Security

HARRODSBURG - A Mercer County man who ran from police and prompted extra security at a high school was arrested Wednesday evening. Mercer County Sheriff's Office had attempted Tuesday afternoon to contact Jonathan E. Johnson regarding a probation violation, but he fled a residence on Alford Road, said Chief Deputy Scott Elder. “When deputies arrived, that's when he fled out the back of the residence,” Elder said. Johnson went out the back door and ran into the woods behind the house, Elder said.

STANFORD - Lincoln County High School has brought in extra security today after a student reported a threat to authorities Wednesday. Superintendent Karen Hatter said a student at LCHS received a phone call during school hours Wednesday. The student answered a cell phone and told authorities it was a former family member threatening to come take the student from the school. Hatter said any threat should be approached with caution. “We took that very seriously,” she said.

It was not the first time dogs had been stolen from the humane society but efforts since an early January theft may have guaranteed it will be the last. Dan Turcea said after the last theft he could not recall exactly how many times dogs had been stolen in the 14 years he has been director of Boyle County Animal Control, but that it had been at least twice recently. He also said at that time that the offices he shares with Danville/Boyle County Humane Society had been broken into at least three times with money and “vet items” stolen before an investment in a security system solved that problem.

Dear Editor: In his State of the Union Address at the end of January, George Bush talked for over 45 minutes about keeping America secure and the war on terrorism. Now, we see that it was all smoke and mirrors. Bush wants to turn over control of six of America's busiest ports to a company from the United Arab Emirates. This is the same country that supported the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and according to the September 11 Commission, laundered money and arms to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.

Dear Editor: I fully agree with both Mr. Reecher and Mr. Russell in regards to President Bush. If it weren't for a man who is willing to undertake the necessary measures to protect our security, we would be forced at gunpoint by megalomaniacal dictators to either convert to Islam or die. Jeff Hamlin Parksville

Dear Editor: As we all know, Grayci J. Barrows, a newborn, was taken April 2 from Fort Logan Hospital. The thing I found to be more of a dismay than the actual crime was the hospital's security and the television coverage of the event, which was followed up with a story on that exact issue of hospital security that did not address the security at Fort Logan Hospital but another hospital in Lexington. As a longtime resident of Lincoln County who has been to this facility many times, I can see how and why this child was taken.

Danville recently won accolades from a website for being among the Top 10 Mayberry-like towns in America, and it's not too difficult to see the parallels that connect that bucolic TV town of the 1960s to our fair city's station in 2012. Mayberry had its town band and its pie-eating contests and Danville has its Great American Brass Band and BBQ festivals. In both locations, friendly crowds gather to hob-nob with their neighbors and guests, there's hardly a hint of trouble, and a good time is had by all. Mayberry, however, never hosted a vice presidential debate.

Get your mail where and when you want it with a secure post office box. Many customers value the security and flexibility of a post office box. Do you move or travel a great deal? Want to expand your presence in another community where you do business? Keep late or irregular hours and can't always get to your mailbox? Then perhaps renting a post office box is your answer. "For security, flexibility, convenience and peace of mind, nothing beats renting a P. O. Box," says Crab Orchard Postmaster Carolyn Burton.

Students, teachers and administrators walked back into the schools of Jessamine County on Monday morning, carrying hearts much heavier than those they brought to school last Friday. The shooting tragedy that took the lives of 20 first-graders and six adults in the halls of an elementary school Friday took place hundreds of miles away in Newtown, Conn., but reached all the way back to Nicholasville as the county school community mourned the loss and planned for the future. A letter from superintendent Lu Young went home with students Monday.

BURGIN - Extra security was set up at Burgin school Wednesday after officials said a threat was made Tuesday. Mercer County Deputy Sheriff Scott Elder said he assisted at the school most of the day. “It was an indirect threat,” Elder said. “They wanted to take precautionary measures.” Burgin Superintendent Richard Webb said the threat was from somebody “not on our campus” and was a “vague reference to violence.” Webb said he is not permitted to discuss details about the threat, but he said the doors were watched more than usual as children arrived at school Wednesday morning.

Micah Miniard struck out 13 batters in a two-hitter Monday as Boyle County defeated Lincoln County 4-0 at Stanford to clinch the top seed for the 45th District Tournament. Miniard allowed two hits and six walks for Boyle (12-6, 5-0), which has a 2 1/2-game lead in the district standings. Casey Whittle hit a three-run home run and drove in all four of the Rebels' runs, Brady Wehmiller went 4 for 4 and Connor Blevins had two hits. Whittle's homer in the fifth inning off Lincoln reliever Zach Brown gave Boyle, which has won five of its last six games, a 3-0 lead.

BURGIN - Extra security was set up at Burgin school Wednesday after officials said a threat was made Tuesday. Mercer County Deputy Sheriff Scott Elder said he assisted at the school most of the day. “It was an indirect threat,” Elder said. “They wanted to take precautionary measures.” Burgin Superintendent Richard Webb said the threat was from somebody “not on our campus” and was a “vague reference to violence.” Webb said he is not permitted to discuss details about the threat, but he said the doors were watched more than usual as children arrived at school Wednesday morning.

STANFORD - Department of Agriculture officials have awarded more than $1 million in loan and grant funding for a water system upgrade project on Danville Avenue. USDA Rural Development State Director Tom Fern said Stanford Water Department will receive $750,000 in low-interest loans and $310,000 in grant money for the planned water line replacement. "The improvements to Stanford's water system are critical for ensuring safe and reliable water for area residents," Fern said. "USDA is proud to work in Partnership with the City of Stanford on this much needed water improvement project.

LEXINGTON - Regardless of the circumstances, some things are just meant to be. Madison Central's dramatic 65-64 triumph over Louisville Ballard earned the Indians a place in school history, giving neighboring Madison County its first-ever state champion in boys basketball. Madison High, which eventually consolidated with Madison County Schools, lost to Louisville Male in the state finals at Freedom Hall in 1970. The Indians were labeled as one of the favorites to win the tournament after capturing the 11 th Region Tournament and breezed past Wayne County 81-56 in their state tourney opener.

A deputy with the Boyle County Sheriff's Office recently underwent training that will give him, as well as his department, a leg up on judicial protective services. Sgt. Dustin Clem, who serves as school resource officer with Boyle County Schools, was chosen to attend training at the U.S. Marshal's Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.  Out of 300 applicants, Clem and 45 other law enforcement officers from around the country were selected to attend the seven-day course last month, where they were schooled on courthouse security and judicial protection.

HARRODSBURG - A Mercer County man who ran from police and prompted extra security at a high school was arrested Wednesday evening. Mercer County Sheriff's Office had attempted Tuesday afternoon to contact Jonathan E. Johnson regarding a probation violation, but he fled a residence on Alford Road, said Chief Deputy Scott Elder. “When deputies arrived, that's when he fled out the back of the residence,” Elder said. Johnson went out the back door and ran into the woods behind the house, Elder said.

Officials say a security guard assaulted over the weekend while reporting to an alarm likely scared off the perpetrator. About 9:20 p.m. Saturday, Danville police officers responded to an audible alarm at Ephraim McDowell Diagnostic Center on Southtown Drive. According to a police report, officials checked the premises and determined it was secure. About 20 minutes later, the alarm sounded again, the press release stated. Police officers communicated with McDowell personnel and learned that security officer Bobby Potts was checking the premises.

I don't know where recent letter writer Roger Bowman got his facts from, but they are far from facts. He needs to look at the history of the Social Security and actually look at the truth. The Social Security Administration was set up to help the widows and children of American workers, not as a retirement fund. That was changed in the 1950s to help retirees. The fund grew into a large amount of money. President Johnson was the one who decided to make it part of our government. He then proceeded to raid the fund to help pay for the Vietnam War. Every president since then has taken billions out of the fund to pay for more programs.

For several weeks I was very ill. However, I am now about 80 percent recovered. I am now ready to resume doing what I love to do. And I would like to speak out on an issue critical to millions of Americans. That issue is the future of Social Security. Republicans continue their effort to destroy the Social Security system. The big question to me is why? What is it about Social Security they see as a monster? Fact One: The Social Security Trust Fund does not contribute one thin dime to our national debt.

STANFORD - Lincoln County High School has brought in extra security today after a student reported a threat to authorities Wednesday. Superintendent Karen Hatter said a student at LCHS received a phone call during school hours Wednesday. The student answered a cell phone and told authorities it was a former family member threatening to come take the student from the school. Hatter said any threat should be approached with caution. “We took that very seriously,” she said.