August 11, 2008

A Kentucky road contractor with eastern Kentucky ties is under investigation for paying a state highway engineer to leak confidential information about state contracts. According to the Lexington Herald Leader, the FBI has been investigating a case involving Leonard Lawson and payments he may have directed to Jim Rummage, the state highway engineer in exchange for confidential information regarding cost estimates on state highway contracts. An affidavit filed by the FBI in US District Court in London, KY says that in 2006 and 2007, Rummage was asked by Lawson or by then transportation secretary, Bill Nighbert for the cost estimates. Attorneys for both Lawson and Nighbert denied the claims made in the affidavit.

It has been over two years since the city of Bristol, VA approved the demolition of King Mountain Hospital but the Bristol Herald Courier reports that the work may begin soon. The matter has been in Circuit Court since Judge Larry Kirksy had found building owner Cochran Enterprises in contempt for not moving forward on the demolition. Cochran owner, Darrell Cochran told the Herald Courier that he is ready to tear the building down and that he has been waiting for asbestos removal to be done before proceeding. The city has been trying for some time to have the long vacant structure removed, and orders to raze the building date back to 2006. The city filed suit in March of 2007, saying that the building was a public safety hazard and a danger to surrounding community.

September 1 marks the beginning of West Virginia’s ginseng season and the states department of forestry wants people to know the rules. According to the Logan Banner, only plants that are at least five years old can be harvested, and the age of a ginseng plant can be measured by counting its prongs, plants with at least three prongs are old enough for harvest. Another rule is that diggers replant the seeds of the harvested plant in the same location that they were found. Most of the ginseng harvested in central Appalachia is exported to China, where it is a popular remedy for digestive complaints, headaches, and for use as an aphrodisiac. The ginseng season lasts through November 30th.

The Lexington Herald Leader is reporting that a popular program on Kentucky Educational Television or KET aimed at offering a college education to Kentuckians across the Commonwealth is being discontinued. The program offering classes for nontraditional and working students has aided more than 140,000 students since it was begun in 1978, but will end after the fall 2008 semester. Students enrolled in the program could watch classes on television, online or on DVD’s distributed by KET rather than traveling to and from campus. Communication with professors was via email or over the phone, with periodic on campus sessions as required. The program was funded by an annual grant from the Council on Post Secondary Education, but that funding will end due to state budget cuts. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said through his spokesman Jay Blanton that the Governor plans to try to work with the Council on Post Secondary Education to quote – “try to determine is the source of those funds is gone long term or if there might be some other things we can do.”

A Pike County, Kentucky man charged with illegal gambling after state police caught him running a video poker operation that paid out cash to winners has pleaded guilty to the felony charges last week. According to the Appalachian News Express, Larry Adkins of Greasy Creek, pled guilty to eight counts of first degree promoting gambling, and the Pike County Commonwealths Attorney is recommending he be sentenced to a year of probation, as well as the forfeiture of any assets related to the money or gambling machines seized in the case. A statement by the Kentucky State Police said that troopers Jimmy Anderson and Kevin Thacker were on patrol in the Shelbiana area when they spotted suspicious activity near a closed business. Upon entering the building they found people playing video poker machines, and Adkins apparently admitted to paying out to winners regularly and stated that it was his operation. Adkins will be sentenced on October 10th.