20 years ago

(March 10 and March 12, 1993)

A Louisville man, charged with murdering his father, was convicted of reckless homicide by a Floyd County jury last week. Douglas Hughes, 51, shot his father, Billie Hughes, 84, of Salt Lick, four times, twice in the back of the head, after the two argued at Billie Hughes’ home in November 1990.

Only one of three controversial construction management contracts was ratified, Tuesday night, by the Floyd County Board of Education, despite a warning from an attorney for Martin Engineering that failure to ratify all three could lead to legal action and a work stoppage on those projects.

A Floyd County youth was charged with murder, Monday, in connection with the early morning shooting of a Topmost man at Price. Whirley Hall, 49, of Topmost, died Sunday afternoon, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center at Lexington, from a gunshot wound to the head. 19-year-old John Preston Henderson, of Weeksbury, apparently shot Hall one time, after an altercation at a residence at Price.

Local merchants were advised that criminals are passing counterfeit cash, according to Prestonsburg Police Chief Greg Hall. The counterfeit bills are one dollar bills with the corners of twenty dollar bills passed on them and passed to merchants as twenties. At least three have been discovered in the last seven days.

Some candidates for public office have apparently been flaunting Kentucky election laws for the last seven years without even knowing it. According to a press release issued by Kentucky Registry of Election Finance Executive Director George Russell, Wednesday, candidates for public office in the state of Kentucky, may no longer continue the practice of giving charitable contributions from their campaign warchests in order to receive positive publicity.

In an effort to collect more than $40,000 in past due accounts, Martin City Council, at Wednesday’s meeting held second reading of a revised water ordinance which has provisions to disconnect the water meters of delinquent customers. The city may not be able to collect the entire amount of past due bills though, because several delinquent customers—some owing thousands of dollars—have died.

An elderly Floyd County man died in a freak accident, Tuesday, near his home at Bevinsville, Floyd County Coroner Roger E. Nelson said this week. Willie Jackson Rainey, 84, a retired coal miner, was apparently using a chain saw to trim an apple tree on his property, Tuesday, when a limb fell, hitting him in the face.

Floyd County’s school spelling champions competed for the county championship, Friday, at Adams Middle School. Jeremy Parsons, of Stumbo, outlasted Brent Tackett, of Melvin, to receive the championship plaque.

There died: Neil Watson, 68, of Hueysville, Friday, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington; Donald Ray Keathley, 47, of Allen, Tuesday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Lillian Slone Campbell, 69, of Mousie, Saturday, at the Hazard Appalachian Regional Medical Center; Alpha Jean Blevins, 59, of Tram, Thursday, at her residence; Ethel Owens Caudill, 81, of Garrett, Thursday, in Highlands Regional Medical Center; Mollie Rose Green, 96, of David, formerly of Prestonsburg, Saturday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Whirley (Gig-Poe) Hall, 49, of Topmost, Sunday, at the UK Medical Center, Lexington; Noah Hamilton, 76, of Michigan City, Indiana, native of Melvin, Wednesday, at the Life Care Center, Michigan City; Sarah Carrie King, 68, of Taylor, Michigan, formerly of Knott County, Saturday, at the Heritage Hospital, Taylor, Michigan; Wanda “Peggy” Mildred Spears, 74, of Endicott, Wednesday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Annie Anderson, 75, of McDowell, Wednesday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Willie Jackson Rainey, 84, of Wheelwright, Tuesday, at his residence; Mary Francis Reynolds Bentley, 82, of Prestonsburg, Thursday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center.

30 years ago

(March 16, 1983)

The bodies of Warnie Jack Collins Jr., 49, of Endicott, and Julius James, 35, of McCombs, were found in an automobile, resting on its top in a creek, at Johns Creek, last Saturday afternoon; it had apparently occurred Friday evening.

The way seems clear for work to begin on the renovation of Martin’s water system, following an appeals court decision which resolved a legal question blocking the project since last summer.

In a brief meeting, Monday, Prestonsburg City Council approved an application for $750,000 in industrial revenue bonds, and received a warning that its bid to annex a section on the city’s northern perimeter will not go unchallenged.

There died: Milford Hall, 78, last Thursday, at his home at Banner; Dewey Sammons, 80, of Auxier, last Wednesday, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Earl Slone, 70, of Price, March 8, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Jason N. Howard, 3, of David, last Friday, at Norton Children’s Hospital, Louisville; Beatrice Prater Hicks, 72, of Garrett, March 10, at Our Lady of the Way Hospital; Ora Curnutte Jr., 53, of Auxier, Saturday, at his home; Virginia Bates, 60, of Melvin, Saturday, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Earl Spears, 60, of McDowell, Saturday, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Betty Howell Evans, 74, of Craynor, Thursday, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Tara Rae Allen, infant daughter of Theresa Perkins and Lawton Ray Allen of Minnie, stillborn March 9, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Montana Spurgeon Henley, 77, of Bypro, last Friday, at McDowell Appalachian Hospital.

40 years ago

(March 14, 1973)

Floyd County’s own McDowell High School Daredevils, flirted with disaster through two games, hung on to survive, and wound up, last Saturday night, with an easy victory over Martin County’s Sheldon Clark High to win the 15th regional crown, and a place in the “Sweet Sixteen” lineup at the state basketball tournament at Freedom Hall, Louisville.

Floyd Countians can get flood insurance, if certain governmental requirements are met, County Attorney James R. Allen has been told, in response to his recent inquiry, made to the Department of Insurance, Frankfort.

An auto mishap, involving three vehicles on U. S. 23, near Emma, Sunday afternoon, left Charles Reed, of Lexington, formerly of Price, critically injured.

Born: to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Walker, of Huntington, W.Va.; a son, Garrett Carl, Feb. 14; to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Jackson, of Garrett, a son, Feb. 28; to Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Damron, of Grethel, a son, March 1; to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hopkins, of McDowell, a son, March 3.

There died: Mrs. Maudie Slone, 82, of Manton, Wednesday; Edgel Whitaker, 52, formerly of Prestonsburg, Thursday, at Galion, O.; Mrs. Millie M. Jarrell, 70, of Dana, March 2, at Highlands Regional Medical Center; Mrs. Lula Sparks Adams, 87, of Brainard, Sunday, at Martin; Mrs. Virgie Newsome Moore, 78, of East McDowell, Sunday, at McDowell Appalachian Regional Hospital; Taylor Risner, 73, of Risner, Thursday, at Our Lady of the Way Hospital, Martin; Mrs. Nannie Boyd, 80, of Stanville, Friday, at Martin; Elder George Wright, 83, of Martin, Monday, at Our Lady of the Way Hospital; Jake Slone, 82, of Handshoe, Monday, at Martin; Ora Crace Caudill, 68, Saturday, at her home at Estill.

50 years ago

(March 14, 1963)

No paper printed this week, due to disastrous flooding throughout county.

60 years ago

(March 12, 1953)

Evidence that the floor and floor joists of the Floyd County courthouse are sagging was causing officials concern this week.

Prevalence of flu has cut into the Red Cross blood yield in the county.

Miners at the Princess Elkhorn Coal Company operation at David resumed work, this week, after a work-stoppage.

Bids were asked, this week, by the Floyd County Board of Education on the construction of a high school building here.

The Harmon Branch Coal Company mine, near Boldman, was closed, March 4, because of a lack of ventilation, Mine Inspector Elmer Layne said.

The Martin Purple Flash won the district basketball tournament, held last week-end, defeating McDowell in the finals.

A dog quarantine has been clamped on Prestonsburg, after 40 persons, most of whom are children, have been bitten and have begun anti-rabies treatment.

There died: Jack Jarrell, 82, March 9, at Dana; Mrs. Etta Shepherd, 73, March 9, at West Prestonsburg.

70 years ago

(March 11, 1943)

Men over 38 years of age have lost their 4-H deferment status as an army of 15,000,000 is envisioned.

Lackey citizens have been told that restoration of the community’s school, which was destroyed by fire recently, is impossible for the duration of the war. The gym and teacherage, which escaped the flames, will be used for classrooms, Supt. Town Hall said…Homes of Sterling Clark, Darvin Rose, Bill Marshall and Henry Meadows at Lancer were destroyed, Saturday night, by fire.

Frank Heinze, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Heinze, of Prestonsburg, and now a junior at Berea College, has been named to the all-state K.I.A.C. team.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman May celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, February 28, at their West Prestonsburg home.

Miss Bennie Caudill, of Prestonsburg, was recently elected secretary of Sigma Sigma Sigma honorary education sorority at Murray State College.

Born: to Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Turner, at their home here, March 9, a son, Donald Lloyd.

There died: Logan Blackburn, 53, Tuesday night, at his home on Tandy’s Branch of Johns Creek; Milton C. Litteral, 32, Sunday, at Ashland; Henry Smith, 91, and Lee Arnett, 48, at Blue River—the former on Sunday, Arnett on Friday; Ernest Osborne, 49, of Daniels Creek, at the hospital here last Friday; Thomas Derossett, 82, at Dwale, Saturday; Elijah Hall, 26, of Grethel, at a Martin hospital.