News from July
10, 2003 issue
Jailer
Gilland faces shooting charge
Crittenden County Jailer Jerry Gilland is charged with firing
a handgun at his daughter's boyfriend Monday night. Gilland, who
was not immediately arrested after the incident, was charged with
wanton endangerment Tuesday and lodged in Crittenden County Jail.
No bond had been as of late Tuesday.
Police say Gilland went to 209 Creek Street about 11:30 p.m.,
Monday where he confronted David Gipson, 38, of Marion. Gilland
allegedly fired one shot from a small-caliber, semi-automatic
handgun at Gipson, who was not injured.
Gilland already was facing a felony and misdemeanor charge in
Crittenden District Court following a state police investigation
last year which resulted in charges that he profited on public
funds.
West Nile Virus
found in local bird
A bird found dead in Crittenden County June 30 has tested positive
for West Nile Virus.
Greg Hodge, senior health environmentalist in Crittenden County,
said the cardinal was one of two dead birds brought to the local
health department for testing.
Hodge said several other birds earlier this summer tested negative
for the virus, which is transmitted through mosquito bites.
"Since we found a positive bird in Crittenden County, we
know the virus is here so we won't accept any more (for testing),"
Hodge said.
Hodge refused to release the name of the man who discovered the
bird or give his address. Hodge described the location of the
infected bird as coming from the west central part of the county,
outside the city limits.
Hodge said the man did not report having symptoms of West Nile
Virus, which include flu-like symptoms such as fever and body
aches.
"We knew West Nile was in the area last year and that it
probably was here again this year.
"It's not a major health threat to healthy people,"
Hodge said. "Someone with a compromised immune system or
someone who has a tremendous amount of mosquito bites would be
more likely to get sick.
"I tell people to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, not to
be out when mosquitoes are active and to use mosquito repellent."
Constable pleads
guilty to bootlegging
The Crittenden County constable charged with bootlegging earlier
this year pleaded guilty in Crittenden District Court July 1.
James D. "Jimmy" Binkley, 54, was sentenced to 12 months
in jail for trafficking alcohol in a dry territory. Binkley will
be required to serve 30 days of that sentence, as well as complete
an in-house alcohol rehabilitation program. As part of his sentence,
Binkley was required to resign as constable from District 5.
Police in April executed a search warrant and discovered two operating
moonshine stills, several cases of beer and bottles of liquor
at Binkley's home on Weldon Road.
County Judge-Executive Pippi Hardin said Tuesday that he plans
to offer the constable's position to Mike Stone. Stone ran against
Binkley in the constables race last November. As a write-in candidate,
Stone garnered 82 votes, but Binkley, whose name was on the ballot,
got 263.
Binkley also ran an unsuccessful campaign for sheriff several
years ago.
Additionally last week, Binkley pleaded guilty to seven other
charges, including DUI, stemming from his March arrest by a Marion
Police Officer.
District Judge Rene Williams authorized the release of $751 in
cash that police confiscated from Binkley's home at the time of
his arrest on bootlegging charges. That money will not be returned
to him. Instead, it will go into the Crittenden County Sheriff's
Drug Fund.
The moonshine still confiscated at Binkley's home is now property
of the Kentucky State Police, court records show.
Trooper Brent White said they will either be destroyed or donated
to the Crittenden County Historical Museum as Binkley suggested
upon his arrest.