Local News

Transportation Cabinet: “Structurally Deficient” Bridges Are Safe

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:59:04 -0400

After a 160-foot section of a bridge on Interstate 5 collapsed Thursday night in Washington, new questions are being asked about the safety of Kentucky bridges.

A national bridge database lists several of Kentucky’s bridges as “structurally deficient,” but transportation engineers said this doesn’t mean the bridges aren’t safe.

David Steele, a Transportation Engineer Branch Manager for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said when a bridge is structurally deficient it has been rated poor in either:

(1) Deck

(2) Superstructure

(3) Substructure

Steele said these ratings are not bad enough to make the bridge unsafe for driving, even though they will be added to a list for repairs.

Engineers said a bridge that had many potholes could be labeled structurally deficient.

Kentucky bridges are checked every one to two years according to Steele.

“Trying to address the bridges so they don't break down and deteriorate,” he said.

Steele added bridges could fall apart if an overweight truck drives over them.

“It's quite possible. The bridges are not indestructible,” he said. “You just hope that the truck driver is going to abide by the regulations and just pay attention to what they're doing.”

Cooler Weather For The Holiday Weekend

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:49:00 -0400

Midnight Update: Winds are now calm across the region under clear skies. These are ideal cooling conditions after a cold front passes through. This is why we are expecting temperatures to drop into the low 40s by Saturday morning.

For now, temperatures are in the low 50s in most of our cities, with Lexington at 51°. Irvine has fallen to 49°.
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It's going to be a chilly Friday night and Saturday morning across Kentucky. Temperatures will fall into the low 40s by Saturday morning under mostly clear skies.

Nearly everyone will stay dry Saturday afternoon, but we could see an isolated shower at some point in the afternoon. Otherwise expect mostly to partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will be just slightly warmer than Friday, in the upper 60s.

A few scattered showers and storms will be possible Sunday with partly cloudy skies. Highs will climb back into the low and mid 70s.

For Memorial Day, scattered showers and a few storms are possible, although most of the day will be dry. Temperatures will climb into the mid 70s.

Update: More Than $90,000 Raised For Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:50:00 -0400

A three-day fundraising campaign by the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross, ABC 36 and other Lexington media outlets, raised more than $90,000 for Oklahoma tornado victims.

Donations were phoned-in during a day long campaign on Wednesday at the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross offices in Lexington. A total of $75,000 was raised in phone pledges.

Additional donations were collected Thursday and Friday with a drive-thru campaign in the parking lot of Fayette Mall in Lexington.

A third drive-thru donation campaign will be held on Saturday, May 25th, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Kroger on South Main Street in Nicholasville.

You can also donate online at www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Update: Arrest Warrant Issued For Suspect In Lexington Murder

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:30:00 -0400

Lexington Police on Friday issued a Murder arrest warrant for Ernest Wheeler III, 20, in connection to the shooting death of a Lexington teenager.

Police said Patrick Puckett, 18, was shot to death Wednesday night on Ryan Circle.

Investigators have not released a motive or details surrounding the shooting.

Puckett was a graduate of Winburn Middle School and attended Bryan Station High School, where he played football. He had transferred to Henry Clay High School shortly before his death.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled Friday, May 24th at 6:00 p.m. in Castlewood Park in Lexington to honor Puckett.

Lexington Police are asking anyone with information about Wheeler's whereabouts to call 859-258-3600 or 859-258-3700 or Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at 859-253-2020.

You can also submit tips by cell phone. Simply text: "tips2020" plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

You can remain anonymous.

For more information, click here.

Hundreds Of Abandoned Military Items Waiting To Be Claimed

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:12:00 -0400

If you're a military veteran missing a medal or discharge papers or a relative looking to discover a military legacy, all you need to do is visit www.KYtreasury.com and click on Military Item Listing.

This Memorial Day weekend, the Kentucky State Treasury is looking to reunite veterans and their families with hundreds of military items that sit unclaimed in the Treasury vault.

Kentucky Treasurer Todd Hollenbach said, “We owe it to our military service members and their families to go the extra mile to return these items. Their stories deserve to be told, and their memories need to be preserved."

Among the items in the vault are a bronze star, 7 navy medals, two purple hearts, numerous battle ribbons and campaign pins, dog tags and dozens of discharge papers including one from the Civil War.

The State Treasurer serves as custodian of all property surrendered to the state that is presumed lost or abandoned.

The military items are among the more than 50-thousand unclaimed items stored in the Treasury vault that come from the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.

Each year the Kentucky Treasury returns millions of dollars in unclaimed property to Kentucky residents, most of the properties are in the form of cash from old insurance policies, stocks and bonds and leftover bank accounts.

Under the proactive leadership of Treasurer Hollenbach and his Treasure Finder’s Program, the Treasury has returned a record $ 81-million in unclaimed property.

Closure Scheduled For KY 1960 In Clark County

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:50:00 -0400

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways, announces that a temporary closure is scheduled for a portion of KY 1960 (Ecton Road) in Clark County.

The closure is necessary for culvert pipe replacement work.

Work will be performed:

Wednesday, May 29 through Friday, May 31 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily
Monday, June 3 through Friday, June 7 – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily

(no weekend work is scheduled)

The location for the closure on KY 1960 will be between mile point 0.5 (KY 1958/the Winchester Bypass) and mile point 5.0 (L & E Junction Road).

Appropriate signage will be in place to alert and guide the traveling public.

Alternate route:

motorists can utilize KY 15

All scheduled work is subject to change depending on weather, emergencies and other factors beyond the control of the Department of Highways.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet asks motorists to be aware of the work zone and to utilize safe driving habits when traveling near the area.

For up-to-date traffic and travel information dial 511 or visit www.511.ky.gov for the latest statewide traffic updates.

Suspicious Vehicle Call Leads To Arrest In Laurel County

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:40:00 -0400

A Lily woman was arrested and charged with DUI and other traffic charges Friday afternoon following a suspicious vehicle call, according to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said they found Prudie G. Jones, 46, in a pickup on KY 229, seven miles south of London.

Investigators said Jones appeared to be under the influence and that she admitted she had taken Percocet pills earlier.

The Sheriff's Office also said Jones had an outstanding bench warrant out against her.

She was lodged in the Laurel County Detention Facility.

The investigation continues.

State Launches New Website For Food Benefit Customers

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:14:00 -0400

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) has launched a new customer service website to better assist families receiving food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The website helps people check their potential eligibility for food stamps, apply for benefits, report changes, and receive notices electronically.

The site is http://snapfoodbenefits.chfs.ky.gov.

DCBS Commissioner Teresa James said the new portal gives customers quick access to basic information and frees up staff time for more in-depth service requests.

Cal On Mays In Brooklyn

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:08:00 -0400

Nerlens Noel is likely to go number one in the June 27th NBA Draft.

If not, he's definitely off the board quickly.

Archie Goodwin is also expected to be a first-rounder.

But what about another guy with hopes of going pro?

Julius Mays spent five years in college...four playing for three different schools...North Carolina State, Wright State and Kentucky.

Yesterday Mays worked out in Brooklyn at the Nets draft combine...other teams were also present...Houston and the Clippers to name a couple really involved.

UK head coach John Calipari was also back in his old northeast stomping grounds.

Cal coached the Nets from 1997-99 and had this to say after about returning to the Nets and seeing Mays performance.

Hear from Cal in Brooklyn in the video.

Health Department Releases Grilling Safety Tips

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:55:00 -0400

Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, the Fayette County Health Department has released some tips for keeping your meals illness-free.

Following these food safety guidelines can help you prevent the spread of food-borne illness from picnic meals shared with family and friends. The health department suggests keeping your hands clean. Wash hands before eating or preparing food, after using the restroom, between handling raw and ready-to-eat items and after handling pets. Health officials said you should clean and sanitize surfaces often.

The health department suggests separating raw foods from ready-to-eat foods. Use different cutting boards or wash, rinse and sanitize after contact with raw meat, poultry and seafood. Never use the same plate for holding raw meat and transporting cooked meat.

Be sure to wash all produce thoroughly before use. Thoroughly clean the outer surface before slicing and keep work surface and utensils clean and sanitized.

Follow the cooking guidelines listed below for proper meat preparation. Cook food to the proper internal temperature. Always check the internal temperature of cooked foods with a metal-stemmed thermometer and cook another 15 seconds after the thermometer indicates it has reached the proper temperature.

Ground beef 160 degrees Fahrenheit, Poultry and stuffed meats 165 degrees, and Pork products 150 degrees.

The health department said reheat leftovers at 165 degrees. Leftovers should be cooled and maintained within two hours at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower or frozen at zero degrees or lower. When you are unsure how long leftover food has been out of proper serving temperature, a good rule of thumb to follow is “when in doubt, throw it out!”