Local News Friday February 17, 2012
Here in Letcher County, there were some tense moments at Samuel Todd Collier's murder trial Thursday as the defense tried to discredit the prosecution's witnesses.

The prosecution is trying to prove Collier murdered Mark Sturgill, but Collier says it was self defense and that Sturgill was getting ready to draw his gun before he shot him.

As the prosecution continued their case, testimony mainly focused on the toxicology report and gun shot residue tests.

Testimony was also heard from the medical examiner that Sturgill had alcohol and Valium in his system, but the prosecution said those levels were low.

The trial will continue today.

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Coughs and colds are on the rise in some counties. and schools are finding their own ways to deal with sick students - by canceling classes.

Perry County shut schools down Thursday and Friday.

Elliott and Magoffin County schools are closed Friday.

They're all reporting an increase in their students showing flu-like symptoms.

Perry County and Elliott County schools will re-open Monday. Magoffin County schools will re-open Tuesday morning.

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In Lee County VA,  74-year-old Douglas Arthur Brown admitted to sexually abusing his daughter, starting when she was four until she moved out at the age of 17.

According to a report from the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the abuse started in the mid-1960s.

The woman came forward last summer after deciding her father needed to be held accountable for what he'd done to her life.

Brown faces seven consecutive life sentences, plus 13 years for the nine felony charges of rape and carnal knowledge of a child.

He will be sentenced in May.

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Officials in Rowan County are taking a stand against a proposal to add the private University of Pikeville into the state's higher education system.

They say the proposal will not only hurt Morehead State University, which is located in Rowan County, but would hurt the economy in the area as well.

Rowan Fiscal Court held a special meeting Wednesday to pass a resolution that urges legislators to reject a House bill that would include UPike in the state system.

Lawmakers are expected to discuss the bill next week.

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The Community of Minnie in Floyd County is hit again with another robbery.

Police said three men burglarized The Parkview Pharmacy around 3AM Thursday morning in Minnie and got away with thousands of dollars worth of pills.

No money was taken, only pills, according to police who say the majority were Loricet and Loritab narcotic prescription pills.

Surveillance video showed three men getting in through the drive through window.

They were only in the store for about one minute.

Just hours before the burglary in Minnie, the Wheelwright police chief had his tires slashed and there was an attempted burglary at Family Drug.

Some law enforcement said they thought surveillance video suggested there could be a connection.

Kentucky State Police are investigating these crimes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Post 9 in Pikeville at 606-433-7711.

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A Magoffin County man charged with murder and DUI pleads guilty to lesser charges.

Police say in May of last year, 23 year old Trenton Tackett was driving under the influence of pills on US-460 in Magoffin County and hit another car.

38 year old Anita Back died at the scene. Her five year old daughter suffered serious injuries.

Tackett took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two counts of assault.

The other charges were dismissed.

Tackett was sentenced to ten years in prison.

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A Pike County man is charged with assault after police say he used mining equipment to severely beat a woman.

49 year old Scott Blackburn is indicted on assault and promoting contraband charges.

Police say early Saturday morning, Blackburn was drunk and got into a fight with his girlfriend at their home in Freeburn.

Police say during the alleged attack, Blackburn used a coal mine roof bolter extension rod to beat her in the head.

The first trooper at the scene said he could see the woman's skull.

Blackburn is also charged with promoting contraband because police say once he was arrested, he tried to take some pills into the jail.

Blackburn is being held on a $10,000 bond.

No arraignment date is set yet.

There is no word on the victim's condition, but we are told she is expected to survive.

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A sinkhole at the airport in Wise, Virginia is getting the attention of airport officials.

The Lonesome Pine Airport Commission is currently working with the state to repair the sinkhole.

It was first spotted in December as a pilot was taxiing down the runway.

Airport officials quickly closed that portion of the airport and are now awaiting test results to see how extensive the damage is.

The airport sits above underground coal mines but have ruled that out as the cause.

Officials say the hole does not affect air traffic. The pilots just maneuver around it.

They plan to fix it sometime this summer.