MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY IS SATURDAY
The Murray State Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) has big plans for the next "Make a Difference Day" at Roy Stewart Stadium tomorrow. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. While hundreds of people drop off unwanted items for proper disposal, the MSU SAAC will collect canned food for the Murray/Calloway County Need Line. As people come through the line in the big parking lot of Stewart Stadium, they are asked to also bring canned food items, which will be collected by the MSU SAAC. Murray State Athletics will also be giving away 500 children’s tickets to the Racer Football game against Southeast Missouri Nov. 8, and another 500 for the Racer Basketball games Jan. 10 against Austin Peay. Need Line supports more than 700 families in Murray and Calloway County each month. However, the pantry is running low and any food items would be greatly appreciated. "Make a Difference Day" was started locally by Bill Wells in 1995. In the 68 events since, the program has collected thousands of pounds of paper, cardboard, eye glasses, cell phones, ink cartridges, batteries, and motor oil. The math reveals more than 165,000 tons of these items have been collected over the years. In addition to the usual drop-offs, Make a Difference Day will also have a glass pulverizer, and Purchase Records Destruction Co. will shred up to 51 pounds of personal documents per person free of charge. The Murray Police Department and Calloway County Sheriff will also be collecting prescription drugs for proper disposal.

PENDLETON DENIES ALLEGATIONS
According to Kentucky.Com, State Sen. Joey Pendleton says allegations that he accepted thousands of dollars in unauthorized pay while working for Murray State University are politically motivated by the Republican Party of Kentucky. Pendleton, a Hopkinsville Democrat who has been a senator since 1993, faces Republican Tom Jones in the Nov. 4 election. The 3rd District encompasses Christian, Todd and Logan counties. State Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson asked Attorney General Jack Conway last week to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations that Pendleton received unauthorized pay from the university while in Frankfort on legislative business. "The only thing I know about this is what reporters have told me when they call to ask questions," Pendleton said. "It is the lowest of lows. I was always complimented by Murray State University for the job I was doing, and then the Republican Party raises some issue two weeks before the election." Pendleton was the projects manager of Murray State's farm operations from July 1998 until June 30. He said his job was to promote the farm, seek donations, recruit students for the agriculture program and help manage the Angus cattle herd. Murray State President Randy Dunn said Pendleton's job was terminated because of budget cuts. Dunn said, "In the year and a half that he worked for the university while I was president, there was no indication or allegations that he didn't perform his duties. ... " Alan Stout, chairman of the Murray State Board of Regents, confirmed that a board member earlier this year asked Conway to investigate the matter. He declined to comment further. Allison Martin, Conway's spokeswoman, would not comment on the status of the request.

GUNNER LOSES BATTLE
Eight-year-old Gunner Gillespie lost his battle with cancer at 1:43 p.m. Thursday at his home. He was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor on his brain stem, a pontine glimoa, on Nov. 30. For the past 11 months, Gunner underwent radiation treatments, and friends, family and simply those who cared but didn’t know the Gillespies rallied around Gunner’s parents, Gus and Janna, and sister, Garlynn. Gus Gillespie is the boys’ basketball coach at Marshall County High School. Arrangements for Gunner’s funeral were incomplete on Thursday at Collier Funeral Home in Benton.

GRAND JURY MEETING IN GARLAND CASE
Special prosecutor Jason Darnall presented the case against Calloway County Coroner Mike Garland to the grand jury on Thursday. The grand jury continued to meet into the afternoon. Indictments could be returned today, Darnall said. Garland was charged Sept. 3 with cultivating eight marijuana plants and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia, which are felony charges. His wife, Michelle, is charged with possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia, which are misdemeanors.

PENNYRILE NTF MAKE SEVERAL ARRESTS
Several arrests have been made recently in cases investigated by the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, Graves County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies. According to Detective George T. Workman, Ameil E. Smith Pryor St., was arrested about 3 p.m. Thursday. Officers found marijuana, plastic bags, and other paraphernalia items in his home. Kristy M. Robinson, 27, of 3301 Dooms Chapel Rd. in Symsonia, was arrested Wednesday and charged with complicity to manufacturing methamphetamine, controlled substance endangerment to a child and possession of a controlled substance. Officers found items used in the manufacture of meth at Robinson’s home. Lexie Robinson was also charged with controlled substance endangerment. The arrest was due to information received that he was manufacturing methamphetamine inside the home Saturday while a 3-year-old was present, Workman said. At about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dwight Sherrill, 49, of unknown address in Mayfield, was arrested on a warrant for trafficking in a controlled substance. Sherrill is accused of selling crack cocaine to an information last July. All the arrested were jailed in Mayfield.

LUNSFORD-MCCONNELL SQUARE OFF
Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford says he would have voted against the "bail out bill." Lunsford says the doesn't do enough to help people who have lost their homes. The comments came in a debate with Senator Mitch McConnell. Recent polls don't agree on the status of the race. One poll has them very close. Senator McConnell says he has brought hundreds of millions of dollars back to Kentucky for countless projects.

ACROSS KENTUCKY
John McCain is walking away with Kentucky. A new WKYT-TV/"Lexington - Herald Poll" shows Republican John McCain leading Democrat Barack Obama by 16 points with less than two weeks to election day. The survey shows McCain with 55 percent and Obama with 39 percent.

The incumbent is leading in the Third Congressional District. A new Survey USA/ WHAS 11 survey shows incumbent Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth is leading Republican challenger Anne Northup 57-to-41 percent. Northup is trying to regain the seat she lost to Yarmuth in the last congressional election.

The state Department of Corrections will resume preparations for the execution of death row inmate Marco Chapman.The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled the sentence can proceed. Chapman convicted of the murders of two children in Warsaw and the assault and rape of their mother has asked the execution be sped up. His attorneys had filed the appeal on grounds the speedy execution request was suicide by court. Now the state will proceed to carry out the sentence. His execution could come in several weeks.

The identity of a man who died in an accident at a Perry County strip mine has been released. The Energy and Environment Cabinet reports 40-year-old Rodney K. Blevins of Cumberland was fatally injured while operating a bulldozer that overturned and rolled down a steep hill. The accident at the SM & E Coal mine is the fifth fatal coal mine accident reported in Kentucky this year.

Officials at the Kentucky Horse Park say they're preparing a warm welcome for Alysheba . The former Kentucky Derby winner and two-time Horse of the Year is going to spend the rest of his retirement in the stall that was once home to John Henry. For the past eight years, the 24-year-old horse has been living in the stables of the King of Saudi Arabia. Now at the request of President Bush, the king is sending Alysheba back to Kentucky. The public is invited to a special welcome reception to be held at the Horse Park on October 31st.

State Fish and Wildlife officers say a deer hunter acted in self-defense when he shot a bear. Bobby Koger of Cumberland says he was in a blind with his muzzle loader waiting for deer when a bear approached and almost got into the blind. Koger opened fire wounding the bear about a foot from the blind, and another hunter also wounded the bear. The 250 pound bear died about 700 yards from the blind. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officers say no charges will be filed.