Kentucky News Now – August 2, 2013

SHERIFF CHARGED

Ex-Barren sheriff sentenced to 18 months

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Former Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for persuading two deputies to write false incident reports in an FBI investigation of an alleged beating during an arrest.

The 42-year-old Eaton, of Glasgow, was acquitted during his trial in May of using excessive force but convicted of witness tampering.

The Daily News of Bowling Green said U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley cited Eaton's public service and community support and also ordered him to spend two years on supervised release. The newspaper said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 46 to 57 months.

The Glasgow Daily Times said Eaton's resignation as sheriff was effective Wednesday.

Former Deputy Adam Minor, who pleaded guilty to providing a false statement, was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $500.

LOUISVILLE COUNCILWOMAN-ETHICS

Louisville councilwoman allowed to keep seat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville Metro Council member who was found guilty of misconduct by fellow council members will be able to keep her seat.

The Metro Council Court found Barbara Shanklin guilty Thursday but was one vote shy of the two-thirds' majority needed to remove her. The jury was made up of 20 council members, and 14 were required for removal.

The Courier-Journal said Shanklin left before the verdict was announced around 1a.m. CDT, but her lawyer said he was thankful for the support of council members who voted to retain her.

Prosecutor David Tachau told the council the community expected it to hold Shanklin accountable.

The charges alleged Shanklin improperly controlled $75,000 in neighborhood grants and improperly benefited from a program for ex-offenders funded with $38,000 in city funds.

AIRPORT GRANTS

3 Kentucky airports getting federal funding

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Three Kentucky airports are sharing more than $1 million in federal grants.

The grants will go to the Fleming-Mason Airport in Flemingsburg, the Marion-Crittenden County Airport and Frankfort's Capitol City Airport.

The money was awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, and it will cover a large percentage of the project costs.

The Flemingsburg airport is receiving $518,576 for property acquisition near a runway. The Marion-Crittenden County Airport will get about $500,000 for construction of a 10-unit hangar and Frankfort's airport is getting $100,000 to conduct a wildlife hazard assessment.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Department of Aviation is also kicking in funding to cover portions of the projects.

MCCONNELL AIDE

McConnell's chief of staff moving to campaign side

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's chief of staff will step down temporarily on Friday to take a more active role in the Kentucky lawmaker's re-election campaign as a senior adviser.

Josh Holmes said he will also work with the National Republican Senatorial Committee on the GOP's efforts to win enough seats to take control of the Senate next year.

McConnell, seeking re-election to a sixth term, faces a challenge from Louisville businessman Matt Bevin in Kentucky's Republican primary next May. And Democratic front-runner Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky's secretary of state, is seeking her party's nomination to vie for McConnell's seat.

Holmes had left McConnell's office temporarily previously. In 2008, he did it to work on McConnell's re-election. And in 2010, he did it work on mid-term elections.

AREA CODE CHANGE

Local west Ky. calls to break in 10-digit dialing

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Local telephone calls in western Kentucky will soon require dialing 10 digits, but customers will have a six-month period to get used to the change, starting Saturday.

The Public Service Commission says phone customers can use either seven or 10 digits when making calls in area code 270 until Feb. 1, when 10-digit dialing becomes mandatory.

The PSC created area code 364 last December to accommodate the need for more telephone numbers in the 270 area. It is the first "overlay" code to be created in Kentucky.

Customers who already have a 270 area code will keep it, and the PSC says the first numbers using area code 364 may be assigned beginning March 3.

A PSC informational video about the change is available here.

FANCY FARM

Senate candidates to share stage at annual picnic

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, up for re-election next year, will share a stage Saturday afternoon with his top challengers at an always raucous church picnic known for spicy barbecue and even spicier speeches.

The event at St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm is a holdover from the days before television when politicians had to seek out crowds to solicit votes. It draws thousands of people each year to the tiny western Kentucky community and is considered a must-attend for politicians.

It will provide voters the first side-by-side comparison of McConnell and his foes — Republican primary opponent Matt Bevin and Democratic front-runner Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Though politics is the major draw, the Fancy Farm picnic actually is a fundraiser that generates about $250,000 for St. Jerome Parish.

ARMY READINESS-FORT CAMPBELL

General: Rising suicide rate frustrating to Army

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — The second-highest ranking officer in the Army says it is frustrating that the number of soldiers taking their own lives continues to rise despite concerted efforts to offer assistance.

Army Vice Chief of Staff John F. Campbell says the military is now trying a campaign to reach soldiers in distress before the problems reach a crisis level. Campbell made his remarks Thursday at Fort Campbell.

Suicides by service members have gone up since 2008 and reached 350 in 2012.

Campbell says bringing down the number of suicides is going to require soldiers at all levels to recognize when others are having trouble.

The stop at the post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line is one of several for the general. He'll speak about the program Friday at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.

BUDGET BATTLE-FORT CAMPBELL

General: Budget cuts could hit Army hard

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — A top-ranking Army official says a proposed $50 billion budget cut in 2014 would leave the armed forces with tricky choices about how to balance manpower and modernization.

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell says military leaders are trying to juggle personnel requirements with the ability to keep equipment and training up to date. Failing to make those choices correctly, Campbell says, runs the risk of leaving "a hollow force." Campbell made his remarks Thursday at Fort Campbell.

Congressmen on Thursday debated the proposed cuts from the 2014 budget and half a trillion over 10 years as a result of congressionally mandated cuts.

The reductions would come on top of $487 billion that President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans agreed to in August 2011.