City takes step to recreation hire

        FLORENCE — City Council gave first reading Tuesday to an ordinance to hire the city's first parks and recreation director.

        Council could approve the measure at its Oct. 23 meeting. No salary figures or application dates were announced.

        In other action, council:

        • Gave first reading to a $2.3 million bond issue for improvements to the water and sewer system.

        City Attorney Hugh O. Skees said the money would pay for relining existing water and sewer mains.

        • Announced that leaf collection will continue now through Dec. 6.

        Leaves will be picked up three times. Residents have to put them in front of their homes.

        Information: (859) 647-5714.
       

Kenton library system closed today

        The Kenton County Public Library will be closed today at all of its locations in Covington, Erlanger and Independence for a staff day. The library will reopen for normal business hours at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
       

Book criticizes UK football

        LEXINGTON — Tony Franklin, who was fired as offensive coordinator of Kentucky's football team last year, alleges in a self-published book that Athletics Director Larry Ivy said coaches have to cheat sometimes to get good players, a statement Mr. Ivy denies making.

        Mr. Franklin's book, Fourth Down and Life to Go, raises several allegations about problems in the school's football program.

        Mr. Franklin, who coached under then-coach Hal Mumme until the end of the 2-9 season, says in the book that he met with Mr. Ivy one night during the 2000 season to discuss trouble Mr. Franklin was having with Mr. Mumme and the “potential blowup” over violations Kentucky later admitted in trying to recruit players from Melrose High School in Memphis.

        Mr. Franklin said he told Mr. Ivy that if other coaches wanted to cheat to get players, “that was their business.”

        “Ivy responded, "Sometimes you've got to cheat to get a good player,'” Mr. Franklin wrote.

        Mr. Ivy said he has not read the book. He denied making any such statement.

        “That obviously is not true,” he told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “That's very disturbing.”

Officer's husband pleads innocent

        CRESTWOOD — A Crestwood man accused of killing his wife — a Jefferson County police officer — pleaded innocent on Wednesday in Oldham District Court.

        A judge ordered Robert L. Powell, 34, to remain in the Oldham County jail under a $1 million cash bond. His next court appearance will be Wednesday.

        Mr. Powell is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 41-year-old Pamela Powell.

        Police say Mr. Powell shot her in the head Oct. 2 with a 9mm pistol. Her body was found in their two-story home in Crestwood. The couple shared the home with four children from previous marriages.

        Investigators have not disclosed a motive.

        Robert Powell was arrested on Monday.
       

Pair accused of taking bingo profits

        CORBIN — A Whitley County couple has been indicted on charges they took $90,000 from a bingo operation that funded the county's high school football team.

        Mike and Charlene White were indicted Monday in Whitley Circuit Court on 59 counts of diverting charitable gaming funds over 15 months, ending in December 2000.

        Commonwealth's Attorney Allen Trimble said the Whites operated the bingo operation for the Whitley County Football Boosters and allegedly pocketed most of the money as well as underreporting the proceeds to the state.

        The charges resulted from a five-month investigation after reports from the Whites didn't match reports from the company that rents bingo computers to them, Mr. Trimble said.

        In many instances, there were checks written to Red Storm Football which were signed and cashed by the Whites, Mr. Trimble said.

        If convicted, the couple could receive up to five years for each of the 59 counts. The bingo operation for the football boosters shut down earlier this year, Mr. Trimble said.

        Monday's indictment is the third major bingo-related case in Whitley County within five years.
       

Worker dies in railroad accident

        MAYFIELD — A Paducah & Louisville Railway employee was killed when he was knocked off the side of a train and pulled underneath it at the Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co., three miles south of Mayfield.

        Graves County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dewayne Redmon said the accident was reported Wednesday afternoon. When authorities arrived, the victim was found pinned under the train. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and a crane was used to lift the train off a spur at the clay mining company's facility, Sheriff Redmon said.

        The victim's name has not been released.

        Sheriff Redmon said it appeared the victim was holding the side of the moving train and was knocked off by a steel rail that did not leave enough room between itself and the train for him to pass. He was then pulled under the train. It appeared the man died from head and internal injuries.
       

Head of tobacco co-op steps down

        OWENSBORO — Rod Kuegel has stepped down as president of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association in Lexington, the group that represents the region's tobacco farmers.

        Mr. Kuegel, who has been at the post for 6 1/2 years, made the announcement this week during an emotional speech to the 30 co-op board members.

        “Continue to be independent thinkers, challenging the norm and realizing that you are the last barrier of grower protection,” Mr. Kuegel urged to the board.

        Henry West of Paint Lick, vice president since 1995, was unanimously elected president. Paul Tucker of Sadieville was elected vice president.

        The co-op is still planning issue meetings around the state. Next week it will meet in Dry Ridge and Lebanon, and the following week in Owensboro and Hopkinsville.

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