Oh, look, it’s OCTCS paying Paula Gastenveld $250,000 in a negotiated settlement.

With total costs exceeding $500,000, you have to wonder why the statewide press is able to remain silent on this scandal.

From today’s Messenger-Inquirer:

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has paid former Owensboro Community & Technical College President Paula Gastenveld $250,000 in a compromise settlement of a lawsuit that has been winding up for trial for more than two years.

-SNIP-

Gastenveld also claims that she was targeted for blowing the whistle on suspected illegalities in a local welding project that used funds from the Kentucky WINS — Workforce Investment Network System. WINS is a state program through KCTCS that provides education, training and support to new and existing businesses and industries.

-SNIP-

She also has received $15,000 from Brake’s insurance company in that settlement.

-SNIP-

Last spring, Johnson’s insurance company paid Gastenveld $5,000, and he was dismissed from the suit.

Haire’s insurance company reached a $2,500 settlement for him.

-SNIP-

KCTCS paid $100,000 in legal fees in the Gastenveld case, which was the retention limit of the insurance policy the system maintained at the time of the claim. Litigation costs in excess of $100,000 were covered by the policy.

KCTCS also has an ongoing civil case against the Messenger-Inquirer in Woodford Circuit Court.

-SNIP-

KCTCS has spent $39,130.68 (billed through October) in the open records case.

You read all that?

This is the front page headline in Owensboro:

Nary a peep anywhere else.

Hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of dollars flushed down the toilet on the taxpayer back.

At the hands of the Steve Beshear-Helen Mountjoy crew.

And your statewide press is wholly missing in action.