WKDP – WCTT Local News

State highway crews worked through the night to keep roads and bridges passable as the first significant snow storm of the winter moved across the Commonwealth.

Crews were still at work over most of the state this morning, including plowing and treating in southeastern counties and greater Lexington and Bowling Green areas.

Crews will work as long as necessary to keep roadways open in winter.  The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows.  In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

The cabinet reminds motorists:

• Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
• Be prepared for slick conditions.
• Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 o by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

The cabinet’s SAFE Patrol is available to assist motorists whose vehicles become disabled on Kentucky interstates and parkways.  For SAFE Patrol assistance, call 511 or toll-free at 1-877-FOR-KYTC.

Two people have been arrested in connection with a burglary last month in Williamsburg.

On Dec. 29, someone broke into a home on Locklin Drive and took several thousand dollars worth of jewelry and electronics along with a 2003 Toyota Avalon.

The car was later recovered by Campbell County Sheriff’s deputies in Jellico.

Several of the items had apparently been pawned, and thanks to a law requiring pawn shops in Williamsburg to log their merchandise in an online database, Williamsburg Police got a break in the case.

Wednesday night, they arrested 43-year-old Darrell Conley of Corbin and 40-year-old David Davis of Williamsburg.

Conley was charged with second-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking and possession of a controlled substance.

Dais was charged with receiving stolen property.

Both were lodged in the Whitley County jail.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted for the robbery of a Knox County adult store.

State police say 19-year-old Dustin Hubbard of Corbin is wanted for first-degree robbery in the case.

On January 4, Hubbard allegedly robbed the Dream World Adult Store at gunpoint, demanding cash and synthetic marijuana.

Hubbard has not been arrested.  Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Kentucky State Police at 606-573-3131 or toll-free at 800-222-5555.  Callers may remain anonymous.

Crews throughout District 11 – in Jackson, Clay, Leslie, Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell and Harlan counties – are out plowing and salting state routes this morning.

Motorists are urged to use caution, as black ice is possible throughout the district, especially on bridges and overpasses.  In addition, bands of snow persist, and many treated roads may again become snow-covered.  Those who must travel should allow extra time to reach their destinations.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet provides the following tips for travelers during the snow and ice season:

• Make sure your vehicle is sufficiently winterized (check the battery, antifreeze level, heater, defroster, wipers, and windshield washers.)
• Dress warmly for the weather in anticipation of unexpected winter weather emergencies.
• Try to keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent fuel line freezing and prepare for possible delays on the roadway.
• Make sure a friend or relative is aware of your travel route and carry a cell phone.
• Make sure your vehicle has an emergency care kit, including jumper cables, flares, ice scraper, blankets, non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, and traction material.
• Check the forecast and call 511 before you leave.

For additional safe winter driving tips, visit www.highwaysafety.ky.gov.

The Herald-Leader has reported that about half a million dollars in state property apparently has disappeared from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture or cannot be accounted for properly.

According to inventory records, 171 items worth about $334,000, including computers, digital cameras, printers, copiers and other equipment are missing.

Former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer is the only person who has not returned all department-issued equipment, according to the inventory record.

Some of the lost equipment might date to the late 1990s under the administration of Farmer’s predecessor, Billy Ray Smith; though Smith told the paper that computers in the field were a rarity in his time.

12 people have been arrested in a drug roundup in Harlan and Bell counties.

Kentucky State Police troopers and Drug Enforcement investigators conducted the round-up following a year-long investigation into the illegal sale of narcotics in those counties.

12 people have been arrested so far and more arrests are pending.

Those arrested include:

1.      Frank Lee Jr., 27, of Cumberland, was charged with one count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
2.      Marquelle Gist, 35, of Lynch, was charged with two count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
3.      Robert Craig, 48, of Pathfork, was charged with two count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
4.      Rebecca Caldwell, 36, of Pineville, was charged with one count of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance and one count of complicity to first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
5.      Clyde Daniels Jr., 40, of Smith, was charged with one count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
6.      Allen Wilson, 27, of Cumberland, was charged with one count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
7.      Carl Madon, 52, of Harlan, was charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
8.      Ronald Caldwell, 44, of Wallins, was charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
9.      James Eads Jr., 43, of Lejunior, was charged with one count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance,
10.     Shavon Abner, 23, of Harlan, was charged with one count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
11.     Jamie Lewis, 34, of Pineville, was charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.
12.     Terry Widener, 46, of Pineville, was charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.

State snow and ice crews say they are well stocked and well prepared for wintry weather expected Thursday afternoon and into the evening.

Nearly 2,000 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) employees are available for efforts to treat and clear more than 60,000 lane miles of roads.

KYTC outfits more than 990 trucks with front-end blades and salt spreading equipment.  An additional 375 snow removal contractors are available to assist when needed

When wintry weather is in the forecast, KYTC crews begin applying brine or calcium chloride solutions to combat ice buildup on roads and aid in snow removal.  Currently, KYTC has more than 1 million gallons of brine, 900,000 gallons of calcium chloride solution and nearly 300,000 tons of salt on hand for use by maintenance crews.

Last winter, KYTC used a record 501,000 tons of salt.

Lawmakers in Frankfort Thursday morning listened to testimony about a proposed meth bill in Kentucky.

Experts told a joint meeting of the Senate and House judiciary committees that, despite electronic tracking, meth labs are on the rise.

The testimony comes as legislators again consider a proposal to require that cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth, be available by prescription only.

A similar measure failed to pass last year.

No vote was taken on the issue Thursday.