ILLINOIS JOINS 19 OTHER STATES: Illinois governor signs state’s medical marijuana law. | 5A -?<-?< )8;L:8?,LE)8;L:8?,LE FFRIDAY,RIDAY, AAugustugust 22,, 22013013 wwww.paducahsun.comww.paducahsun.com VVol.ol. 111717 NNo.o. 221414 County may buy land after permit mistake BY CORIANNE EGAN rial Cemetery to demolish a stor- were given a permit against county [email protected] age building that was constructed codes by accident. A permitting mistake made by a against permit regulations. County “It was a mistake, a legitimate county offi cial could cost McCrack- offi cials were alerted to the build- mistake,” Murphy said. ALLIE DOUGLASS | The Sun en County a chunk of change. ing by some angry family members In April Murphy said the Brooks Memorial Cemetery is partially blocked from sight by a row County Attorney Mike Murphy of those buried there. The county owner of the land, WKS Enter- of storage units in July on Old North Friendship Road. The county said Thursday that the county may investigated, and determined that may purchase land at the cemetery to demolish the storage units, purchase land at Brooks Memo- the owners of Brooks Memorial Please see CEMETERY | 12A which violate permit regulations. An honor for the drivers, the fans Infant assault case headed to grand jury BY MALLORY PANUSKA [email protected] A Paducah man and former McCracken County school employee accused of seri- ously injuring an infant will have his case presented to a grand jury. Travis McKinzie, 27, waived a preliminary hearing on Thursday in McCracken District Court, sending charges of fi rst-degree as- sault and domestic violence to circuit court. Commonwealth Attorney Dan Boaz said a grand jury is set to hear the case on Aug. 30. If he is indicted, McKinzie will return for a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 6. Kentucky State Police arrested McKinzie early July 24 at Baptist Health Paducah in connection with an infant who reportedly sus- tained serious physical injuries. The child was fl own to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louis- ville for treatment at the time, and McKinzie was taken to McCracken County Regional Jail, where he remains on $50,000 bond. Paducah attorney Jeremy Ian Smith will rep- resent McKinzie, but he was unable to attend Thursday’s hearing. Smith said the infant is no ALLIE DOUGLASS | The Sun NASCAR champion Tony Stewart (middle) arrives at a meet and greet autograph session at Paducah International Race- longer in the hospital and declined further com- way’s “Night of NASCAR Stars” on Thursday evening. The track co-owner, USAC, Indy Car, and three-time NASCAR Champion ment on his health because neither a full diag- was also joined by Michael Waltrip and Ken Schrader. See more coverage, Page 1B. nosis nor long-term prognosis was provided. “These types of cases are always sad,” Smith said. “However, that doesn’t mean a crime was committed.” McKinzie formerly worked as a football NASCAR enthusiasts flock to PIR for Night of Stars para-professional coach at Heath High School but has not worked in the position BY DUSTY LUTHY SHULL jeans, Stewart looked like art, also the track’s co-owner, a little over 45 minutes late. for several months. According to school [email protected] a regular Joe walking up to a teasing “Wooo” when Stew- Waltrip, who has made board minutes, McKinzie and 36 other em- Once the crowd waiting in the tent to sign autographs art sat down. three Sprint Cup starts this ployees were terminated in May because of line at Paducah Internation- Thursday among shouts of Stewart, Schrader and Mi- season, came out early and consolidation stemming from the closing of al Raceway got a glimpse of “Let’s go Smoke!” which is chael Waltrip were in town talked with fans and media the district’s three high schools. NASCAR driver Tony Stew- Stewart’s nickname. Thursday night for PIR’s an- members as everyone waited art, the cheers began. Even NASCAR driver and nual NASCAR Night of Stars. for Stewart. Waltrip, an Ow- Contact Mallory Panuska, a Paducah Sun Dressed in an unassuming track co-owner Ken Schrader All three signed autographs for staff writer, at 270-575-8684 or follow @ gray racing T-shirt and blue got in on the fun, giving Stew- fans, even though Stewart was Please see PIR | 12A MalloryPanuska on Twitter. Grimes gets warm welcome in Paducah BY MALLORY PANUSKA to face off in 2014 with longtime Grimes said all Kentuckians, all [email protected] Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell Democrats need to unite for what With a standing ovation from or his primary opponent Tea Party she is calling “team switch.” She a roomful of McCracken County activist Matt Bevin. said the time has come for change Democratic supporters, Ali- During her animated speech, in Kentucky and she is just the son Lundergan Grimes and her which was welcomed with cho- candidate to make it happen. grandmother, Elsie Case, made ruses of support from the friendly She came to the dinner off of a their presence known in Paducah audience, Grimes discussed her multi-county bus tour around the on Thursday night. journey that led to her decision state, where she is speaking to The secretary of state and U.S. to join the race. She recalled the constituents about her platform. MALLORY PANUSKA | The Sun Senate candidate was the featured Kentucky voters who convinced The crowd of avid supporters Alison Lundergan Grimes clutches the hand of her grandmother, speaker at the McCracken County her to go fi ght for them, the same wore buttons and stickers donning Elsie Case, as she enters Walker Hall in Paducah on Thursday for Democratic Executive Commit- voters who supported her faith- her name and picture as speakers a McCracken County Democratic Executive Committee-hosted din- tee’s annual pre-Fancy Farm din- fully as she swept the vote for the ner. Grimes, secretary of state, seeks the U.S. Senate seat held by ner at Walker Hall. Grimes is set secretary of state seat in 2011. Please see GRIMES | 12A Mitch McConnell. NEWS TRACKER Forecast Index 1. Apple kicks talk 3. A 2-year-old 4. 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Learn to detect potential errors, fraud and abuse. Report errors or suspected fraud to SMP. Steak night, 5-8 p.m., River City Eagles Aerie 3686, 1919 Cairo Road. Dance, 7-10 p.m., American Le- gion Post 26 Hall, Mayfield. Band: Just Breakin’ Even. $5. Dance, 7-10 p.m., Grand Rivers Community Center, 155 W. Cumber- land. Stanley Walker Band. $5. Saturday Wickliffe Masonic Lodge break- fast, 6-10 a.m., Buck Road. $7. Local Briefs Race to benefit Relay For Life Zion United Church of Christ of Metropolis will sponsor a 5K race and one-mile fun run and walk Sept. KATHLEEN FOX | The Sun 7 at Fort Massac State Park. McCracken County School Board chairman Jeff Parker (left) and fourth- and fifth-grade future students ceremonially cut the rib- All proceeds will benefit the Mas- bon to Lone Oak Intermediate School on Thursday. The school will house about 500 students from Lone Oak Elementary School sac County Relay For Life. The one- and Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School. mile run and 5K will begin at 8 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three male and female runners overall, the top three male and female participants Lone Oak school welcomes students per age category, and the top three par- ticipants in the one-mile fun run. BY KATHLEEN FOX Registration, sponsorship oppor- [email protected] tunities and race information can Future students and their be found on the Running for a Cure families at Lone Oak Intermedi- Facebook page, www.active.com, ate School received an introduc- or by emailing the church at zionuc- tion Thursday to a building that [email protected]. helps to ensure all McCracken — Staff report County students will have access to indoor classrooms. Conway to update on plant School offi cials and board members spoke during a rib- Attorney General Jack Conway will bon-cutting ceremony at the take some time during pre-Fancy school, the former Lone Oak Farm Picnic festivities today to Middle. Principal Matt Dobson meet with local residents about the said he hopes the school, which Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. will house about 500 fourth- Conway met with Department of and fi fth-grade students, will Energy officials in Washington, D.C., become one of the top interme- last week about cleanup and re- diate schools in the country. industrialization efforts at the plant “This day is a testament to ev- site.