Prosecutors say because Judge Keith Blankenship refused to take a breathalyzer test when he was pulled over on Interstate 81, they did not have enough evidence to convict him of the DUI charge.

The 4-3 vote to increase the tax rate from 43 to 46 cents per $100 came after a contentious debate about whether the county should dip into its cash reserves to cover a deficit caused by state money reductions and dramatic increases in state-mandated social services programs.

Donald Sheets started to feel sick to his stomach, and headed for the house. He collapsed on the porch, and called for help.  His daughter Caribbea heard him, despite being upstairs in a room with the door shut and window air-conditioner running, and ran downstairs to see what was wrong.