Police

Crittenden and Community Fire Department Chief Lee Burton's passion for his job may be as consuming as the fires he fights.

“I actually started when I was 15, made my first run three days after my 16th birthday,” Burton said. “I've been hooked on this ever since.”

Burton, who took over as interim chief at Crittenden on April 12 following the resignation of Chief Dave Owens, became Crittenden's official chief on April 24. Although the Crittenden department is staffed with all volunteers,

Grant County Detention Center Jailer Terry Peeples looked for ways to cut costs and raise revenues for the 2011-12 budget.

However, one thing that is not in the budget is revenue from federal prisoners.

Peeples said he hopes a change in medical contracts will eventually lead to discussion with U.S. Marshals about bringing back needed dollars from housing and transporting federal prisoners.

The jail currently contracts medical services with Southern Health Partners during the day.

Drivers should beware when traveling some Grant County roads as the spring’s rainy weather has caused some problems to the road surface.

In southern Grant County, a section each of Delaney and Keefer Roads are down to one lane.  

Keefer Road (Ky. 2936) will be closed through June 10 and again on June 13 through June 15 to through traffic to allow the state highway department to repair the slide. The work and closure will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m..

Jeff Courtney, a Class D inmate, who was working outside the grant County Detention Center on Barnes Road in Williamstown, climbed into a waiting car and drove off June 5.

Grant County Jailer Terry Peeples said that Courtney was being supervised while he was working in a garden outside the jail.

“The deputy saw him get in a car and take off,” Peeples said.

Peeples said the jail staff notified the Kentucky State Police, per the jail’s protocol and began an investigation.