Times Journal

Posted December 15, 2011 at 2:10 pm

A four-vehicle crash at the stop light in front of the Russell County Middle School late last Friday afternoon ended in injuries to three and DUI and other traffic charges filed against one, according to Russell Springs Police Department Officer Chasity Shirley.

Shirley said three of the vehicles involved were stopped in the southbound lane of U.S. 127, waiting for the traffic light to change, when a 2004 Cadillac, operated by Patrick Ellis, 19, of Russell Springs, was struck from behind by a 2006 Hyundai Azera driven by 23-year-old Ashley Sams of Hyden.

The collision sent Ellis’ vehicle into the back of a 2008 Ford Explorer being driven by Curt Hill, 33, of Russell Springs. Hill’s vehicle was then thrust into a 2003 Dodge Ram driven by Charles Potter, 44, of Sparta, Tennessee.

Sams, Hill and Thomas Roberts, a passenger in Sam’s vehicle, were taken by Russell County EMS to Russell County Hospital for treatment of their injuries with all three later being released.

Ellis, a passenger in his vehicle, two passengers in Hill’s vehicle as well as Potter and two passengers in his vehicle were not injured.

Ashley Sams was later cited for DUI, expired Kentucky plates and failure of non-owner to maintain required insurance.

The wreck happened around 5 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 127 and French Valley Road, police said.

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A Russell Springs man was arrested early last Sunday morning after allegedly firing shots from a BB gun into a window of Laker Billiards on Main Street in Russell Springs, according to a report by the Russell Springs Police Department.

Cody Owens, 18, was arrested and charged with first degree wanton endangerment and second degree criminal mischief just after 2 a.m. Sunday after he discharged the BB gun twice into the business’ front glass.

A man inside the game room of the billiards called 911 following the shots and reported to dispatch the description of Owens’ vehicle.

Several minutes later, Owens was taken into custody at the Lake Country BP in Middletown by Sgt. Melissa Taylor and Officer Jeremy West of the Russell Springs Police Department and Officer Jeremy England of the Jamestown Police Department.

Law enforcement didn’t know what type of gun was used until Owens was located and the BB gun was found inside the vehicle he was driving.

According to the police report, Owens said he fired the shots to “look cool” in front of two witnesses, 16-year-old females, who were present with him in the vehicle at the time.

Owens was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center.

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Lake Cumberland State Resort Park’s manager has agreed to pay a $1,500 fine for ethics violations, according to information released two weeks ago from the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

Eddie Moore, of Jamestown, acknowledged in a settlement agreement with the commission that he used his position for personal gain.

Moore had allegedly twice taken a steep discount on a houseboat rental from State Dock, a state vendor which has a lease agreement with the Department of Parks.

The panel found that Moore had paid $1,000 rather than the going rate that ranged from $3,290 to $5,358, according to the commission.

The commission also found that Moore was allowed to use State Dock ski boats free of charge three different times.

The Executive Branch Code of Ethics was created by Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) Chapter 11A and established the ethical standards that govern the conduct of all executive branch employees.

The code of ethics was enacted to promote public confidence in the government of the Commonwealth and its employees.

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission, authorized by KRS 11A.060, is an independent agency of the Commonwealth which has been given the responsibility of administering and enforcing the provisions of the code of ethics.