Kentucky News for August 5, 2013 – Good Monday Morning

Fundraiser for missing Kentucky teen

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Community members have gathered together to hold a fundraiser for the family of a missing Madison County teen.

WKYT-TV reports that hundreds of supporters of the family of 18-year-old Brookelyn Farthing attended the fundraiser Saturday at the Hog's Trough in Richmond.

Farthing was last seen June 22, when she disappeared following a suspicious house fire in Berea. Authorities have searched more than 16,000 acres in three Kentucky counties for the teen.

Saturday's fundraiser featured a motorcycle bike ride with 132 participants and a silent auction of donated items.

Organizers say the event was a success because they managed to raise thousands of dollars for the family.

PARACHUTING ARRESTS

2 arrested, parachuted off Lexington building

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Police say they have arrested two men who parachuted off a downtown Lexington building.

WKYT-TV reports that Lexington police received a call just after 3 a.m. Sunday about two men on top of the 15-story First National Building.

Police watched as the men jumped from the top of the building and parachuted across the street to land on the lawn of another building.

The men are identified as 31-year-old Joshua McCluskey and 32-year-old David Kaiser.

They were charged with criminal trespassing.

DOUBLE HOMICIDE

2 found dead in Harrison County

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police in Harrison County are investigating a double homicide west of the town of Georgetown.

The Courier-Journal reports that an elderly man and a woman were found in a home Saturday. Harrison County Sheriff Rod Seelye described the crime scene as "pretty gruesome."

A homicide team that includes the Indiana State Police, the Floyd County and New Albany police, and Harrison County prosecutor's office was on the scene most of Saturday and is continuing to investigate.

Seelye said police are questioning two people of interest. The sheriff says the community should not fear that there's a killer on the loose.

RIVER CITY ARCHITECTURE

River city architecture examined in film

BELLEVUE, Ky. (AP) — Historic preservation offices in northern Kentucky are working together to produce a film that shows off architectural styles of the river cities.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports the film will explore historical home and commercial buildings in Bellevue, Covington and Newport. The structures were nominated by members of the community.

Covington preservation and planning specialist Beth Johnson says the film shows the beauty of these buildings in addition to serving as an educational tool.

The film will premiere on Sept. 29 during the Art off Pike event in Covington. It will also be posted on the websites of Bellevue and Covington.

SUSTAINABLE PIKE COUNTY

Pike County begins sustainability project

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Officials with Sustainable Pike County say they hope a community garden under construction in downtown Pikeville, Ky., is the first of many.

The group's project aims to mirror the success seen by another sustainability project in Williamson, W.Va.

Williamson City Commissioner Eric Mathis told the Appalachian News-Express that Sustainable Williamson, which has partnered with the Pike County group, responds to the need for a diversified sustainable economy though a market-based approach.

Pike County businessman Roger Ford says the garden will offer low-income residents the chance to take ownership in the garden and possibly market the goods to make a little extra money. He says it also benefits the community because there is more locally grown fresh produce.

In addition, it is self-sustainable, requiring little assistance from local governments.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.