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LaRue County man arrested on sexual abuse charges

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A multi-state law enforcement effort contributed to the arrest of a LaRue County man.

Alan “Brent” French of Upton was arrested Friday on an outstanding warrant for first degree Incest, first degree Sodomy, and first degree Sexual Abuse.

The Hodgenville Police Department says their officers were made aware of allegations of a possible abuse case in January involving the 59-year-old French and two juvenile females, a 15-year-old and a 5-year-old. Charges were filed against French after it was determined one of the victims was assaulted in LaRue county.

“We received a complaint of a possible sexual assault of a child,” said Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson. “When we looked into it, there were actually four victims, two of which have since moved to Caldwell, Idaho, so what we did was we contacted the Caldwell Police Department and they were gracious enough to assist us in that investigation, interviewed the children out there. We interviewed the two children that still live here in Kentucky.”

The HPD determined that one incident happened in LaRue County and believe three more occurred in Hardin County.

“So we reached out to Kentucky State Police, and we are working with them in order to take care of the issues that happened in Hardin County, and we’re taking care of the issues that happened in LaRue,” Richardson said.

French was lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center, and is scheduled to make an initial appearance in District Court on February 28.

Campbellsville University student dies after being found unresponsive in dorm room; student arrested on Murder charge

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A Campbellsville University student is dead after being found unresponsive in his dorm room early Saturday morning, and a fellow student is in custody.

The Campbellsville Police Department says that a male student, later identified as 18-year-old Josiah M. Kilman, was found unresponsive in his dorm room at around 12:43 a.m. Saturday, and was pronounced dead by the Taylor County Coroner’s Office after being transferred to Taylor Regional Hospital. The CPD says Kilman was transferred to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for an autopsy.

The CPD stated an arrest warrant was issued for 21-year-old Charles E. Escalera for Murder, and officers were searching for him in the Campbellsville area. Campbellsville University issued a lockdown of campus as a result of the search.

The CPD says at approximately 5:15 p.m. Saturday the Green County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police were alerted to a suspicious male in a barn near the Green and Taylor County line. Escalera was located and taken into custody without incident.

Escalera is currently lodged in the Taylor County Detention Center on charges of Murder and second degree Burglary. He is being held on a $2 million full cash bond.

Elizabethtown High School senior receives appointment to U.S. Military Academy

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Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie is himself a graduate of West Point, so he said it was an honor to present Elizabethtown High School Senior Sydney Braeger Friday with her official appointment to the United States Military Academy.

Braeger said she is grateful for the opportunity and grateful for the people in her life.

“I wouldn’t be where I am right now without support from the school, support from my friends, and support from my family, and I’m so thankful,” Braeger said. “I’m so excited, but I could not be here if it wasn’t for everybody in this room, so thank you.”

Braeger said it wasn’t until she was recruited by West Point for swimming that she began to seriously consider the military academy.

“I’ve grown up around the Army, but I didn’t see myself in that role, and I realized that the service academy was somewhere where I could be around like-minded individuals, like-minded kids my age, young leaders, and people who are driven, and I get to swim while I’m there,” Braeger said.

Both of Nraeger’s parents, Ken and Dena, are West Point grads, and Braeger was actually born at West Point. Dena Braeger said as a mother she would have been happy for her daughter to go somewhere closer to home, but she said the opportunity is an exciting one

“When she decided to go to West Point, it was really a surprise to us as well,” Braeger said. “Obviously we’re really excited, and proud. As parents, it’s so different. As a woman I’m so excited for her because I know what lies ahead in the opportunities, and it is just a place like no other. It’s a challenge like nothing else.”

An appointment to the military academy requires a nomination from a member of congress. Guthrie said his appointment came in the mail while he was working at a convenience store, so he is happy to provide a little more ceremony for today’s cadets.

Area pharmacy owner asks state legislators to back bill he says protects customers and small town pharmacies

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Apothecare Pharmacies owner Gary Hamm said he thought it was important for customers and consumers alike that he and members of his team reach out to area representatives and senators during Pharmacists Day in Frankfort last week to discuss State Bill 188, which relates to patient access to pharmacy benefits.

Hamm said the bill’s main focus is to keep people from being taken advantage of.

“There’s a lot of patient steering that’s going on,” Hamm said. “For example, if you come to us, you may pay one price or pay a copay, you may be able to go to another pharmacy and get it at no charge, or vice versa, or you could only get the best deal if you go mail order, which those mail order pharmacies many times are owned by the insurance company.”

Hamm also said the bill creates a more even playing field, which will keep shops like Apothecare Pharmacies more competitive.

“The main thing is a lot of local pharmacies are having to close for poor reimbursement,” Hamm said. “For example, we have a store here in Vine Grove. That’s the only pharmacy in this town. So a lot of people love their hometown pharmacies. We feel like we give better service, better customer care, and if they want to come to us, they should have the right to.”

Hamm said the members of the Kentucky General Assembly he spoke with were receptive to his team’s concerns, and ultimately understand that the bill puts more decision making in hand of the customer.

“I had a lady say this the other day,” Hamm said. “She comes to us because she prefers us, but she has to pay a little bit more, so people can go where they choose, that kind of freedom of choice and pay the same price. If they want to go mail order, they can, it’s not limiting that. If they want to go to a chain pharmacy, they can, and if they want to come to an independent pharmacy, they can.”

The bill will go up for discussion in the Kentucky Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee.