By Chad Lampe
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-990178.mp3
Paducah, KY – Paducah and McCracken County were blindsided this week with news of the alleged embezzling of more than 200-thousand-dollars from the Julian Carroll Convention Center and Expo Center. Executive Director Patrick Kerr admitted to police he was running an elaborate plan to steal the money with the help of an accomplice posing as a vendor. Kerr would issue checks to this woman and they would then split the funds. Police allege Kerr was stealing the funds to help fuel a prescription pill addiction. They also think Kerr and his accomplice had been stealing the funds for over a year. Historically the two convention centers were run by the now demolished Executive Inn. The city and county have taken over responsibility of these facilities until a new hotel comes to downtown. To get more detail surrounding the embezzlement and the future of downtown tourism in Paducah we are joined by Mayor Bill Paxton.