Featured Articles from the Central Kentucky News

Eleven people have been indicted by the FBI after drug raids in Clark, Madison and Fayette counties earlier this month. According to the indictment, Rondale Lamont McCann has been charged with two counts of distributing crack cocaine in Clark County in 2012, and Jennifer Leanna Rawlings has been charged with one count of distributing crack cocaine in Clark County, also in 2012. Bruce Harrison was charged with selling oxycodone in Clark County in February. McCann and Rawlings also were charged with distributing crack cocaine in Madison County, along with Dawn Cloud, Marcus T. Williams, Jason Leon Bledsoe, Bassam M. Alfroukh, Susan Ladosha Strickland, Kelly Marquet Stewart, Zerockia Z. Keene, Dustin Harrison and Bruce Harrison, beginning July 2012.

With walls decorated by memorabilia from the likes of John Travolta and Elizabeth Taylor and structures built and furnished over 63 theater seasons, it's easy to imagine why the TV show “American Pickers” might be attracted to Pioneer Playhouse and what they may have taken with them when they left. Unfortunately, due to a pesky confidentially contract between Playhouse owner Charlotte Henson and the show, all we can do is imagine. What we do know is that the History Channel's show hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, spent time and money there earlier this month, filming an episode that likely will run in early summer.

What started as a way for hot rodders to grill out and gather around their prized machines has become a popular celebration known as the Hullabaloo on Dillehay Street. This year's Hullabaloo on Saturday is expected to be the biggest yet, no small feat for a for a gathering of hot rod enthusiasts that has drawn more than 1,000 people the last two years. The free event was put together by Dillehay Street shop owners Kirby Stafford and Richard Sanders. When it began six years ago, Sanders said they didn't even bother to have the street blocked of, although it happened anyway.

LIBERTY - A judge denied bond reduction requests for two of the men charged in the murder of Gleason Pyles, in part because of concern that their connections to an outlaw motorcycle gang would allow them to be spirited away and avoid prosecution if they were released from custody. David Salyers and William Bobby Rigdon were sent back to jail under $1 million bonds after Casey Circuit Judge Judy Vance rejected their requests to have their bonds reduced, saying she believed they are a flight risk.

A Georgetown man accused of attempted sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl waived his case to the grand jury. Zachary Myers, 21, appeared in Clark District Court Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing for a single count of attempted first-degree sodomy, but his attorney decided to forego the hearing and send the case directly to the grand jury. Myers was arrested in April concerning an incident that occurred in December 2012. According to the arrest warrant, Myers was staying in a friend's home on Stamper Drive on Dec. 1, 2012.

One of Danville's newer businesses has raised eyebrows with some of its risqué offerings, but the owners say they are providing a legal and less seedy alternative to similar stores elsewhere. Behind Closed Doors, which opened at 800 Finn Hill Drive in January, sells a number of adult novelties, lingerie and items some would describe as sex toys, along with band posters, T-shirts and other items. A large part of the store's inventory also includes a variety of pipes for smoking tobacco.

CHICAGO - On the court, Andrew Harrison is an intense competitor - a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Deandre Liggins type. Off the court, he's just as intense and not afraid to voice his opinion. Not only did the future Kentucky point guard say that he though the McDonald's All-American Game - he had 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting,  four assists, two rebounds and one steal in 18 minutes in Wednesday's game here - was a more prestigious event than the upcoming Jordan Brand Classic, but he's already tossing verbal barbs at Louisville.  He admitted he had picked Louisville to reach the Final Four, but then told media members, "I hope Michigan wins (the national title)

HARRODSBURG — Elisabeth Goth is happiest where the horses are. Never mind the news business or the film production business, both of which have figured prominently in her life in recent years. Goth is in her element in the show ring, making strides toward another world championship with another promising horse. That’s just what the Marion County-based owner/exhibitor was doing Wednesday night at the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show, where she rode Harley Rally to a victory in the adult three-gaited pleasure class in their final trial before the World’s Championship Horse Show next month in Louisville.

PLEASANT HILL - Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill was recognized Wednesday evening as a Thomas D. Clark Kentucky Treasure. The site is one of 11 across the state selected by the late Dr. Thomas D. Clark, a state historian, and will be featured 8 p.m. Saturday on a "Kentucky Life" special during Kentucky Educational Television's WinterPledge. The documentary is hosted by Dave Shuffett. "It's understandable why Clark picked the 11 sites," said Shuffett. "We enjoy a small part of this rich, rich, experience every day," said Kent Whitworth, Kentucky Historical Society director.

Kentucky coach John Calipari said he gave freshman Archie Goodwin  "the information, what was out there, what we were told" before Goodwin put his name into the NBA draft. "We sat down and talked to him and he came back and said he wanted to put his name in the draft and we said, 'Great, let's go for it,'" Calipari said Wednesday. "I'm not going to sit here and give you everything I said or my opinion because I don't think, it's fair but they get everything they need and whatever decision they make - I've been on the phone right now with probably five or six NBA teams about Archie.

The Nicholasville Police Department is investigating a Lexington man it says stole $274,000 in campaign-contribution checks intended for the Democratic Governors Association. Michael Parker, 22, of 403 Hart Road, in Lexington was arrested Monday on a warrant by Jessamine County sheriff's deputy Gerald Wheeler and booked into the Jessamine County Detention Center, where he later bonded out that same day on an unsecured $10,000 bond, according to court records. He has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, more than $10,000, which is a Class C felony.

Kamilia Elizabeth Mina, the daughter of Amy Long and Otniel Mina of Liberty, was born Friday, March 21 at the Fort Logan Hospital at 12:09 a.m. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches at birth. Maternal grandparents are David and Peggy Long of Liberty. Paternal grandparents are Pedro and Joyce Mina of Liberty and Concepcion Leon of San Jose, Mexico. Great grandparents are Alois and the late Lewis Johnson, Doris Coffman, and Omer and Mary Ann Long, all of Liberty, and Macario Mina of San Jose, Mexico.

Kentucky offensive coordinator Neal Brown got to make his second appearance at the Kentucky Footbal Coaches Association Clinic Saturday at Centre College. The first time he came he was offensive coordinator at Texas Tech and was back in Boyle County on vacation to visit family and friends. Now he's at UK and that has made life happier for his family. “My girls are great. Probably better for grandparents than anything. It has been a positive experience coming to Kentucky,” said Brown, a former three-sport standout at Boyle County High School.

Once the game finally got going, No. 13 Danville had little trouble in beating Garrard County and advancing to the 45th Distict Tournament final at Stanford. Dowell Harmon was 3 for 3 with two doubles and five RBIs and Rhodes Bell added a three-run home run as the Admirals blasted Garrard 19-2 in five innings at Lincoln County. There were three lighting delays before the game even started, then another. The other semifinal between Boyle County and Lincoln County was postponed until 6 p.m. today.