HAGER HILL, Ky. — Kentucky State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Johnson County that killed two people.

According to Kentucky State Police, Retina Meek was driving along Route 321 at Hager Hill around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, when she crossed the center line and struck a pickup truck driven by Jason Kinner.

Meek and a passenger in her vehicle, Anita Meek, both died of injuries sustained in the crash.

Kinner was also injured but is continuing to receive treatment.

The accident remains under investigation.

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Hager Hill Freewill Baptist Church is on Day 18 of its revival and going strong.

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HAGER HILL, Ky. — A Johnson County man has been arrested on felony charges, after being involved in a wreck while allegedly under the influence.

Police were called to a two-car crash on Route 1428, at Hager Hill. When they arrived on the scene, a woman approached to inform them that her father, Phillip Brent Murray, 48, of West Van Lear, was one of the drivers and had been drinking.

Murray was arrested for DUI after he failed a field sobriety test and then blew a 0.211 on a breathalyzer — more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit.

A witness told police Murray caused the crash by driving on the wrong side of the highway.

The other driver was interviewed while being treated for head and neck injuries at the hospital. He told police he saw Murray coming toward him, so he tried to swerve, but Murray swerved at the same time and their cars collided.

Murray first told police he hadn’t been drinking, then later admitted to drinking two shots. However, police found two empty bottles of Southern Comfort in his car.

Murray was also arrested Aug. 31 on a DUI charge, after police observed him swerving while driving through Paintsville.

In addition to the new DUI charge, Murray also faces two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. He is being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville on a $5,000 cash bond.

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Students at Porter Elementary held their Leadership Day, where they got to perform, play, and show off the leadership skills they’ve learned.

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HAGER HILL, Ky. — To ensure safety, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have closed the Route 321 bridge in the Hager Hill area of the county. The bridge is located over the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River just north of the Paintsville side of the Route 1107 intersection at Powell Addition.

The inspection conducted by bridge specialists with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet revealed concerns with the bridge’s substructure. It is now closed to all traffic until further notice.

Engineers will access the bridge and determine what repairs might be necessary. The bridge is used by roughly 4,700 vehicles each day.

Updates on progress will be given as more information becomes available.

Barricades have been placed at each end of the bridge. All motorists must use an alternate route. Motorists can detour using nearby connecting routes until further notice.

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HAGER HILL, Ky. — The parents of three small children were arrested Monday evening, after one of the children tested positive for drugs.

Police were called to a residence on Jenny’s Creek Road, after social workers obtained paperwork to have the children removed from the home, after the youngest child, a 2-year-old, tested positive for a “lethal amount” of meth, as well as lesser amounts of cocaine and amphetamine.

The parents — identified as Brandon Patrick, 25, and Toni Brashay Short, 27, both of Hager Hill — reportedly told police they did not know how the children came in contact with the drugs. Both suggested the drugs must have come from the children’s maternal grandfather, who the children had stayed with until he was recently arrested.

The parents were arrested and charged with first-degree child abuse, first-degree wanton endangerment and endangering the welfare of a minor. They are being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on $10,000 cash bonds.

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PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — After narrowing down the field to three candidates, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System has decided not to recommend any of them to be the next president of Big Sandy Community and Technical College and will continue its search.

KCTCS President Ryan Quarles said KCTCS remains committed to finding a solution that best serves the mission, values, and aspirations of BSCTC.

In the interim, Dr. Todd Brand will continue to serve as interim president, ensuring stable leadership for the college during this time of transition.

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Johnson County man has received the maximum sentence possible, after pleading guilty to federal child porn charges.

Jason Ryan Campbell, 46, of Hager Hill, pleaded guilty back in February to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing it.

He was arrested last May, after his girlfriend reported finding explicit photos and videos of her daughter on his phone. Police found a hidden folder on his phone containing photos and videos of young girls. Among those were two videos of Campbell engaging in sexual contact with his girlfriend’s daughter.

He had faced 15 to 30 years in prison for the production charge and up to 10 years in prison for the possession charge. At his sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves gave him the maximum for both counts and ordered the sentences to run consecutively, for a total of 40 years.

Campbell is being held in the Pike County jail, awaiting transfer to the federal prison system.

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VERSAILLES, Ky. – The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has announced three finalists for the position of president at Big Sandy Community and Technical College following a nationwide search.

The finalists include:

Larry Bailey, Ph.D., an accreditation committee peer reviewer and advisor for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Bailey has previously served as the SACSCOC liaison and director of special projects, as well as vice president for academic affairs at Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tenn. He holds a doctorate in business administration from the University of Mississippi, along with an MBA and bachelor’s degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

Patsy Jackson, Ed.D., DNP, interim president and CEO of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Cumberland. Jackson formerly served as the dean of health care programs and program administrator for the associate degree nursing program at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. She holds two doctorates — one in educational leadership and policy studies from Eastern Kentucky University and another in nursing practice from the University of Kentucky.

James Walter Ross, Ed.D., most recently served as the president of Pamlico Community College, in Grantsboro, N.C. Ross previously held roles as vice president for institutional advancement and development and as executive director for the Educational Foundation at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville. He holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, and a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.

“We are pleased to present this accomplished group of finalists to the community,” said KCTCS President Ryan Quarles. “Each finalist brings a unique perspective that supports our mission to empower students and strengthen Kentucky’s workforce—ensuring opportunity and prosperity for communities across the commonwealth.”

A public reception will be held on the Prestonsburg campus on Wednesday, May 14, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting is assisting with the presidential search. More information about each finalist is available on the college’s website.

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Johnson County man pleaded guilty to child porn charges in federal court on Monday.

Jason Ryan Campbell, 45. of Hager Hill, appeared in U.S. District Court in Pikeville, where he entered guilty pleas to one count of producing child porn and one count of possessing it.

Campbell was arrested last May, after his girlfriend reported finding explicit photos and videos of her daughter on his phone. Police found a hidden folder on his phone containing photos and videos of young girls. Among those were two videos of Campbell engaging in sexual contact with his girlfriend’s daughter.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors have agreed to drop two additional charges of producing child porn.

Campbell now faces a sentence of between 15 and 30 years for the producing charge, while the possession charge is punishable by up to 10 years. He will be back in court May 8 for sentencing.

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