The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page A1

Time: 12-11-2007 22:52 User: mstollhaus PubDate: 12-12-2007 Zone: KY Page Name: A 1 Color: Bftapfenta FEATURES E2 SPORTS ci Petrino resigns i MP, 'HANNAH MONTANA Going tonight? One mom says it's worth it as raicons uoaun 50 CENTS 75 CENTS, COIN RACKS OUTLYING AREAS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 2007 journal A GANNETT NEWSPAPER USPS 135567 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S INAUGURATION 2007 METRO EDITION Fletcher pardons spark acrimony Some prosecutors, relatives outraged Beshear era begins Address emphasizes ethics, calls for unity VIDEO, PHOTOS AND MORE AT By R.G. Dunlop and Tom Loftus The Courier-Journal FRANKFORT, Ky. With his pardon and clemency decisions during his last hours as governor, Ernie Fletcher resurrected the acrimony that characterized much of his tenure. Fletcher, whose administration was plagued by an investigation into alleged abuses of the merit system, issued 84 pardons Monday on his last day in office. A day earlier, he granted clemency, pardons or early parole reviews to 21 Kentucky women convicted of killing or attempting to kill men they accused of abusing them.

Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson complained bitterly yesterday that Fletcher did not contact him before deciding on the pardons and commutations, several of which involved Fayette County cases. "I think the fact they made their decision without having all the information is disgraceful," Larson said. "They didn't contact the prosecutors who prosecuted the case. As far as I can tell, they didn't contact victims or survivors of victims." Noting that some of the domestic-violence victims had been found guilty by juries of killing or trying to kill their abusers, Larson said those verdicts should be respected. But David Fleenor, Fletcher's general counsel, defended the system used to review the pardon and clemency requests.

He said some prosecutors were See PARDONS, A8, col. 1 By Tom Loftus and Joseph Gerth The Courier-Journal FRANKFORT, Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear used his inaugural address yesterday to call for unity in addressing the state's problems and to stress the importance of ethics in government. "We can accomplish much over the next four years, but only if we work together for the common good," Beshear told a crowd of about 2,500, seated on a platform erected on the Capitol steps, after he took a ceremonial oath as Kentucky's 61st governor.

His speech was the centerpiece of an unseasonably warm inauguration day that included a church service, parade, receptions and balls. He used the 16-minute address to outline proposals aimed at setting a high ethical standard for his administration. "I expect to earn your trust, not to simply be given it. I expect my administration to be accountable," he said. "And it starts at the top, with me." Beshear said one of his first official acts would be to require top appointees to be trained in ethics and merit-system laws.

The promise drew a loud round of applause though two people seated in the front row who didn't clap were Ernie Fletcher, Beshear's Republican opponent in the general election, and his wife, Glenna. Fletcher's term was tarnished and his bid for reelection damaged by an investigation of alleged merit-system violations that led to in-dictments against him and others in his administration. He reached a deal with prosecutors to have the misdemeanor charges against him dismissed and issued a blanket See BESHEAR, A6, col. 2 -r A- 'fM The complete text of Gov. Beshear's inaugural address.

Video and photo galleries of the swearing-in ceremony, the parade and the inaugural ball. INSIDE PAGES A6-A7 What people are looking for from the new administration. A selection of short stories from the day's events. A visit inside the three inaugural balls. By David R.

Lutman, Special to The Courier-Journal Gov. Steve Beshear and his wife, Jane, descended the staircase last night during the Grand March at the Capitol in Frankfort. Earlier yesterday, during his inaugural address, Beshear asked for unity as his administration begins. "I expect to earn your trust, not to simply be given it," he said. Arctic ice melting accelerates Frazier says he knew arms dealer made money Owsley Brown Frazier made several admissions during testimony in the trial of Karen and Michael Salisbury.

The exceptional melting of Arctic ice last summer has scientists wondering what comes next. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years. At the end of the summer, there was only half as much Arctic sea ice as four years ago, according to new NASA satellite data. "The Arctic is screaming," one government scientist warned. A3 asked him.

"I don't recall one," Frazier said. Salisbury and his wife, Karen, along with internationally renowned antique-gun expert R.L. Wilson, are charged in U.S. District Court in Louisville with conspiring to rip off Frazier and the museum by taking commissions and kickbacks behind Frazier's back. Frazier has sued all three in By Andrew Wolfson The Courier-Journal Wealthy philanthropist Owsley Brown Frazier acknowledged in court yesterday that he knew that an arms dealer accused of defrauding him was probably making money on the nearly $5 million in antique weapons he acquired for Frazier's Louisville museum a separate civil case.

But yesterday, the credibility of the former Brown-For-man Corp. vice chairman came under fire several times, including when he was forced to admit that he was coached on one answer by an employee, whom he did not name. Sonnett also questioned Frazier's testimony on Mon- See FRAZIER, A8, col. 4 Testifying for five hours on cross examination, Frazier admitted that he told dealer Michael Salisbury several times to "take care of yourself" as he acquired historic artifacts for what became the Frazier International History Museum. And Frazier conceded that he expected Salisbury, who eventually became the museum's president before he was fired in 2002, to make a profit.

"You never had any discussions that he would do this for free?" lawyer Neal Sonnett 52 PAGES 2 3 NATION A3 Crack sentencing guidelines A federal commission voted to allow about 19,500 inmates, most of them black, to seek reductions in their crack-cocaine sentences. BUSINESS Dl Stocks slide after rate cut The Dow Jones industrials plunged nearly 300 points on investor disappointment at the Federal Reserve's quarter-point interest-rate cut. WEATHER B8 36-HOUR FORECAST Louisville area: Showers likely today, turning colder. Rain redeveloping tonight. Morning rain tomorrow, then clearing.

INDEX Business Classified Comics Deaths Features Forum Lottery Dl Markets Fl Metro E10 Movies B6 Nation El Racing A10 Sports A2 TV D3 Bl Ell A3 C6 CI E9 TOMORROW 47 TODAY 53 I 40 11 10706" '40901 1 'Winner KENTUCKIANA 2007 Outstanding Employer of the Year.