Spring round-up for Pendleton/Grant

Kentucky State Police and the Pendleton County Sheriff's Department went to the home of Justin Mann on KY 22 West and apprehended him in their early morning drug raids. Pictured above: (l-r) KSP Trooper Mark Grisik, Justin Mann, Pendleton County Chief Deputy Paul Vater and Pendleton Sheriff Craig Peoples. Photo by D. Dennie.

KSP Post 6 conducts Operation Spring Cleaning

Before dawn on April 10, Troopers from the Kentucky State Police Post in Dry Ridge along with Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Pendleton County Sheriff's Office, Williamstown Police Department, Dry Ridge Police Department and the Grant County Jail conducted a three county drug roundup.

The roundup, designated Operation "Spring Cleaning" was the culmination of a joint investigation between the Kentucky State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The investigation identified nineteen (19) individuals in the Dry Ridge Post area that were engaged in either manufacturing methamphetamine, obtaining the materials to manufacture methamphetamine or trafficking in a controlled substance. Investigators obtained sealed indictments on the nineteen (19) suspects in Grant County, Ky. Operation "Spring Cleaning" commenced at 6 a.m. with area officers assisting the Kentucky State Police and the ATF in locating and arresting eighteen (18) of the nineteen (19) suspects. At the time of this press release one (1) suspect remained at large.

Arrested on Indictment Warrants were: Charles Kenton Lucas (32) of Dry Ridge; Ricky Baxter (48) of Dry Ridge; Eddie S. Webster (34) of Dry Ridge; Tyler Franks (20) of Dry Ridge; Timothy Vickers (21) of Corinth; Richard Clark (29) of Dry Ridge; David Houze (45) of Crittenden; Justin Mann (23) of Falmouth; Ember Valentour (19) of DeMossville; Charles Weckback (30) of DeMossville; Garrett Gadd (35) of Walton; Annette Gadd (33) of Walton; Alicia Sawyer (23) of Dry Ridge; Danny Landrum (46) of Dry Ridge; Bryan Kendrick (26) of Florence; Misty (Hughes) Kendrick (29) of Demossville; Donna Biddle (34) of Walton; William King Jr., (24) of Dry Ridge, was later located.

Only one suspect James Simmons Jr. (29) of Corinth, remains at large at this time.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the one outstanding suspect is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police Post 6 in Dry Ridge at (859) 428-1212.

See photos on Page 5 of this week's Falmouth Outlook

Former mayor addresses lawmakers
Council approves firing range creation

By Roger McKinney, Reporter

Falmouth City Council met in regular session April 3, 2008. Former Mayor Gene Flaugher addressed the lawmakers regarding the regional sewer plant project. He said it was his understanding that the council intended borrowing $1 million in order to expand the sewer lines outside the city limits. Mayor Flaugher said that he, as a citizen, opposed the idea. "Falmouth should not borrow the money," he said. "That should be the county's responsibility." Councilman Mark Hart told the former mayor that the issue was not presently on the table. The councilman said that groundwork had been laid to consider expanding the lines in 2009, but not in 2008. Councilman Rick Mineer said, "You're either in the sewer business, or you get out of the sewer business. You either grow the business or you turn it over to someone else." Mayor Flaugher said it was his understanding that the council was raising sewer rates in order to pay off the loan. Councilman Hart explained that the sewer rate was being raised in order to repair the inner city sewer system, which was disintegrating rapidly.

New Falmouth Police Chief Mark Posey and Pendleton County Deputy Sheriff Paul Vater addressed the council and asked their permission to construct a firing range on city property some three miles south of town. The creation of the range would be at no cost to the City of Falmouth and would be used by city and county law enforcement officers to improve their marksmanship. Deputy Sheriff Vater explained that lead contamination would not be a problem since lead ammunition would not be used at the range. After a discussion of the request the Falmouth City Council authorized the officers to proceed with the project.

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Two escape injuries after accident in front of FNB

Kentucky State Trooper Chris Steward investigated a two-vehicle, non-injury accident in front of Farmers National Bank in Butler, at 3:15 p.m., Thursday, April 10. Helen Brown of Butler, was traveling northbound on U.S. 27 in a 2003 Buick Century when she attempted to make a left turn into the bank and pulled in front of the path of oncoming traffic. Jessica Pyles, 20, of Falmouth, operating a 1999 Ford Taurus, was unable to avoid a collision with Brown. Her car struck Brown's, left the roadway and came to a stop on the front lawn of Farmers National Bank. Pendleton County EMT's and TransCare responded to the accident. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the collision and did not sustain any serious injuries. They were checked out at the scene and later released. Pendleton County Chief Deputy Sheriff Paul Vater, Butler Police Chief Kenny Hale, Kentucky State Trooper Mark Grisik and the Butler Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the accident scene. Photo by Jackie Vaughn.

Biddle provides evidence to help arrest thieves

Vigilance and responsibility are traits all of us try to develop and hope that we have when a situation requires them of us. Wayne Biddle passed that test recently.

In mid-March vandals attempted to remove the catalytic converters from two of the new vehicles assigned to the Pendleton County Health Center. The Jeep Liberty that Wayne Biddle drives and H.A.N.D.S. Toyota driven by Carol Carr roared like "hot rods" when they started them on a frosty late winter morning.

In addition to their daily duties and full schedules, Carol and Wayne sought competitive bids to fix the vehicles and soon discovered that in order to not void the warranties, the vehicles had to be fixed by a dealer. The costs estimates ranged from $700 to $1300 and did not include their staff time.

Wayne came into the office at 9 a.m. Saturday April 5. He saw scuff marks in the gravel next to his car. As he went around to look more closely, he discovered a flashlight and two cigarette butts on the ground. He bent over to look under the car to find metal filings in the gravel. The vandals were back to finish the job. Wayne gathered the butts without touching them and put them in an empty envelope. He then picked up the flashlight using the lanyard that was attached to it. He took this evidence to the Pendleton County Sheriff's Department.

Cars in the lot of Norton's Garage were vandalized recently so when Wayne dropped off the evidence the Sheriff immediately called Norton's to see if they had experienced another incident.

For more of this story, see this week's Falmouth Outlook

Additional articles this week include:

Shawn Hayslette receives warm "Welcome Home"

PCHS Winter Sports Banquet

James Wright wins Wyatt's SuperValu and Outlook March Madness Contest

Animal Control Appreciation Week

Butler City Council meets

and more!!