Times Journal

Posted March 5, 2013 at 6:00 pm

An Adair County woman who was a 2004 Russell County High School graduate, was killed in a traffic accident a week ago Thursday night, February 21 in western Kentucky.

Lacy E. Brinton, 27, died at the scene of the accident which occurred just before 6 p.m. on the William Natcher Parkway near Owensboro, according to authorities there.

According to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Brinton was driving south on the parkway when she apparently “struck an unknown spilled substance on the roadway,” causing her to lose control of her vehicle. Authorities there believed the substance to be some type of livestock feed spilled from a feed truck and were still trying to locate the truck responsible for the spill.

Brinton crossed the median into the northbound lane and collided with an automobile driven by Joshua Whitehead, 35, of Owensboro.

Daviess County Coroner Mike Postlewaite pronounced Brinton dead at the scene. The fatal wreck was investigated by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department.

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As the meeting of the Russell County Board of Education concluded mid-day Monday, February 25, an issue of missing weaponry was broached by newly elected school board member Gerald Murray.

Murray said that he was aware that the school system has five or six AR-15 semi-automatic rifles and bulletproof vests that are not accounted for.

“I know that at one time we did have them, and if we do still have them I’d like to know where they’re at,” Murray said.

Superintendent Pickett said that to the best of his knowledge the school system never owned them, that the items belonged to the sheriff’s office. He also said his research into the matter did not turn up any records of the school having purchased them.

“I can’t find any documentation,” said Pickett. “I think it was through a grant through the sheriff’s department.”

“I know they’re not in the possession of the school system,” Pickett said.

“I know that too,” said Murray. “That’s why it was brought to my attention.”

“We’ve looked back and I’ve had Ms. Carnes look back. I cannot find anywhere the school board ever purchased weapons,” Pickett said.

Board member Wayne Gosser echoed Pickett’s explanation.

“That was done through a grant that was given to the resource officers through the sheriff’s department and that was done. I believe about six or seven years ago,” said Gosser.

“And those weapons were purchased with a grant, through a grant. We never purchased weapons, the school system never purchased them, and they were furnished through the grant.”

“As rumors go I’ve been told where they’re at,” said Murray, who did not elaborate but said it will have to be “verified later on.”

In a later interview with then Sheriff Larry Bennett, he said of the weapons purchase, “It’s my understanding they were bought for the school system, through the sheriff’s department, for use by school resource officers. It was not the sheriff’s office money.”

Further details will be forthcoming as information develops.