Local News Thursday February 9, 2012
A four-year-old child is safe thanks to the quick actions of two Jackson County school bus drivers.

John Tompkins and Larry Smith spotted the 4-year-old boy, barefoot and by himself, on Highway 421 while they were driving their regular bus routes Tuesday afternoon.

The bus drivers didn't see any adults around, so they took the boy to nearby Sand Gap Elementary School, where he was checked out.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case but hasn't released any information.

Officials say that the boy is doing okay.

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Thieves hit an unusual target in Paintsville last week.

Police say someone broke into the Paintsville Funeral Home.

They say the thieves were able to get into the main office of the funeral home and steal an undisclosed amount of money.

Officials say this is not a typical place for a burglary to occur.

There are no arrests yet, and police are still investigating.

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Knott County has joined the growing list of counties or cities where voters will decide this year if they want to allow alcohol sales.

Judge Executive Randy Thompson said a petition had more than the 675 signatures needed to put this issue on the ballot but voters will have to wait until April to make their choice.

Thompson said any petition must have twenty five percent of the voters who voted in the last general election and the 675 was enough.

Thompson said the petition simply read “Are you in favor of the sale of alcoholic beverages both by the drink and packaged beer wine and liquor sales in Knott County, Kentucky?”  

That means this is about the county going fully wet and not just alcohol sales in restaurants.

Thompson said the county had projected an estimated $1.5 million shortfall.

Those who favor the proposal think it could help the county's budget woes.

The vote will be held on April 10. Thompson said that this election had to be held at least 60 days after the petition was submitted and could not be within 30 days of the general election which will be held on May 22.

Thompson said it will cost the county around $25,000 to host this optional election.

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The search continues for a missing Bell County man.

41-year-old Gary Wayne Sayre was last seen in the Frakes area of Bell County.

His wife says he left late last month with a childhood friend who says he last saw him when he was dropped off along Highway 190.

Police say they have had no solid leads and are still hoping someone will come forward with information.

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The search for a missing Whitley County man has ended.

Just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, search crews said they had located 62-year-old Richard Martin.

Officials later told us that Martin was dead when they found him.

Martin left his Whitley County home Monday on his ATV and disappeared.

Search crews have spent the past two days searching for him in the Bee Creek area near Laurel Lake

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Officials in the city of Martin say the Floyd County fiscal court owes them nearly $60,000.

Floyd County officials say that is not true.

The issue surrounds the wastewater treatment plant.

Martin city officials say the county used it for wastewater from the county landfill and did not pay part of the contract.

County officials say they ended the contract and owe them nothing.

The dispute will be decided in court. The lawsuit is scheduled for a hearing on Friday.

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Copper theft has been a problem for some time in Appalachia, but a recent spike in these criminal acts has caused Sen. Ray S. Jones II, D-Pikeville, and Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford to try and curb the increasing problem.

In a letter sent to Jones on Jan. 31, Rutherford encouraged the Senator to introduce legislation during the current legislative session that will increase the penalty for those convicted of stealing copper to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Rutherford asked Jones if a committee hearing is held on this issue he be notified so he could appear alongside Jones to discuss this issue.

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A sex offender accused of raping and attacking two teenage girls in Paintsville last year has pleaded guilty.

Police say Clayton Clouse approached two 12 year old girls on 6th Street and took them to an area called "Hanging Rock" where he allegedly attacked them.

Clouse pleaded guilty to rape, sodomy, and assault charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 2nd.

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The Virginia Senate has passed legislation to toughen the state's law against texting or emailing while driving.

Sen. George Barker's bill cleared the Senate on a 28-12 vote Tuesday. It now goes to the House of Delegates.

The bill would make texting while driving a primary offense in Virginia.

It's already a secondary offense, meaning you can be ticketed for texting at the wheel only if pulled over for another violation.

Barker, a Democrat from Fairfax, said his bill is all about highway safety.

Nobody spoke against the bill on the Senate floor.