August 23 , 2007

Local flint-napper receives honor
by David J. Griffin, Times Reporter
Ever wonder what life in Kentucky was like a thousand years ago? Ever considered the difficulty of making arrowhead points like those of Native Americans in this area? Local member of the USDA Forest Service Johnny Faulkner will explain all of this if given the time.
Faulkner was recently chosen as the 2007 Interpreter of the Year by the Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service. The area includes most of the Southern Daniel Boone National Forest. Faulkner’s recognition is the result of his extensive leadership in the planning of the Living Archaeology Weekend held annually in the Red River Gorge.
His interest and passion for archaeology of the gorge area led to the development of the special weekend. This year, the event will be held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 21 and 22.
“The success of this event is a direct result of Johnny’s long interest in primitive technologies and the protection of cultural resources in the Red River Gorge,” said Chris Jenkins, forest archaeologist from the Winchester Office of the Forest Service. Jenkins also added, “Johnny has been one of the main demonstrators for the event in past years, but now he coordinates the event.”
Over time, Faulkner has perfected the primitive art of flint-knapping – the making of stone arrows and spear points – and other primitive skills commonly utilized by Native Americans in Kentucky. “Kentucky is blessed with large deposits of flint. Knapping of flint is much like working with wood; you can find places in the stone much like knots. This is a growing art; there are more knappers in the U.S. than there has ever been since pre-historic times,” he explained.
In addition to holding demonstrations in all of the county schools surrounding Powell, Faulkner also is frequently asked to show his art at outdoor clubs, such as bow hunters and primitive rifle clubs.
“I have always been a nature enthusiast,” he said. “Larry Meadows has been a large influence on my career. He has been one of my mentors and has been an inspiration to me,” Faulkner said.Some of his pieces are on display at the Red River Museum in Clay City.
In the fall of 2004, the Daniel Boone National Forest opened the 5,000 square foot Gladie Cultural and Environmental Learning Center in the front yard of the location where the Living Archeology Weekend is held. Faulkner’s primitive technology skills helped the designers populate these important exhibits with exact replicas of stone tools, wooden implements, and pottery vessels and shards that have been found in archeological sites in the Gorge.
“I think today’s society needs to recognize and respect the heritage of those that were here before us. There is so much that we can learn from the past, which is why I feel so strongly about preserving the cultural resources in the Red River Gorge,” said Faulkner.
Faulkner is a native of Powell County and lives on South Fork. He has been with the U.S. Forest Service for nearly 30 years and has been making flint tools for the past twenty years.

Summertime heats up as police make several more drug arrests
by James Cook, Times Editor
The dog days of summer may slow some people down. But the last week has been quite active for local police. Drug arrests, checkpoints and car accidents netted several arrests in and around the Clay City area.
Police from Clay City, Stanton, the Powell County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky State Police acting on a search warrant, raided the Twelfth Street home of Lester Crase, Jr. Upon entering the residence police found approximately a quarter ounce of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The midnight raid on Crase was not his first run in with law enforcement.
Crase, 47 of Clay City, has been before the courts on at least three other charges of trafficking in a controlled substance dating back to 2003. In most of those cases the charges were amended down or dismissed. In 2006, Crase had a case dismissed in which he was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana over eight ounces but under five pounds. In another, as recently as this past April, he entered into a diversion program for three years.
Crase is currently being held on two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school. Crase’s residence is located near two day care centers, one which teaches a curriculum to children. Crase is currently incarcerated in the Powell County Detention Center under a $10,000 cash bond.
Police also had to make a couple of accident related arrests as well. On Aug. 11, Clay City Police Sgt. James Kirk and Powell EMS crews responded to an accident on Skinner’s Branch Road. At the scene, they found Lisa Combs and her three year old daughter. Combs suffered a broken leg in the accident and was taken to Clark Regional Medical Center. She was charged with not having insurance on the vehicle. The child was not injured.
But it was Baker that faced the brunt of the accident. Though not injured, Baker, 25 of Clay City, was arrested at his home and charged with DUI, assault second degree, wanton endangerment and leaving the scene of the accident. “It was kind of funny, his own daughter told on him,” Sgt. Kirk said. “She told me that ‘Daddy was turning the wheel’.” Baker is still in jail under a $2,500 cash bond.
About 7:30 a.m. last Thursday morning Stanton and Clay City Police, along with Powell EMS and Clay City Fire personnel responded to an accident on Main Street in Clay City. Sherry Duff, 35 of Clay City, and her husband, Anthony Duff were traveling north on Main Street, just past the intersection with Hardwick’s Creek Road, when they apparently lost control of their vehicle. Their car came across into the oncoming lane, then into a couple of yards, traveled down the sidewalk and came to rest in a yard at the intersection of Main and Tenth Street. Despite hitting a sign post that caused roof damage to the vehicle and the heavy morning school traffic, no on e was serious injured. Both of the Duff’s were treated at the scene, but refused to be transported to the hospital. However, both ended up being arrested at the scene.
Sherry Duff, who appeared unstable at the scene, gave officers and bystanders various stories as to what caused the accident. She claimed that she had not slept for several days and fell asleep at the wheel, then that a dog ran out in front of her and finally that she faded off the roadway and struck a tree, then came across the road. After failing two field sobriety tests at the scene by different officers and them finding drug paraphernalia, she was charged with DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was lodged in jail but was able to post her $500 bond.
Her husband was not as fortunate. After being advised by police at the scene that his license was suspended and he told them he would get a ride home, decided instead to get behind the wheel and try to drive the car home. Police arrested him at the scene and charged him with driving on a suspended license and DUI second. He is still in the Powell County Detention Center under a $1,000 cash bond. Both Duffs’ have had similar charges before, the most recent before last Thursday was in June. Both are waiting for court dates on the June infractions.
Governor Fletcher to sign Baze's death warrant
by James Cook, Times Editor

The appeals are over. Every avenue that can be taken in the state and federal courts has been “exhausted,” according to Kentucky’s Attorney General Greg Stumbo. That is why last week he asked Governor Ernie Fletcher to set an execution date for convicted cop killer, Ralph Baze. Stumbo has requested a Sept. 18 execution for Baze.
Late Tuesday, Gov. Fletcher's office announced that he intends to sign the death warrant. This would be the third time that a death warrant has been signed for Baze now that Fletcher has agreed.
In 1998 and in 2001, then Governor Paul Patton signed warrants on Baze.
Baze was convicted for the 1992 slayings of Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett and Deputy Arthur Briscoe. Bennett and Briscoe were attempting to serve felony fugitive warrants on Baze at his home off Little Hardwick’s Creek in Clay City. One of those warrants was for assaulting a Toledo police officer.
Baze tried to claim self defense, testifying that he felt he was in danger, but a Rowan County jury did not agree. The evidence showed that Baze shot Bennett in the back three times and that he shot Briscoe in the back twice then shot him execution style while he laid face down on the ground. The jury found Baze guilty and the death penalty was imposed.
The legal team for Baze, according to press reports, filed a four page response to Stumbo’s request late last week. According to the Department of Public Advocacy “. . . the Attorney General makes it sound as though no litigation is pending. This is not accurate.” The letter went on to say that they believed that Stumbo was trying to “circumvent the legal process.” The U.S. Supreme Court still has not made their decisions on current lethal injection suits before them.
David Fleenor, the governor’s general counsel, issued a statement to press organizations saying that "justice demands a judicial process that affords the accused a fair and impartial hearing. Baze received that" The statement ends by stating "Imposition of the death penalty is therefore appropriate." Fleenor syas that the governor will sign the warrant on Wednesday. Baze is currently involved in two lawsuits about the constitutionality of the method used to enforce Kentucky’s death penalty. Baze, one of 40 inmates currently sitting on Kentucky’s Death Row, has claimed that lethal injection since it is not administered by a doctor violates federal law. He also claims, in another lawsuit, that lethal injection is a form of “cruel and unusual punishment.” Last November the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that lethal injection was constitutional, clearing the way for executions to resume in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied certiorial review of Baze’s case on five different occasions.