A spokesman with the Morehead Post of the Kentucky State Police said the accident happened at about 3:15 a.m. on the AA Highway, just west of Herron Hill when a 1991 Chevrolet pick up truck, driven by Lonnie Smothers, 31, of Vanceburg, was traveling east on the highway. The pick up went off of the right shoulder of the highway and struck a ditch. The vehicle then caught fire.

After firefighters extinguished the fire, they discovered a body in the wreckage. The body was taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Frankfort for an autopsy and positive identification.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
Tollesboro Volunteer Firefighters spray water on a Chevrolet pick up following a single vehicle accident early Sunday, November 5, near Ribolt.

A collision Tuesday, October 31, at the intersection of Ky. Rt. 1306 (Kinney Road) and the AA Highway near Garrison, claimed the life of  Brittany Nicole Burriss, the unborn child of Troy Samuel and Sondra Thoroughman Burriss of Garrison.

According to Deputy Bryon Walker, the accident happened about 2:40 p.m. Mrs. Burriss was a passenger in a Ford Tempo, driven by Stephen Ray Music, 24, of Garrison south on Rt. 1306.

A 1991 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Brenda Stone, 37, of Vanceburg, was traveling east on the AA Highway.

Both vehicles collided at the intersection. The accident is under investigation by the Lewis County Sheriff's Department.

Officials are also investigating several other accident that occurred during the past week, one of which included a school bus.

Dennis Brown/Lewis County Herald
Care First Ambulance workers tend to one of those injured October 31 in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Kinney Road and the AA Highway.

Lewis County Sheriff's Deputy Tom Polley said the accident involving a Lewis County school bus happened about 6:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3, when the bus, operated by Donald Redd, 50, of Tollesboro, and a 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix, operated by James E. Johnson, 25, of Greenup, were traveling east on Ky. Rt. 8 near Red Gate Farm at Firebrick.

Polley said the bus had stopped to unload a passenger when the Johnson vehicle struck the rear left side of the bus, continued across the roadway and over an embankment, striking a utility pole.

Polley said there was one student on the bus and no one on the bus was injured. Johnson was taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, with multiple injuries.

While returning from that accident, Polley said he drove up on a second accident about one mile east of Garrison on Rt. 8.

Polley said that at about 9:00 p.m., Thomas Weaver, 46, and Evonna Gamble, 21, both of Garrison, were traveling west on Rt. 8 when Gamble apparently was turning left as Weaver attempted to pass, and the Weaver vehicle struck the Gamble vehicle. Polley said no injuries were reported.

Sheriff Bill Lewis said he investigated an accident Thursday, November 2, about 7:55 a.m. at Collins' Addition in Garrison. He said an auto operated by Rebecca Bevens, and a pick up operated by Melissa Magnatta collided at an intersection.

Three suspects, thought to be part of a multi-county burglary ring, were arrested and charged early Tuesday, October 31, after allegedly burglarizing the E.V. Holder Jr. Lions Center and attempting to break into another business.

Vanceburg Police Chief Joe Billman said the department was first alerted at 3:25 a.m. when Rick Switzer Jr. called in to report an attempted break in at Southend Tavern on Lexington Avenue.

Billman said he and Officer Johnny Bivens responded to the call and did not see anyone at that location. Bivens had seen a burgundy Mercury Cougar a short while earlier parked in a lot near the intersection of Ky. Rt. 8 and Lexington Avenue.

When Bivens saw the vehicle traveling in the area a short time later, about 3:45 a.m., he stopped the vehicle and began to question the driver, Stacie R. Jones, 21, of Decatur, Indiana.

Bivens said the driver gave him information that two male subjects dressed in dark clothing had earlier broken into the VFW (later discovered to be the Lions Club) and were attempting to break into the Southend Tavern. He also learned that one of the men was armed with a sawed-off shotgun and they were using hand-held radios to communicate between them and the driver.

After charging Jones with possession of burglary tools and lodging her in the Lewis County Detention Center, Billman drove the Cougar back to the lot and waited.

Billman said one of the suspects Cecil R. Ferguson, 28, of Muncie, Indiana, approached. As Billman began to exit the vehicle, Ferguson fled into a wooded area.

Ferguson was apprehended a short while later and was charged with first degree burglary, attempted burglary, and receiving stolen property. He was then taken to Meadowview Regional Medical Center in Maysville for treatment of a leg injury.

Officials released a description of the third suspect on WKKS Radio and asked for anyone who may have spotted him to contact authorities.

At 6:15 a.m., as the search for the suspect, Charles M. Youngblood, 18, of Hartford County, Indiana, continued in an area around Lewis County Central Elementary, a two-vehicle was reported at the intersection of the AA Highway and Ky. Rt. 59.

Dennis Brown/ Herald
Vanceburg Lions Club member Tim Bowden looks over items removed from a file cabinet when the E.V. Holder Jr. Lions Center was burglarized early Tuesday, October 31. A UK jacket and an afghan were taken.

A witness reported that the occupant of one of the vehicles, a blue Geo Metro, fled the scene on foot, traveling north on Fairlane Drive.

Investigators at the scene discovered a sawed-off shotgun inside the vehicle, and learned that the vehicle had been taken from near a residence on Harper Avenue. The driver of the other vehicle, a service truck, was not injured.

At 6:45 a.m., a 1996 Dodge pick up was reported stolen from a lot near the Vanceburg Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

At 7:20 a.m., Billman radioed back from Maysville, where he was waiting for Ferguson to be treated, that Maysville authorities had captured Youngblood at a motel there.

Youngblood was lodged in the Mason County Detention Center on charges of receiving stolen property, giving false information to police, and fugitive from justice charges on an outstanding warrant in Indiana.

Later Tuesday authorities determined that the three had a place of residence in Morehead. Kentucky State Police obtained a search warrant for the residence and several items, which had been reported stolen in several burglaries, were seized at that location.

KSP said that burglaries had been reported in Bath, Morgan, Elliott and Carter Counties.

Officials are continuing the investigation to determine if the suspects may have been involved in other burglaries around the area.

Billman said additional charges are pending and added that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had been contacted concerning the sawed-off shotgun.

Deputy Bryon Walker said the burglar or burglars gained entry to the three homes by forcing their way through the back door.

Walker said the first burglary was reported Wednesday, November 1, by James and Pam Cundiff of Rt. 1 Tollesboro.

Walker said a 30-30 Winchester rifle with scope, a 12-gauge Winchester pump shotgun, a pair of Bushnell binoculars, a hunting knife and ammunition were taken from a gun cabinet. The items were valued at more than $700.

Walker said someone had reported a seeing a small red pick up truck in Wright's driveway earlier in the day.

Walker also said that KSP Trooper Rob Prater is investigating a burglary at the home of Troy Bane in Tollesboro where two guns were taken.

Anyone having information concerning the burglaries should contact the Lewis County Sheriff's Office at 606-796-2912. Callers may remain anonymous.

The Leos will be collecting glasses throughout the year and they can be dropped off at Ron’s Food World, Dr. L. Michael Bertram’s office and the Vanceburg Lions Club on Monday Night Bingo.

Photo Submitted
Members of the Vanceburg Leo Club and their guests, Cory Collins, Corey Swearingen, Emma Holder, Samuel Holder, Samantha Howard, Morgan Burriss, Tera Howard, Tatum Holder, Casey Swearingen, Brandi McKee, John Zornes and Derick Stone (not there yet: Brock "Shaving Cream" O’Cull), had a successful Sight Night on Halloween collecting used eyeglasses while trick or treating.

Special thanks to Lions Club President Sam Howard, Lori Holder, Tina Swearingen and Sue Bloomfield for volunteering their time and assistance with this project. Other members of the Leo Club include Jasmine Hall, Amanda Braden, Shannon Jamison, Rachael Jamison, Hannah Jamison.