Safety search turns up marijuana cache

        LONDON — During a random safety inspection Wednesday night, Kentucky vehicle enforcement officers at the London weigh station on I-75 seized 51 pounds of marijuana — hidden in wrapping paper.

        Officers stopped Perfection Express, Inc., of Miramar, Fla., at 10:44 p.m. to complete a safety inspection. The officers also asked permission to search the vehicle. The driver, Leo Thomas of Miramar, Fla., agreed to the search of the tractor-trailer. The officers discovered the drugs wrapped in Christmas paper and placed in two duffel bags amidst a load of canned tuna, authorities said.

        Mr. Thomas, 27, and a passenger, Anthony Keith Julzen, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were both charged with trafficking in marijuana and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. Both are lodged in the Laurel County detention facility.

        The marijuana has a street value of $100,000, authorities said.
       

Vote on runway expansion delayed

        LEXINGTON — The Urban County Airport Board Wednesday postponed a vote on runway expansion at the Blue Grass Airport pending more information and public input.

        The morning session drew more than 50 people. With that many worried residents, the board put off the vote until its next regular meeting Jan. 17. Board members also unanimously approved holding a public hearing Jan. 10 at the airport.

        A two-day workshop was held last week, when board members voiced support for two options: extending the existing 7,000-foot runway on its southwest end, or building a new 7,000-foot runway parallel to Versailles Road.

        Board members had hoped to vote Wednesday, but several people who live near the airport said they had been caught off guard by the prospect of a new runway along Versailles Road.

        “There are a lot of people who don't feel they have all the information they should have,” said Chairwoman Fernita Wallace.

        Blue Grass Airport's runway doesn't have 1,000-foot safety areas on each end, which are required by the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport also doesn't have enough distance between its runway and taxiway.
       

Man shot in alley; no suspects in killing

        LOUISVILLE — A 31-year-old Louisville man died after being shot several times in an alley shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday, said police.

        Corey Bowe was pronounced dead at 7:31 a.m. at University of Louisville Hospital, said Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Sam Weakley.

        Mr. Bowe was the city's 40th homicide victim of the year. Louisville police investigated 41 murders last year.

        No arrests had been made.

        Johnathan Ward, who lives in the area, said he was awakened by several gunshots about 5:15 a.m.

        “I walked around to see what was happening and there was a guy laying in the alley,” Mr. Ward said.
       

Airport misses out on $1M from feds

        OWENSBORO — This month's combination of ice, snow and near-record cold will likely cost Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport $1 million in federal funds.

        Airport officials were struggling to reach the 10,000-passenger mark for the year in order to qualify for $1 million from the Federal Aviation Administration.

        Last week, Airport Manager Tim Bradshaw announced plans for a week of “Discover Owensboro” flights around the city to increase airport usage. The 400 seats available for those flights combined with an expected 700 or so passengers on Northwest Airlink flights would have pushed local boardings over the 10,000 mark.

        But the weather has forced the cancellation of 12 of those flights so far. And Northwest, which recently cut its Owensboro service to two flights a day, has canceled several flights this month because of weather and mechanical problems.

        “Yesterday, the 2 p.m. flight didn't take off because of mechanical problems,” Mr. Bradshaw said. “The passengers had to make other arrangements. It's hurt us. This hasn't been a good month.”
       

Survey: Teachers want links to parents

        LEXINGTON — A new survey found that teachers want more training on building relationships with parents — a link now considered essential to higher student achievement.

        While about 52 percent of the teachers surveyed in a 1999 study by the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership said they had taken courses to learn more about communicating with parents, 90 percent of the teachers said it wasn't enough. Seventy-four percent said they would like more help and information on the topic.

        “I would doubt there are very many people who are surprised by this information,” said Kay Wright, a professor of child and family studies at Eastern Kentucky University and co-author of the study. “We have got to look at how we can create new models to learn and respect and think about what's going on with kids and families.”

        There were 529 teacher responses to the survey, which was enough to make it statistically significant. But because responses were low in some regions, the authors said the report should be viewed as a snapshot.
       

Writer, columnist Saul Loeb, 76, dies

        LOUISVILLE — Saul M. Loeb, who was a part-time press secretary for former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. and wrote comedy material for entertainers including Woody Allen, died Wednesday at his home. He was 76.

        Mr. Loeb, who specialized in monologues, also wrote for comedians Jackie Mason and Alan King, and for ABC and NBC television networks.

        He also was a former editorial columnist for Knight-Ridder newspapers, including the Lexington Herald-Leader.

        A native of Louisville, Mr. Loeb had been an agent for American Heritage Life Insurance Co. before moving to New York to pursue comedy writing.

Jeffersontown's mayor to step down

        LOUISVILLE — Jeffersontown Mayor Daniel Ruckriegel announced Wednesday that he's stepping down after leading his hometown for 19 years.

        Mr. Ruckriegel, 59, said his doctor had told him he would be “laid out flat” in City Hall if he didn't resign. He declined to elaborate on his health condition, but he said he has applied for disability.

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