ASHLAND — 3 arrested in drug busts

ASHLAND - Deputies with the Boyd County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force arrested three in a pair of unrelated busts this week.

On Monday, deputies served a search warrant at a residence in the 3400 block of Roberts Drive and arrested Leonard Gervin, 28, of Cincinnati, and Jamie L. Thompson, 28, of Ashland, on heroin-trafficking charges, the sheriff’s department said. Deputies also seized about 35 grams of heroin, with an approximate street value of $14,000.

Thompson allegedly sold heroin to an informant working for the sheriff’s department.

On Wednesday, another sale to an informant, this time of crack cocaine, led to the arrest of Leron M. Taylor, 33, of the 2900 block of Bath Avenue, on a charge of first-degree drug trafficking.

A search of Taylor’s residence turned up marijuana and a large amount of cash, the sheriff’s department said.

All three suspects were lodged in the Boyd County Detention Center.

AARF benefit will be Saturday

ASHLAND - The Ashland Animal Rescue Fund’s annual chili dinner/holiday auction will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Ashland Transportation Building, 99 15th St.

Tickets are $10. Auctioneer will be Mark Miller. Items will include UK basketball tickets, four NBA Indiana Pacers basketball tickets and jersey, Daytona Beach oceanfront condo vacation, Secrest Beach, Fla., beach house vacation, Paramount Arts Center tickets, golf packages, artwork and gift baskets.

Marine support group plans drive

ASHLAND - The local chapter of the Marine Corps Family Support Community will sponsor Operation Santa, which sends Christmas packages to local military personnel who are deployed.

Names may be sent to mcfsc_tristate@yahoo.com or call (740) 532-5741 or (606) 615-0684.

Financial donations may be sent to Operation Santa, MCFSC Tri-State Chapter, c/o Mary Jo Vermilyea, 1540 Florence Ave., Ironton, OH 45638.

Rose Hill to have blood drive today

ASHLAND - Rose Hill Christian School’s Senior Beta Club will have a blood drive from 2 to 7 p.m. today.

The Red Cross is in need of blood because of Hurricane Sandy, which has caused more than 300 drives to be canceled.

Food drive will benefit RCF

ASHLAND - A food drive for River Cities Harvest will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Pawn Shop Express and Salt & Light Worship Center are drive sponsors. The dropoff spot will be the parking lot at the pawn shop at 2166 Winchester Ave.

Nonperishable food donation suggestions include canned or pouch tuna or chicken, chicken or tuna boxed dinner mixes, peanut butter, dry beans, cornmeal mix, canned meat, boxed macaroni and cheese, pasta sauce and pasta, oatmeal, canned beans, boxed dinners and beef stew.

KDMC health unit to offer screening

ASHLAND - King’s Daughters Medical Center will offer a free healthy heart and EKG screening at 9 a.m. Nov. 20 on the KDMC Mobile Health Unit at Ashland Town Center, 500 Winchester Ave.

A Kentucky Heart Institute specialist will review screening results.

The screening, which includes an EKG, total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood oxygen levels, is sponsored by King’s Daughters in cooperation with the Kentucky Heart Foundation. Appointments are required and may be made by calling (888) 377-5362. Fasting is not required.

To be eligible, participants must be at least 50 years old and not have participated in a KDMC heart/vascular screening in the past 12 months. Additional screening criteria may apply, which allows experts to see those at greatest risk for heart disease.

Monthly prayer breakfast set

ASHLAND - Beech Street Christian Church, 1672 Beech St., will host the monthly Community Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

For more than 14 years, the breakfast has been meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at different churches in Boyd and Greenup counties.

The host church prepares the meal, and the minister usually delivers a brief devotional followed by a time of prayer at each table. The breakfast usually ends well before 9 a.m.

Kenneth Vaughn is minister of Beech Stree.

There is no charge for the meals and reservations are not required. A freewill offering is taken, with proceeds going to Ashland Community Kitchen, which provides free lunches Monday through Friday and dinners on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in The Neighborhood at Carter Avenue and 25th Street.

MEETINGS

Monday

Raceland-Worthington High School council, 4 p.m.