Only in Kentucky(?)

Ok. I try to focus on big wastes of taxpayer money with this blog. Regardless of who is paying the taxes. This story is mostly unrelated other than more than 9 hours of a sheriff and his deputy's time, and a consultation with the county prosecutor on how to move forward from here. But the story is way too good to pass up. I'd like to summarize:

Sheriff's order destroys home(ky.com)

Frances Barton, a 35 year old grandmother was lucky enough some time ago to get into a car accident and bought herself a beautiful 25 year old single wide mobile home with the settlement money. Then, like so many Mexicans (sorry for the stereotype joke, but hey...) she started moving in her family, some friends, and even some adopted(!) children. 12 souls in all moved on in. While Frances helped to manage the mobile home park in which she lived, she decided it was her turn to cash in on the American dream and got herself a piece of land for $250 per month on land contract. Now all she has to do is move her single wide to the piece of land and she'd [they'd all] be living the good life.

Now, my father owned a mobile home park throughout my childhood. I've seen a few mobile homes moved in my time. They usually empty out all the belongings, get a big ol' truck out, hitch up the mobile home, do some fancy maneuvering, get a few 'Wide Load' escorts, and go rambling on down the road. Not Frances, good lord no. You know how much all that costs? Instead, she gives $200 to a man named Pancake who assured her that he has 13 years of experience and insurance to move mobile homes with his tractor. While Frances was warned that the tires on the mobile home were loose and the trailer would never make the haul, Frances was determined to make the trek. Sort of like an old wild west settler determined to find a better life. Naysayers be damned.

Wouldn't you know it? About 1.5 miles into the move, the tires on the mobile home popped and/or fell off. And like any good mobile home hauler, Pancake was on a federal highway, not some old dirt road or surface streets. Again, good lord no. Shortest distance between 2 points, right?

Enter Dick. The county sheriff who in his 2006 campaign used the campaign slogan: More Dick in 2006. And who didn't need more Dick in 2006? Well, apparently the folks in Nicholas County, KY, just couldn't get enough Dick. So, Dick says to Frances, you gotta get that thing off of the highway. I'll give you 2 hours. Over 9 HOURS later, after many attempts to move the stuck trailer, Dick finally got pissed. He ordered everyone off the trailer. (Oh, did I forget to mention? THE WHOLE FAMILY AND ALL THEIR STUFF WAS IN THE TRAILER BEING MOVED!) He then asked a couple of farmers with tractors to knock the damn thing out of the way. They tipped it right over and out of the way. In tears, Frances collapsed crying about how she's lost everything she's ever had.

As it turns out, Pancake and his tractor were not properly insured. I'm sure Frances will sue the state and/or the county. I'm sure they'll settle with her. So there is my segue to:

THIS is whyKentuckianspaytaxes.