Teen injured, home destoryed by fire
Brian Kirk stood in disbelief as he looked at the remains of 231 Jarvis St., a place where he and other relatives often gathered for family get-togethers and holidays.
He shook his head and sighed with his wife, Pamela, looking on.
“Everything’s gone,” he said.
The home, which belonged to Junior and Debbie Duncan, caught fire early Monday afternoon laying ruin to the house and most of its contents.
Although neither Junior, Debbie, nor their six-year-old daughter Jessica were at their home during the blaze, the couple’s oldest child, 19-year-old Nic, was.
According to Marion Police Chief Ray O’Neal, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but Nic suffered serious burns and was being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Neighbors and family, including Nic’s grandmother, Agnus Duncan of Salem, attributed the cause to a possible grease fire in the kitchen. O’Neal and Fire Chief Ronald “Red” Howton both said they were unsure of the cause and that the investigation is ongoing.
Agnus, however, told The Press that Nic sustained second- and third-degree burns to his arms, legs and face as he tried to put out the fire.
“He thought the fire was out,” said Agnus, who spoke with her grandson before he was transported from the Crittenden Hospital to Nashville by air ambulance Monday.
“He didn’t know the house was gone,” she said.
Nic, who graduated from Crittenden County High School in 2007 and currently works as a laborer for Marion’s water and sewer department, has left an impression on several within the community.
“He was a wonderful student to have in class,” said Dawn Hollamon, who taught Nic in her food and nutrition class his junior year. “He was the type who made the whole climate of the class pleasant and kept everyone in good humor.”
Hollamon, who has taught at the school for 25-plus years, said she also taught Nic’s mother, Debbie.
“I was just devastated when I heard, and I felt terrible,” said Hollamon of the news of the fire. “I just hope he’s okay… and I felt for his mother because I know she’s terribly upset.”
Junior and Debbie Duncan declined to comment on the situation until they were sure Nic would be okay.
Nic was involved in several clubs, including Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, but left his lasting impression as a senior on the football field with football coach Al Starnes.
“Nic’s the type of guy that will do anything you ask him to do,” said Starnes, who coached Nic for one year as an offensive lineman. “He’s very dependable, and he’s just a good guy.”
Following an injury during a game, Starnes recalls Nic at the hospital being worried that he was letting his team down because he was unable to play the next week.
“You want people like that, not just players, but you want people to be committed and dedicated to something,” said Starnes. “That commitment and loyalty to everybody else is something Nic has.”
Donations for the Duncan family are being coordinated and accepted by Katrina Boone, Debbie’s sister-in-law. Boone advises that all those wishing to donate should contact her at 704-3187.
18 of 25 pass WorkKeys test
Eighteen of 25 high school seniors at Crittenden County High School passed the WorkKeys job skills assessment test given last spring for the first time ever. The test is administered by the same organization that offers the ACT exam for expected college students and is an alternative assessment of skills and knowledge for those intending on joining the workforce.
“This tells us if an applicant is teachable,” said Joe McDaniel, an advocate of WorkKeys testing and owner of Par-4 Plastics in Marion. “In some ways, it’s more important than a high school diploma; it’s a much better indicator of the capabilities of an applicant.”
The scoring system of WorkKeys rates test results based on gold, silver and bronze level certifications, with gold being the best. Those seniors, now graduates, who took the test in the spring and their certification level are as follows:
- Gold: Craig Boone, Christopher Gilland and Whitley Spillman.
- Silver: Christina Gassner, Rickey Hackney, Martin Henager, Zachary Hewitt, Chad Ingram, Ashley Irish, Kyle Newcom, Michael Pendrick, Sara Shoemake, Cody Travis, Jonathan Whitt and Kaitlyn Williams.
- Bronze: Gary Eanes, Kendra Fitzgerald and Amber Smith.
The test was offered at no cost to students through cooperation between the local board of education and Crittenden County Economic Development Corp., which donated $2,000 for testing fees and educational DVDs.
“We work hard to put our money where it will produce the best results,” said Stan Hoover, CCEDC director.
On Tuesday, the Department of Labor announced a $250,000 grant to the Western Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, which provided CCEDC last year with the money to fund WorkKeys. Hoover said the group will certainly consider funding the testing again in 2009.
The board of education also seems intent on finding a way to continue funding the WorkKeys assessment to its coming graduates.
“It’s become my mission to see that everybody knows what WorkKeys is,” said board chairman Chris Cook, applauding the 72-percent pass rate of the first-time test takers.
McDaniel said there will come a day when his company looks at nothing other than WorkKeys results when hiring applicants. He is even considering funding the test for his applicants.
“It’s the best thing I’ve seen come down the pike in years,” he said of the skills assessment.
McDaniel added that more and more companies are requiring WorkKeys certification before hiring an employee and that it’s almost certain a worker needs to have certification before landing any sort of manufacturing job in Owensboro. Providing the test locally, he said, gives graduates a leg up on others applying for the same positions.
County weighs garbage contract
County leaders are working through bids for garbage pickup for residential and commercial customers.
Freedom Waste, headquartered in Louisville, currently has the county's non-exclusive franchise for picking up solid waste at homes and businesses and operating the convenience center on U.S. 60 East. Freedom was assigned the contract last year when it bought a portion of Waste Management's operations in western Kentucky.
Although Crittenden County has always maintained a non-exclusive agreement with the primary service provider in the county, magistrates decided last winter that only the franchise holder could pick up trash in the county. Any other provider, such as James Dempsey, who operates on a limited basis and provides garage pickup, must have a waiver. Those waivers are only for providers that offer unique services, such as those not offered by the franchise holder.
It's time for Crittenden County to renegotiate its contract with a solid waste provider and it's looking at a five-year term with a contract that is renewed annually. Bids went out last month and Freedom Waste and Waste Path of Calvert City were the only providers who presented bids during a special fiscal court meeting last week.
Waste Path had been operating on a limited basis in the county, but was notified that it would have to stop unless it qualified for a waiver.
Now, Waste Path has presented a bid which offers cheaper curbside pickup and lower rates for commercial dumpsters. There's a catch, however, because its rates for hauling off garbage from the convenience center northeast of town are higher than a proposal made by Freedom Waste.
The county's convenience center is a modern-day dump, where residents can take their garbage and throw it into large bins which are carried off regularly by the solid waste provider. Judge-Executive Fred Brown said the convenience center has been a source of problems for several reasons. The service providers claim they lose money operating the center and citizens often complain that prices are too high and inconsistent based on the size of loads.
Freedom Waste presented the county with three options, each calling for higher residential rates than Waste Path's bid, but offered a more attractive plan for the convenience center. Both companies offered proposals that would allow the county to operate the convenience center itself or a price structure should they continue to operate it.
Both companies proposed paying the county a five-percent franchise fee to operate here, but Freedom Waste would not pay that fee if it lowered its residential commercial rates to levels closer to, but still slightly higher than those offered by Waste Path. Freedom is also offering an alternative recycling plan that would help the county reduce its tonnage going into landfills, which in turn reduces its costs to operate the convenience center.
County magistrates will make a decision at their August regular meeting regarding the solid waste proposals. In the meantime, the county's solid waste committee will continue reviewing the proposals.
Shooting victim among those indicted
The Crittenden County Grand Jury met in regular session Monday and indicted 16 individuals on a variety of charges. Many of the charges were based on undercover drug buys by the Pennyrile Area Narcotics Task Force using confidential informants.
The grand jury also evaluated the conduct of Kentucky State Trooper Billy Braden during a May 15 incident at the Royal Inn and Suites which led to the shooting of an attempted robbery suspect, Wesley Neal Dockrey. The grand jury's investigation of the shooting found that Braden's actions were justified to protect Marion policeman Marty Hodge.
Dockrey was indicted by the grand jury for wanton endangerment for aiming a loaded handgun at Hodge, who along with Braden and other officers had converged on the motel after the suspect's vehicle was found in the parking lot. Reports indicate that Dockrey picked up the handgun when officers knocked on the door. Braden, peeking through the window, watched as the suspect lowered the semi-automatic pistol and trained it on the door, where the Marion patrolman was standing outside. Braden subsequently fired two shots, hitting Dockrey, who survived the shooting.
Wesley Neal Dockrey 26, was indicted Monday on an amended charge of wanton endangerment. A charge of attempted murder was originally sought. He is also facing charges in Union County for attempting to rob the Wal-Mart Pharmacy.
Others indicted this week were:
Beverlie S. Belt, 34, of Fredonia, on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine; first-degree possession of a controlled substance; and second-offense use or possession of drug paraphernalia. The felony indictments stem from an incident on May 15 when police were called to an alleged disturbance at her husband's residence on Pleasant Hill Road and found Belt in possession of the above items.
Carl R. Belt Jr., 35, of Pleasant Hill Road, was indicted on charges of cultivating marijuana (five or more plants); possession of marijuana; and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from the same May 15 incident as above.
Patrick A. Bowland, 21, of Salem was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen property (valued at more than $300) by complicity. The charge stems from a May 20 incident in which a fertilizer spreader owned by Tony Alexander was allegedly stolen from his farm near Tolu.
Marilyn Busby, 65, of South Main Street was indicted on an April 30 charge of trafficking in a controlled substance (Lortab). The investigation was conducted by the narcotics task force.
Alan Jason Funkhouser, 22, of Claylick Creek Road was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen property (valued at more than $300) by complicity for his alleged role in the theft of the fertilizer spreader from the above mentioned Tolu farm. Funkhouser was also indicted on a separate charge of theft by unlawful taking (valued at more than $300) by complicity for his alleged role in the taking of a 1978 Ford tractor owned by Mickey Tinsley from a farm near Paddy's Bluff. The tractor was later found at a nearby scrap yard.
Joshua O. Hedgepath, 27, of Old Shady Grove Road was indicted on charges of second-degree possession of a controlled substance, second offense (Hydrocodone); third-degree possession of a controlled substance, second offense (Adderall); illegal possession of a legend drug (assorted prescription pills); for having a controlled substance not in its original container; possession of marijuana; and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense. The charges stem from what police reports say was a consentual Feb. 23 search at his home.
Bobby J. Ipock, 25, of Madisonville was indicted on charges of first-degree promoting contraband and for being a second-degree persistent felony offender. The indictment stems from Ipock's allegedly bringing cigarettes, lighter and a knife into the Crittenden County Detention Center on May 27.
Tiffany Lanham, 21, of Terrace Drive was indicted on charges of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) with 1,000 yards of Crittenden County Elementary School; and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (Lortab) by complicity. The charges stem from alleged drug buys made on March 13 and April 2 by a confidential informant working for the narcotics task force.
Christopher W. McKinley, 23, of U.S. 60 East was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen property by complicity for his alleged role in the May 20 disappearance of the fertilizer spreader from a Tolu farm.
Theresa J. Fox Meadors, 48, of Highland Circle was indicted on a charge of trafficking in a controlled substance (marijuana) within 1,000 yards of Crittenden County High School. The charge stems from an alleged task force buy by an undercover operative.
Tracy Peek, 51, of Ky. 855 North was indicted on charges of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (Dalmane), second offense; and for being a second-degree persistent felony offender. The charges stem from a task force investigation on March 30.
Billy G. Schrimsher, 30, of West Poplar Street was indicted on a charge of theft by unlawful taking (valued at more than $300) for allegedly taking a bank deposit totaling $1,712.20 belonging to his employer, McDonald's restaurant in Marion, on May 26.
Kristy L. Stoner, 27, of Eagle Mine Road was indicted on charges of second-degree burglary by complicity; and theft by unlawful taking (valued at more than $300) by complicity. Stoner allegedly played a role in the taking of a fire safe from the Joe and Cathy Nesbitt residence on Dec. 4, 2007.
James A. Sutton, 22, of Claylick Road was indicted on a charge of theft by unlawful taking (valued at more than $300) by complicity for his alleged role in the theft of Mickey Tinsley's Ford tractor from a farm near Paddy's Bluff.
David Blake Tabor, 18, of Waverly was indicted on charges of first-degree wanton endangerment; second-degree fleeing or evading police; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, first offense; possession of marijuana; and disregarding a stop sign. The charges stem from an alleged police chase that started in Union County and ended in Crittenden County on July 17. Tabor allegedly almost rammed a state police cruiser before later stopping his car and fleeing from police on foot. It was the second time this year that Tabor has been indicted for initiating a police chase. A previous indictment is still pending in Crittenden Circuit Court.