Farm Equipment

WINCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT Charged -  Kevin George Combs, 43, was charged Thursday with first-degree rape (spouse). Reports - At 7:57 a.m. Thursday, it was reported that someone broke into 1323 W. Lexington Ave. and stole money out of a safe. - At 8:56 a.m. Thursday, police received a report of stolen copper from plumbing at 109 Kentucky St. - At 9:38 a.m. Thursday, police received a report of vandalism at 543 N. Maple St. - At 1:22 p.m. Thursday, someone reported residents of 23 Memorial Park for playing music too loudly.

HARRODSBURG — The Mercer County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee will hold its second annual farm family cookout at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Mercer County Extension Office. The cookout will be free, compliments of the Farm Bureau Federation. A welding workshop also will be held as the result of a survey that took place at last year’s event among 80 farm families who were asked what program would be of most interest for this year’s gathering. “We hope this opportunity to learn welding will be useful to the many farmers who conduct repairs on their own farms,” said Zack Ison, the young farmers committee chairman.

It took little more than an hour and a half Saturday for Michael Hays' last claim to being a real farmer to disappear. The staccato chants of the auctioneers sold off every piece of the convicted marijuana grower's farm equipment. The auction of the seized goods was ordered by U.S. District Court as a result of Hays' conviction last year for running a multimillion-dollar marijuana-growing enterprise that stretched from Gravel Switch to Wisconsin. At least a thousand farmers descended on the Danville Convention Center for the auction, which drew 450 registered bidders from seven states.

LEXINGTON - The brother of the former Mount Vernon police officer accused of leading a major drug trafficking ring is now in trouble with the law himself. Ronnie Thompson of Mount Vernon is accused of preventing the seizure or securing of property owned by Larry Gene Thompson Sr. Thompson Sr. is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 5 in U.S. District Court on charges related to heading up a cocaine and marijuana trafficking operation that stretched from Texas to Kentucky. Thompson and 25 others, several of them from Lincoln County, were indicted in federal court last year following a 15-month investigation.

Forget that bearded guy who portrays “The most interesting man in the world” in those Dos Equis beer commercials. Story Musgrave might take that title in real life. To call Musgrave simply a former astronaut is to sell his life way short, as the about 40 people who listened to him share his experiences and insights Friday at Danville's Community Arts Center quickly learned. When Musgrave came to the end of his hour-long talk and asked for five more minutes, the audience enthusiastically nodded its approval.

With spring rapidly approaching, farm work will get under way in earnest and that often means moving equipment along Kentucky's roadways. Collisions on public roadways involving farm machinery take place each year, especially during the busy spring planting and fall harvest times. Thus, people driving farm machinery and motor vehicles need to be especially careful and watchful in the days ahead. Farmers should remember that many people don't realize tractors and other agricultural machinery often can't travel faster than 25 miles per hour.

From tractors to steam-engine displays, the sixth annual Jessamine Antique Farm Equipment Association Show had much to offer to those who attended the event last weekend. Association president Gene Buskirk said the 2011 event was one of the largest. “We had more than 200 tractors, and we had several little hit-and-miss engines; I think there were about 10 vendors selling things,” he said. “It has grown; this one was probably the largest one we've had.” Hit-and-miss engines were small engines that helped operate the day-to-day basic need of the era, show director Jim Mahan said.

BOYLE DISTRICT COURT Cases handled recently in Boyle District Court, listed by name, charge, fine and jail sentence, where applicable, include the following. Court costs also were assessed in most cases. Ages and addresses are listed if available. Judge Jeff Dotson presiding Heather M. Baltimore, 22, theft by unlawful taking, $200, 30 days, probated one year, $238.30 restitution, banned from Walmart. Graydon L. Clark III, 34, 114 E. Mason Ave., driving under the influence of intoxicants, $200, license suspended 120 days.

PAINT LICK - More than 20 Garrard County citizens volunteered six hours Saturday along the banks of Paint Lick Creek. Working side-by-side, youth and the young at heart removed more than three flatbed trailers of trash, including two electrical generators, a chest freezer, three stoves, numerous tires, an old medical bed, and a gas-powered generator. Aside from the junked appliances and farm equipment, more than fifty 45-gallon bags of household trash were removed. Thanks to donations by numerous businesses and agencies, the "Adopt a Creek Mile" volunteers enjoyed a hearty lunch, including cups of strawberry ice cream.

Residents working on renovation projects will face tighter outdoor storage rules, if a revised nuisance ordinance passes. The City Commission began working on the ordinance at the request of neighbors on Rolling Hills, who are fed up with a three-year renovation project on their street. Here are the proposed changes: Raw materials, lumber and building supplies may be stored in the rear and side yards only. This includes decorative materials, trim, fencing, uninstalled pools, bulk landscaping materials and components for detached buildings.