SOUTH WILLIAMSON, KY. (WMDJ) – A vehicle collision involving a pedestrian has claimed the life of a woman in Pike County.
The accident happened on U.S. 119 in South Williamson on Thursday evening around 8:30 p.m.
According to Kentucky State Police, a black Audi A3 was traveling southbound when Meghan Jones, 36, of Williamson, W.Va., was attempting to cross the roadway and was struck by the vehicle. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
KSP continues to investigate.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Music enthusiasts are gearing up for this weekend’s AlleyFest in Prestonsburg.
Preparations are being made for the thousands expected to attend the three-day music festival at Archer Park.
The event, which started as a street festival in Paintsville, has attracted over 15,000 concertgoers previously. Moving the festival to Archer Park allows for an enclosed environment, complete with RV hookups, camping, alcohol sales and a laid-back atmosphere.
There will be two stages featuring a total of 27 acts beginning Friday at 4:30 p.m. featuring 15-year-old singing sensation Mattox Baston and American Idol runner-up John Foster. Saturday will spotlight former American Idol champion Noah Thompson and Prestonsburg’s own Nicholas Jamerson. The Kentucky Headhunters and Old Crow Medicine Show will close out the festival Sunday evening.
For tickets and a full schedule visit AlleyFestky.com
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) – Federal prosecutors have filed new evidence in the case against suspended Pike Circuit Judge Howard Keith Hall, alleging misuse of the Pike County Attorney’s Office payroll.
Court documents claim Hall arranged payments to two people who performed little or no work for the office. One was a family member, identified as “C.H.,” employed as a part-time legal secretary who worked irregularly and was removed from payroll during election periods. The other, “J.H.,” a candidate for family court judge, allegedly received about $3,000 per month from the office’s account in 2019 to support his campaign, despite not being officially added to payroll.
Prosecutors argue the evidence shows Hall used taxpayer funds for personal and political purposes, calling it “directly probative of the crime charged.”
A motion hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. in Frankfort.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) – Kentucky Power plans to file a request to raise its rates again after having a raise approved last year.
Kentucky Power raised rates in 2024 by 10-percent. The company is requesting an additional 15-percent raise on residential bills and a 13-to-15 percent increase on industrial bills.
Company officials say the higher rates are necessary due to lost population and industry in eastern Kentucky.
If approved, the new rates would take effect in the spring of 2026.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Johnson County man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into the former Jerry’s Restaurant building in Prestonsburg searching for scrap metal.
Jeremy Lee Perry, 42, of Wittensville, was arrested after Prestonsburg City Police observed him leaving the building. A further investigation led police to discovering that wiring from two breaker boxes had been stripped and the building’s sprinkler system had been removed.
Police also discovered tools in the building and in Perry’s car with the initials “JP” marked on them.
Perry has been charged with burglary, theft and other charges.
LOMANSVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Floyd County husband and wife lost their lives in a traffic accident involving an tractor trailer on U.S. 23 Friday afternoon.
Billy Keith Martin, 76, and Brenda Gail Martin, 66, both of Martin, died in the crash, which occurred at Lowmansville around 4 p.m. near Joe’s Carpet House.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.
PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Pike County man is behind bars after state police say he fired shots toward the Shelby Valley High School football field while students were outside practicing.
According to KSP, a 911 call reporting gunfire near the Douglas Park Apartments alerted troopers to the area just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. Witnesses told authorities the shots were fired in the direction of the field with cheerleaders and football players present.
58-year-old Brian Irick, of Pikeville, admitted to firing the gun saying he was aiming, “into the grass” and knew students were at practice.
Troopers recovered the gun, tested Irick for gunshot residue and took him to the Pike County Detention Center on a charge of first-degree wanton endangerment.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) – Customers of Southern Water will be seeing a 23-percent increase in their monthly bill per an order by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
Southern Water customers will see an increase of $14.25 per month, which includes the implementation of a $6.83 water loss surcharge.
The PSC says a four-year review of Southern Water showed a loss of nearly 57-percent of its water service each year, resulting in Southern Water spending $1-million a year to produce water, resulting in a $600,000 loss.
Southern Water originally requested for a five percent increase, yet the PSC is ordering the utility to fix its water loss with profit set aside from the rate increase.
PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Pikeville Independent school bus was involved in an accident early Tuesday morning.
The crash happened on Cedar Creek when a vehicle rear-ended Bus 201. According to a statement from Pikeville Independent School District, all students and adults were evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
All students were safely transported to school. No word on the cause of the accident.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local, state and federal officials to break ground on the final section of the Mountain Parkway Expansion – a 13-mile stretch of new four-lane highway that will connect Salyersville in Magoffin County to Prestonsburg in Floyd County.
The final segment is the longest and last of six project segments to go to construction on the 45-mile, billion-dollar Mountain Parkway Expansion. Multiple new bridges over waterways and existing roads will be constructed, along with a modern roundabout at the entrance of the parkway in Prestonsburg.
Once completed, the expansion will complete a continuous 400-mile high-speed corridor from Pikeville to Paducah.
HAROLD, Ky. (WMDJ) - One person has died after shots were fired Monday morning during a standoff in Harold.
According to Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt, the suspect, Henry Foster, 33, of Raven, Virginia, was shot during the incident, which began after 8 a.m. outside the Dollar General in the parking lot.
When troopers arrived, Foster was in possession of a firearm, threatening self-harm. Efforts to de-escalate the situation came to an end just before 10 a.m. when a trooper fired his gun, striking Foster.
Foster was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheriff Hunt provided details that Foster was involved in an accident late Sunday night on KY Route 1426 just behind the Dollar General, and fled the scene on foot, leaving a passenger behind who was injured. The female passenger was taken to a local hospital.
Foster was seen in the parking lot of Dollar General this morning, prompting a response by Kentucky State Police, which led to the two-hour standoff.
No one else was injured and no law enforcement were injured.
Kentucky State Police is handling the investigation.
TEABERRY, Ky. (WMDJ) – A man has died following a motorcycle crash in Floyd County.
According to Kentucky State Police, Kyle Hall, was operating a 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when it struck a concrete culvert on KY Route 979 in Teaberry on Thursday after 3 p.m. A passenger was transported to a nearby medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries.
Hall was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Floyd County Coroner’s Office.
The collision remains under investigation by Trooper Keithan Hamilton.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Johnson County man has been sentenced to 13-years in prison in connection to the 2023 deaths of two Prestonsburg High School students.
Marcus Logan Auxier, 23, of Paintsville, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty on two counts of vehicular manslaughter and first-degree assault.
Floyd Circuit Judge Johnny Ray Harris ruled that Auxier must serve 85-percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Auxier was driving under the influence when he crashed his vehicle on KY Route 680 in Branham’s Creek in July 2023, killing 16-year-old Kendra J. Moreno and 13-year-old McKenna Barnett.
ABINGDON, Va. (WMDJ) – Food City officials presented a check of $1,034 to Pikeville Elementary School as part of the Food City School Bucks program.
The program awards $800,000 in contributions to more than a thousand area schools. Since the program’s inception, Food City has awarded nearly $23 million to participating schools.
The 2025-2026 School Bucks program begins September 3, 2025 and continues through May 5, 2026. For every $1 customers spend using their Food City ValuCard, their designated school will receive 1 School Buck point.
PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – Plans to expand the historic Sipp Theatre have taken a step forward.
The city of Paintsville is in negotiations to purchase the old Cox Department Store building after a resolution was approved by the city council during a meeting on Monday.
Operations and venue space of the Sipp Theatre would occupy the additional space, expanding the theatre, which opened in 1932.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Floyd District Judge Tyler Green has denied a motion for bond reduction of one of the two teenagers accused of shooting at traffic along U.S. 23 earlier this month.
Westin Harris, 19, of Allen, was arraigned on Monday, where his attorney waived his right to a preliminary hearing and filed a motion for reduction of his $100,000 full cash bond.
On Tuesday, Judge Green cited that this is the third time Harris has stood before a court accused of criminal activity in less than a year.
Prosecutors say Harris could potentially face upgraded charges after pleading not guilty to four counts of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
Authorities say Harris was not only the driver of the vehicle when the shooting took place on August 1st, but also participated in shooting at on-coming traffic, along with an unnamed 17-year-old juvenile, who’s also being held at this time.
County Attorney Keith Bartley indicated that Harris was arrested nine days before the shooting incident for alcohol intoxication in Johnson County and is awaiting a court date.
Harris remains lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center. His case is expected to be heard by a grand jury in the coming days.
IVEL, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Floyd County man accused of striking his wife and leaving her unconscious will have his case sent to a grand jury.
Kentucky State Police say James Chadrick Burchett, 41, of Ivel, accused his wife of cheating on him, while biting, striking and choking her after holding a knife to her throat on July 23rd.
Burchett has been formally charged with second-degree assault, first-degree strangulation, and unlawful imprisonment.
Judge Tyler Green found probable cause to refer the case to a grand jury and has denied a motion to reduce his bond.
***UPDATE*** According to Prestonsburg City Police, Westin Harris turned himself over to authorities early Friday morning. Harris will be lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center, facing charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
Original story: Thursday, August 7th...
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – There’s been a new development involving the shooting incident that occurred along U.S. 23 at Bull Creek Trade Center last week.
Prestonsburg City Police have now charged Westin Harris, 19, of Allen, with felony counts of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief, after discovering, “additional substantial evidence,” implicating Harris of the crime.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested a 17-year-old juvenile, who according to Harris, was the shooter while Harris was the driver of the getaway vehicle.
According to the investigation, Harris and the juvenile were parked at Bull Creek Trade Center with the juvenile remarking he could, “shoot the tires” out of on-coming traffic. Harris initially told authorities he had no prior knowledge that his friend was going to shoot at vehicles. A total of four vehicles reported damage from the shots.
The juvenile is currently lodged in the Breathitt County Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Today, warrants for the arrest of Harris were issued, but authorities have been unable to locate him. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of Harris, you are urged to contact Prestonsburg City Police at 886-1010.
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – A new bear sculpture honors the memory of two Pikeville Police officers.
The new “Buster Bear” was unveiled this week by city officials and the Pikeville Main Street Program, honoring the lives of Officer Scotty Hamilton, who was killed in the line of duty in 2018, and former Police Chief Eugene “Buster” Edmonds, who died on May 25th.
The bear is outfitted in a police uniform, with badge number 111 in honor of Hamilton.
You can see the bear next to the city police department.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Prestonsburg City Police have arrested a 17-year old male in connection with a shooting incident at the Bull Creek Trade Center last Friday.
Four vehicles traveling on U.S. 23 late Friday night were damaged by gunfire.
The juvenile was identified with help from 19-year-old Westin Harris of Allen, who admitted to driving the gray Toyota Tacoma involved, but denied knowing of the plan to fire at vehicles. The juvenile now faces four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief.
The teenager is being held at the Breathitt County Regional Juvenile Detention Center. It’s expected that prosecutors intend to seek adult charges. The case will be presented to a grand jury, which will also decide if additional charges are warranted.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Prestonsburg City Police are investigating a shooting occurrence on U.S. 23 last Friday night in what they’re calling, “an isolated incident.”
The incident happened at the construction zone near the Bull Creek Trade Center.
911 received two different calls from drivers reporting they each had been shot at while driving through the zone. Police canvassed the area and failed to find any leads.
Since the incident occurred more complaints have been filed by motorist traveling the same area during the twenty-minute span Friday night. Investigators have gathered multiple angles of video surveillance showing a possible shooting suspect’s vehicle.
No one was hurt. Prestonsburg Police say they expect a felony arrest in the coming days. Authorities will have a greater presence in the construction zone over the next few days. If anyone has any information, you’re urged to contact police at 886-1010.
KNOTT COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) – ‘America’s Got Talent’ artist Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns will headline the Knott County Fall Horse Trail Ride October 2nd through the 5th.
Sundy Best will headline Friday night’s entertainment lineup.
Admission is $30. Kids 12-and-under get in free. The event will be held at the Mine Made Adventure Park.
Visit the Knott County Tourism Facebook page for more details.
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Customers with Big Sandy RECC could feel the pinch of another rate increase.
If approved, it would be the second increase of 2025.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative, which supplies electricity to Big Sandy RECC, has requested a 7.5 percent increase to its wholesale rate, which would raise customer bills another $6 on average.
Big Sandy RECC members have already experienced a rate hike of 12.8 percent this year.
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