Edgewood lawyer joins NKU board

        Disgraced homebuilder A. William “Bill” Erpenbeck was replaced on the Northern Kentucky University board of regents by Edgewood attorney Martin Butler, brother to Corporex Cos. chief Bill Butler, on Wednesday.

        Gov. Paul Patton made that appointment along with others to university and college boards on Wednesday, and to the Council on Postsecondary Education.

        Kentucky State University President George Reid's harshest critic on the KSU board of regents was also replaced.

        Elizabeth Short of Beattyville had attended regent meetings infrequently in recent months, but often showed her displeasure with Mr. Reid. Replacing Ms. Short will be Marcia Milby Ridings of London.

        The KSU board is to meet June 20 when it is expected to reconsider Mr. Reid's employment.

        Other appointments include: Community and Technical College System: Cynthia Read, Louisville, reappointed.

        Eastern Kentucky University: Penny Greer, East Bernstadt, appointed to replace Barbara Ann Ricke of Lexington.

        Morehead State University: Ginny Fox, Frankfort, replacing Madge Baird, Pikeville; Helen Pennington, West Liberty, reappointed.

        Murray State University: Marilyn Reed Buchanon, Grand Rivers, reappointed.

        Northern Kentucky University: Anna Dale Pyles, Mayslick, replacing Kathryn Hendrickson, Maysville; Robert Zapp, Union, reappointed.

        University of Kentucky: Frank Shoop, Lexington; Billy Wilcoxson, Lexington, reappointed.

        University of Louisville: Tommie Burns Jr., Prospect, replacing Darryl Owens, Louisville; Junior Bridgeman, Louisville, Grant Helman, Louisville, reappointed.

        Western Kentucky University: LaDonna Rogers, Glasgow, replacing Peggy Loafman, Bowling Green.

        Council on Postsecondary Education: Esther Jansing, Owensboro, replacing Hilda Legg, Somerset.
       

Track cool to idea for more gambling

        CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The owner of the Charles Town Races & Slots doesn't like the idea of adding table games to West Virginia's four racetracks, and Gov. Bob Wise isn't ready to embrace the idea either.

        Ted Arneault, president of Mountaineer Racetrack & Gaming Resort in Chester, last week said that adding table games would create hundreds of high-paying jobs, satisfy demands of slot machine players and boost business by at least 20 percent.

        Mr. Arneault is starting to seek support for legislation that could be introduced in 2003 or 2004. The bill would let tracks offer live versions of poker, blackjack and other games that patrons now play on touch-screen machines.

        But Wyomissing, Pa.-based Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns Charles Town Races, said table games aren't necessary at the track, which is undergoing a $70 million expansion this summer.

        “Charles Town continues to perform at record revenue levels,” Peter Carlino, Penn National's chief executive officer, said Tuesday. “Accordingly, we see no need for the approval of table games and do not support the proposal.”

        Last week Mr. Wise said he's not interested in renewing legislative debate on such a controversial idea. “I've had all the fun I want to handle for a while on gaming issues,” Mr. Wise said.
       

State late in paying jail boarding fees

        FRANKFORT — The state has not paid counties for holding its inmates for at least two months and the check won't be in the mail until the new fiscal year starts in July.

        Corrections Department spokeswoman Lisa Carnahan said the state ran through the $39 million set aside for state jail payments in March.

        The reason is simply that there are more felons in local jails than the state anticipated.

        Ms. Carnahan said the state has 16,422 felons in the system, an increase from 15,808 in June 2001. The budget was prepared estimating a population of 16,045. The number of felons in county jails increased from 4,115 in June last year to 4,501 this month.

        The state pays $27.51 per day for housing low-risk, or Class D, felons. Keeping them in local jails saves the state millions that might otherwise be needed to expand prisons. Also, local governments benefit because many of the prisoners are assigned to community work projects.

        Ms. Carnahan said she could not estimate what the state might owe in back payments.
       

Van-truck crash kills Lexington man

        SOMERSET — A Lexington resident died after the van he was driving crashed into the rear of a tractor trailer rig at a Pulaski County intersection, according to Kentucky State Police.

        Freddy G. Ferguson, 59, of Lexington, was driving west on Kentucky 80 Tuesday when his van slammed into the rear of a 2001 Kenworth tractor trailer, said Trooper Anthony Phillips.

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