Dismissal

STANFORD — Defense attorneys for accused murderer Jason Napier are seeking records on the lead investigator in the case, a former Lincoln County deputy sheriff who is under investigation and recently was dismissed from the department. Attorney Steve Romines has requested the personnel file of former Deputy Rob Oney, who is under investigation by Kentucky State Police concerning the disappearance of funds from a Waynesburg youth basketball program of which Oney was president.

Due to flooding at the middle school and other infrastructure problems all Lincoln County schools will be dismissed at 1 p.m. Monday. Students will be fed lunch before being placed on their regular buses.

Public schools in Jessamine County will dismiss early Thursday as winter storms are expected to move into the area. High schools are scheduled to dismiss at 12:45 p.m.; middle schools will dismiss at 12:35 p.m. The Jessamine Early Learning Village will dismiss at 1:35 p.m., and elementary schools will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. Superintendent Lu Young said the district intentionally sends older students home first so they can be home before their...

Lincoln County Schools will release students early today due to worsening winter weather conditions. Buses will pick up high school students at 12:30, then continue to the middle school and elementary schools. Parents can also pick up their children from school at 12:30.

“I thought the phone would never stop ringing,” Kay Peppard said in an interview Monday, about the support she has received from the community after taking early retirement from her position as the director of the Lincoln County Public Library. “Thank God for all of the good people of Lincoln County and their good wishes and concern,” she added. Peppard said that she is obviously disappointed with what she sees as the Library Executive Board’s implied ultimatum for her to either accept early retirement or be fired.

A couple charged with beating a woman with a whiskey bottle, pumped their fists in the air when their charges were dismissed Wednesday afternoon. Dionne Carmen, who swore out the warrants against 21-year-old Roy Gross Jr. and 25-year-old Shannon Johnson, didn’t appear for the couple’s preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon in Clark District Court. Clark County Attorney Brian Thomas said he had talked to Carmen’s husband before court, and was told that Carmen had been released from surgery Tuesday and that they would make every effort to be in court.

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Historical Society dedicated a historical marker to honor First Baptist Church Sept. 11 on South Paulding Street in Lancaster. The historical marker is sponsored by Spurlin Funeral Home and Farmers National Bank of Lancaster. The organization of First Baptist began March 1851, when Lancaster Baptist Church granted enslaved members petition for a black preacher to conduct their service. The slaves were organized under Rev. Bob Irvine with permission to preach to and baptize slaves.

STANFORD — A felony case against a Lincoln County constable was dismissed Monday after the alleged victim declined to prosecute. Kenny Hodge, 55, of 634 Elm St. in Crab Orchard was charged in June with receiving stolen property more than $500 after he allegedly sold a car belonging to Delmar Ray Rucker and pocketed the money. Lincoln District Judge Bill Oliver dismissed that charge Monday at the recommendation of County Attorney Daryl Day. Day said Rucker, who originally signed the warrant leading to Hodge’s arrest, decided he didn’t want to press charges.

STANFORD ? Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Chad Smith turned in his badge and filed for unemployment on Tuesday. Now, he'll be running full-time for sheriff. Smith, 43, had served as a deputy for five years before being terminated last week by Sheriff Curt Folger. Smith said he was fired because he decided to run against Folger next year. "I went and told my boss the day I filed," Smith said. "There was nothing sneaky about it, but he didn't like it. " Folger acknowledged Wednesday that Smith "is no longer with us," but he declined to discuss any reasons for his termination.

In May, The Interior Journal reported that Gayle Young, a former county courthouse employee, had filed suit against then Judge Executive Buckwheat Gilbert and County Treasurer Teresa Padgett. That case was dismissed last Tuesday. Young, who'd worked at the courthouse for four years before her dismissal, said in her complaint that Gilbert and Padgett, "intentionally, wantonly, willfully and maliciously communicated false and defamatory statements," about her. Young's complaint charged that the pair told various third parties that she had stolen money from the Fiscal Court.