Something Buzzing at the Old Jail

The sweet taste of honey might be good on toast, but it is not what you want coming from a newly painted wall of one local landmark.

As officials from the Breathitt County Museum continue surveying their newly remodeled facility in the old jail, they notice a line of honey running down the wall near a second-floor window.

Further investigation revealed several additional golden strips and led officials to determine that a colony of bees had found a home in the attic of the 1936 building.

Despite all of the work, remodeling, plastering, and painting, the hive was not discovered until last week.

Two local beekeepers were at the jail on Monday to locate the hive in the attic.

Officials said that fire walls and thick layers of spray foam insulation blocked access to the area and prevented them from removing the hive.

Fire crews were called to the jail and attempted to use infrared technology to locate the hive through the wall, but were unsuccessful due to the thick insulation and the solid stone exterior walls.

As of press time, the bees were still in residence and the walls were apparently still full of honey.

At least three swarms of bees in the area were captured on the stone wall near the Breathitt County War Memorial, just feet from the suspected hive, and “re-homed” last year.