Monday’s Kentucky News – December 16th, 2013

MISSING HUNTERS

Authorities pull 2nd body from central Ky. lake

GREENSBURG, Ky. (AP) — Authorities believe they have found the second of two duck hunters who were reported missing in central Kentucky.

According to WAVE-TV, a man's body was recovered from the Green River Lake on Sunday, a day after another man's body was found about 30 miles downstream. That man has been identified as 77-year-old Harold Wethington.

Information has not been released about the other man.

Authorities said family members called authorities after the men didn't return on Friday when they were supposed to. The relatives called the men experienced hunters who were familiar with the area.

GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Events set for governor's mansion milestone

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the governor's mansion in Frankfort and a series of events are planned throughout 2014 to mark the milestone.

According to The Courier-Journal, Gov. Steve Beshear's office said in a news release that the events are intended to honor the structure's architectural, social and political history.

Plans include a centennial symposium, a reception honoring the 50th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. civil-rights march in Frankfort, a Kentucky music entertainment weekend, and special art exhibits.

A documentary, "Kentucky Governor's Mansion: a Century of Reflection," will also have premieres at the Grand Theatre in Frankfort on Jan. 15 and at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington on Jan. 16.

The activities include both free and ticketed events.

PRINCIPAL'S CHALLENGE

Principal takes on rare challenge

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — When most new principals are hired, they walk into a position that comes with an existing student body, staff and building. If it's a new school, they at least have an existing school model with which to work.

Dan Robbins has none of those things.

Robbins is principal of the Early College and Career Center in Hardin County Schools. Scheduled to open in August, the school will offer classes within six career pathways and college credit-bearing courses for students enrolled in the three HCS high schools. Students will spend half of their school day at the center.

Until August when students begin entering the brand-new building, next to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Robbins has a cubicle in the HCS Central Office.

GAS DRILLING-BARGES

Coast Guard wants barges to ship fracking water

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard wants to allow barges filled with fracking wastewater to ply the nation's rivers on their way toward disposal. Many environmentalists are horrified, but industry groups say barge transport has its advantages.

Critics of the plan say that if there was an accident, it could threaten the drinking water supply of millions of people. They also cite the uncertainty around what's in that toxic mix.

The Coast Guard is proposing to address that by requiring chemical testing of each barge load before shipment.

The wastewater now is usually disposed of by truck or rail. A government report notes that poses more risk for accidents than shipping by barge.

The industry says far greater amounts of toxic chemicals are already being moved by barge, including oil drilling waste.

INMATES-TOYS

Federal inmates making Christmas toys

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Inmates at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington have spent the past year building, knitting, carving and sewing Christmas gifts that will go to the needy.

Sally Leukefeld, president of the Community Relations Board for the Federal Medical Center and Federal Prison Camp, told the Lexington Herald-Leader that inmates produced 9,000 toys, stuffed animals, blankets and other items that will go to more than a dozen organizations that will give them out before the holiday.

Board members and volunteers delivered the gifts to their destinations earlier this month.

The Children's Advocacy Center, Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and The Nest Center for Women Children and Families are among the organizations that benefit.

PRISONER BUS-FREEWAY CRASH

Police: Bus of fed prisoners crashes on I-64

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say a southern Illinois freeway crash involving a busload of federal prisoners sent all 13 of the vehicle's occupants to the hospital.

Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. says the westbound bus headed from Kentucky to Jefferson City, Mo., hit a bridge support in Interstate 64's center median about 5 a.m. Sunday and overturned onto its side.

The nine federal inmates and four prison guards on the bus were taken to area hospitals, with none of the injuries considered life-threatening. Four of the inmates were treated, then were transferred to the St. Clair County jail in Belleville to await transportation to their destinations.

The hospitalized inmates were under police guard.

Dye says eastbound lanes of the interstate highway were closed for roughly four hours.

BOWLING GREEN-MOREHEAD ST

Holmes, Bowling Green beat Morehead St. 67-61

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Richaun Holmes scored nine of his game-high 17 points in the final 4:17 to lead Bowling Green to a 67-61 win over Morehead State Sunday.

Holmes tied a career-high with seven blocked shots, which he set in BGSU's win over North Dakota on Dec. 11, and is averaging six per game over his last four contests.

The junior forward connected on 5 of 6 free throws in the last 52 seconds of the game to hold off the Eagles (7-5).

Morehead State, which shot 30.6 percent from the field and 24 percent from 3-point range, was paced by Brent Arrington's 16 points. Kareem Storey dished out nine assists and Chad Posthumus pulled down 11 rebounds.

Spencer Parker and Jehvon Clarke each scored 12 points while Cameron Black and Anthony Henderson added 11 apiece. Black also had 12 boards and five blocked shots for BGSU (5-5).

T25-ETSU-KENTUCKY

No. 5 Kentucky women beat East Tennessee St 73-56

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Janee Thompson and Samari Walker each scored 12 points to lead fifth-ranked Kentucky to a 73-56 win over East Tennessee State on Sunday.

The Wildcats (11-0) tied a school record with their 11th consecutive victory to open the season.

East Tennessee State (2-6) forced four lead changes and three ties in the first eight minutes, but the Wildcats used a 14-2 run to go up 31-18 with 8:15 remaining in the first half.

Kentucky led 49-29 at the half, but the Buccaneers pulled within 54-44 with 13:28 left. But East Tennessee State couldn't get within single digits.

Linnae Harper added 10 points for Kentucky.

Maria Bond led East Tennessee State with 14 points, and Chandler Christopher scored 11.