Police

MOBILE, Ala. — A former Dry Ridge pastor was sentenced July 19 to 17 and a half years in prison for sending and soliciting child pornography through Facebook.

Jerry Cannon, 63, pleaded guilty in April to possession and distribution of child pornography in a federal court in Alabama.

Cannon, a land surveyor, founded the non-denominational God’s House Church in Dry Ridge four years ago.

Cigarettes have been extinguished and dip is gone at the Grant County Detention Center since the facility has gone tobacco-free.

The change took effect July 1 in anticipation of administrative regulation passed by the Kentucky Jail Standards Commission being approved by the Legislative Research Commission in August or September.

Previously, Class D work inmates could smoke at an outside smoking area and while out on work duty and could purchase cigarettes and dip from the jail’s canteen.

What should have been a routine traffic stopped turned into a pursuit through Grant County, ending in a head-on collision involving a deputy sheriff’s cruiser.

A Kentucky State Police trooper clocked a 1995 Chevy Prism going in excess of 90 miles per hour shortly before 9 p.m. July 11 on northbound Interstate 75 between Williamstown and Dry Ridge.

When the trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver drove off the Dry Ridge exit and headed toward Williamstown.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will stop their construction projects on I-71 till July 10 at 10 p.m., to allow northbound and southbound lanes to operate at full capacity.

For those traveling north on I-75, exit 173 will be closed beginning July 5.

Traffic heading for Louisville will take exit 175 (Richwood) and re-enter I-75/I-71 southbound to exit 173. A signed detour will be posted to direct traffic in this direction. The ramp will reopen July 15, 2011 in order to do repairs on the bridge, including potholes and ruts.