Police shoot armed robbery suspect
Voice Staff Report
A Pine Knot man has been shot and wounded by police officers after he became the subject of an investigation into an armed robbery.
Officials with the Kentucky State Police are saying that Mickey Shane Stephens, 31, is being treated at the University of Kentucky Medical Center for gunshot wounds after pulling a gun on police officers late Christmas Eve.
Around 10 p.m. that evening, the McCreary County 911 Center received a report of an armed robbery at a residence on Cal Hill Road. Officers were given a description of the subject and his vehicle and began a search.
Officers located Stephens on Osborne Creek Road (KY 1470), less than a mile from the roads junction with KY 92 and made a traffic stop. At that point, officers say Stephens fled his vehicle, pulled a gun on officers and was shot by KSP Trooper Tony Dingess and Sheriff Gus Skinner.
Skinner said he, several deputies and two KSP Troopers began the search for Stephens late Monday, after receiving report of the armed robbery. Reportedly, that robbery occurred at the Cal Hill home of Stephens’ parents and they notified 911, Skinner said.
Skinner said sometime after the robbery incident occurred, Stephens traveled to Granny Holt Knob were he picked up Orville Lee Daugherty. Skinner said information on his whereabouts was received from the general public who heard the vehicle description over the scanner and were calling 911.
Sheriff’s Department Detective Bob West was the first to locate Stephens on Osborne Creek Road and initiated a traffic stop. Within a matter of minutes, other officers, including Skinner and Dingess arrived on scene.
According to the KSP report issued Tuesday afternoon, Stephens then fled his vehicle on foot and, armed with a handgun, came toward Dingess and Skinner. Officers told Stephens to drop the weapon, but he did not comply with the demands.
“Several verbal commands were given to him to disarm himself at which time the suspect pointed the handgun at officers,” said Trooper Don Trosper, KSP Public Affairs Officer.
The officers then opened fire.
“He was heading toward us with a gun and us hollering at him to drop the weapon,” Skinner said. “But, he refused to drop the gun.”
Skinner said, to his knowledge, Stephens was struck three times by the gunfire with two entry/exit wounds in the leg and a gunshot wound in the upper back shoulder.
Stephens was treated by paramedics on scene and then airlifted to UK for medical treatment. He is listed in fair condition.
Skinner added that Daugherty was questioned by officers, but was not arrested.
Stephens is also being investigated for a possible connection in an attempted robbery at a game room in Pine Knot and at least one other armed robbery that occurred in the last several days. Skinner said Stephens does fit the description of the suspect in the attempted robbery at the game room, but that investigation is continuing.
KSP officials say Stephens is currently being charged with five counts of first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer) and one count of possession of a controlled substance is pending. Other charges could be brought against Stephens as well, Skinner said as the investigation continues.
KSP Trooper Tony Dingess, a four-year veteran of the Kentucky State Police, will be placed on paid administrative leave following the investigation. It is standard operating procedure for officials to conduct an internal investigation anytime an officer is involved in such an incident. Skinner said KSP officials would also be reviewing his involvement in the incident as part of their standard review.
Trooper Dingess and Sheriff Skinner were assisted at the scene by Deputies Ryan Hughes, Bob West and Kenneth Shepherd Jr. and KSP Trooper Shaler Jones.
11 year old dies in car
accident
Voice Staff Report
This holiday season brought grief to the hearts of one local family after losing a loved one in a car accident Saturday morning.
11-year-old Kelsay Moore died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident that occurred as she was going Christmas shopping with her grandmother.
Authorities say Moore was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 66-year-old Rhoda Partin of Parkers Lake. The pair were traveling north on U.S. 27, reportedly to go shopping at Wal-Mart, one friend of the family told WKYT News.
Partin had just crossed the McCreary/Pulaski County line and was nearing Alpine Park when a southbound vehicle, driven by 68-year-old Stella Campbell, also of Parkers Lake, reportedly crossed the center line striking Partin’s vehicle.
Moore was treated at the scene by paramedics for her injuries and was being prepared to be airlifted for medical treatment. However, emergency personnel could not stabilize her for flight and transported her to the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. Pulaski County Coroner Richard New pronounced her dead upon arrival.
Both Partin and Campbell were transported to LCRH for medical care.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of the accident investigation and is being assisted by the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department. Emergency responders from both counties assisted at the scene.
Moore, of Parkers Lake is the daughter of Tammy Warman and Barry Moore. Funeral services were held at 6 p.m. Wednesday with burial taking place at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Keith Family Cemetery.
The McCreary County Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Kelsay Moore. A complete obituary is unavailable at press time and will be published in next week’s edition of The Voice.
Obituaries
Travis Burchfield
Travis Burchfield, age 85 years, 8 months, 15 days, of Strunk, Kentucky passed away Monday, December 17, 2007 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Funeral services were held Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 1:00 pm at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church with Bro. Norman Burke and Bro. Delmus Watson officiating. Burial was in the Josh Wilson Cemetery.
He was born April 2, 1922 in Norma, Tennessee to George Burchfield and Martha Lawson Burchfield. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant United Baptist Church, a lifetime member of the VFW, and a member and Master Mason with the Orie S. Ware Lodge. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a highly decorated WWII Veteran with the following awards, WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, AP Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars and one Bronze Arrow Head, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge from G.O. 42 HQ 6th Army, and a Bronze Star from G.O. 23rd HQ USAFFS 45, he also served two terms in the Civilian Conservation Corp. Before his retirement he was an auto mechanic and also worked for the U.S. Forest Service. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family.
Preceding him in death were his parents, a son, Garry Dean Burchfield, four brothers, Elmer, Dewey Lee, Ray, and Billy Burchfield, and a sister, Marie Burchfield.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Daugherty Burchfield, of Strunk, Kentucky, whom he married on December 27, 1946, two sons, David Burchfield and his wife, Diane, of Strunk, Kentucky, and Freddie Burchfield, of Winfield, Tennessee, a daughter, Donna Foster and her husband, Haskel, of Winfield, three brothers, Ralph Burchfield, of Grantis Pass, Oregon, Johnny Burchfield, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Roy Burchfield, of Bryceville, Tennessee, four sisters, Imogene Leab, of Lake City, Tennessee, Georgie Seiber, of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, Lillian Burge, of Carryville, Tennessee, and Frankie Nelson, of Lafollette, Tennessee, his grandchildren, Michael David and Mikki Burchfield, Treresa and Tony White, and Travis and Linda Crabtree, and his great grandchildren, Daniel Burchfield, Hannah Burchfield, Matthew White, Joshua White, Kassidy White, Kimberly Foster, and Autumn Davis.
Condolences may be emailed to the family at strunkfh@yahoo.com.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home served the family of Travis Burchfield.
Chestaline Waters
Chestaline Waters, age 79 years, Attica, Indiana formerly of McCreary County, Kentucky died December 16, 2007 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, North Dakota. Funeral services were held Friday, December 21, 2007 at McCreary County Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Whitehead and Bro.Donald Gregory officiating. Burial was in Waters Cemetery.
She was born at Grimsley, Tennessee on December 8, 1928 the daughter of the late Thomas Edward (Eddie) and Margaret Todd Stephens. She was retired from Radio Material Company and was a member of Ross Grove United Baptist Church.
Her husband, Pat Waters and her parents precede her in death. Margaret Elizabeth Waters and Ellen Kay Waters are the deceased daughters. The deceased brother is Frank Stephens and deceased sister is Nadine Slaven. Chance Grubbs is the deceased great grandson.
Survivors include her sister, Mescal Mathews, Strunk, Kentucky is the surviving Sister. She is survived by her children, Hubert Waters and wife, Judy; Landus Waters, Attica, Indiana and Patsy Wagner and husband, Larry, Larimore, North Dakota. Nine grandchildren twenty-six great grandchildren and one great great grandson survive. Five step great grandchildren survive.
McCreary County Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.
Edith Abbott
Edith Abbott, age 89 years, 2 months, and 27 days, of Somerset, Kentucky formerly of McCreary County, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2007 at her home.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Harvey Corder officiating. Burial followed in the McCreary Memorial Gardens.
She was born September 24, 1918 in Smithtown, Kentucky to Norman Owens and Zona Worley Owens. She worked in a defense plant in Detroit during the war and at the McCreary Manufacturing Company until her retirement. Edith was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Rock Baptist Church. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, and most of all caring for her family.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her first husband, Elbert Strunk, her second husband, Theo Abbott, an infant son, Morris Lee Strunk, and ten siblings.
Survivors include four daughters, Patricia Cole, of Plainfield, Indiana, Joanne and Darvin Perry, of Stearns, Kentucky, Pam and Buddy Wilson, of Whitley City, Kentucky, and Kathy and Rodney Perry, of Somerset, Kentucky, two stepchildren, Sondra and Robert Tucker, of Florence, Kentucky, and Dorman Abbott, of Loveland, Ohio, three living siblings, nine grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, thirteen great great grandchildren, and two grand dogs.
Condolences may be emailed to the family at strunkfh@yahoo.com.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home served the family of Edith Abbott.
Charles B. Pennycuff
Charles B. Pennycuff passed away November 19, 2007 in Pasadena, Texas. He was born August 24, 1925, in Stearns, Kentucky, to the union of Charlie Pennycuff and Grace Bramel. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, wife Venita Pennycuff and wife Doris Pennycuff. He is survived by two stepsons, Charles Brown and wife Doris of Texas, Rusty Wier and wife Cheryl of Texas; brother Kenneth A. Pennycuff and wife Donna, Reynoldsburg, Ohio; two sisters, Mary Ann Tucker of Riverdale, Georgia, and Susan Pennycuff, Nokesville, Virginia; as well as numerous step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Charles was a member of South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, a veteran of WWII and was proud to have served his country on the U.S.S. Washington in World War II. The family received friends from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 23, 2007, at Grand View Funeral Home in Pasadena, Texas, where a service was held at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Interment followed in the Grand View Memorial Park.
Earnest Edwin New
Earnest Edwin New, age 69, of Science Hill, Kentucky passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at the Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center in Somerset, Kentucky.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church located on Hwy. 1676, two miles West of Science Hill, Kentucky. The family will receive friends on Thursday after 4:00 p.m. at the Church. Norris-New Funeral Home of Burksville, Kentucky is in charge of funeral arrangements.
He was born in the Floyd Switch Community of Pulaski County, Kentucky on Wednesday, August 24, 1938, he was the son of Dellas Ewell and Sarah Ethel Nevels New. He was a farmer, mechanic, and lumber mill worker, and he was of the Baptist faith.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his grandparents, John Perry and Celia Denney New, Etna New, John Riley and Julie Owens Nevels, his sisters, Ruby Iva Dick and Clona Mae Wilson, a brother, Glenn Oliver New, five nieces, and a nephew.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Mark Christopher and Robin New, of Burkesville, Kentucky, his grandsons, Austin Mark and his wife, Kathlene New, of Camp Pendleton, California, Christopher Dellas New, of Orlando, Florida, a great granddaughter, Alyssa Nicole New, step grandchildren, Gretchen Claunch and Cameron Claunch, of Burkesville, Kentucky, his sisters and brother-in-law, Loretta and Earl Ritchie, of Science Hill, Betty and Howard Harper, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mary Katherine Dick, of Cincinnati, Barbara Sue and Perry Keller, of Cincinnati, a special niece, Linda Ritchie, of Science Hill, and a brother John New, of Eubank, Kentucky, his aunts, Cholma New and Alma New, both of Monticello, Kentucky.
Norris-New Funeral Home of Burkesville, Kentucky is in charge of the funeral arrangements of Earnest Edwin New.
This obituary information is furnished as a local courtesy of Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home.
