Friday, September 15, 2000
Kentucky News Briefs
Staff training closes Kenton library today
The Kenton County Public Library will be closed today for staff training at all three locations of Covington, Erlanger, and Independence.
Normal business hours will resume 10 a.m. Saturday at all locations.
I-65 construction could delay Hoosiers
LOUISVILLE — A construction project on Interstate 65 that closes the southbound lanes from today to Monday morning is expected to cause major delays for Hoosiers attending the Kentucky-Indiana football game Saturday.
The project will shut down the southbound lanes from south of the Kennedy Bridge to Interstate 264 from 9 p.m. EDT today to 6 a.m. Monday.
Terri Giltner, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said Hoosiers traveling to the game in Lexington should allow more time to detour around the city.
“No offense,” Ms. Giltner said. “The best thing I can tell them to do is to leave early and we hope they can make it to the game on time.”
Indiana University has posted detour information on its Web site to assist fans traveling to the 6 p.m. EDT game in Lexington.
Indiana State Police will have a helicopter in the area monitoring traffic, said police spokesman Sgt. Marvin Jenkins.
“We are really being pessimistic and expecting major tie-ups,” Sgt. Jenkins said. “We're talking about a major shutdown and routing a lot of vehicles into a small area for a long time.”
Drop building plans, UK professors urge
LEXINGTON — University of Kentucky professors are hoping to reverse an administration decision to build a $65 million research building along a busy street, opposite the heart of the campus.
The faculty members say the location would be an obstacle for professors working together on research. Faculty members and researchers recommended in April that the building be near other laboratory buildings.
More than 100 professors, mostly those in the sciences, met Wednesday to question and criticize the idea of putting the new research building on the southwest corner of South Limestone and Virginia Avenue.
The complaints came during an open meeting of the University Senate council to review the location with the administration's hired consultants. The full Senate will address the issue next month.
Charge dropped in squirt-Patton case
LEXINGTON — A misdemeanor charge was dropped against the last of three men accused in the water-gun spraying of Gov. Paul Patton during a Fourth of July parade.
Justin Perry faced a $50 fine for facilitating the disruption of a procession. On Wednesday, Mr. Perry's attorneys subpoenaed Mr. Patton to appear at Mr. Perry's court appearance, scheduled for Monday. Three hours later, the charge against him was dropped.
“Perry did not actively participate in the incident,” said Fayette County attorney Margaret Kannensohn.
“The time and expense to the taxpayers for us to have pursued this case would have been totally unjustified and justice would not have been served,” Ms. Kannensohn said.
Richard Puckett, the man who actually squirted Mr. Patton with the Super Soaker, pleaded guilty to one charge of disrupting a procession and paid a $175.80 fine.
Violations found at code official's properties
LEXINGTON — Missing smoke detectors, faulty furnace ducts and improperly installed fixtures were among 34 code violations found by investigators in three rental houses owned by an inspector with the Lexington Division of Code Enforcement.
The inspections of the houses owned by Dennis Penley were ordered by Mayor Pam Miller late last month as part of a city investigation of the agency. The inquiry began four days after the Lexington Herald-Leader launched a series of articles about the city's housing and code enforcement.
His properties are worth $403,900, according to city property records.
Mr. Penley is one of two code-enforcement officers, along with Steve Lange, who own investment property. Vincent Scott, who owns more than $1 million worth of rental property, resigned Aug. 25 from his job as a supervisor with the agency.
Mr. Scott's business partner, Bill Barrow, resigned from his job as a code enforcement officer Sept. 8.
"Drum mountain' removed in Paducah
PADUCAH — As of Thursday, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant's “drum mountain” is gone.
The removal of the 35-foot-tall pile of 85,000 rusted drums, which began June 23, was complete ahead of schedule.
“We thought we'd get the job done on schedule, and that's exactly what's happening,” said Greg Cook, spokesman for Bechtel Jacobs Co.
The Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based company is under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to help clean up the nearly 50-year-old plant.
The removal of the drums once filled with depleted uranium tetrafluoride had been scheduled to be complete by the end of September.
“Drum mountain, although it is only one small part of the total environmental issues at the site, was one of the most visible features at the Paducah plant,” Mr. Cook said.
Schools, libraries to get some money back
FRANKFORT — Kentucky schools and libraries that were bilked by a book dealer will get some of their money back, Attorney General Ben Chandler announced Thursday.
Baker and Taylor Inc., the nation's largest book distributor, agreed to pay $15.5 million to settle consumer-fraud suits by Kentucky and 17 other states. It earlier paid $3 million to settle a suit by the Department of Justice.
Kentucky's share is just under $377,000, Mr. Chandler said in a statement.
In essence, schools and libraries were overbilled, Mr. Chandler said.
In their contracts with Baker and Taylor, they were promised discounts of 40 percent or more for certain categories of books.
Fliers powerless on baggage rules
Tourists spend day in pen over stolen pig
Please don't abuse the pigs
Downtown eateries open this weekend
Sprawl label is disputed
Cleveland's 'Ecovillage' held up as role model
Woman left in stench called eccentric
International trade meeting to spark protests
Adopted teens to be tried as adults
Mother recounts day girl, 2, died
Rising from ashes - again
A busyness dropout
Ask a Stupid Question ...
He's a new man
On The Fridge
Aquatic center plan criticized
Attempted murder indictment issued
Coca-Cola memorabilia a big draw
Event helps homeless vets
Flying Fortress lands at Lunken
Getting ready for Kentucky Cup Day of Champions
Hamilton gas rates to rise 35%
Holdup nets 46 months
In the Schools
Money shifted into sidewalks
Office workers roll up sleeves for good cause
Persistence pays off for small college
Radio airs game prayers
Signs have message for under-21 drinkers
State expands day-care aid
Get to it
Kentucky News Briefs
Pig Parade/The Puccini Pig
Tristate A.M. Report
