Our ongoing coverage of this November’s General Election resumes this morning with the candidates for 3^rd District State Senator.

Incumbent Senator Joey Pendleton debated former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Whitney Westerfield at the Bradford Square Mall last week, where the candidates went back and forth on several issues for about 45 minutes.

Hopkinsville City Council could have a smoking ban ordinance soon and several other larger cities already do—but the two candidates were asked about a possible statewide public smoking ban.

Westerfield says giving government the authority to ban smoking in businesses could start a slippery slope.

Senator Pendleton said he does support a statewide smoking ban because of the proven ill-effects smoking and second hand smoke has on people’s health.

Asked about some of the important issues facing Kentucky over the next four years, Pendleton cited the need to create jobs and Westerfield elaborated on the Commonwealth’s sinking state employee pension system.     

The two men are running in Christian, Todd and Logan Counties.

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10/15/2012/am

First responders are on the scene of a wreck near Pembroke this morning.

Few details are known, but the crash happened around 7 near the 2100 block of Pembroke-Oak Grove Road—which is just south of the Long Pond Road intersection.

Two people were reportedly injured, though the severity of their injuries isn’t immediately known. Motorists should slow down and use caution when traveling in that area this morning.

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10/15/2012/am

A Hopkinsville man was arrested for allegedly driving drunk Saturday afternoon when he ran off Fort Campbell Boulevard and struck a brand new vehicle at a car lot.

The incident happened around 4:30 at Sisk Auto Mall, where 45-year old Ashby Drummond of Hopkinsville was northbound when he drifted across the southbound lanes, into a ditch and through a wire fence before striking a 2013 Honda Pilot in the front.

The car sustained moderate damage and Drummond went uninjured. Officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol on his person and he failed field sobriety tests.

A computer check revealed Drummond was driving on a suspended license for a previous DUI. He was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license and his second DUI in the last five years.

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10/15/2012/am

After fighting an illness for several months that required him to take time away from the job, word came Sunday afternoon that Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis, Jr. had passed away.

He had recently undergone stem cell treatments in Houston and was serving in this third term as Sheriff.

Lewis had previously worked with the Tennessee Highway Patrol before being elected. A news release from Montgomery County Government says arrangements are incomplete at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home.

The members of the Sheriff’s Office are requesting the prayers of area residents for the Lewis family and for the department as it goes through this difficult time.
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10/15/2012/am

Two people were injured in separate wrecks at the Ham Festival in Cadiz Sunday, with rain a contributing factor in one incident.

The first happened around 11:30 on Brown Street when 19-year old Lauren Kalomiris of Crystal Lake, Illinois was northbound. When she applied her brakes, her car didn’t stop on the wet pavement and rear-ended a vehicle driven by 38-year old Antionette Mayes of Cadiz.

A passenger in the Mayes vehicle, 14-year old Jakashea Martin of Cadiz, was transported to Trigg County Hospital for a possible back injury.

The second accident happened around 3:30 on Hamilton Street. A car driven by 26-year old Patricia Johnson of Cadiz was northbound and was passing through the intersection of Main Street.

The intersection was being controlled by the National Guard as part of the Ham Festival.

A guardsman waived Johnson to proceed through the intersection, but two female juveniles, ages 12 and 14, crossed the street behind the guardsman. Johnson’s vehicle struck the 14-year-old juvenile with the front fender of her car.

The juvenile was knocked to the ground and was taken to Trigg County Hospital with a leg injury.

Cadiz Police estimate 30-thousand people attended this year’s Ham Festival.
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10/14/2012/am