Another very large shoe dropped in the ever-widening and apparently never-ending scandal involving Clay County government and drugs. The recently deposed mayor, Daugh K. White, 74 years old, was taken to jail on federal charges that he conspired to distribute cocaine and prescription drugs while in office. Voters threw White out of office in November after more than a quarter-century as Manchester's mayor.

(Subsequently, the local daily newspaper reported that White also had sex with teenage girls while in office. One witness alleged that White had paid her $800 a week for sex when she was 16.)

Clay County High School endured the third accidental death of a student since August. A 16-year-old boy was killed when the ATV he was riding ran off a road and crashed into two trees.

A 24-hour Wal-Mart, complete with a pharmacy and grocery, is reportedly on the drawing board, with construction to begin perhaps next month.

In high school basketball, the Clay County Tigers hit three digits in trouncing South Floyd's Raiders, 102 to 58. The Lady Tigers, meanwhile, lost to the Burning Springs Lady Bobcats, 39 to 28. Both teams are headed for the district tournament this weekend, facing Lexington Catholic in the opening round.