Official: Big cats not cougars



Despite eyewitness accounts, it is unlikely that a cougar would be hunting in the mountains of Letcher County — or anywhere else in Kentucky for that matter, said a spokesman with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in Frankfort. “There’s nothing documented that there is one in the state,” said Mark Marraccini. “We haven’t had any confirmed sightings at […]

Miners, enviros catch ear of EPA





Hundreds of coal miners took part in a demonstration Tuesday in Frankfort, claiming that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s hold on 36 mine permits is costing them needed jobs in a fragile economy. Environmentalists, meanwhile, urged the EPA to stand its ground because they believe the proposed mining operations would pollute streams. The issue has produced heated rhetoric in Kentucky […]

Patrol system targets areas, brings arrests



A Texas man is scheduled to appear in Letcher District Court this week to answer drug-related charges. James Edward Taylor, 53, of Balch Springs, Texas, was arrested on June 2 after Letcher County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Taylor said he observed Taylor crossing a double yellow line several times while traveling on KY 343. Police found cocaine and other controlled substances, […]

Court denies 2nd appeal in jail sexual assault case



The Kentucky Court of Appeals has denied a second request for a new trial from a former Letcher County Jail inmate convicted in 2006 for his role in the jailhouse assault and sexual abuse of a fellow inmate. In denying the latest post-conviction action filed by 30-year-old Frank S. Campbell, a three-judge appeals court panel ruled that Letcher Circuit Judge […]

Alpha dog trains for mine rescue work





We’ve all heard of a canary in a coal mine, but what about a Dutch Shepherd? Meet Ginny: the newest member of coal producer Alpha Natural Resources’ search-and-rescue team, trained to perform searches in both underground and surface mines. Equipped with an infrared camera and atmospheric gas detector — along with her extraordinary sense of smell and unmatched agility — […]

E.Ky. writer penned two of Hank Sr.’s biggest hits



When songwriter Herbert Paul Gilley died at age 27 in a July 1957 drowning accident in nearby Morgan County, his parents were so stricken with grief they burned his personal belongings, author Chet Flippo wrote in his 1981 biography of Hank Williams Sr., Your Cheatin’ Heart. The actions of Gilley’s parents erased many of his contributions to country and popular […]

FAMILY TIME



Town hires cops with alcohol funds



Helped by new revenue generated by expanded alcohol sales, a central Kentucky city has been able to hire three new law-enforcement officers and expects to put a fourth to work next month. In 2010, Danville, in Boyle County, became the first city in Kentucky to go from limited restaurant sales to a fully wet community, according to the state ABC […]

Michigan man is guilty of sex crimes in Letcher



A 57-year-old Michigan man has been sentenced to two years in prison after recently pleading guilty to sexual abuse charges. Maximo Hernandez Jr., address unknown, pleaded guilty to amended charges of third-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse. The crimes, which involve a victim less than 12 years old, were committed on or about June 1, 2001. Letcher Circuit Judge Sam […]

Our weather is full of changes

Whitesburg

Hello everyone. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the weather. We’ve had all kinds this week. We really needed the rain and after all the hot weather the cool weather felt real good, so we can’t complain. We shouldn’t anyway. We got some nice changes and I loved it. I enjoyed talking to Frieda Ratliff and Teresa Pease. […]