Today One-lane traffic short distances, U.S. 68, Marshall-McCracken county line to Purchase Parkway interchange at Draffenville. Minor delays for milling and paving through Aug. 15. Lone Oak Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., The Parlor.
442-7389. Indoor yard sale benefit for River City Mission, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., store building, Lone Oak. Senior Medicare Patrol information on waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare system, 1 to 3 p.m., Senior Center, 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive.
442-8993. Indoor yard sale to benefit River City Mission, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., store building, Lone Oak. Veterans and family assistance in filing claims for state and federal benefits, 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Unemployment Office, 319 S.
7th Mayfield. By appointment, 247-3857. Walk-ins seen as time allows. Service provided by Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. 2A Wednesday, August 6, 2008 The Paducah Sun OCAL paducahsun.com The Lineup Miss a day miss a lot.
Coming Up THURSDAY Upcoming local festivals you want to miss. Current Electronic gadgets, gizmos and geegaws. Download FRIDAY SATURDAY Coverage of local Emancipation Day celebrations and activities. Former Lower Town excursion to Asia. Life SUNDAY MONDAY The Cardinals and Cubs conclude three-game series.
Sports TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Your weekly source for health and medical news. House Call To subscribe, call 800-959-1771. Phelps continues quest to break gold medal record. Sports lottery Kentucky Pick 3-midday: 4-1-2 Pick 3-evening: 5-8-4 Pick 4-midday: 0-9-8-6 Pick 4-evening: 3-6-0-4 Cash Ball: 22-24-25-30 CB 30 3 Line Lotto: 1-24-27-29-31-37 Illinois Pick 3-midday: 5-6-6 Pick 3-evening: 6-8-1 Pick 4-midday: 8-0-0-7 Pick 4-evening: 2-8-1-7 Little Lotto: 7-10-13-15-32 Est. Mega Millions Jackpot: $34 million BY C.D.
BRADLEY Randy Bratton said he accomplished the mission given to him 7 1 2 years ago of changing the Paducah Police Department, but probably stayed too long. hindsight, it may have worked out better for everyone if I had decided to explore new opportunities a year Bratton said in an interview with the Sun. mission has been accomplished, and time for me to move forward, and I had already determined that prior to recent Bratton leaves the department today after resigning after calls for his replacement from his management staff and rank-and- file officers. They cited a breakdown in the management. But even amid the turmoil that led to his exit, Bratton said, wise, the department is running extremely In a wide-ranging discussion about his tenure, Bratton said he learned lessons he hopes will help him as he looks for other law enforcement leadership positions.
plan to continue to look for other law enforcement departments across the country that I can successfully lead and make a positive impact in their Bratton said. Bratton, a Paducah native hired as chief in 2001 after nearly 17 years in the St. Petersburg, police department, described his role several times as that of a change agent, brought in to overhaul the department. The average police chief lasts five years, and those brought in to change things often stay less than that, he said. Bratton said his successor will face different challenges.
think major changes are he said. built a solid foundation The changes began soon after he became chief. Bratton said he was surprised early in his tenure by the lack of innovation and the degree of resistance to change. Bratton abolished the small community policing division in favor of making community policing a department-wide priority. He credits some of those principles community outreach and targeted enforcement of hot spots such as the Set with the 37 percent reduction in crime, which he lists as the biggest accomplishment during his tenure.
Bratton also said Paducah officers are better trained, have more accountability and are held in higher esteem by other departments than when he arrived. Among his disappointments are his inability to convince the city commission of the need for a new police headquarters as well as the failure to attract minority officer candidates. Paducah has three black police officers, fewer than when he arrived. been somewhat successful with female candidates, but still not to the degree that like to he said. tried very hard, and still trying hard, but we still have room for Bratton said he considered his relationship with the police leadership above average for most of his tenure, citing two relatively peaceful contract negotiations.
That relationship was harmed after Bratton used his weapon to break a window while trying to catch a suspect last fall. The union called for his resignation, but the city commissioners directed him to improve the policies and procedures and did not discipline him. Bratton said the matter was handled properly, although he said he should not have been involved in the arrest. Bratton said one of the lessons he will take to his next job is that he would have benefited from spending more time in the trenches with patrol officers. Given all that he was trying to do and Bratton has a reputation for working long hours he said he simply find the time.
did not do that as much as I would have liked to. I would have liked to have done a better job in that area. more important in a department this size than in a department of 500 officers, which is where I came Still, he said, the chief has to take a longer view of the department. primary responsibility is to steer the ship, so to speak, to provide the expectations, to provide the vision, to provide the resources and the community support so the team can be he said. the chief take care of those priorities, then the department cannot be C.D.
Bradley can be contacted at 5758617. Bratton says he accomplished mission JOHN WRIGHT The Sun Police Chief Randy Bratton sits in his office Tuesday. He leaves office today after resigning last week. BY SHELLEY BYRNE BENTON, Ky. Attorneys will give opening statements today in the murder and arson trial of George Luna.
Luna is charged with killing Debra Hendrickson last September in her Benton mobile home and then burning it with her body inside. The trial is expected to continue through at least Friday. After hours of individual and group questioning Monday, court officials seated a jury of eight men and six women, including two alternates. Most questions were routine, but Marshall Circuit Judge Dennis Foust asked potential jurors about whether they had read, seen or heard news coverage pertaining to Commonwealth Attorney Mike Ward as well as anything pertaining to death and arrest. Ward has been charged twice recently with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Potential jurors said they either had not heard about anything pertaining to Ward or that although they had heard of the charges it would have no bearing on their ability to serve. Foust sternly reminded the jury pool not to discuss anything pertaining to the trial following the lunch break after two people were overheard talking about their belief in the death penalty. sister testified in the chambers following the lunch break that she overheard two men outside the courtroom talking. One said to the other: they better hope I get picked because I believe in the death penalty. If you take a life, you give a Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty for Luna.
Ward told the jury pool that the case is built on circ*mstantial evidence. have an eyewitness who saw George Luna kill Debra he said. He asked the potential jurors if they could still convict Luna as long as the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Ward also told them that he expects evidence to show that Hendrickson had a big heart. think some of her family members might put it this way: She was prone to take in Ward said.
Police have said Hendrickson allowed Luna to live with her because he had fallen on hard times. He had been living with her about three months at the time of her death, Ward said. Robin Irwin, one of attorneys, asked the jury pool about their feelings regarding alcohol, saying that evidence would show both Hendrickson and Luna drank alcohol. Although six potential jurors said they did not drink alcohol or keep it in their homes, no one expressed strong feelings about others who choose to do so. Shelley Byrne can be contacted at 575-8667.
Jury forms for Luna trial in Benton LANCE DENNEE The Sun George Luna looks around the Marshall County courtroom during jury selection in his murder trial on Tuesday. He is accused of killing Debra Hendrickson and burning her home. Staff report MAYFIELD, Ky. Kimberly A. Brown, 38, of Mayfield was treated and released from Jackson Purchase Medical Center on Tuesday after her car struck a utility pole on the parking lot of Graves County High School, according to school spokesman Paul Schaumburg.
Brown was driving her daughter, Gabrielle Brown, 14, to the first day of school when her car wrecked around 7:45 a.m. School Resource Officer John Cavin said the front end of 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier was damaged and she suffered a cut to her forehead. Gabrielle Brown was not injured. Cavin investigated the wreck, assisted by Mayfield police. Wreck at Graves High injures mom Staff report METROPOLIS, Ill.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will participate in a meet-and- greet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. today at the Local 640 meeting hall, 801 Market St. Massac County Democratic Chairman Larry Douglas said the event is open to the public.
Admission is free. Durbin visits Metropolis Staff report METROPOLIS, Ill. Former McCracken County deputy jailer Tim Freeman has dodged any time behind bars for a second set of drug charges. Freeman, 43, of Paducah pleaded guilty to possession of meth- amphetamine before Judge Terry Foster in Massac Circuit Court on Monday. A meth delivery charge was dismissed.
Foster ordered two years of probation. Freeman turned himself in at the Massac County Department last Oct. 25 after a warrant was issued. He was charged after an investigation of the shipping of meth from Arizona to Metropolis and Paducah, said Chief Deputy Sheriff Ted Holder. Freeman is appealing a February conviction in Paducah for complicity to possess meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, the first 90 days in home incarceration although a jury had recommended a sentence of one year in prison. He was first arrested Aug. 25 after an investigation by Paducah and McCracken County officers into a drug ring involving meth and marijuana. Former deputy jailer gets probation for meth possession For results from previous drawings, go to www.illinoislottery.com or www.kylottery.com..
