www.middlesborodailynews.com Thursday, December 8, 2011 Serving the Tri-State community Printed on 100% Recycled Newsprint 12 Pages, 50¢ YOUR Breaking Ground: Cracker Barrel COMMUNITY Second site preparation underway widespread power Officials finally confirm outage puts thousands rumor of restaurant opening in the dark BRANDY CALVERT town,” Cracker Barrel Editor Representative Jeanne Ludington told the MELDRUM, Ky. – A MIDDLESBORO — second widespread power Middlesboro Daily Uncle Herschel is com- News. “And we take the outage occurred Tuesday ing to town! night that affected Bell excitement in your com- Cracker Barrel Old munity to heart.” County. At approximately Country Store officials 9:43 p.m., a cross-arm sup- “The plan is for an confirmed yesterday that port broke on a electrical early June opening,” pole in Meldrum causing a they hope to have their Ludington explained. transmission line to fall. Middlesboro restaurant “Normally, we will have Approximately 2,670 and store open by June a ‘friends and family’ customers were affected in 2012. practice run/training the Pineville and 1,180 cus- Construction crews weekend before and tomers in Meldrum. KU broke ground on the then open on a Monday reports that everyone had future site (between 25- morning.” power by 10:22 p.m. E and the Middlesboro Cracker Barrel will RAY WELCH| Middlesboro Daily News The exact cause for the Mall) yesterday, as well. start advertising jobs Pictured is the future site of the Middlesboro Cracker Barrel Old Country cross-arm breaking is Perhaps the most about a month prior to Store. Crews broke ground on the site yesterday and officials confirmed unknown. According to exciting detail of this the store opening the store opening. KU spokesperson Cliff news is that the restau- through newspaper ads Daily News. Contact her Feltham, previous strong rant brings with it 150 and through a banner at Cracker Barrel was 42 states. winds could cause the new jobs. established in Lebanon, Brandy Calvert is the edi- via e-mail at the location, Ludington bcalvert@heartlandpubli- cross-arm to stress and “We are delighted to said. Tenn., in 1969. There tor of the Middlesboro eventually break. Feltham be coming to your are over 600 locations in cations.com. stated that he was not for sure if that is what caused the incident. Ky. social Snow helps cause two car accident services PINEVILLE – Snow (with the help of some other commissioner influences, allegedly) helped cause a two car resigns accident Wednesday evening. According to Bell County Sheriff Deputy Shane FRANKFORT, Ky. Stewart, David Gambrel of Laurel Hill was driving (AP) — The commissioner his red Ford Ranger north on 25E when he lost of the Kentucky department control of his vehicle and struck Phillip Hickman that oversees child abuse of Frakes, who was driving a black Tracker. The cases has resigned amid Tracker was also traveling north on 25-E. growing criticism of the department. After hitting Hickman, Gambrel crossed into Patricia R. Wilson, who oncoming traffic and collided with the guardrail, was appointed commission- according to Stewart. There were no injuries er of the Department for reported at the scene. Community Based Services Gambrel was charged with DUI and there was an in 2008, said in a letter dated active bench warrant for him also. Hickman was Dec. 2 that her resignation not charged with anything. would be effective on Dec. 19. Officer BJ Brock of the Sheriff’s Department is Gwenda Bond, spokes- investigating the accident. woman for the Cabinet, said An arrest is an accusation only. Those arrested Wilson's decision was a per- are considered innocent unless proven guilty in sonal one. a court of law. Wilson did not give a reason for the resignation in ANTHONY CLOUD| Middlesboro Daily News her letter, but expressed gratitude at being able to serve in the position. The department has Locals complain of being Ex-exterminator come under increasing criti- cism for its handling of child abuse cases after indicted on child records were released in the publicly harassed by beating death of 9-year-old Amy Dye. sex charges The files in her case Middlesboro woman show that social workers STAFF REPORT ignored reports that the girl ANTHONY CLOUD will hurt that lady.” Middlesboro parks was was being abused and has Staff Writer PINEVILLE — The led to calls for a review the The city council did scheduled to be read for recognize the name of the first time at the meet- Bell County Grand Jury state's child-welfare system. MIDDLESBORO – has handed down an The department had the woman allegedly ing. The reading was At the Middlesboro City committing the acts of postponed due to some indictment for Jason been in a legal battle with Council meeting on Griffey, a 28-year-old The Courier-Journal and the harassment and said that late complaints about the Tuesday evening, they believe that she does opening and closing Middlesboro man arrest- Lexington Herald-Leader Middlesboro residents ed on sodomy and sexu- for two years over whether harass other members of times listed in the ordi- William and Jesse Smith the entire community. nance change proposal al abuse charges in records involving the deaths voiced concerns about a October. and near deaths of children According to the (opening at 6 a.m. and Jason Griffey Middlesboro woman Smiths, there have been closing at midnight). Griffey has been under the agency's supervi- who has publicly sion should be made public. complaints filed against Amotion was made to indicted on 11 counts of sodomy in the first degree, harassed them, as well as the woman from the place a street light on seven counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, and A judge ordered files other local citizens. Dye's case released, and community before. Dorchester Avenue nine counts of criminal attempt to commit sexual The Smiths, both “That files under a toward 25th street. abuse in the first degree. criticized the cabinet for members of the black turning a "blind eye" to sus- hate crime,” said council During the communi- Griffey was employed by Terminix as a pest community, stated that member Doug Hughes. pected abuse. The girl was ty development report, exterminator prior to his arrest. In that capacity, the on numerous occasions The council is planning killed by her adoptive broth- Casey Thomas stated that suspect has visited homes and commercial buildings they have been harassed on seeking legal advice Bell County Tourism will er. in Bell and Harlan Counties. According to by this woman. about the situation. be sponsoring hospitality Even so, the cabinet still Middlesboro Police Chief Jeff Sharpe, none of the According to the The mayor and city training on December 15 fought to keep records of Smiths, she has repeti- alleged incidents involving Griffey are characterized council also entered a from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 as workplace-related. He also stated that the other child deaths secret tively called these men proclamation for veter- p.m. for businesses. For until Gov. Steve Beshear and other members of the Middlesboro Police Department has not received ans at the recent meeting. more information, call any complaints concerning Griffey from agencies in announced last week that black community “Now, therefore, I, 606-248-2482. files in such cases would be derogatory racial names William Kelley, Mayor Other business: other counties. released. in public. of the City of • Entrance of city bills Griffey is set to appear for arraignment on Before being named “If you have enough Middlesboro, Kentucky, paid. December 16 at 9 a.m. commissioner of the sense to drive a car then do hereby proclaim our • Approval of minutes Griffey was originally arrested on October 14 for Department for Community you should be held support and call upon all of previous meeting. just the 11 counts of sodomy. He was charged with Based Services, Wilson accountable for what citizens to honor all vet- • Committee Reports sexual abuse and criminal attempt to commit sexual served as a family service comes out your mouth,” erans who have served Anthony Cloud is a staff abuse following investigation. All of the alleged vic- worker and supervisor in stated William. “I’m con- and continue to serve our writer for the tims in the case are boys under the age of 12. Boyle, Lincoln and Garrard cerned that if she says nation with courage and Middlesboro Daily News. Griffey remains in custody at the Bell County counties for 19 years. that (racial slur) to the valor,” stated Kelley in He can be contacted via Detention Center. His bond is set at $500,000. Her salary as commis- wrong person, you’re the written proclamation. e-mail at acloud@heart- An arrest is an accusation only. Those arrested are sioner was $111, 348. going to have big prob- An ordinance for the landpublications.com. considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court lems because someone opening and closing of of law. www.middlesborodailynews.com PAGE 2 THE DAILY NEWS |THURSDAY | DECEMBER 8, 2011 Today's Weather TODAY IN BRIEF Local 5-Day Forecast Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon — National News — 12/8 12/9 12/10 12/11 12/12 Blagojevich gets and his face appeared frozen. Minutes 14 years in prison later, his wife, Patti Blagojevich, stood up and fell into her husband's arms. He for corruption pulled back to brush tears off her cheek and then rubbed her shoulders. 47/29 54/27 43/23 50/26 54/31 CHICAGO (AP) — Rod The twice-elected Democrat is now Blagojevich, the ousted Illinois gover- the second former Illinois governor in Except for a few af- Partly cloudy.