18-Year-Old Suffers Serious Injuries in Dirt Bike Wreck

   An 18-year-old Raven area man remained hospitalized at Bristol Regional Medical Center Tuesday after hitting a tie wall head-on while driving a dirt bike, Sunday evening.
   Timothy Joel Osborne, 18, was reportedly not wearing a helmet when he struck the tie wall.
   He was transported to BRMC via State Police Med Flight helicopter.
   State Police Trooper J. Starnes said the accident occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday on Honaker Branch, past the point where the road is maintained by the state.
   According to witnesses, Starnes said Osborne was operating the 2005 Honda CRS250 on the route when the bike apparently started wobbling and Osborne began losing control of it. He went off the left side of the road and into the grass before crossing back on to the road and then striking the tie-wall head-on.

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Animal Control Officers Get Guns

   Animal control officers in Buchanan County were given the okay last Thursday to use a firearm in performing what a resolution agreed to unanimously by the board of supervisors refers to as "emergency euthanasia" at times when the action is both "appropriate and justified."
   Under the resolution agreed to, use of a firearm by an animal control officer may take place only under certain circumstances.
   Allowable uses include:
   • "when an animal is showing signs of rabies or is suspected of having rabies and for which confinement is impossible or impracticable;
   • when dogs are in the act of killing or injuring livestock or poultry;
   • when approved methods of human capture have been unsuccessfully attempted or are not possible (e.g., a dog which is in the act of killing or injuring livestock or poultry, animals that are an immediate danger to the public or a police or animal control officer, such as but not limited to, an animal that is loose on a road and is causing an immediate danger to the public, or an animal running at large that is exhibiting active symptoms of rabies; and
   • for situations other than when the animal constitutes an immediate danger to the public, law enforcement, animal control officers, or livestock or poultry, the animal control officer shall complete a thorough investigation of the circumstances of the complaint which should include interviewing surrounding property owners and residents to determine the severity of the problem and to determine if a humane capture method is practicable."
   The resolution goes on to note that any time it is deemed necessary to use a firearm to perform "emergency euthanasia," the officer must assure that conditions permit the safe utilization and discharge of a rifle, pistol or other firearm without causing jeopardy to the public or other non-targeted animals.
   The resolution goes on to note that all local and state laws, rules, regulations or ordinances governing the use of firearms will be followed and that the officer using  a firearm to perform an "emergency euthanasia" will be certified in the use of the firearm being used.
   It further indicates "every effort will be made to utilize the firearm in such a manner to cause instant unconsciousness or death in the animal being euthanized."
   When practicable, another law enforcement officer should be called in to assist, the resolution concludes.
   The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller and was seconded by Knox Supervisor Pat Justus. The vote was unanimous among those present. North Grundy Supervisor Carroll Branham was not present when the vote was taken.