Breathitt County

LIBERTY — Casey County is venturing into uncharted territory this week, but even playing at three-time state champion Breathitt County is not overwhelming this record-setting team. “It’s something that we are enjoying. I feel like we’re playing hard right now and doing some of the things you have to do to win. We should have plenty of confidence this Friday,” said Casey coach Andy Stephens, whose Rebels play at Breathitt in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.

A Breathitt County pastor charged with meeting a 13-year-old girl in Winchester for sex is now facing federal charges. John Edward Smith, 44, of Jackson, was indicted Friday by a federal grand jury in Lexington for using a means of interstate commerce to attempt to coerce a juvenile into having sexual activity, for which he could be charged with a criminal offense. Smith was arrested by Kentucky State Police in Winchester June 25 at a used car lot, where he was allegedly going to meet the girl.

Kentucky hunters now have 2,293 new acres to pursue deer, elk, turkey and small game (except quail) in Kentucky at Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The WMA, located in southeastern Breathitt County, consists of 2,293 acres of reclaimed surface mine and forest land. The University of Kentucky-owned property is the site of many ongoing research projects related to forest management and mine reclamation. Good to moderate populations of elk, rabbits, deer, turkey and songbirds exist on the area.

A Breathitt County man who led police on a motorcycle chase beginning on the Mountain Parkway on Friday has died of injuries sustained from the crash. Christopher Pelfrey, 27, was clocked driving at 140 m.p.h. at 1:40 a.m. Friday. He led police through Clark, Powell and Lee counties before losing control of this motorcycle and being thrown from it. He was not wearing his helmet. Pelfrey died Friday afternoon at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

LIBERTY — Casey County is looking for a new football coach after Andy Stephens announced his resignation. Stephens, a 1987 Casey County graduate, compiled a 35-67 record in 10 seasons at the school, but led the Rebels to their best season ever last year. The Rebels went 8-4 and hosted the first playoff game in school history, a 27-6 win over Powell County, before falling 54-34 to Breathitt County in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. See Wednesday’s Advocate-Messenger for more on this story.

BluegrassPreps.com Preseason Football Rankings Class A 1. Danville 2. Newport Central Catholic 3. Louisville Holy Cross 4. Beechwood 5. Hancock County 6. Mayfield 7. Lynn Camp 8. Pikeville 9. Bardstown 10. Fairview Class AA 1. Elizabethtown 2. Belfry 3. Trigg County 4. Breathitt County 5. Lloyd Memorial 6. Russell 7. Corbin 8. Prestonsburg...

Dec. 2, 1986 The Belmont Junior High School Patriots split a pair of games at Clark-Moores in Richmond Monday night to open their season. The seventh grade Pats won 42-37, while the eighth graders dropped a 34-29 decision. The George Rogers Clark Lady Cardinals couldn't hold on to a 10-point third-quarter lead as they dropped their season opener 51-43 to visiting Breathitt County Monday night. Clark took the biggest lead of the night on a layup by Jessie Phillips with 3:28 left in the third period, but fell apart after that.

The East and West Jessamine girls teams were busy last week. East's Lady Jaguars played three games in Frankfort at the Farmers Bank Snowball Classic, and West's Lady Colts played four in Breathitt County's Second Annual Ladycat Holiday Hoopfest. Despite several close calls, one in overtime, the Lady Jags weren't able to pull off a win in Frankfort. In their first game on Wednesday against Madisonville-North Hopkins, the Lady Jags lost 39-31. Coach Ralph Sallee said the team went cold on their shooting in the second half.

Instead of relaxing over their break, the East and West boys and girls basketball teams have a busy week of tournaments to play. The boys began their tournament play last week. East Boys The Jaguars managed to edge out Newport Central Catholic by one point at the Lexington Christian Classic last Tuesday, 65-64. They also soundly beat Monticello, 77-50. They are now playing in the Queen City Classic in Somerset. On Tuesday they played Conner, losing 58-57. On Wednesday.

Blanche Haddix Landrum, 87, beloved widow of Ollie James Landrum, passed away on Monday, Aug. 8, at Bourbon Heights Nursing Home after an extended illness. She was born on March 27, 1924, at Lost Creek, Breathitt County, daughter of the late Arthur Haddix and Maude Noble Haddix. She attended Breathitt County High School, graduated from Riverside Christian School, and was a member of the Riverside Brethren Church at Lost Creek. Survivors include two sons, James (Anne) Landrum of Richmond, and Stuart (Laurie Garner)