(Columbia, KY) – CVE Officer Jason Norris is investigating a collision that occurred 03/18/11 at approximately 2:25 p.m., 5 miles east of Columbia on the Louie B. Nunn Parkway. The collision occurred when a 1991 International tractor and trailer, operated by Randall Caudill, age 49, of Brodhead, Kentucky, was traveling Westbound on the parkway. Investigation indicates that the passenger side steer tire blew out, causing the Caudill to lose control, run off the roadway and overturn several times before coming to final rest on the driver’s side. Caudill, who was not belted, was partially ejected from the tractor cab and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officer Norris was assisted at the scene by CVE Lieutenant Joseph Conn, Adair County Fire Department, Breeding Fire Department, Adair County EMS and the Adair County Sheriff’s Department.

At 11:06 a.m. this date a fire was reported at Green River State Marina. Upon arrival, Taylor County Fire Department found heavy fire confined to the marina. The Green River Marina served as a grocery store, gift shop, and restaurant.

Several small propane tanks exploded which helped fuel the fire. Relief valves on two larger propane tanks relieved. Such relief valves are designed to prevent tanks when heated from building two much pressure and exploding.

The marina was closed at the time of the fire. Floating cabins next to the marina were evacuated. One Jet Ski and a boat were damaged in the fire. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is possibly of an electrical origin.

Assisting Agencies

Campbellsville Fire Department
Campbellsville Taylor County Rescue Squad
Taylor County Sheriff Department

During the month of October, 2010, there were 40 traffic accidents investigated by the State Police working in the Post 15 area in the 11 counties of Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Marion, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell, Taylor and Washington. There were seven fatalities during the month of October in the Post 15 area:

Cravens, John Eric; of Albany, KY, was killed in Clinton Co, KY on 10/02/10.
Pinkston, Shannon; of Bardstown, KY, was killed in Marion Co, KY on 10/03/10.
Grider, Timothy G.; of Liberty, KY, was killed in Casey Co, KY on 10/08/10.
Vibbert, Cloe; of Summer Shade, KY was killed in Metcalfe Co, KY on 10/08/10.
Cox, George; of Campbellsville, KY, was killed in Taylor Co, KY on 10/14/10.
Schonder, Austin; of Russell Springs, KY, was killed in Adair Co, KY on 10/22/10.
McClister, Rhonda; of Russell Springs, KY, was killed in Cumberland Co, KY on 10/30/10.

This brings our yearly fatality count to 22 compared with 39 through this same period in 2009.

State wide fatality count stands at 630 compared with 659 through this same period in 2009.

During the month of October, 2010, there were 816 citations written, 320 courtesy notices written, 1428 vehicles inspected, 905 complaints answered, 131 motorists assisted, 77 criminal cases opened and 270 criminal arrests made.

A 17-year-old male juvenile has been charged with Murder in the shooting death of 29-year-old Felicia A. Eads of Russell Springs, Ky. On Tuesday, November 2nd,  Russell County Dispatch received a call of shots being fired at 80 Old Eli Road in Russell County at approximately 5:40 CST and KSP was contacted to respond.

Upon arrival at the scene, KSP units found the victim lying in the driveway with what appeared to be a fatal gunshot wound.  The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the juvenile and 50-year-old Pamela Jane Bennett of Russell Springs who had apparently been involved, along with the juvenile, in an altercation with the victim.

Pamela Jane Bennett was charged with attempted Murder and was lodged in the Casey County Jail.  The juvenile was lodged in the Adair County Youth Development Center in Columbia.

KSP Detective B.J. Burton is investigating and was assisted at the scene by Russell County EMS, Russell County Sheriff’s Department and the Jamestown Fire Department.

The Kentucky State Police, Post 15, Columbia, which provides coverage for Washington, Marion, Taylor, Casey, Russell, Green, Metcalfe, Monroe, Clinton, Cumberland and Adair counties will be conducting periodic traffic safety checkpoints at locations approved by the Kentucky State Police Policy and Procedures Manual. These checkpoints will be conducted in an effort to enforce the traffic laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Special attention will be paid to occupant protection (seatbelt adherence), sobriety and insurance and registration violations.

(Adair County, Ky)  Trooper Bradley Stotts and Trooper Nick Davis are investigating a two vehicle collision which occurred on Ky 80, 6 miles east of Columbia @ 4 p.m..  Christopher Grant, age 31, of Columbia was operating a 1990 Toyota pickup and was traveling west on Ky 80 when he struck a 2005 Ford Escape being operated by Virginia Grant, age 78, of Columbia was also traveling west.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Mary Ellen Grant, age 71, of Columbia and Ora Jones, age 92, of Columbia were passengers in Virginia Grants vehicle. Mary Ellen Grant was wearing a seat belt but Ora Jones was not wearing a seat belt. Mary Ellen Grant and Ora Jones were taken to Westlake Hospital where they were treated and released.

Sergeant Greg Brown, Adair County EMS and Fire assisted at the scene.

On October 30, 2010 the Adair County Marching Band competed in the KMEA State finals at the Pa Pa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY for the 25th year in a row. The Band scored a 93/100 which earned them the Governor’s Cup KMEA 1st Place.

(Adair County, KY)   Kentucky State Police in Columbia are investigating a stabbing that occurred on Hwy 1952 in Adair County on October 29^th at approximately 9:00 P.M.  Upon arrival KSP units discovered John Haskiell, age 48, of Columbia with apparent stab wounds.  Haskiell was transported to Westlake Regional Hospital by EMS and later airlifted to UofL hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

It was discovered through investigation that Derak Janes, age 49, of Columbia had stabbed Haskiell.  Janes was subsequently charged with assault 1^st degree and lodged in the Adair County Jail.  Detective Jamie Richard is investigating the assault.  KSP was assisted on the scene by Adair County EMS and the Adair County Sheriff’s Department.  The investigation is ongoing.

Small game hunters should find good conditions afield and plenty of rabbits when hunting starts on Nov. 1st in central and eastern Kentucky.

“The highest number of rabbits observed was in central Kentucky, followed by eastern Kentucky,” said Ben Robinson, small game biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The drought has dried up cover, as if it had been killed back by frost, so hunting conditions should be easier.”

Rabbit and quail season this year for the central and eastern part of Kentucky runs from Nov.1 through Nov. 12 and closes for the opening weekend of modern gun deer season. The season opens again in this part of the state on Nov. 15 and runs through Jan. 31, 2011.

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Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent in September 2010 from a revised 10 percent in August 2010, according to the Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

The September 2010 jobless rate is .7 percentage points lower than the 10.8 percent rate recorded in September 2009 for the state. The 10.1 percent rate recorded in September 2010 matches the unemployment rate recorded in March 2009 and is the highest since May 2010 when the rate was 10.4 percent.

“Kentucky’s economy continued to stagnate in September 2010. The unemployment rate increased to 10.1 percent as the state endured government cutbacks and layoffs at administrative and support businesses,” said Dr. Justine Detzel, OET chief labor market analyst.

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