The Wayne County Outlook

A local man was arrested on Saturday, December 1, after a search warrant was executed by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department at a residence on Pearl Smith Road.

According to Sheriff Tim Catron, deputies Joe Horne and Cody Neal conducted an undercover investigation that led to the search warrant.

After execution of the search warrant, multiple deputies with the sheriff’s department and Kentucky State Police troopers Adam Dodson and Matt Parmley seized over eight ounces of marijuana, over $8,300 in cash, numerous handguns and rifles, security systems, a digital scale and numerous drug paraphernalia.

William E. Lee of Monticello was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana, eight ounces to less than five pounds, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.

This marked the second search warrant in two days that was executed locally and related to drug trafficking activity in Wayne County.

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An undercover drug investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Wayne County man and the seizure of a large amount of drugs, cash and firearms.

Joshua Todd Gregory, 40, was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance first degree (methamphetamine), trafficking in a controlled substance first degree (heroine), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a defaced firearm and receiving stolen property.

According to Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron, Deputy Cody Neal’s investigation resulted in a search warrant for a residence on Kelly Lane. Multiple deputies with the sheriff’s department along with an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed the search warrant at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 28.

The search warrant resulted in the confiscation of over seven ounces of crystal methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, narcotic pills, marijuana, and cash.

The search warrant also resulted in the confiscation of a stolen handgun, a defaced firearm, digital scales, several thousand rounds of ammunition, and other drug trafficking items.

Catron said this seizure of drugs has an approximate street value of $25,000.

Three other individuals were also arrested during the execution of the search warrant, according to Catron.

Christopher D. Sanders of Monticello was arrested on a Wayne Circuit Court warrant for failure to pay child support.

He was also arrested on two district court warrants for failure to appear.

Tony Sanders of Monticello was arrested on a Wayne Circuit Court warrant for failure to pay child support.

Johnny Sweet, also of Monticello, was arrested on a Wayne Circuit Court warrant for failure to pay child support.

All four men were lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.

Neal is continuing his investigation with more charges pending.

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U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers announced Monday, December 3 that the new University Center of Southern Kentucky (UCSK) will open with the fall semester of 2019 on the campus of Somerset Community College (SCC).

Rogers launched an initiative with Dr. Jay Box, President of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System; Dr. Carey Castle, President and CEO of Somerset Community College; and local community leaders in the Lake Cumberland region.

The University Center of Southern Kentucky, described by Congressman Rogers as a “multi-versity” for student success, will provide several pathways and delivery methods for students to earn a four-year degree from partnering universities in Kentucky on the campus of Somerset Community College.

After completing a two-year degree at SCC, students will be able to choose from the partnering university of their choice and have services to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree at the Somerset campus.

Partnering universities and baccalaureate programs will be announced in the near future.

“The one thing missing from the Lake Cumberland region is the option for students to get an affordable bachelor’s degree. Now spring graduates in May 2019 will have the option to stay here at home to get a four-year degree at an affordable rate. I applaud Dr. Castle and Dr. Box for working directly with some of the largest public universities in Kentucky to make this dream a reality,” said Congressman Rogers.

“Instead of a uni-versity, we’re calling this center a ‘multi-versity’ because students will be able to choose which university offers the best degree for their career path without leaving Somerset. Opening new doors of opportunity here at home is a key factor to ending the out-migration of our best and brightest students,” he said.

“As I travel around the state, I hear a common refrain from Kentucky students. They want opportunities to live and work in their home communities while pursuing their post-secondary education,” said Gov. Matt Bevin.

“SCC’s University Center, in coordination with other Kentucky universities, will provide these opportunities by creating new pathways for students to obtain a degree of their choice while enrolled at the Somerset campus. I applaud the leadership of Congressman Rogers, Dr. Box, and SCC administrators for developing this innovative program to benefit students in the Lake Cumberland region and beyond.”

Dr. Castle named Mr. Trent Pool as the new UCSK Director to incorporate programming and workforce needs in the region as university partnerships develop. Pool lives in London and has been with SCC for 16 years. He most recently served as the advising center coordinator for the SCC-Laurel Campus.

“The drive to succeed doesn’t have to involve driving great distances to obtain a bachelor’s degree. You will now be able to get your degree in Somerset at the university center,” said Dr. Castle. “It is a mix of institutions that are complementary and different. I think the opportunities are going to be great for this region.”

“This center is a win-win for students in the Somerset area because it will allow them to get a four-year degree right in their own back yard and save money at the same time by getting the first two years of their degree at SCC,” said Dr. Box. “I applaud Congressman Rogers’ leadership in making this partnership happen.”

Prior to the announcement, a group of approximately 100 leaders from the Lake Cumberland region met on campus to discuss support and guidance for UCSK, establishing the university center’s Founder’s Club.

The club elected the following leaders: Chairman Bill Turpen of Somerset, Vice-Chair Paula Thompson of London, and Secretary Cindy Clouse of Somerset.

More details about UCSK are expected to be announced in early 2019.

The Times Journal

A Russell County man was arrested in connection with a bomb threat that was called into the Adair Judicial Center on Tuesday, November 13.

According to Columbia Police Department Sergeant Jr. Murphy, the bomb threat was called in around 11 a.m.

A Jamestown, Kentucky man was taken into custody just after 2 p.m. in connection with the threat. 35-year-old Nathan James Popplewell was arrested in the City Hall parking lot, located across the street from the Judicial Center.

Popplewell was charged with terroristic threatening first degree.

A female, Yevonda Popplewell, was arrested on a bench warrant.

According to police, the Popplewells were scheduled to appear in Adair Circuit Court.

Both were lodged in the Adair County Detention Center.

The Overton County News

A Rickman man remained in custody at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department jail after he was released from a Chattanooga hospital following a gun blazing standoff with Warren County deputies.

Warren County Sheriff Tommy Myers said that Charles Bean, 66, of Rickman, was released from the hospital last weekend shortly after undergoing surgery and was booked into the jail on Saturday, November 24.

Sheriff Myers said that Bean was being held on a $1,075,000 bond and was charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and evading arrest.

According to District Attorney General Lisa S. Zavogiannis, Bean was arraigned on Tuesday, November 27 in Warren County General Sessions Court with Judge Bill Lock. Bean’s preliminary hearing date was scheduled for December 11.

Bean was believed to be an armed suspect who set fire to a garage at 148 Mack Phy Lane, but the suspect fled the scene and ended with both Bean and law enforcement exchanging gunfire on Monday, November 19.

Bean had also reportedly threatened to kill his son-in-law, a resident of Warren County.

The suspect was tracked down not long after fleeing the scene of the fire as investigators spotted the man in Warren County, and a brief pursuit for Bean ensued.

Initial reports indicate that the gunfire incident began when Bean was driving down C Rody Road, turned his vehicle sideways and began shooting at officers.

According to a recent Southern Standard article by James Clark, “He (Bean) then jumped out and opened fire on the officers, who both stopped their vehicles at the intersection of the four-lane and C Rody Road. A gunfight ensued with the suspect and officers about 100 feet away from one another.

According to evidence markers at the scene, the suspect fired at least 23 shots at deputies. He shot out both right-side tires of one sheriff’s department vehicle, and shot through the front windshield and passenger-side window of the other.

The suspect reportedly had a handgun and a rifle in his possession. It is not known if he used both weapons. It has also not been revealed how many times he was shot or where he was shot.”

Bean reportedly sustained injuries from the shots fired and was transported by a helicopter to a Chattanooga hospital.

It is not known if Bean will face any charges in Overton County over the incident.

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An intoxicated Kentucky man wreaked havoc in a stolen van on Tuesday morning, November 27 after reportedly colliding with a Freightliner that resulted in a diesel fuel spill on the Byrdstown Highway.

Livingston Fire Department personnel rushed from their vehicles to clean up an undetermined amount of fuel that leaked from an overturned diesel engine after the fuel tank became ruptured in the course of the collision.

“Just as we were coming up the hill, he (the Kentucky man) started to swerve over, riding the yellow line,” said one Byrdstown witness, Jeanetta Masiongale, along with her daughter, Jasmine Crisp, around 10 a.m. that morning.

The driver of the 2012 Honda van was traveling southbound on State Route 111 and, while negotiating a curve, was on the wrong side of the highway, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol preliminary incident report.

The report indicates that the semi truck driver, Christopher Ellis, 36, of Beaver Creek, Ohio, was struck by the van after swerving to the shoulder to avoid a collision.

Witnesses say they saw the semi truck driver “riding on the median of the road” to keep from crashing into the van and struck the guardrail, reportedly without injury to the truck driver.

The diesel engine became lodged into the guardrail as fuel poured out onto the road. Officials say the roadway was saturated with hazardous drainage that leaked several yards down the highway, resulting in approximately three hours of clean-up by the LFD crew.

“Everyone jumped out of their vehicles to help,” said Maisongale, of the emergency personnel who assisted with securing the highly flammable area.

When the van reportedly came to a rest on the southbound shoulder of the road, the two witnesses told the Enterprise that the van driver became entrapped in his vehicle but was able to climb out through the front windshield, which shattered at some point during the course of the incident.

Witnesses say that when they stopped to check on the driver of the van, they noticed that the van driver sustained a laceration above the right eye.

When Trooper Darren Butler arrived on the scene, the Kentucky man was reportedly without an ID and told officials that his name was “Blake Lopez”–but when the trooper ran the information through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the check reportedly returned nothing on the subject.

Trooper Butler advised the man that it is a crime to give false information, so the man, this time writing the name down for the officer, again, indicated that his name was Blake Lopez, according to the affidavit.

The Kentucky man was put into custody and taken to the Overton County Jail after marijuana and pipes were reportedly found in his possession. At the jail the man would state his name as Collin Randolph, 23, of Danville, Kentucky.

“Mr. Randolph had red blood shot eyes and droopy eyelids,” wrote Trooper Butler in an affidavit of complaint. “Mr. Randolph was very relaxed and did not give me any information correct.”

The next day, the trooper spoke with the registered owner of the Honda van, Charles Burton, who reportedly told officials that he was “unaware of Mr. Randolph and did not allow him to be in possession of his vehicle.”

Randolph faces several charges including DUI, reckless driving, criminal impersonation, possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft of a motor vehicle over $500 with a total reported bond of $10,750.