Wayne County Outlook

Posted September 26, 2012 at 2:37 pm

A second trial for Hope White was set to begin Monday in Wayne Circuit Court, but following a morning of motions before Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard, Jr., the proceeding was delayed.

Members of the circuit and district jury reported for duty on Monday morning but were excused until after lunch, while several other matters were considered.

Apparently, defense attorneys had requested a continuance in the case due to “unforeseen developments.” Miniard granted the continuance and set the case for trial for February 28, 2013.

Jurors were excused from the case when they returned to the courtroom Monday afternoon.

White is charged with murder in connection with the July 2008 stabbing death of Julie Hicks Burchett. Burchett was found dead in her car on July 19, 2008. White was arrested approximately a year later and charged with the crime.

A local jury found White guilty of the charge in April 2010, but in December 2011, the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned the conviction and granted White a new trial.

The ruling stated that the trial court erred in White’s case by denying her request for a jury instruction that included first degree manslaughter.

With the second trial date approaching, attorneys for White had entered a motion for change of venue, asking the case be retried in Russell County.

The motion was heard in Russell County on Wednesday, September 12 and was denied by Miniard.

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The Wayne County Airport has received grant funding for fuel tax replacement and relocation. The local facility will receive $373,760 in Federal Aviation Administration funding, according to an announcement made last week by Governor Steve Beshear.

It was one of two projects awarded FAA funding. The Bluegrass Airport in Lexington received a $2.7 million grant to construct a new runway.

“Across the Commonwealth, our airports are invaluable assets for economic development, commerce and passenger travel,” said Beshear. “Keeping our airports safe and up to date is vital to our economy and quality of life and FAA funding is indispensable for that purpose.”

The project at the Wayne County Airport will include relocating existing fuel tanks between the terminal building and the aircraft parking area. The relocation includes replacing one of the fuel tanks that has reached its useful life.

The project will alleviate aircraft ground movement congestion during refueling operations.

The grant will also fund a runway obstruction study to identify obstructions in the Runway 03/21 approach and provide an estimated cost for future mitigation.