Wayne County Outlook …

Posted March 13, 2019 at 8:37 am

Two people were arrested after a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine and cash were found in their motel room.

According to information released by the Monticello City Police Department and the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force, the arrests were made on Monday, February 25 while officers were investigating a theft.

Nakeisha Hatke, of Monticello, and Jeremy Lynch were arrested, after the room they were in at the Monticello Motel was searched.

Hatke, 19, is charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (meth) and trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Lynch, 38, is charged with giving a police officer false identifying information, trafficking in a controlled substance (meth) and trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Monticello Police Officer Josh Asberry and Sgt. Tony Morris were trying to locate a suspect sought in a recent theft investigation. When they knocked on the door of the room where the suspect was reportedly staying, the officers found Hatke and Lynch.

According to a press release, the officer received consent to search the room and found a package containing a crystal substance.

Monticello Police Chief Joe Bybee contacted Agent Wayne Conn with the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force to assist with the drug investigation.

Conn and the officers seized approximately 479 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine. They also seized $2,172.

A second search warrant was issued later in the week and a second package of suspected methamphetamine, weighing approximately one pound, was discovered. The estimated street value of the nearly two pounds of methamphetamine that was confiscated is approximately $96,200.

Hatke and Lynch were lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.

Due to an ongoing partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, members of the London Kentucky Resident Office of the DEA were contacted and are assisting in this investigation.

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On Tuesday, February 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive federal lands package, which included the approval for Mill Springs Battlefield to be designated a National Monument and to become part of the National Park System.

Congressman Hal Rogers spoke on the House floor about his efforts for nearly three decades to bring southern Kentucky’s historic battlefield into the NPS.

He also successfully secured federal funds to preserve 900 acres of the battleground and to construct a 10,000 square foot educational visitor center and museum on-site.

“This is a modern-day victory for our treasured Civil War battleground where history was written in our back yard. The battle at Mill Springs was the Union Army’s first major victory in the West, securing Kentucky as a part of these United States, and it will finally have the national recognition it deserves,” said Congressman Rogers, who voted in support of S. 47.

“Enactment of this bill is a testament to the persistent efforts of the Mill Springs Battlefield Association (MSBA) and President Bill Neikirk to preserve this hallowed ground that spans Pulaski and Wayne counties. It has been an honor to work alongside the MSBA and Leader McConnell to bring this longtime dream to fruition.”

The MSBA will donate the 900 acres of land and its facilities at Mill Springs to the NPS.

The national designation ensures that the Mill Springs Battlefield is protected, preserved and promoted well into the future.

The U.S. Senate passed the legislation two weeks ago and now awaits President Trump’s signature.