Harrodsburg

FRANKFORT (AP) - The Executive Branch Ethics Commission has handed down public reprimands and fines to three former employees in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The panel took the action Monday against Bruce Harper of Harrodsburg, Chris Parsons of Mount Vernon and George “Doug” Begley of London. Harper agreed to pay a $4,500 fine for soliciting donations from businesses his agency regulated and for attempting to interfere with enforcement actions in cases involving grain storage and disposal of dead animals.

HARRODSBURG - Police raided a convenience store Wednesday afternoon and uncovered a sophisticated video gambling operation set up in two back rooms. Harrodsburg Police Chief Billy Whitenack said officers obtained a search warrant for Pioneer Market on U.S. 127 just north of Bright Leaf Resort after an undercover operative had gambled and received payouts at the store multiple times in the past week. Seventeen stand-alone video poker and slot-type gaming machines were seized, Whitenack said.

HARRODSBURG - A Harrodsburg man has been charged in connection with one of two recent thefts where thousands of dollars in copper wire were stolen from a local industry. Louis Thomas Anderson, 49, of 502 Cornishville St. was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday after allegedly stealing spools of copper wire from a Morris Drive warehouse leased by Corning Inc. Harrodsburg police Detective Brian Allen said Anderson was charged with receiving stolen property less than $10,000 and criminal facilitation to commit third-degree burglary.  Police were notified of a possible car wreck on North College Street near Lynn Drive after someone heard a loud noise.

A Danville business and a Harrodsburg business have been named two of the best places to work in the state by the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management. Symbiotix Inc. in Danville was named in the small to medium companies category and Corning Inc. was named in the large companies category. Central Baptist Hospital, Edward Jones and Hilliard Lyons were other area businesses recognized. The society named 28 best businesses across the state in the small to medium companies category and 37 in the large companies category.

HARRODSBURG — Congressman Ben Chandler joined former Mayor Lonnie Campbell, current Mayor Eddie Long, all four City Commissioners and state Rep. Kim King in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the Harrodsburg water treatment plant at 3000 Shakertown Road. The $12 million expansion project will increase the plant’s treatment capacity from 4 million gallons a day to 6 million. “This project may just be in its beginning stages, but we’ve already seen great results,” said Mayor Long, who pointed to Wausau Paper’s announcement of a $220 million expansion on April 13. “It’s safe to say that Wausau’s expansion would not have taken place in Mercer County if this infrastructure had not been approved.” Long recalled days in which plant Supervisor Walter Bottoms and Assistant Superintendent Kenny Hooper would have to work almost 48 straight hours during periods of extremely hot and dry weather to insure the county’s water needs were met. “This expansion represents a 50-percent increase in water production, which will insure enough water for Mercer County’s current and even next generation,” said Long.

It was dark and Justin Conover-Bowman was wearing dark clothing Sunday night at 9:43 p.m. when he was hit by first an SUV and then a minivan as he attempted to cross Richmond Road at Fontaine in Lexington. He died of his injuries a short time later, according to Fayette County Deputy Coroner John McCarty. “He was attempting to cross Richmond Road - north to south - and he was not in a crosswalk,” McCarty said. “He was struck by one vehicle and then another.” Conover-Bowman, 33, was formerly of Harrodsburg and was the son of Cindy Conover of Lancaster and Greg Bowman of Harrodsburg.

HARRODSBURG - The city of Harrodsburg and former police officer Scott Elder have reached an out-of-court settlement with a Danville man who claimed in a federal lawsuit that Elder used excessive force in arresting him in 2007. In the settlement, which The Advocate-Messenger obtained through an Open Records request, James Brian Marksbury will receive $50,000 in exchange for dropping the lawsuit, which was pending in U.S. District Court in Lexington. The city's insurance through the Kentucky League of Cities paid the settlement as well as the defendants' legal fees during the case, Mayor Eddie Long said.

HARRODSBURG - Former police chief Rodney Harlow isn't getting his job back anytime soon but his wrongful termination lawsuit against the city, mayor and three commissioners can continue into the discovery phase. That's what Mercer Circuit Judge Darren Peckler ruled Monday during an injunctive hearing at which Harlow sought immediate reinstatement to his former position. Injunctive relief is not necessary in Harlow's case because he has not suffered any “irrepairable harm,” that could not be addressed if Harlow prevails in his lawsuit,” Peckler said.

HARRODSBURG - The wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Harrodsburg police chief Rodney Harlow has been dismissed. Mercer Circuit Court Judge Darren Peckler granted a motion for summary judgment last week in favor of the city of Harrodsburg, Mayor Eddie Long and Commissioners Bubby Isham, Kerry Anness and Charlie Mattingly, agreeing there was nothing improper about Harlow's termination as part-time police chief in December. Peckler ruled the City Commission could dismiss Harlow at will because he was not an elected official and was not protected under the state's Policeman's Bill of Rights law because, as a part-time chief, he did not receive Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program funds to supplement his pay. Harlow retired as assistant police chief in 2007 and then came back to the department as part-time chief in 2009.

HARRODSBURG -  There are many things Craig Yeast has to do these days, but he still manages to make time for one thing he wants to do. Yeast is busier than ever as he prepares for his first season as a head coach in high school football. But he was back in Harrodsburg this week for his annual Craig Yeast Elite Skills Camp, and he was back in his element. His two-day camp at Alvis Johnson Field, which concluded Tuesday, gives Yeast the chance to work with kids, something he has always loved to do. "I could do this all the time," Yeast said.