WQXE News

The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is touting a bust that turned up more than 150 marijuana plants. 

According to a post on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page, on March 14 a deputy responded to a tip of a marijuana cultivation/growing operation in the Meade County area. When the deputy arrived at the residence to execute a search warrant, they “found a full operation inside the residence and barn.” All items were seized as evidence in the case, which resulted in one arrest.

“It basically came from an anonymous tip, and that’s how important these tips are for everybody to work together in our community to solve these issues to keep our community safe,” said Meade County Sheriff Phillip Wimpee. “That’s our biggest thing.”

Wimpee said the bust is an example of the importance anonymous tips can play in investigations.

“You can keep these tips anonymous, and this is what’s saving our kids on the street,” Wimpee said. “This is what’s saving these deaths in our county. We have to put a stop to it, and this is one of the avenues we can take is through the drug tip line. This was a really good, a really big bust. It’s no telling how many lives it saved.”

You can leave an anonymous tip with the Meade County Sheriff’s Office through their HOPE line at 270-422-4673.

Thursday marks the first day of spring, and as the season changes and you start your spring cleaning make sure you are keeping your home and property fire safe.

Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says check with your local jurisdictions on outdoor burning for limbs, and limit what you are burning to what is allowed.

“Regardless of where you are, the state law prohibits burning garbage, tires, buildings, and stuff like that, so you have to remember what you’re burning,” Crane said. “Basically, branches, brush, and stuff like that is about all that you can burn.”

Crane says if you are looking to get rid of leaves and limbs, your city likely has options for you.

“The cities have different limb and leaf pickup times, and so they’ll do that stuff for you so you don’t have to try to figure out how to get rid of it, so just check with them,” Crane said.

If you do decide to conduct a controlled burn, let the authorities know ahead of time.

“Make sure that you’re calling the local dispatch in the unincorporated areas,” Crane said. “That way we’re aware of what’s going on. The local fire department, wherever it is, is able to be aware that there’s a control burn.”

Monitor wind conditions before conducting a controlled burn, and never leave a fire unattended.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will be conducting controlled burns as part of their regular management of the state’s wildlife management areas. 

KFW will be working with local officials in a number of Kentucky counties on prescribed fires at wildlife management areas in March and April. These controlled burns are part of regular habitat management efforts and help restore the health of local ecosystems that depend on fire.

KFW says the burns will take place over one or two-day periods as local activity and weather conditions permit. Fire officials will take wind, air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and other factors into consideration when conducting the burns. Signs will be posted and gates will be closed at sites, and adjacent landowners will be notified.

Nearby properties where prescribed fires are expected to be conducted include Barren River Lake, Yellowbank, Green River Lake, and Rolling Fork WMAs.

KFW says the management goals of the fires are to increase nut and soft fruit production and to enhance the regeneration of oaks. Learn more about KFW land management at fw.ky.gov.