(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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

“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.

Rabbit and quail season opens Nov. 15 and closes Feb. 10, 2011 in the following western Kentucky counties: Allen, Ballard, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McLean, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren and Webster.

The statewide daily bag limit is four rabbits and eight quail.

The drought may have impacted quail more than rabbits, especially in west Kentucky. “We had pretty good nesting conditions early on, with spring rains and lots of cover, but western Kentucky was drier and hotter (than the rest of the state), as the summer progressed,” said Robinson. “When chicks hatch they need insects, and in drier weather there are fewer insects.”

The months of June and July signal the peak of quail nesting in Kentucky, a bit later than some adjacent states. Rain throughout the summer is important to quail because moisture provides better cover and more food sources.

“Quail need seeds, especially as the season progresses,” said Robinson.

Rabbits have a much longer breeding season than quail. A female in good habitat with favorable weather conditions may produce several litters of young from late winter, through early fall.

The rural mail carrier survey, conducted annually since 1960, provides biologists with small game population trends based on the number of rabbits and quail observed along roadways per 100 miles driven. The rural mail carrier survey found rabbit and quail numbers decreased slightly from last year.

Robinson said he expects quail hunting to be close to what hunters experienced last year, but not all indicators point to fewer quail this fall.

“Quail hunters who participated in our Quail Hunting Cooperator Survey reported an increase in the number of quail covey flushes per hour last season,” said Robinson. “Hunter input helps us track population and hunt trends.”

Kentucky’s Quail and Rabbit Hunting Cooperator Surveys were developed as a volunteer initiative in 1995. Biologists use the collected data to monitor trends that help them make informed decisions on rabbit and quail management.

Hunters use a log to keep track of their hunts, providing the following information: date of the hunt, county, hours hunted, number of hunters, number of dogs, number of coveys flushed or rabbits jumped, number of quail singles re-flushed, number of rabbits or quail shot at, number of quail or rabbits killed, and the number of crippled quail not retrieved.

Some highlights from the 2009-2010 Rabbit Hunting Cooperator Survey Report revealed:

· The average rabbit hunt was two hunters spending about 3.5 hours afield with four dogs.

· December was the most popular month with rabbit hunters.

· Hunters jumped between nearly two rabbits per hour, and harvested around 3 rabbits per hunt.

· Eastern cottontail rabbits comprised 98 percent of the harvest. Kentucky’s other two rabbits are the Appalachian cottontail and the swamp rabbit.

At the end of the season, hunters simply mail their completed surveys to: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, No. 1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Ky. 40601. Hunter logs may be obtained by calling (800) 858-1549, or can be printed off the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at: fw.ky.gov/smallgamelogs.asp.

Each year, participating hunter cooperators receive a new hunting log, the results of the survey and a small gift for participating, such as lapel pin or ball cap.

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.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate stayed at 9.6 percent from August 2010 to September 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working.

Seven of the 11 major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors reported an employment increase in September 2010, while four decreased, according to OET. An increase of 1,700 jobs in September 2010 brought Kentucky’s nonfarm employment to a seasonally adjusted total of 1,772,000. Likewise, Kentucky’s nonfarm employment has grown by 14,200 workers since September 2009.

According to the seasonally adjusted employment data, Kentucky’s leisure and hospitality sector expanded by 3,100 jobs in September 2010. Since September 2009, the sector has climbed 3,500 positions. The leisure and hospitality sector includes arts, entertainment and recreation, accommodations and food services and drinking places industries.

“The easing in retrenchment by consumers is positively impacting the leisure and hospitality sector as individuals splurge more on restaurant meals and leisure activities,” said Detzel.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector surged by 1,600 jobs in September 2010. This area includes retail and wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing businesses and utilities. It is the largest sector in Kentucky with 368,800 employees. Since September 2009, the number of jobs in this sector has jumped by 7,600.

“The lion’s share of the year-over-year job gains in this sector are attributed to transportation, warehousing and utilities establishments. This reflects expansions at air transportation businesses, shipping companies, a freight transportation service, utilities, and warehouses, and the openings of air transportation services and warehouses,” said Detzel.

Employment in the other services sector, which includes such establishments as repair and maintenance businesses; personal and laundry services; religious organizations and civic and professional organizations, went up by 800 positions in September 2010. This sector had 1,200 fewer positions in September 2010 than in September 2009.

The financial activities sector added 500 jobs in September 2010. This segment, which includes businesses involved in finance, insurance, real estate and property leasing or rental, has lost 2,700 positions since September 2009.

The educational and health services sector reported 400 more workers in September 2010 than in August 2010. The sector has gained 1,100 workers since September 2009. This sector includes private and nonprofit establishments that provide either education and training or health care and social assistance to their clients.

Kentucky’s manufacturing sector jobs rose by 300 in September 2010. Since September 2009, employment in the manufacturing sector has expanded by 4,800 positions.

“Job gains from August 2010 to September 2010 were clustered in the nondurable goods subsector. As the economy recovers, the manufacturing sector is ramping up production to meet the resurgence in demand for products,” she said.

Employment in the mining and logging sector increased by 100 workers in September 2010. The sector has gained 600 workers since September 2009.

The professional and business services sector plummeted 2,600 positions in September 2010. This area includes professional, scientific and technical services; management of companies; and administrative support and waste management, including temporary help agencies. Since last September, jobs in the sector have surged by 10,000.

“The month-to-month employment decline in this sector occurred predominantly at administrative and support businesses, reflecting the end of temporary jobs at a payroll and billing support center and layoffs at an information technology and outsourcing services firm,” said Detzel.

The government sector, which includes public education, public administration agencies and state-owned hospitals, lost 2,100 jobs in September 2010. The sector has 1,800 fewer jobs compared to September 2009.

Construction sector jobs fell by 200 in September 2010. Since September 2009, employment in the construction sector has plunged by 7,000 jobs.

The information sector reported 200 fewer positions in September 2010. This segment, which includes firms involved in publishing, Internet activities, data processing, broadcasting and news syndication, has dropped by 700 positions since September 2009.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly estimate of the number of employed Kentuckians for September 2010 was 1,867,888 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This figure is up 6,010 from the 1,861,878 employed in August 2010, and up 14,125 from the 1,853,763 employed in September 2009.

The monthly estimate of the number of unemployed Kentuckians for September 2010 was 209,481, up 3,486 from the 205,995 Kentuckians unemployed in August 2010, but down 14,898 from the 224,379 unemployed in September 2009.

The monthly estimate of the number of Kentuckians in the civilian labor force for September 2010 was 2,077,369. This figure is up 9,496 from the 2,067,873 recorded in August 2010, but down 773 from the 2,078,142 recorded in September 2009.

Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. However, because of the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.