Court

The Clark County Fiscal Court received a major financial boost Wednesday, courtesy of the Clark County Clerk's Office. County Clerk Anita Jones presented the court with more than $237,000 in excess fees, which magistrates plan to amend in the county general fund. Jones lamented that poor economic conditions caused a decrease in fees during the last six months of 2008 and she cautioned that fee revenue has fallen even lower this year. "I'm just hoping we'll turn around before the end of the year," she said.

CRAB ORCHARD - Lincoln County hunters cited by state Fish and Wildlife officers no longer have the option of donating $100 to a private club to stay out of court, a department spokesman Tuesday. But he also says there was nothing illegal about the practice. "We didn't think it was appropriate to be involved in that sort of diversion practice on the front end," of the law enforcement process, said Mark Marraccini of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The practice came into question after it was discovered citations were being given with a letter saying a plea of guilty would be accepted by the county attorney's office and a court appearance avoided with a donation of $100 to the Cedar Creek Sportsman's Club.

The Clark County Fiscal Court reviewed a preliminary plan Wednesday for resurfacing county roads over the next six years. Road Supervisor Kevin Wilson presented a list of 11 roads that have been scheduled for work and asked magistrates to provide any additional input on other roads that may need to be included in the schedule. Included on the list for resurfacing are 0.5 miles on Muddy Creek Road, 0.25 miles on Therese Drive, 0.5 miles on Primrose Lane, 3.1 miles on Ford Hampton Road, 1.19 miles on Ferry Road, 2.2 miles on Bybee Road, 0.69 miles on Amster Grove Road and 1.6 miles on Right Angle Road.

Attorneys for murder suspect Lewis "Buck" Ballard want a judge to dismiss the indictment, claiming there isn't enough specific information listed about the alleged incidents. Ballard, 48, is accused of killing and sodomizing 6-year-old Wesley Mullins of Winchester last summer in Paris. Ballard was a roommate with Mullins' grandfather for three years. The boy was killed on Aug. 4, 2007 by blunt force injuries and was found in the garage behind his grandfather's home. Ballard's attorney, LaMer Kyle-Griffiths, filed a motion earlier this month to have the indictment dismissed because it does not contain enough specific information about the alleged incidents.

The Clark County Fiscal Court on Wednesday approved a final design for the College Park Aquatic Center and endorsed a cost-share arrangement with the Winchester Board of Commissioners. Court members voted 7-1 in favor of the project, clearing the way for officials to begin bidding out the project to contractors. "We don't really know what the actual cost will be until we bid the project," said Mayor Ed Burtner, who presented the project to the court. "When we bid the project and have a bid in hand, we will know.

One of the suspects in the 2002 double murder of Ryan Shangraw and Bo Upton, hooded and protected by body armor, was transferred today from the Lincoln County Regional Jail to the Lincoln County Judicial Center, where he was scheduled to appear before a juvenile judge. Although he's an adult now, the suspect was 16 when the crimes occurred and is, at present, considered a juvenile under Kentucky law and protected by the juvenile justice code. Authorities haven't identified the suspect, and the hearing was closed to the public and the media.

LANCASTER - Kirstie Arnold, the 28-year-old Lancaster woman who was jailed by a Garrard County judge for wearing shorts into the courtroom, appeared before the same judge Tuesday, this time in jeans. On Aug. 25, Garrard District Judge Janet Booth sentenced Arnold to three days of temporary detention for wearing shorts that Booth described as in complete disregard of a court order. Court officials maintain that Arnold was warned by Booth not only once before for wearing an inappropriate shirt, but a second time for wearing shorts considered inappropriate for court.

The Clark County Fiscal Court is considering jumping on the band wagon - or the golf cart as it turns out. Court members agreed Wednesday to continue reviewing a proposal that would allow commuters to drive specially equipped golf carts on certain streets and roads with low speed limits. The proposal is similar to a ordinance passed by the Winchester Board of Commissioners in September, which allows carts to be used on about 350 streets and alleys in the city. Proponents of the ordinance say it will help local residents save on fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions by "going green.

Sometimes it's hard for Stephen Dexter. There have been times during this tennis season when Dexter has been on the outside looking in. The Danville High School graduate has sat in the bleachers, watching younger Centre players on the court while he spends part of his senior season as a supportive teammate. An influx of six freshmen, as well as a solid stable of sophomores, juniors and seniors, has cut down Dexter's time on the court. But the change hasn't diminished his appreciation of the game.

STANFORD - After 12 years of rapid-fire streetball, the 3-on-3 basketball tournament has become something of a tradition at the Lincoln County Fair. With just two 10-minute halves to prove your worth, it is often the case that a single subpar performance can cost an otherwise talented team its place in the single-elimination contest. "There is intense competition, but it is appropriate," said Tim Godbey, the event's organizer. Although the returning veterans knew which teams to keep an eye on, some newcomers signed up with only the faintest idea of who had a reputation for playing a tough game.