News from April 29, 2003 issue


Hargis case going to Grand Jury
A Crittenden County judge has found probable cause to send the felony criminal case against suspended Superintendent Fredericka Hargis to the Grand Jury which will meet June 1.

Hargis is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment for allegedly running over the foot of a woman in a Marion beauty shop parking lot on Feb. 19.

Hargis appeared in Crittenden District Court Wednesday morning with attorney Allen Holbrook of Owensboro at her side. During the preliminary hearing, the court heard testimony from Hargis, her accuser Tracy Rozwalka and Joyce Curtis, a witness to the confrontation. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if there is probable cause for moving forward with the case. It is now the responsibility of the Grand Jury to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial in Circuit Court.

Rozwalka, in her testimony Wednesday, said she was at the The Body Shoppe with her friend Curtis. Hargis said she went to the shop to inquire about tanning there. While there, Hargis testified that she overheard Curtis ask the shop's owner Angie Owen for a copy of a letter which had been circulating around town and that was highly critical of Hargis and other school officials.

Hargis left the establishment, but later returned and was in the parking lot writing down the license plate number from Rozwalka's van. Rozwalka said in court that she confronted Hargis about what she was doing. Hargis testified that she was indeed writing down the license number in an attempt to determine through her own investigation the author of the critical letter, which she said contained "libelous information."

Rozwalka, who was recovering from hip replacement surgery, said she was leaning against Hargis' sports car and when the verbal confrontation became heated, Hargis sped off, running over Rozwalka's foot. Rozwalka was treated at Crittenden Hospital. Hargis admitted on the stand that she left the parking lot in a hurry, because she felt threatened by remarks made by Curtis, who had come out of the beauty shop to also see what was going on.

After more than an hour of testimony, District Judge Rene Williams cited court protocol in determining probable cause and sending the case on to the Grand Jury despite Holbrook's argument that the charge should at least be reduced.

"The court's position is that when one person is in a vehicle and a person is standing around it, and it's operated in a manner that it could cause risk of serious physical injury or death, it establishes probable cause," the judge said.

Judge Williams, in finding reason to send the case on to the Grand Jury, said that Hargis by her own testimony admitted to leaving the scene in a hurry.

The case is being prosecuted by McCracken County Attorney Dan Boaz. Crittenden County Attorney Alan Stout has recused himself from the proceedings.

Hargis has been suspended from her job as school superintendent since five days following the beauty shop incident. The board has made public its plans to move forward with a hearing, seeking to permanently remove her from the position.


Hardin will resign as judge-executive
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Pippi Hardin has accepted a job offer from the State of Kentucky and will resign his elected county office within a matter of days.

Hardin, 54, said Wednesday morning that he could not discuss details of the job he will be taking with the state, but indicated that it would be starting very soon.

Over the last couple of months, there have been reports that Hardin would be taking a job with the state parks department. Yet this week, Hardin wouldn't confirm in what division of state government he'd be working.

"I just can't disclose any of the details right now. By the end of the week, I think I can talk more about what I will be doing," said the two-term judge.

Hardin, a state trooper for 22 years, was first elected judge in 1998. He won a close election in November 2002 and his current term would not have expired until Dec. 31, 2006.

Current City Councilman Fred Brown is expected to replace Hardin as judge-executive on an interim basis. Gov. Ernie Fletcher will make the official appointment, perhaps later this week or early next week. The local Republican Party has already submitted Brown's name as the individual it recommends to fill the judge's seat until a special election can be held in November. Brown has indicated that he will seek election to the unexpired term this fall.

"This has been a very long process and it's been a very difficult decision to make," said Hardin about giving up the judgeship. "I love being county judge. Like any other job it has its ups and downs, but I think right now we have a lot of things going in the right direction."
Hardin said plans for a four-lane highway to I-24 or the West Kentucky Parkway, plans for a coal mine in the northeast part of the county, airport improvements and continued water line projects are all indicators of a better future for Crittenden County.

"I've already told (Republican) party leaders that I will continue to help if they need me," Hardin said. "I would like to remain active in the plans for the five-county industrial park in Lyon County and working with the company from Mobile, Ala., on the riverport project."