Tiffany Porter, 24, of Tompkinsville, was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Main Street in Tompkinsville on Wednesday, February 1.

According to KSP public affairs officer Billy Gregory, Troopers Daniel Stephens and Dewayne Holder were called to investigate the collision, which occurred that morning at 9:42 a.m. when the 1998 Ford pickup being driven by her husband, Joshua Porter, 22, collided with a truck approximately 150 feet north of the intersection of Radio Station Road and Main Street.

According to the KSP report, the couple was traveling north on Main Street when their vehicle hydroplaned and slid into the path of a southbound 1995 Chevrolet pickup being driven by Raymond L. Martin, 41, of Edmonton.

Tiffany Porter was transported to Monroe County Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead by the Monroe County Coroner while her husband, Josh, was transported and admitted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville with serious injuries and remained there at press time last week, according to family members. Neither were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision, Stephens’ report noted. Martin, who was belted, was transported to Greenview Medical Center in Bowling Green where he was being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Troopers Stephens and Holder were assisted at the scene by the Tompkinsville Police Department, fire department and Monroe County Ambulance personnel.

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Monroe County Republican Bart Rowland won the special election February 7, set to fill the unexpired term of former state representative James Comer, who was elected state Agriculture Commissioner last November.

Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson said Rowland unofficially captured more than 62 percent of the vote in the 53rd House District, which includes Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe and Monroe counties.

Rowland’s Democratic challenger was Barry Dean Steele of Metcalfe County.

According to the Kentucky Republican Party’s Andi Johnson, a Frankfort judge ruled on February 7 that the lines for the district must remain as they were in the past, at least for the upcoming election and Rowland was expected to travel to Frankfort to be sworn in to fill the unexpired term.

However, on a daily basis, court rulings and meetings are occurring concerning the redistricting plan and no one is exactly sure how the final plan will form concerning Monroe County, as well as many others.

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Two Tompkinsville residents have been arrested on charges stemming from identity theft, manufacturing fake ID’s and counterfeiting as the result of an investigation by the Tompkinsville Police Department.

TPD Chief Dale “Frog” Ford received an anonymous tip reporting that the residents at 504 4th Street were actively engaged in counterfeiting United States $5, $10, and $20 bills, as well as different types of identity theft and making false identification cards. Officers from the TPD, Kentucky State Police and Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Shaw executed a search warrant at the home on Tuesday evening, January 31.

Ford said that when officers entered the residence, Teresa Cardona, 39, was engaged in manufacturing a fake identification card. Officers seized a computer, laminator, templates used to manufacture fake ID cards and counterfeited $10 and $20 bills. Various forms of false identification ranging from insurance to social security cards were also located and seized as evidence.

Cardona and her husband, Jose Cardona-Perez, also 39, were arrested and lodged in Monroe County Jail on charges of possession of forged instruments. Ford noted that the United States Secret Service, the agency responsible for investigating counterfeiting, has been notified and that federal charges are pending.

TPD Officer Kerry Denton, who is the investigating officer in this case, noted that at the present time it seems as if the fake ID’s produced by the Cardona’s were for Hispanics. Those ID’s range from Resident Alien identification to insurance and social security cards. Denton also said that the investigation is on-going and additional charges against the couple may be added.