KYTC road crews on alert for snow and ice

Crews out in district counties

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) road crews in Department of Highways District Nine have begun pre-treating interstates and major highways in advance of a winter storm.

Crews are applying brine, which is a salt compound that sticks to dry road surfaces and begins dissolving as soon as snow hits the road. It’s the first line of defense against wintry precipitation, giving salt truck crews a head start.

National Weather Service forecasts call for chances of snow most of the week with accumulation possible Tuesday. In addition, cold arctic area is expected to move through Kentucky, which could make driving conditions hazardous.

Highway crews in District Nine – covering Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan counties – will remain on alert, ready to treat more than 2,000 miles of roadways with snow plows in every county, more than 100 operators, nearly 20,000 tons of salt, and tens of thousands of gallons of salt brine and liquid calcium.

The most heavily traveled roadways are the first priorities during snow removal. Less traveled roads are cleared as quickly as possible. You can find your county’s snow and ice priority map online at http://transportation.ky.gov/d9/Snow.htm.

Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in snow and ice, to please share the road with KYTC equipment, and to always buckle up and Drive Smart. Kentucky’s Snow and Ice Treatment Map is available online at http://kytcgis.ky.gov/snow_ice.

Winter Driving Tips

Drive carefully. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Do not use cruise control. Remember that bridges, overpasses and exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.

Leave a “space cushion.” Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you

because stopping in snow may require up to four times your normal stopping distance.

Be seen. Dull, cloudy days will cut down on visibility so drive using low-beam headlights.

Steer into the skid. Stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go.

Mrs. Barcy, Mrs. Leet, Ms. Stacy

Thelma L. Gilvin Barcy, 54, of Flemingsburg, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, in Flemingsburg.
She was born Nov. 25, 1954 in Cincinnati, the daughter of Fannie and Auston D. Gilvin.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, William Barcy; three sons, Joseph Modesitt of Florida, Jeramia Modesitt of Fleming County, and John Esposito of Florida; three grandchildren, Auston, Heaven and Halee Modesitt of Flemingsburg; four brothers, Bill Gilvin of Fleming County, Ron Gilvin of Miamisburg, Ohio, Gene Gilvin of Dayton, Ohio, and Frank Gilvin of Kentucky; and two friends, Susan (Rick) Schatz and Helen Rowe.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Eli Gilvin; and two sisters, Martha Hamilton and Nettie Swearinger.
In following Thelma's wishes, the family has chosen cremation.
Denton-Workman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Ethel Leet, 98, of Flemingsburg, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, in Flemingburg.
She was a housewife and the widow of William (Willie T.) Leet.
Mrs. Leet was born Aug. 22, 1910 in Jessamine County, the daughter of the late John and Anna Rose Burgent Hager.
She is survived by two sons, Ernie (Linda) Leet of May's Lick and Ronnie (Mabel) Leet of Fleming County; a daughter, Betty Ruark of Fleming County; 254 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sons, Russell Leet, Kenneth Leet, David Leet, Richard Leet and Tommy Leet; and a grandchild, Tracy Leet.
Services are 2 p.m., today, Jan. 12, 2009, at the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church with Bro. Greg Grimes officiating.
Burial will follow in the Mount Tabor Cemetery.
Visitation is 1 p.m., until the hour of services today at the church.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1905.
Denton-Workman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Deborah Ann Stacy, age 33, of Flemingsburg, passed away Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at her residence.
She was born July 27, 1975, in Fleming County. He parents are Wilma R. Kegley and her husband, Nelson Kegley of Lewis County and the late James Dale Stacy.
Other survivors include two daughters, Haley Lasha Hilterbrand and Mallory Dale Simms, both at home; her grandfather, James Stacy of Wallingford and the late Thelma Blevins Stacy; a brother, Travis Dean Stacy of Lewis County; and two sisters, Della Jean Logan of Carter County and Tammy Jo Richmond of Flemingsburg. She is also survived by two nieces and one nephew.
Services are 1 p.m., Tuesday at the Petersville Church of God with Rev. Milt Stanfield officiating.
Burial will follow in the Sargents Cemetery.
Visitation is after 6 p.m., today at Boone-Nickell Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the family for funeral expenses.

Comets 53, Lady Panthers 37

West Carter 53

Fleming Co. 37

Deming 68, FCHS 55

Deming 68
Fleming Co. 55

Fleming Co.
14
11
17
13
55

Deming
21
12
20
15
68

Fleming Co. (5-8) -- Dugan 12, Frazier 2, Gray 11, Jolly 8, Newsome 8, Clark 14.

Deming (8-5) -- Mitchell 15, Grause 7, L.King 12, K.King 22, Caldwell 10, Clifford 2

Mrs. Schwartz

Mrs. Virginia Sparks Lowe Schwartz, 89, died Thursday at the Maysville Nursing and Rehab. Facility.
She was the widow of the late Virgil A. Lowe and Paul H. Schwartz.
She was born in Fleming County, on Jan. 11, 1919, to the late William T. and Clarice Million Sparks.
She is survived by a son, Jack (Merlyn) Lowe of Augusta; two daughters, Bonnie Lowe Tosso of Lexington and Phyllis Ann Reese of Maysville; one brother, Clyde Sparks of Lexington; and two sisters, Bernice Sparks Porter of Kansas and Christine Sparks Harmon of Flemingsburg; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Edith Mineer; and a brother, Elwood Sparks.
Private funeral services and visitation will be at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are by the Boone-Nickell Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Mrs. Purcell

Helen Purcell passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, in Lexington.
Born April 14, 1918 to the late Harry and Mollie Hughes Henry, she was the widow of Theodore Purcell.
Surviving in death is her son, Ted (Penny) Purcell of Flemingsburg; daughter, Dr. Carolyn Purcell of Lexington; three grandchildren, Drew Purcell of Lexington, Amber Tolle of Maysville and John Ashley Black of Flemingsburg; one sister-in-law, Anna May Henry; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Emmett Preston Henry and Harry Hughes Henry; and her sister, Emma Jane Henry.
Helen had three great loves in her life. One great love was for children. She served as a foster grandmother for Fleming County school children for many years, well into her eighties. At 80, she quipped, "Both my children are retired and I'm still working." Her second love was church music, especially the old hymns. From her early thirties she played piano for her church, Oakland Mills United Methodist Church in Nicholas County, Helena Methodist Church in Mason County, and Flemingsburg First United Methodist Church in Fleming County. Her third great love was laughter, As a teen she played the clown in school plays, and until the end of her long and full life, she read the comics and the obituaries (to see if she was there). One of her recent doctors said he loved to have her come in because she was joyful.
Services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 8, 20089, at the Flemingsburg First United Methodist Church in Fleming County, with Rev. Ben Cain officiating.

Visitation for Mrs. Purcell will be 6-8 p.m., today, Jan. 7, 2009, at the Denton-Workman Funeral Home in Flemingsburg.
Interment will be in the Elizaville Cemetery at Elizaville following the services Thursday.
Memorials may be made to Flemingsburg First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

Pollard trial begins Jan. 20

Circuit Judge Stockton Wood heard arguments from attorneys on both sides of the Roy Pollard case Jan. 5, and ruled to keep the trial date set for Jan. 20.

Pollard defense attorneys Amanda Mullins and Tom Griffiths with the Department of Public Advocacy had made a motion for a continuance of the trial scheduled for Jan. 20 and 21, 26, 27, and 28. Wood said he was not in favor of a continuance and ruled that the trial would go on as scheduled.

Another motion for change of venue was made by DPA in which Commonwealth’s Attorney Kathryn Hendrickson made a motion objecting to the change of venue to Mason County. Wood ruled Dec. 5 that the court would try to seat an unbiased jury before he would consider a change of venue.

Pollard has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of Jason Thompson and his aunt, Willa Thompson on Jan.11, 2008, at their homes in the Muses Mill community. He has also been charged with one count each of unlawful imprisonment for allegedly kidnapping his ex-wife Bonnie Butler, first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, tampering with physical evidence, third-degree terroristic threatening, and violation of a domestic violence order related to the events of Jan. 11, 2008.
Wood also heard the motions filed on Dec. 29, which included a request for additional peremptory challenges, in addition to the standard eight peremptory challenges granted both the defense and prosecution during jury selection. The motion asks for 10 additional peremptory challenges for the defense team, which allows the opportunity for both the defense and prosecution to dismiss or excuse a potential juror without giving a valid reason. He said he would rule on those motions Jan. 16.
The second motion filed asks Hendrickson's office to disclose its victim(s) impact evidence and any penalty evidence it intends to produce during either the trial guilt phase or penalty phase.
The third motion asks the court to preclude aggravating circumstances of first-degree burglary because as it is applied in the case, it is unconstitutional. Mullins argued "the fatal shooting" took place outside of the Thompson home and there was no indication the crime was committed inside.
Mullins said she and Griffiths were trying to arrange a mental evaluation of Pollard, as well as get crime lab reports regarding blood stains found on the shirt Pollard was wearing the night of the murders. Mullins said the report would indicate exactly whose blood was on the shirt.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gary Adkins said "the facts of the case are very clear cut, whether the blood is from Richard Anderson (who was shot in the hand), Willa Thompson or Jason Thompson.” There were no injuries on Pollard when he was admitted to Fleming County Hospital after he was captured Jan. 12, 2008.
Mullins argued that some of the evidence could relate to blood splatter.

Wood said he wanted to get the case started since it has been "several, several months" since the shootings took place. He then instructed Adkins to follow up on when lab reports would be available and advised Mullins to make arrangements to have Pollard transported from the state correctional facility in La Grange where he is currently incarcerated to the Mason County Detention Center for a mental evaluation.

Marla Toncray of The Ledger Independent contributed to this article.