Out of the Past - 1940 -1963 -1994 (Free Access - Not Paywalled)

Held for Extortion
Two notes threatening death to a physician unless he paid $500 landed a 19 year old farm hand in jail. Constable James Gray said the youth, who he identified as Eugene Begley, signed a statement admitting he attempted to extort the money from Dr. Walter G. Pennington to finance a course of study to qualify him for a mechanical job. No formal charges were filed immediately against the prisoner.

Thank You
The following have subscribed to or renewed their subscription to The Sun since our last issue for which we offer our thanks. J.T. Hamilton, McKee; Green Madden, Hamilton, OH, Dave Gabbard, Gray Hawk, Minnie Hillard, Eberlee; JF Tincher, Bond; Dewey Baker, McKee; DB Wilson, McKee.

Prisoner Dies in Jail Fire
One prisoner burned to death and another was burned seriously in a fire in the city jail late today. Patrolman Pat Hollan said the dead man was Seldon Pelfrey and the other was Lester Carpenter, both of whom had been arrested hours earlier on intoxication charges. The two were the only jail inmates. The extent of damages to the jail was not determined immediately, nor was the cause of the fire.

1963

Jackson Man Fined in Madison Circuit Court
Ellis Harrison, McKee, pleaded guilty to a charge of malicious cutting and wounding in sudden heat of passion and was fined $250. He was accused of knifing Ova L. Abner, Ravenna, on Nov. 10 at the Blue Moon Cafe, Richmond. The charge was amended from malicious cutting and wounding with intent to kill. 

Qualified in Firing a Sub-Machine Gun
Army PFC Norman R. Gabbard, whose wife Jean lives in Dayton, Ohio recently qualified as expert in firing the sub-machine gun at Fort Hood, TX. Gabbard, a driver in Company C of the 1st Armored Division’s 13th Armor at Fort Hood, entered the Army in October 1961 and completed basic training at Fort Know, KY. The 24 year old soldier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Gabbard, McKee, is a graduate of McKee High School.

Hapless burglar enters store, leaves with nothing
Sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning someone literally broke through the walls of a local business only to leave empty handed. Rite Aid manager Bruce Holland discovered the burglary when he reported to work Tuesday morning. According to Holland, the burglar apparently gained entry by cutting through the back aluminum wall and then kicking through the plaster board. Once inside, the thief made an attempt to get into a back room where drugs are kept but had no luck. Frustrated, the criminal then left, taking nothing with him. 

Moonshine still found off KY 89
A joint raid by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Kentucky State Police netted a two-barrel moonshine still and 55 gallons of spirits late Monday afternoon near the Sand Springs Church Road area of Jackson County. No arrests have been made in the case, but police said they have a suspect> “We’ve not mane any arrests but we expect to,” said KSP Trooper John root. “We’ll probably take the evidence to the grand jury Friday.”