Kentucky News Now

KILLINGS BY POLICE-KENTUCKY

Authorities: Armed man shot, killed by Wilmore police

WILMORE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say an armed man was shot and killed by police after confronting officers outside of a residence in central Kentucky.

Kentucky State Police spokesman Robert Purdy said in a news release that two Wilmore officers responded to a residence at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday. Officers said the man was armed, confronted them outside of the residence and then was shot.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity was not released.

Purdy says the Kentucky State Police are investigating the shooting. Wilmore is about 17 miles southwest of Lexington.

TRAIN DEATH

Laurel County teenager killed by train

(Information in the following story is from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com)

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say a Laurel County teenager was killed when he was struck by a train.

According to WKYT-TV, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. Saturday in the Lily community about seven miles south of London, Kentucky.

Investigators didn't provide details, but they said 17-year-old William Walters, of Keavy, was waiting on some friends to return when he was struck by the northbound CSX train. He died at the scene.

A Laurel County deputy coroner said Walters' cause of death was "multiple injuries" from a "freak accident."

Officials say there are no lights in the area where Walters was hit.

DRUG TREATMENT

Kentucky officials hope drugs can help drug addicts

SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky officials are considering using a drug to help drug addicts come clean.

The state legislature approved a law last month that includes an extra $10 million to expand medicated drug treatment programs. The programs include the use of an extended release form of naltrexone that blocks the opioid receptors in the brain. It means opioids like prescription painkillers and heroin would have no effect on addicts, which would help them stop using the drugs.

A handful of addicts in Somerset already use the medication under the brand name Vivitrol as part of a special probation program run by Judge David Tapp. Other states, including West Virginia and Ohio, have adopted similar programs.

FOREST RANGER

Fighting fires takes Casey forest ranger to other states

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A part-time job led to a full-time career for Casey County native John Wethington, fighting for the wildlands of Kentucky and the United States.

Wethington, who is rounding out 19 years as a forest ranger for the Kentucky Division of Forestry, started as a part-time employee assisting the then-forest ranger for Casey County.

At that time, he and wife Tina ran a country store on Ky. 78 in the county.

Wethington worked for a year and a half before the ranger decided to retire, opening a full-time position.

Over the years, the number of rangers has decreased while coverage areas have increased. Wethington now monitors Casey, Lincoln and Taylor counties, with his office in Campbellsville.

FORT CAMPBELL ADDITION

New battalion added at Fort Campbell

(Information in the following story is from: The Leaf-Chronicle, http://www.theleafchronicle.com)

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — A new battalion has been added to Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division.

The Leaf-Chronicle reports the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment "Blue Spaders" unfurled its colors last week during a short ceremony at the sprawling Army post on the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.

The unit adds about 500 soldiers at the post, which lost 2,400 soldiers last year when the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade was deactivated.

It is the first infantry unit without an airborne background to be added to the 101st since World War II.

It is also the oldest unit in the division. The Blue Spaders were formed in 1900 while the 101st Division was founded in the early days of World War II.

GIRLFRIEND KILLED

Man pleads guilty to killing girlfriend, hiding body

(Information in the following story is from: Commonwealth Journal, http://www.somerset-kentucky.com)

SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) — A Pulaski County man has pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend and hiding her body in a sinkhole.

Police told The Commonwealth Journal that 35-year-old Johnny Ray Hendrix left the residence on an ATV following a fight between the couple. He was gone about two hours, and relatives of the victim, 34-year-old Monica Wells, had no contact with her after that.

A ground search of the area turned up Wells' body in a 12-foot-deep sinkhole. Hendrix was arrested in October.

Hendrix was convicted of murder and evidence tampering with the plea this week. Prosecutors recommended a 25-year prison sentence.

Commonwealth's Attorney Eddy Montgomery said Wells' family wanted to avoid a jury trial.

Police say there had been a substantial history of domestic abuse with the couple.