WKDP – WCTT Local News

A petition has been submitted for a vote on alcohol sales in Wiliamsburg.

The election is to allow alcohol sales at restaurants which seat 100 people or more and derive at least 70 percent of their income from food sales.   

Local attorney Paul Croley presented the petition Tuesday to Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz.

The petition bears about 400 signatures.  Schwartz said 271 signatures will be required to place the issue on the ballot.

Once the signatures are verified, a special election will be held no sooner than 60 days and no later than 90 days after the petition is filed.

The petition requests that the special election be held on March 20.

Nearly $114,000 of missing money from the prior administration of the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department has been found.

Whitley County attorney Don Moses told the Whitley County Fiscal Court Tuesday night that, at the request of Judge-Executive Pat White Jr., he had looked into accounts at local banks and discovered 13 accounts used previously by the sheriff’s department, which contained about $114,000 from the prior administration.

The various funds are from different fee and tax accounts for various years.

The banks won’t release the funds without a court order.  The fiscal court authorized Moses to file “friendly” litigation in order to have the money turned over the court.

Moses said it will then be up to the County Treasurer to figure out how the money should be distributed.

The East Knox Volunteer Fire Department in Flat Lick is again in compliance with state fire regulations.

The department became non-compliant after five members walked out and resigned their positions during a meeting earlier this month.  The fire commission gave the department until Jan. 15 to comply with regulations.

East Knox Chief Bobby Valentine said on Tuesday the total number of firefighters now on the force is at 20, which is up from 13 members on New Year’s Eve.

To be in compliance with the fire commission in Frankfort, a volunteer fire department must have at least 12 firefighters and a fire chief on the roster.  In addition, 50 percent of the force needs to be certified.

Valentine said Tuesday that over half the department is now certified.

Funeral arrangements have been made for a Kentucky soldier killed in Afghanistan.

20-year-old Pfc. Dustin Paul Napier was killed Jan. 8 when a man in Afghan army uniform opened fire on American soldiers during a game of volleyball.  Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, and the Afghan was killed by another American soldier.

On Tuesday, dozens of people were at the airport to greet the fallen soldier, including the Patriot Guard Riders who led his body from the airport to the London Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Napier will be held at the London Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday at 1 p.m. Following the service, the Patriot Guard Riders will escort Napier to the burial at A.R. Dyche Memorial Park.

Visitation for friends will be held at the funeral home tonight after 6 p.m.

Gov. Steve Beshear laid out his plan to shore up the state budget Tuesday night before a joint legislative session in the House chamber.

Beshear would spare the state Corrections Department and public defenders in his next two-year budget while further cutting money for prosecutors, the Kentucky State Police and the court system.

The governor says he also wants to protect most of education, including the K-12 classroom, and is setting aside $1.5 billion in bonding money for the planning and redesign of a significant part of the city’s downtown including Rupp Arena.

A House panel approved a bill Tuesday that would raise the school dropout age from 16 to 18, beginning in 2017.  House Bill 216 will now go to the full House, where it is likely to be approved.

A similar bill was approved by the Democratic-controlled House last year but died in the Republican-controlled Senate.

First lady Jane Beshear, a former schoolteacher, has pushed the measure since 2010.

She told the House Education Committee that Kentucky needs an educated work force to attract companies that provide high-paying jobs.  She said that requires workers to have at least a high school diploma.