A candidate for state representative will formally announce his platform in a Thursday afternoon ceremony at the Christian County Justice Center.

Republican 8^th District candidate Max Sturdivant, Jr. will make his announcement at 3:45, according to a news release, which says he will detail his priorities to lower taxes, reducing state spending and eliminating unneeded regulations.

Sturdivant, who is a teacher at Heritage Christian Academy, says he believes it’s time for a change in Frankfort by replacing liberals in the house with leaders with a conservative voice and vision.

He faces incumbent Democrat Representative John Tilley in the general election.

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02/21/2012/am

Kirby                                   Phipps                                    Russell

The three local men accused in a home invasion in Graves County last week have been arraigned in Graves District Court.

WPSD TV reports that 24-year old James Kirby and 40-year old Richard Phipps of Hopkinsville and 29-year old Edwin Russell of Elkton pled not guilty. Kirby and Phipps are charged with murder, while Russell is charged with complicity to murder.

The prosecution alleges Kirby and Phipps shot Richard Jett when he answered the door and struck him with a weapon before shooting his wife, Sharon Jett, in the back. Richard died Sunday in an area hospital.

Ms. Jett took several more shots to the legs and body, but still managed to shoot Phipps in the side and hand. The TV station reports Phipps hid his arm in a sling underneath his shirt during the court hearing.

Russell was allegedly the driver who took Kirby and Phipps to the residence, and once dated the Jett’s daughter years ago. Russell reportedly told the others suspects they would find cash and guns at the residence and allegedly supplied them with a gun.

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02/20/2012/am

Myles Dye

The brother of convicted murderer 18-year old Garrett Dye spent a few hours in the Todd County Jail this week, but it was unrelated to the alleged abuse he inflicted on his adopted sister.

Law enforcement arrested 20-year old Myles Dye of Dogwood Road, Trenton around 8:20 Sunday night on the strength of a warrant for not paying a fine of about 200 dollars from Christian County, according to Todd County Jailer Greg Allen. He only spent a few hours in detention before being released on bond Monday morning.

State records released late last year include allegations that Myles Dye threw a then 5-year old Amy Dye across a bed and kicked her in March of 2007. Later that month, Amy reportedly told school officials that Myles hurt her again, with thumb prints left on her face in that alleged incident.

The allegations continued in 2007, when Amy would reportedly tell a school nurse at South Todd Elementary School that Myles shot her with a BB gun and that he hit her with a shovel. Amy’s adopted father, Chris Dye, reportedly said she had been injured by hitting her head on a desk at school, while adopted mother Kimberly allegedly told Amy that she would be spanked if she continued to tell school officials she was being abused.

Garrett Dye was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering Amy on February 4^th, 2011 but no one else has ever been charged with any crime relating to the incident. Dye’s attorney is appealing the conviction based on a judge’s decision to allow his confession as evidence in a possible trial.

Garrett remains in the Todd County Jail.

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02/21/2012/am

A rear-end collision on Canton Street yesterday afternoon sent a Hopkinsville woman to Jennie Stuart Medical Center—which was already her destination.

The incident happened around 10:50 just east of the W. 17^th St. intersection, with the report saying 72-year old Homer Dixon of Hopkinsville was stopped while attempting to make a left turn into the parking lot of Jennie Stuart when he was rear-ended by a slow moving vehicle driven by 55-year old Donald McReynolds—who was also preparing to turn into the hospital parking lot.

80-year old Vera Dixon, who was a passenger in the front vehicle, was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Everyone else involved went uninjured.

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02/21/2012/am

A larger than usual earthquake struck on the New Madrid Fault early this morning.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the 4.0 tremor was five miles northwest of East Prarie, Missouri—which is 115 miles west of Clarksville.

Regional residents on Facebook reported feeling the tremor around 4am as far east as the Trigg-Lyon County line and numerous Paducah area residents said they felt the shaking.

There were no immediate reports of damage, but assessments continue to be made. If you felt the quake, comment on the WHOP Facebook page and let us know where you are.

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02/21/2012/am