The Enquirer

LONDON, Ky. - The trial of a prominent eastern Kentucky businessman described by prosecutors as a kingpin in a vote-buying scheme has been postponed.

Ross Harris of Pikeville had been scheduled to stand trial Monday. The case was postponed because Mark Chandler, an attorney representing a co-defendant, was scheduled to be out of the country.

A U.S. District judge reset the trial for Harris and Loren Glen Turner of Drift for Aug. 23.

Former state Sen. John Doug Hays, who was seeking election as Pike County district judge in 2002, and seven of his supporters are scheduled to stand trial Oct. 4.

All 10 of the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

A federal grand jury indicted them for allegedly scheming to buy votes on behalf of Hays in the judicial race.

Mechanical failure cited in derailment

SOUTH SHORE, Ky. - CSX officials said a mechanical failure caused 20 cars of a freight train to derail in a rural area of northeast Kentucky.

An overheated ball bearing caused an axle to break early July 31, CSX spokeswoman Jane Covington said Thursday.

The train was carrying 40-ton steel slabs from Columbus to Cincinnati when several cars went off the tracks between Beattyville and South Shore adjacent to U.S. 23.

The accident forced the evacuation of about 45 residents, but caused no injuries.

Covington said derailments do not occur that often because the company takes safety precautions such as regularly lubricating along the tracks. CSX has also installed defect detectors along tracks.

Judge candidate wants drug treatment center

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - A candidate for Kentucky Supreme Court is recommending a newly built prison in Elliott County be turned into a long-term drug treatment center.

Will T. Scott, a Pikeville attorney, said it would be the best use for the $92 million facility.

"Eastern Kentucky has one of the highest per capita rates of illegal drug use in the nation," he said. "Our problem keeps getting worse."

Gov. Ernie Fletcher said Friday that Scott's proposal is "certainly something we would consider looking at."