathryn’s mother. Police have reported that Dutiel has friends and family in the Newark, Ohio area but cannot speculate as to whether the teens are heading in that direction. Allman is described as being 5-foot-3-inches tall, weighing 130-pounds, shoulder-length reddish-brown hair and was last seen wearing a long sleeve pink shirt and black leggings. Dutiel is 6-foot-2-inches tall, weighing 150-pounds and has short brown hair. Anyone having information pertaining to the teens are asked to contact Gallatin Police at 615.452.1313
http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2014/12/29/tenn-authorities-search-for-missing-teens-possibly-in-louisville/21018445/

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A recent study has concluded that some patients may find it difficult to find a doctor accepting Medicaid. The study–which was conducted by phone, in a manner similar to that which Medicaid patients would face–revealed a high number of inaccuracies in information published by the varying state Medicaid systems; the most common issue being that providers listed could not be located at the addresses/offices listed in the Medicaid managed care-plans.

“In these cases, callers were sometimes told that the practice had never heard of the provider, or that the provider had practiced at the location in the past but had retired or left the practice. Some providers had left months or even years before the time of the call,” the study report says.

The second and third most common issue–which only accounted for a total 16% of responses to the inquiries–were practitioners either no longer participating or no longer being able to accept new patients.

http://www.kyforward.com/u-s-study-finds-medicaid-patients-may-have-trouble-finding-doctor-kentucky-in-minority/

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President Barack Obama is the “most admired man” for the 7th year running, according to Gallup’s Most Admired Man and Woman, 2014 results. Joining the president at the top of the poll on the women’s side is Hilary Clinton, who has had the honor of being most admired for 17 out of the 18 years she’s appeared on the list. Gallup has conducted the the open-ended poll for nearly 7 decades.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/180365/barack-obama-hillary-clinton-extend-run-admired.aspx
WORLD

Six bodies, as well as some debris has been spotted in the waters near the last known location of AirAsia 8501. The bodies were found approximately six miles from the last known coordinates of the flight; the bodies have been recovered and taken aboard an Indonesian naval ship. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes has stated, “My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am.”
https://web.archive.org/web/20150426225309/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Indonesia-Bodies-found-near-site-where-plane-disappeared-287088081.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/30/airasia-flight-qz8501-found_n_6387938.html
https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/549840195579703296

ENTERTAINMENT

Netflix has given parents the chance to allow their kids to experience a countdown to 2015 at any time of the day; DreamWorks has produced a special three minute cartoon using the character’s of All Hail King Julien–a Netflix exclusive spin-off of DreamWorks’ Madagascar franchise. The cartoon is available for viewing at any time through New Year’s Eve.
http://lifehacker.com/send-your-kids-to-bed-early-new-years-eve-with-this-net-1676139174

FEATURED INTEREST

Kentucky for Kentucky has released a list of 29 ways that Kentucky has “kicked ass” in 2014. Included in the list are numerous statistics–like Kentucky being the 7th-ranked “nerdiest” state; stories that made national attention; and even a few odd goofs that were good for a laugh–like WDKY inadvertently broadcasting an image of John Wayne as an escapee. To see the list, head over to:

http://www.kentuckyforkentucky.com/blogs/news/16401100-29-ways-kentucky-and-its-kentuckians-kicked-ass-in-2014

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1813 – War of 1812: British soldiers burn Buffalo, New York.
1922 – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is formed.
1981 – In the 39th game of his third NHL season, Wayne Gretzky scores five goals, giving him 50 on the year and setting a new NHL record previously held by Maurice Richard and Mike Bossy, who earlier had each scored 50 goals in 50 games.
2006 – Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein is executed.

Been up since 5am and have come to a conclusion; it’s a very slow news morning! Everyone just seems to be repeating wire stories and reading police reports. There aren’t many good interest stories, either… Heck, even this day’s history is slow and boring!

KENTUCKY

Lexington Police are searching for two women involved in a shooting that occurred at the Days Motel around 2PM on Sunday. According to reports, a man and woman agreed to meet with the women at the motel to buy a cellphone that had been listed on a Facebook “yard-sale” group. The victims claim that when the women arrived they produced a handgun and began demanding money; when the victims attempted to flee the area in their car the armed suspect fired at least three rounds toward the vehicle. One suspect is described as being approximately 6′ in height, wearing a red hoodie and pink tennis shoes; the other suspect is described as being approximately 5′ tall, wearing a grey hoodie. The owner of the Days Motel states that no one involved in the incident were staying at the motel.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150420231831/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Lexington-Police-looking-for-women-wanted-in-shooting-286964771.html
http://www.lex18.com/story/27718693/sale-over-facebook-leads-to-shots-fired-outside-lexington-motel

Several Kentucky State Parks have events scheduled to help you ring out the old and bring in the new; among the options are entertainment, dining, and package deals for those wishing to stay away from home for a night or two. Nearby, Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort is offering a “New Years Eve Comedy in the Parks” event featuring stand-up comedy, music and dinner at the Worthington Lodge. For more information on this and other events, visit the calendar at parks.ky.gov.
http://parks.ky.gov/calendar/default.aspx

WORLD

AirAsia flight 8501–which was lost mid-flight from Indonesia to Malaysia on Sunday–has yet to be located, leaving officials to believe that the flight’s wreckage may lie at the bottom of the sea. Earlier reports of the sighting of a possible oil-slick and contacts from flight-recorder pings have been discounted as false rumor. Reports of visible wreckage seen in the area have yet to be confirmed at the time of this writing. The flight was carrying 155 passengers and 7 crew members.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/29/world/asia/airasia-missing-plane/

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1835 – The Treaty of New Echota is signed, ceding all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
1851 – The first American YMCA opens in Boston, Massachusetts.
1949 – KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut becomes the first Ultra high frequency (UHF) television station to operate a daily schedule.

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

Driving past the Harrison County bus garage or Board of Education building may have raised an eyebrow if you’ve noticed buses marked for Oldham County Schools. The Harrison County School Board has purchased four used buses from Oldham County at a cost of $10,000 each; the buses will be joining the fleet for regular use, along with three brand new buses that were approved for purchase earlier this year. Harrison County Superintendent Andy Dotson remarked that, “Opportunities like this purchase will not happen every year,” in regard to acquiring the buses from Oldham County.

KENTUCKY

Kentucky soft-drink manufacturer Ale-8-One was recently honored by the Department of Defense on Monday for their continued support of U.S. Military troops. Ale-8 has been sending care packages abroad to troops for ten years, providing Kentucky’s sons and daughters deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas a “Taste of Home” while they aid in serving and protecting our nation and world. For more information on how to aid in Ale-8’s support, visit http://www.ale8one.com/military.

Police in Lexington responded to a bomb threat at Commonwealth Stadium late last night, shortly after 11:00PM. Officers combed the area with explosives trained search dogs, however they did not find anything. Police cleared the scene around 1:00AM. http://www.lex18.com/story/27708897/police-work-bomb-threat-at-commonwealth-stadium

NATIONAL

Santa leave a gift-card in your stocking instead of something you really wanted? You might be able to turn that little bit of plastic into something you like, thanks to an online gift-card exchange program and it’s partnership with Walmart. Cardcash–a company that purchases gift-cards at a discount rate has teamed up with the retail giant to turn cards from other retailers and restaurants into Walmart e-giftcards that can be used online or in-store as soon as they are issued. For more information, visit http://walmart.cardcash.com.

http://time.com/money/3646649/walmart-gift-card-exchange-holidays/

ENTERTAINMENT

The Interview–the film that sparked buzz across the world, due to it’s negative reception by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un–was released by Sony, despite earlier announcements of being shelved. Sony had announced that the film would not be released due in part to threats made against theaters showing the film. On Christmas Eve, however, Sony released the film to numerous online film distributors and retailers–a day before it premiered at select theaters across the nation. Only three theaters in Kentucky debuted the film on Christmas–the Theaters of Georgetown was one of them.
http://www.kentucky.com/2014/12/24/3610151/three-theaters-in-kentucky-in.html
http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/The-Interview-debuts-in-front-of-large-crowds-in-Georgetown-286846511.html

WEIRD

A Nevada goat farmer and fire department have teamed up to recycle “live” Christmas trees. Vince Thomas–the farmer and long-time volunteer firefighter–got the idea from watching the goats graze, when he tossed a piece of pine to the herd and watched it be devoured. From there, the idea of safely and naturally discarding of former Christmas trees was born. After the goats have fed on the needles, the remaining branches and trunk are then chipped and turned into mulch. Why go to the trouble? J. Merriman–communication director of a local group that chips the remains of the trees–explains, “A lot of people dump it out on the desert and that’s really a problem because people think it’s a natural thing and it will decompose; but because we’re out in the desert, they don’t decompose, it will just get drier and drier and it really becomes a serious fire hazard.”

http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/nevada-goats-eat-recycle-christmas-trees-27829995

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1799 – Four thousand people attend George Washington’s funeral where Henry Lee III declares him as “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

1846 – Trapped in snow in the Sierra Nevadas and without food, members of the Donner Party resort to cannibalism.

1898 – Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium.

1941 – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

1963 – The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “I Saw Her Standing There” are released in the United States, marking the beginning of Beatlemania on an international level.

1982 – Time’s Man of the Year is for the first time a non-human, the personal computer.

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

The remaining suspect in yesterday morning’s home invasion surrendered himself yesterday afternoon, and is now in custody at the Bourbon County Detention Center. Larry J. Nolen (26) had been involved in an incident that took place in the home of Bill Jolley (42) on Monroe Road. After delivering his an accomplice, Marcus L. Gross (28) to Harrison Memorial Hospital, Nolen ran and remained in hiding for several hours. Gross was pronounced dead at the hospital, due to a fatal gunshot wound received in the incident.

Raven B. Edwards (27) also remains in custody at the detention center for her involvement in the invasion. Edwards has plead guilty to charges of first degree burglary and robbery; she is being held on a $50,000 bond.

http://kg4vma.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/late-evening-news/

KENTUCKY

Tonight is the last night for indoor activities at the Southern Lights; the driving tour portion of the Lights will remain open after tonight, though December 31.

http://khpfoundation.org/programs/featured-events/southern-lights-holiday-festival

 

NATION

The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to build a case against companies selling pure, powdered caffeine; this action comes after the death of an Ohio teen this summer. Since that time, many major retailers have stopped selling the substance in bulk, however certain avenues do still exist for purchasing bulk caffeine over the Internet. According to experts, a simple teaspoon of powdered caffeine–equivalent to 25 cups of coffee–can be lethal.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150410113101/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/FDA-going-after-sellers-of-pure-caffeine-powder-286650541.html

ENTERTAINMENT

Singer Joe Cocker – best known for his cover of the Beatles “With a Little Help From my Friends” died yesterday of lung cancer. Cocker was 70 years old.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30582761

72 year old Muhammad Ali is said to be improving after having been hospitalized for pneumonia over the weekend. Ali’s spokesman, Bob Gunnell, has stated that Ali hopes to be discharged from the hospital soon. No further details have been released.

http://wuky.org/post/hospitalized-muhammad-ali-improving

WEIRD

A replica of the iconic “Leg Lamp” from A Christmas Story walked away from it’s display in a New York liquor store. Gary Brennan, owner of Yankee Spirits, reports that a thief walked into the store, unplugged the lamp, and removed it from the store’s window display. “He knew what he was doing,” Brennan said. “There was a guy in a car waiting for him outside.” As to his feelings about the theft, Brennan stated, “Why do you want to steal a part of Christmas? Steal a bottle of vodka — I won’t feel nearly as bad.”

http://nypost.com/2014/12/22/replica-of-leg-lamp-from-a-christmas-story-stolen-from-liquor-store/

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

In 1823 – A Visit From St. Nicholas, better known as Twas The Night Before Christmas, was published anonymously.

In 1913 – President Woodrow Wilson signs the Federal Reserve Act, establishing the Federal Reserve System

In 1947 – The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories.

In 1970 – The World Trade Center’s North Tower is topped at 1,368 ft, making it the tallest building in the world.

…yeah, I realize that if I wanna do this for real, I should probably aim for gathering and writing things sooner… but the kids were behaving fairly well, so I just had to treat them to a bit of daddy time and a movie–Peabody & Sherman–on the TV… and then that somehow turned into watching Firefly for the umpteenth time on Netflix… and then there was the cleaning, and the laundry, etc…

BIG STORY

Marcus Gross
(Photo from a 2007 WLEX interview w/ Gross)

It started around 12:30AM, when Raven B. Edwards (27) arrived at the home of Bill Jolley (42), on Monroe Road, off of US 27 South of Cynthiana. According to reports given to police by Jolley, Edwards had been in contact with him via phone and Facebook, asking to meet with him at his residence. Shortly after inviting Edwards in, Jolley’s home was forcefully entered by Edwards’ boyfriend, Marcus L. Gross (28), and an accomplice, Larry J. Nolen (26).

“The two men kicked in the door, came in, tackled me, and a fight ensued. We made it to the bedroom, went through a drywall wall then I was able to grab my gun off the night stand. I shot one of them and then they left,” Jolley told WKYT in an interview. “It is pretty scary. You know you think you are safe in your own home. I can’t explain why people do what they do. It is a shame you have to take precautions to protect what you have worked for.”

Sometime after Gross was shot, Nolen drove his wounded accomplice to Harrison Memorial Hospital; Gross was soon pronounced dead. Nolen left the hospital, abandoning a maroon 2000 Chevrolet Impala.

Edwards was arrested in connection to the crimes, and charged with first degree robbery and burglary. In an arraignment that took place later this day, Edwards plead not guilty to the charges. She is currently being held at the Bourbon County Detention Center with a $50,000 bond, and has a court appearance set for December 29. Edwards has already revealed in a statement to police that she was “the set up person” and that she had “knowledge that a robbery was going to occur shortly after her arrival at the residence.”

Jolley claims to have no previous knowledge of Gross or Nolen, but that Edwards was a friend of a former girlfriend, according to a report by WTVQ.

In an earlier televised report made by WLEX, Gross had been the perpetrator of a crime that took place in 2007 at Hillside Apartments in Cynthiana. On August 27, 2007, Gross was involved in a heated altercation with an ex-girlfriend. According to an article published by The Cynthiana Democrat, Gross had approached the woman with a knife and attempted to draw her inside the apartment; when his attempts failed, Gross set fire to a mattress, and later jumped out of the third-story window of an adjacent bedroom. Gross plead guilty to criminal mischief, burglary, wanton endangerment, and an amended charge of arson.

In response to Gross’ former criminal activities, his father, Mark Gross told WKYT, “He did go to prison and he made some bad choices in his early life, but when he got out, he turned everything over to the Lord.”

Nolen has since been located and arrested by Kentucky State Police. Nolen is currently in the custody of the Bourbon County Detention Center and has been charged with first degree robbery and burglary as well as fourth degree assault. Bond information has yet to be set.

http://www.lex18.com/story/27683866/man-shot-and-killed-during-harrison-county-home-invasion

http://www.wtvq.com/story/d/story/suspect-wanted-after-deadly-home-invasion-in-cynth/31914/iupkh10Khk28gDNlVAzuMA

https://web.archive.org/web/20190517150257/https://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Man-shot-dead-in-Harrison-County-286538641.html