Ohio County Times

Shirley James, who plays the lead Aline character in “Red Velvet Cake” rests during a break in filming on Monday. James, 80, has had roles in “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” and “The River Rat.” Dustin Bratcher/Times-News photo

Ex-KTB president among two killed in weekend crash: Woman charged with manslaughter after accident

A former Ohio County banking executive was killed Saturday morning in a car-motorcycle accident that also claimed the life of a prominent Bowling Green businessman. Brooks Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of Kentucky Trust Bank in Beaver Dam from 1991 to 2003, was pronounced dead at the scene of the reported drug-induced crash on U.S. 79 in Logan County. Also dead at the scene was Cornelius Martin, 57, president and CEO of the Martin Automotive Group and chairman of the Western Kentucky University board of regents.

While county residents go about their daily lives, they seem oblivious to the feature film being shot in an old white rustic house near downtown Hartford and other parts of the county. “Red Velvet Cake,” the new movie from Louisville-based Kentucky Digital Media, began filming last Thursday in Hartford and will continue through the rest of this month. The crew includes several local residents, as well as a director and Ohio County native — Aaron Hutchings, co-owner of Kentucky Digital Media.

Ten to 15 years ago, the independent film makers of “Red Velvet Cake” could not have financed this type of movie for less than $1.5 million. But due to the available technology, “Red Velvet Cake” is being produced well below the industry standard at $300,000. “If we were using film, it would easily be costing over $1 million because of the price of film,” said Aaron Hutchings, director of “Red Velvet Cake.” “For eight minutes of film, you’re looking at spending $180.” What Hutchings has embraced is High Definition (HD) technology that shoots the movie in a supreme quality digital format that can be downloaded onto a computer.

The Ohio County Relay for Life will be holding its annual fundraiser this Friday evening, which carryies over until Saturday morning. The event kicks off Friday evening at 7 p.m. and runs through 7 a.m. Saturday. “Everything takes place around the track at Ohio County High and we’re just trying to stress the importance of the event,” said Debi Puckett, chairwoman of Ohio County Relay for Life. “We’re hoping a lot of people show up and give their support.”

When Melinda Positano met Alton Eugene Rogers in an Internet chat room, she never thought six months later she would end up with two black eyes and a fractured sinus cavity. “He caught me at a hard crisis time,” Positano said. “My husband and I were separated. He told me things I needed and wanted to hear.” Since 2000, Positano had been a regular user of Yahoo Locations-Kentucky Chats. This is where she communicated with other anonymous chatters and created friendships though instant messaging or “IMing.” Positano, a 32-year-old Beaver Dam resident, said she was never worried or feared for her safety even though she never physically met them. “I only talked to them on the computer,” she said. “I knew I’d never meet them or at least that’s what I thought.”

Approximately 350 volunteers divided off into 21 separate projects last Saturday for the Repair Affair, in which local volunteers make repairs to the homes of elderly, handicapped or low-income individuals whose homes are in need of basic repairs.; The initiative, organized through the Ohio County Senior Center and the Ohio County AARP Chapter, is overseen by the Green River Area Development District (GRADD) and the Ohio County Fiscal Court.