Magistrate Staples arrested, indicted on drug charges
Magistrate Jamie Staples was among those arrested and indicted in a recent drug bust. On Sept. 7, elements of the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with a Kentucky State Police drug eradication task force and helicopter discovered and seized a large plot of marijuana near Andyville on land owned by James (Ralph) Staples, 64. Magistrate Staples was among several individuals discovered in a trailer on that site. A search of the premises was conducted and evidence gathered having a street value of over $600,000 dollars. An irrigation system was discovered on that premises and more evidence was found in an adjacent barn. The Staples denied any knowledge of this to investigators. Subsequent to this incident, Magistrate Staples was charged with cultivating marijuana, five or more plants and tampering with physical evidence.
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109 Board returns to daytime garbage pickup
Chairman Bim Wardrip gaveled a special called meeting of the Meade County Solid Waste & Recycle (MCSW&R) board into session Oct. 3. Members present included Jim Harris, Heber Burchett and Shannon Loose. Board members Packy Vessells and Mark Hubbard were unable to attend. Magistrate Chism attended to observe. The agenda included six items, first among them a discussion to return garbage collection to a daytime pickup schedule.
Riverport ready to move forward
Riverport Authority chairman Don Bewley announced at the beginning of the regular monthly meeting Oct. 3 that the last piece had fallen into place. The Corps of Engineers permit had been approved. “We’re in a position now to build a riverport,” said Bewley. This permit, said Bewley, was the last element needed before the Authority could proceed unimpeded with pursuing funding in the form of grants and loans and commencing construction of the Meade County Riverport. Bewley stated his appreciation for the hard work of all parties involved and expressed his hopes for the future success of the project. “Now it’s time to build the most efficient facility we can and get operating,” he said.
109 Board and Fiscal Court connect
The Meade County Solid Waste & Recycle (MCSW&R) liaison committee, consisting of 109 Board members Mark Hubbard, Shannon Loose, and Heber Burchett met, Oct. 5 with Magistrates Herbie Chism and Harold Davidson to discuss fiscal and operational matters. 109 Board Chairman Bim Wardrip attended as an observer.
Fiscal Court conducts special called meeting
On Oct. 5, Judge Executive William Haynes called a special meeting of Fiscal Court and conducted a special working session. Magistrates Jamie Staples, Don Callecod and Kent Allen were unable to attend. Special meeting agenda items included action pursuant to a variance request and action relating to hunting on leased crop land on the recently acquired 550 acres of industrial land near the river. No objections were made to the variance request, allowing construction of a building within 10 feet of a county park. The hunting issue, however, was contentious.
Controversy over magistrates’ training hours investigated; all found to be in order
At the September Fiscal Court meeting, the training hours completed by some of our magistrates was questioned by a Meade County citizen in attendance at the meeting as well as Magistrates Callecod and Padgett.
