Kentucky Casino Gambling Proposal Approved By Senate Committee

Casinos could be built in Kentucky under a proposal that received a thumbs-up from a Senate committee on Wednesday.

The State and Local Government Committee voted 7-4 after hearing testimony from the state's leading casino proponent, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

"The people of Kentucky are weary of this indecision. People on both sides, those who support it and those who oppose it, want this issue settled once and for all," Beshear said.

Beshear has been pressing lawmakers for a constitutional amendment that would allow Kentuckians to wager on more than horse races, which is a longstanding tradition in the Bible-belt state.

Beshear said expanded gambling will save the equine industry.

The legislation calls for seven casinos, five at race tracks, including Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs brought a large contingent of supporters to Wednesday’s hearing.

Beshear argued that in 2010, $451 million was gambled by Kentuckians in other states.

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Kentucky State Police Warn of Online Scams

Kentucky State Police wish to remind citizens of various online scams which could be a financial danger to anyone responding. Over the past several weeks, KSP has received reports of various scams coming mostly in the form of email messages randomly sent to unsuspecting individuals. These scams are commonly referred to as phishing scams. These scams often look official, but have common details which are easy to spot. Phishing scams are defined as a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Most scams are relatively easy to spot. These messages usually include poor grammar and often ask for correspondence to be sent to a foreign country. The best rule of thumb is to immediately delete any messages which appear suspicious. Never respond to a suspected scam. For more information regarding scams, you can visit the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General website at www.ag.ky.gov.

Meth Investigation and Arrest in Whitley County Arrested at Scene Patrick S. Stamps, Vic A. Tackett, and Cecil B. Hamblin

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 8:42 PM, KSP Post 11, London responded to a residence on Deep Branch Road in Eastern Whitley County to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.

KSP Trooper's Tony Dingess, Les Moses and Edward Jones went to the residence, and upon arrival, detected a strong chemical odor. Further investigation into the incident led the troopers locating two active one step Meth Labs.

Arrested at the scene were:

    Cecil B. Hamblin, age 52 of Williamsburg was on the outstanding warrant. Hamblin was also lodged in the Laurel County Detention by ATF Agent Todd Tremaine, which placed a federal detainer on Hamblin for federal Meth charges.

    Vic A. Tackett, age 41 of Rockhold was charged with Manufacturing Meth 1st deg 1st offense; Possession of a controlled substance 1st deg 1st offense Meth: Possession of a controlled substance 2nd deg 1st offense. Tackett was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

    Patrick S. Stamps, age 40 of Auburn KY was charged with tampering with physical evidence, and resisting arrest. Stamps was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Troopers had previously arrested Hamblin and charged him with Manufacturing Meth on October 6, 2011 in Whitley County. ATF agent Tremaine was in the process of seeking a federal indictment for Hamblin reference the October 6th incident.

Trooper Tony Dingess is continuing the investigation. Dingess was assisted at the scene by Trooper Les Moses, Trooper Edward Jones, and ATF agent Todd Tremaine.

Somerset approves Smoking ban in enclosed public areas within the city

SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) - Officials in Somerset have approved a smoking ban in the south-central Kentucky city.

Although there had been debate focusing on health issues and how much authority local governments should have, the City Council voted 11-1 on Monday to pass the ordinance that would ban smoking in enclosed public areas within the city.

Councilor Jim Rutherford, who was the lone vote against it, said his main concerns were with "government encroachment," the Comm

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Alcohol votes coming soon Petition submitted for Corbin; another circulating in London

The Knox County Fiscal Court approved Monday a local option election in Barbourville to be held Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Of about 543 voters in the city, about 220 signed petitions seeking the sale of alcoholic beverages in the town.

Also on Monday, petitions were turned in to Whitley and Knox counties seeking the sale of packaged liquor in the city of Corbin.

Though the petition’s signatures have not been officially counted, Knox County Clerk Mike Corey estimated them to number more than 800.

The petition, circulated by a group called “Citizens for Economic Progress,” asks for a special election to be held Feb. 14.

A petition for London in Laurel County for packaged liquor sales is still circulating.

According to Brian McCarty, the required number of signatures is 516 and, as of Monday, about 710 signatures were on the petition with more on the way.

He said the London local option election will be set shortly after the beginning of 2012.

Both Corbin and London are “moist” cities with the sale of alcohol by the drink.

The Barbourville petition was delivered to Corey last Tuesday by Randy Jewell, an attorney who said he was retained by a group of area businessmen.

Jewell said his clients are tired of bootleggers who routinely sell alcohol and more to clients, many of whom are underage drinkers.

“Bootleggers do more than sell beer,” Jewell said, adding they sell prescription pills and marijuana.
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