News from March
11, 2003 issue
Hardin finalist for state
job
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Pippi Hardin says an article
in Tuesday's Paducah Sun reporting that he would resign at the
end of the month was premature.
"That is not correct," Hardin said about a news story
claiming that he would give up the judgeship here to take a job
with the Kentucky Parks Department.
"At this point, I have not been hired by the parks department,"
he said.
Hardin did, however, confirm that he is a finalist for a parks
and recreation job with the state and said that he was scheduled
to have a third interview Wednesday in Frankfort for a state position.
Hardin, in the second year of his second term as judge, said that
if offered a job with the parks department, he isn't sure if he'll
accept it.
"I have some mixed emotions about it," he said.
If offered a job, Hardin said he would make a decision based on
the opportunity it provided, but so far nothing is official.
"We have not talked about salary, insurance or anything like
that," he said Tuesday after the Sun's article was published.
The judge-executive did not know if Wednesday's meeting in Frankfort
would reveal any further details.
"I will let you know if something changes," he told
The Press Tuesday morning.
Hardin disputes many of the claims made by those quoted in the
Sun's article, including comments from Lyon County Judge-Executive
Sara Boyd and Caldwell County Judge-Executive Van Knight. In the
article, the other judges said Hardin announced at a Pennyrile
Allied Community Services meeting in Hopkinsville that he would
be leaving at the end of the month. One told the Paducah newspaper
that Hardin announced that Marion City Councilman Fred Brown would
be taking his place.
Hardin said that he indicated at the meeting that he was considering
a state job and that if he took it, Brown would possibly be considered
to replace him.
"I didn't say anything was for certain," Hardin said
the next day.
A Republican, Hardin first won election to the judge's post in
1998. If he does resign as county judge-executive, it would be
up to Gov. Ernie Fletcher to make an appointment to fill the vacancy
until a special election could be held in November. Generally,
the governor takes recommendations from local political leaders
when choosing such replacements.
Bart Frazer, chairman of the local Republican Party, said "the
party would obviously be involved in helping select a person to
fill that position."
He said Brown, who was reported as a possible replacement for
Hardin, is qualified.
"Based on Fred Brown's background as a magistrate and city
councilman and his involvement in community affairs, I think it
makes him an ideal person to continue what has been going on for
the last six years in the county," Frazer said. "The
county would be well served if the governor chooses Fred Brown."
Brown, contacted Tuesday, confirmed that he was aware of Hardin
being a finalist for a state job. He said that members of the
local Republican party had contacted him in regard to the potential
opening in the judge's office. Brown said he was interested in
the judgeship, but said it would be up to the governor to decide
who would replace Hardin.
No other names have surfaced in regard to the potential vacancy.
Meanwhile Donnetta Travis, who ran a close race for judge-executive
in 2002, said she was surprised that Hardin might be leaving.
She said because Gov. Fletcher is a Republican, the chances of
her gaining the temporary appointment would be very remote. However,
she did not rule out the possibility of her running for the post
during the general election on Nov. 2.
"I have a very good job at the hospital as director of materials
and I am happy where I am," Travis said. "But if the
judge's position becomes available, it would certainly have some
appeal.
"The concerns I have for our community and how the county
moves forward are still there, and I often think about the things
we could do to move this county forward," Travis added.
Jim Host, spokesman for the governor's office, told The Paducah
Sun that Hardin was in fact in line to begin a non-merit position
with the state April 1. Phone calls to Host's office in Frankfort
Tuesday were not returned.
Hargis vows to fight all
charges
Suspended school superintendent Fredericka Hargis appeared in
Crittenden District Court Wednesday morning to answer a charge
of felony wanton endangerment.
Accompanied by her attorney, Allen Holbrook of Owensboro, Hargis
entered a plea of not guilty and the judge set a preliminary hearing
date for 10 a.m., on Wednesday, March 31.
The charge stems from a Feb. 19 incident during which Hargis allegedly
had a verbal altercation with individuals at a Marion beauty shop,
then allegedly speeded away from the scene in her vehicle, running
over the foot of Tracy Rozwalka. Rozwalka filed a complaint with
the Marion Police Department and Hargis was served a summons to
appear in court.
After leaving the courtroom Wednesday, Holbrook said he plans
to "take this case into the court system and get it out of
the streets. I think there's a civil matter here, if there's anything
at all."
Holbrook said he believed that Rozwalka has already contacted
Hargis' insurance company. An attempt to contact Rozwalka after
Hargis' court appearance was unsuccessful.
Several representatives of area news organizations were present
for Hargis' first court appearance since she was charged with
wanton endangerment and five days later put on paid suspension
by the school board. NewsChannel 6 reporter Ernie Mitchell and
print journalists from The Paducah Sun, Evansville Courier and
The Crittenden Press were there. Judge Rene Williams told reporters
ahead of time that only one video camera and one still camera
would be allowed in the courtroom.
The courtroom was full, but very few appeared to be there for
Hargis' appearance other than the media. School board member Phyllis
Orr attended the arraignment.
When a reporter asked Hargis if she plans to fight her removal
as superintendent by the local school board, she responded, "Absolutely.
That is in the hands of another attorney."
The Crittenden County School Board voted to suspend Hargis with
pay at a special-called meeting on Feb. 24. The board specified
several charges in a two-page document including insubordination
and conduct unbecoming of a school superintendent. Those charges
were forwarded to Kentucky Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit,
who has until March 26 to approve or veto the board's intention
to move forward with the formal process for removing Hargis.
Local officers grade high
at academy
A Crittenden County deputy has graduated tops in his class at
the police academy.
Ryan Orr, 23, finished the 16-week Kentucky Law Enforcement Basic
Training as the highest ranked trainee. Formal graduation ceremonies
were held last week in Richmond. Sheriff Wayne Agent and Marion
Police Chief Kenneth Winn attended the services. The police department's
rookie officer Bobby West also graduated with high honors.
Orr earned an Academic Achievement Award for having the highest
grade point average in the graduating class (96.4), was the Class
Adjutant and earned the Recruit Distinction Award, an honor based
on classroom and practical testing. Orr also has a degree in criminal
justice from Murray State University.
West, 25, was the graduating class' Top Gun, earning a firearms
proficiency honor for classroom and field tests with handguns
and shotguns. He was also one of four graduates who earned the
distinction Cadet of the Quarter during the four-month program
and also received the Fit For Duty Award for physical fitness.
"We're fortunate to have both of them in Crittenden County,"
Sheriff Agent said. "They would be an asset to any department
in the country."
In one shooting event, Orr and West were finalists, beating out
the rest of the 12 cadets in a clay target contest.
"They were last the two standing," said Winn. "We
are very proud of both of them."
With basic training complete, both will be full-time employees
of their respective departments. Winn said training doesn't end,
however. Each police officer is required to receive 40 hours of
in-service training each year.
The basic training course is mandatory for all police officers
and deputies. Tuition is paid by the state, Winn said.