Michala Riggle Young People Making a Difference Louisville Korsiar Hospital

Fifth-grader raises more than $200,000 for autism research

What started as a $7.35 fund has turned into a local and national phenomenon.

After seeing improvement in her brother Evan’s autism symptoms following glutathione treatments, Michala Riggle, 11, was inspired to raise money to begin an autism research study at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Ky. Michala and her parents wanted to know if, like Evan, other children with autism could be helped with glutathione treatments.

By making and selling beaded bracelets and through private donations, Michala has raised more than $200,000 to allow physicians at Kosair Children’s Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine to begin an autism research study at Kosair Children’s Hospital.

In the past several months, Michala’s hard work and “You’ve Gotta Believe” motto have inspired a team of volunteers, affectionately called Michala’s “peeps,” to bead thousands of bracelets to sell at local art shows and other community events. A high school in Louisville stops classwork each week to bead for the “Beading to Beat Autism” effort, and Michala’s aunts have persuaded their co-workers to bead on their lunch breaks. Michala has enlisted the help of Beta clubs, church groups, family, friends and even strangers who have donated supplies to support the effort. Michala even persuaded her brother, Dawson, 8, to help make bracelets!

Michala’s new goal is to raise enough money to build an autism research and treatment center in Louisville to help autistic children like her brother Evan. Learn more about Michala’s story.

Donate or purchase Michala's beaded bracelets online or call (502) 629-KIDS.
(For $3 bracelets, please specify the quantity in the “For other donations” box on the donation form. Click “Purchase Michala's bracelets" now.)

Michala told her 8-year-old brother, Dawson , “You’ve gotta believe,” we can raise this money. To help, purchase a “Believe” pin.

Believe pins can also be purchased in the Louisville area at any Ginny’s Hallmark locations:

• 6233 Crestwood Station
  
  Crestwood, KY 40014



• 291 N Hubbards Lane
  
  Louisville, KY 40207



• 6801 Dixie Hwy
  
  Louisville, KY 40258



• 5009 Mud Lane
  
  Louisville, KY 40229

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KY Motorcyle Fatalities Reported

Three Motorcyclists Die on Kentucky Roadways Last Week (June 9 - June 15)

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Preliminary statistics* indicate that eighteen people died in sixteen separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, June 9 through Sunday, June 15, 2008. Twelve of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and seven of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Motor vehicle crashes occurred in Clark (2), Greenup, Harlan, Hopkins (4), Jefferson (2), Madison, Pulaski, and Shelby counties. Three of the crashes involved pedestrians and four involved the suspected use of alcohol.

A triple-fatality crash occurred June 9 in Hopkins county on KY 109. Meagan Gibbs was traveling south on KY 109 in a 2002 Ford F250 pickup truck. Penny Garrison was traveling north on KY 109 in a 1986 Ford Ranger. Ms. Gibbs' vehicle drifted into the northbound lane and struck the Ms. Garrison's vehicle head on. Penny Garrison, Jordan Duke, and Beverly Lopez were pronounced dead at the scene by the Hopkins County Coroner. Ethan Garrison was flown by Air Evac to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Meagan Gibbs and her child were transported by ambulance to Madisonville Regional Medical Center.

Three crashes involved motorcycles and occurred in Daviess, Taylor and Woodford counties. One of the victims was not wearing a helmet.

Through June 15, preliminary statistics* indicate that 330 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2008. This is 55 fewer than reported for this time period in 2007. Of the 260 motor vehicle fatalities, 166 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the 32 motorcycle fatalities, 18 were not wearing helmets. Seven people have been killed in ATV crashes and 6 of those were not wearing helmets. Thirty pedestrians have been killed. A total of 61 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas.

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Safe Kids Car Seat Checkups Louisville Ky and Lexington KY

Get your Child Safety Seat checked

Safe Kids in cooperation with Commonwealth Credit Union in Lexington will be sponsoring a Safe Kids Car Seat Checkup and Buckle Up event at 280 Meier Way today. The event is scheduled from 2 to 4 today.

Safe Kids in Louisville will be doing a similiar event next Monday, June 30.Sponsored by Texas Roadhouse at 6460 Dutchman's Parkway, the event runs from 6 Am to 7 Pm.

Charlie and Joyce Pinson, Kentucky Insurance Agents, first became aquainted with Safe Kids through their involvement with Kiwanis. The Pinsons participated in a Safe Kids event, where a carseat was given away and hours later the child who recieved it was involved in a serious accident. What could have happened if that child had not been in a Kiwanis Safe Kids carseat? We will never know, but surely that carseat was a blessing!

If you have kids who are in carseats, go have your installations checked. If you need a carseat check with the Lexington and Louisville Chapters of Safe Kids. Keep you kids safe!

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7000 Drivers Cited in Kentucky Click It or Ticket

KSP Writes Over 7,000 Seat Belt Citations During 'Click It or Ticket' Campaign

Date of News Release: 06/10/08

(Frankfort, KY) - The Kentucky State Police announced that as a result of its seatbelt enforcement efforts, 7,021 seat belt and 223 child restraint citations were issued to unrestrained motorists during the national 'Click It or Ticket' enforcement mobilization (May 19 – June 1, 2008). KSP joined other state and local law enforcement agencies who participated in 'Click It or Ticket' as part of a statewide effort to increase seat belt use among those identified as least likely to buckle up. The campaign includes the Memorial Day Holiday travel period which is one of the deadliest for motorists in the Commonwealth.

KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer was pleased with his agency's results in the statewide mobilization effort.

"Last year, there were 835 crashes in Kentucky during the Memorial Day weekend," said Brewer. "Eight people lost their lives and 355 were injured. Many of these fatalities and injuries might have been avoided if the drivers had buckled up, slowed down and avoided the use of drugs and alcohol. I applaud the efforts of our troopers during this campaign and their dedication to saving lives on Kentucky roadways."

Captain Tim Lucas, Commander for the Highway Safety Branch points out that, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), regular seat belt use remains the single most effective way to protect yourself and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. When worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent - and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans.

"Kentucky has a seat belt usage rate of 72 percent and even though we have improved from past years, it is still disturbing that some individuals refuse to buckle up - the citation numbers bear this out," said Lucas.

"We are hopeful that the numbers we achieve in 2008 will reflect that we are getting the message across to those who have cavalier attitudes when driving and less likely to buckle up," added Lucas.

In addition to the seat belt citations, KSP issued 6,333 speeding citations; 461 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests; 46,308 vehicle inspections; 434 suspended license violations; 2,029 failure to provide proof of insurance citations; 77 reckless driving citations; 151 drug arrests; 6,279 miscellaneous traffic violations and 164 fugitives were apprehended during the enforcement campaign.

'Click It or Ticket' is a national enforcement effort that is supported by federal NHTSA funding allocated to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. KSP will continue its highway safety efforts through enforcement and public awareness throughout the summer.

The public is encouraged to report any unsafe operation of a motor vehicle by contacting the Kentucky State Police at 1-800-222-5555.

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Kentucky Motorcycle Safety

Governor Beshear Appoints Members to Motorcycle Advisory Commission for Highway Safety

Press Release Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

FRANKFORT, KY – Governor Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky Motorcycle Advisory Commission for Highway Safety:

William H. McKinney, of Frankfort, is an engineer specialist for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. He represents the Transportation Office of Project Development. The appointment replaces Roy E. Johnson, whose term has expired. McKinney shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2009.

David Webster, of Glencoe, has previously managed an excavating company and worked as a journeyman iron worker. He represents the Kentucky Motorcycle Association. The appointment replaces Eugene P. Blakeman whose term has expired. Webster shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2009.

Tim Cody, of Hindman, is the director of the Knott County ATV & Motorcycle Rider Training Center. He represents the Kentucky Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Council. The appointment replaces Malcolm Winsper, whose term has expired. Cody shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2010.

Tim Lucas, of Lawrenceburg, is a captain for the Kentucky State Police. He represents Kentucky State Police. The appointment replaces Shelby Lawson, whose term has expired. Lucas shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2012. This appointment shall become effective July 1, 2008.

Jo Anne Tingle, of Frankfort, is an engineer specialist for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. She represents the Transportation Office of Construction and Operations. The appointment replaces Katrina O. Bradley, whose term has expired. Tingle shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2011.

The governor has also reappointed the following members to the commission:


Gary L. Johnson, of Calhoun, is a construction manager for the Rogers Group, Inc. He represents the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors. Johnson will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2011.

Michael A. Canchola, of Lebanon Junction, is an inspector for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. He represents the Kentucky Motorcycle Association. Canchola will serve for a term expiring June 30, 2010.

The Motorcycle Advisory Commission for Highway Safety assists the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in ensuring that highway design, construction and maintenance policies and procedures consider the specific needs of motorcyclists. The commission examines cabinet policies and procedures in areas including, but not limited to, crash barrier design, road maintenance practices, road construction, traffic control devices and intelligent transportation systems and recommends changes where necessary.

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Alledged Kentucky Insurance Fraud in Corbin

CORBIN WOMAN INDICTED FOR INSURANCE FRAUD

Allegedly falsified claims history information on application

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 11, 2008) – A Corbin woman is in custody after being indicted on a felony count of insurance fraud.

According to court documents, Christine V. Young filled out an application for homeowners insurance coverage with State Farm Insurance Company stating that she and other household members had no losses for the past three years. She also allegedly stated that no insurer had refused to issue or renew coverage during that time period.

An investigation by the Kentucky Office of Insurance (KOI) Fraud Investigation Division found that another insurer canceled Young’s homeowners policy due to misrepresentations on the application. In addition, Young was directly or indirectly involved in at least four fire losses and one major theft loss during the three-year period.

She was arrested by a KOI fraud investigator and the Corbin City Police and is being held in the Knox County Jail. If found guilty, she faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The Office of Insurance is an agency of the Department of Public Protection in the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet

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Kentucky Highway Fatalities June 2-8

Nine Die on Kentucky Roadways Last Week (June 2 - June 8)

Date of News Release: 06/09/08

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Preliminary statistics* indicate that nine people died in nine separate crashes on Kentucky's roadways from Monday, June 2 through Sunday, June 8, 2008. Seven of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and four of those victims were not wearing seat belts. The motor vehicle crashes occurred in Clay, Graves, Hopkins, Leslie, Mason, Pulaski and Warren counties. The suspected use of alcohol was a factor in one of these crashes.

Two of the crashes involved motorcycles and occurred in Boyle and Pike county. One of the victims was wearing a helmet.

Through June 8, preliminary statistics* indicate that 309 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2008. This is 55 fewer than reported for this time period in 2007. Of the 247 motor vehicle fatalities, 158 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the 27 motorcycle fatalities, 15 were not wearing helmets. Seven people have been killed in ATV crashes and 6 of those were not wearing helmets. Twenty-seven pedestrians have been killed. A total of 56 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas.

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