Crab Orchard

CRAB ORCHARD - City commissioners in Crab Orchard are considering possible legislation concerning pit-bull-type dogs within city limits after receiving many complaints and one report of a dog biting a girl in the face. Mayor Billy Shelton said there are dangerous dogs being kept by multiple people in city limits and the dogs are sometimes given too much freedom to run around or are chained up outside while children are out playing. "I don't want to take anyone's dogs away from them, but we've got a lot of complaints," he said.

CRAB ORCHARD - City annexation has struck out in Crab Orchard. After months of waiting for a proposed city annexation to be decided by voters, the measure was defeated Tuesday 28 to 7. Mayor Mike Ramey said he is disappointed but hopes the city will try again in maybe five years. By that point, the proposed reconstruction of U.S. 150 will link the city to much-needed industry and tourist traffic, he hopes, and voters may see the need to plan for growth around the city.

CRAB ORCHARD - Hundreds turned out for Crab Orchard's annual July 4 parade on Saturday. The parade, which was held along Walnut Street and Stanford Road, featured hot rods, classic cars, tractors pulling floats, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, horses and much more. The parade is the traditional closing event for Crab Orchard's annual weekend-long July 4 celebration. Crab Orchard Mayor Bill Dyehouse said the parade has been around for close to 40 years now. Dyehouse said turnout this year was really good, though there have been bigger years.

CRAB ORCHARD - After 114 years of a population flatline, Crab Orchard is primed and ready to grow, Mayor Mike Ramey says. But local voters will determine Tuesday if that expansion is on the way. An annexation proposal has been placed on the ballot in hope that the city can add about $1,214,850 in assessed property to the city limits and about 2.5 miles of streets. The proposed annexation would connect Ky. 1770 and U.S. 150 and extend down the west side of William Whitley Road to increase the city's size by about 40 percent.

CRAB ORCHARD - The volunteer fire department in Crab Orchard will be getting a couple upgrades thanks to approximately $9,200 in spending approved by the city commission. Mayor Billy Shelton said city commissioners approved the purchase of seven new digital radios - five handheld units and two vehicle-mounted units - at the commission meeting Dec. 6. The radio upgrade, which will cost about $5,700, was made necessary by an impending federal mandate from the Federal Communications Commission requiring all agencies to upgrade their radio communications by Jan. 1. City commissioners also approved paying $3,520 for the installation of a new 12-by-20-foot storage unit for the fire department's equipment, Shelton said.

CRAB ORCHARD - A Lincoln County man who was arrested last week after state police found tens of thousands of dollars worth of stolen items on his property was arrested again Tuesday after more stolen property was confiscated from his land. David Brummett, 45, of Simpson Road in the Crab Orchard area, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. He has been lodged in the Lincoln County Regional Jail without the option of bonding out. Brummett's adjacent home and business properties became the scene of an investigation by state police last week after Brummett's father shot himself in the head on the land.

LANCASTER - Authorities have identified the body of a man found Sunday in a Garrard County field. The body of Floyd Smith, 55, of Crab Orchard, was found lying in a farm field on Ky. 39 south of Lancaster, said Garrard Coroner Daryl Hodge. Steven Crouch, a farmer who had been clearing his field, hit the body with his Bush Hog and alerted authorities. Smith had been dead for at least a few days, Hodge said. An autopsy was performed Monday, but the results were inconclusive, according to¿Hodge.

CRAB ORCHARD - Elizabeth Fletcher is 63 years old and has some reoccurring health problems, but that doesn't keep her from maintaining her lifestyle as an avid hunter. In fact, she doesn't miss a day. "I still get excited when I see one. Especially the bigger ones. Most are four, but some as big as seven," she says proudly. Fletcher isn't referring to the size of a rack on a deer; what she hunts may be alive, but probably feels no pain when she makes her final pluck. She hunts clover.

CRAB ORCHARD - A meth bust Friday afternoon provided Stanford firefighters with one of their first chances to use a hazardous materials response vehicle since they recently reacquired it from Lincoln County. Three Crab Orchard residents and a Brodhead resident were arrested Friday after Lincoln County Sheriff Curt Folger responded to a report of a possible meth lab along Schrock Avenue, north of Crab Orchard. Crab Orchard residents Christopher Leo Young, 26, Brian Haight, 37, and Brittany Payne, 23, were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a methamphetamine precursor and wanton endangerment Brodhead resident Ricky Hale Jr., 30, faces the same charges.

CRAB ORCHARD - Music in the Park will be 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at First Southern Veterans Park. It will feature Dan Waters, Ronnie Payne and special guest "Elvis. " Hamburgers, hot dogs, cold drinks and other food will be available. Guests should bring lawn chairs.