Ex-Saline County Sheriff Bruce Pennington accepted free granite countertops in exchange for helping a man get out of a community service and took money from inmate phone cards to pay for his own legal troubles while in office, authorities allege in charges filed against him Friday.

Two other former employees of the sheriff's office were also charged, including a former lieutenant over criminal investigations who a confidential informant said provided her drugs in exchange for sex, the documents show.

Pennington, who left office last year after pleading guilty to alcohol-related charges after an arrest at a Benton restaurant, was formally charged Friday morning after an investigation by special prosecutor Cody Hiland.

Pennington is facing felony charges of theft of property and abuse of public trust and an additional misdemeanor theft of property charge. He was arrested at a Benton Wal-Mart around 11 a.m., Hiland said, though it wasn't clear if the other two ex-employees had been arrested.

According to the charging documents, the abuse of public trust charge reflects Pennington purportedly providing a false letter claiming a man who had been sentenced to community service had completed the work when he hadn't. Pennington then accepted an offer from the man to install granite countertops for free in his home, a probable cause affidavit states.

Pennington admitted providing the false letter and acknowledged that the man "wanted to repay him ... for the favor," the affidavit said. It added police spoke with multiple witnesses who said Pennington "bragged about the countertops and how he obtained them."

Pennington is also accused of using a $1,000 check to the sheriff's office for personal expenses after indicating it would be used to buy vests for the SWAT team and taking money that went missing from inmate phone card revenues. He used that to pay his own fines in district court from his own arrest and subsequent guilty pleas to public intoxication and refusal to submit to arrest.

Two others formerly employed by the sheriff's office are also charged as a result of the investigation, Hiland said.

Michael Frost, a former lieutenant over the criminal investigations division, is facing charges of delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a communication device.

According to a probable cause affidavit for Frost, an informant told authorities Frost would provide her narcotics and Frost "in turn would get sex" from the informant.

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Ex-Sheriff Pennington, two others facing criminal charges

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Want Marble-Like Countertops Without The Headache? Here #39;s The Answer
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Montana State University is using recycled glass to build countertops in their new school of business.

"It was a dream that we thought out between the students and I," said E.J. Hook, MSU Environment Services Manager. "We were able to carry it from a dream stage into reality."

The countertops, the back splashes of the drinking stations and the cafeteria will all be made from recycled glass in the new Montana State University School of Business. For more than a year, MSU faculty and students have collected glass on campus.

"It engages people and we can all contribute directly to the project," said Hook. "It does the close loop kind of thing, which is a nice demonstration of smaller carbon footprint and it's all done locally."

2,000 pounds of amber brown and green glass, 1,500 pounds of clear glass and 600 pounds of blue glass have been collected for the project so far. Hook said blue glass was by far the hardest kind of glass to find.

"Blue glass will be seeded over the top instead of being used throughout the entire countertop so we can use larger chunks there and then they will polish it out," said Hook.

"There's actually close to 50 common colors on glass. It's so hard to recycle because there are so many different tints in it when its being made back into bottles," said Dave Leverett, Four Corners Recycling.

After the glass is collected, it is then taken to Four Corners Recycling to be crushed.

"We go ahead and weigh it in and then we run it through a glass crusher," said Leverett."Then we'll scoop it in the super sack, which are sacks that will hold up to 3,000 pounds of glass."

The glass is then transported to GeoMatrix to be made into countertops.

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MSU Uses Recycled Glass To Build School of Business Countertops

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In todays world the kitchen is often the hub of the home. Its no longer just a place for the chef to cook in solitary but also a center for casual dining and gathering informally with family and friends, often around a big center island.

The possibilities are endless when upgrading a kitchen and even a few simple budget-friendly changes can refresh and modernize your design and add value to your home.

You can actually do a lot with a minimal budget. A typical minor kitchen remodel can include updating cabinet fronts and drawers, replacing the stove, countertops and flooring, installing a new sink and faucet and painting.

But one of the keys to a successful remodel is to set priorities: Do you want a full-blown or surface-level renovation? Either is fine, but make sure you know the pros and cons of each. And know your budget.

Cabinets are key

When it comes to renovating kitchens, the experts agree: A good set of cabinets is the key.

You wouldnt want to waste your money and put a stone top on a cabinet that was basically garbage, said Gary Trapanotto, owner of Designer Kitchens East in Mattituck. As long as youre starting with a decent foundation in place, the cheapest option is to replace the countertops and appliances.

All-wood construction cabinets are the sign of good quality; some cabinets are made from flake board or fiber board, which are made of scrap wood thats glued together with resin to make a new board, Mr. Trapanotto said.

Its not as good as a plywood cabinet, but it also doesnt have the price tag, he said. Plywood cabinets are often 10 to 15 percent more expensive, but its a worthwhile investment.

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Consider this when renovating your kitchen

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Submitted London Bay Homes has opened for viewing the Clara model in Cabreo at Mediterra.

London Bay Homes has opened another luxury villa model in Mediterra, the eight-time Community of the Year in Naples.

The Clara is the third newly completed model by London Bay in the Cabreo neighborhood, where only 23 villa homesites remain. With homes and homesites priced from the $800,000s, Cabreo includes lawn and landscape maintenance provided by the homeowners association.

White backgrounds throughout the three-bedroom Clara create a canvas for soft blues and greens, dark wood furnishings and contemporary art selected by Romanza Interior Design.

Michael Scott of Romanza envisioned a clean-lined approach to traditional design throughout the Claras 3,248 square feet of living space, blending classic and modern furniture and introducing blues and greens in upholstery, window treatments and accessories.

The largest of London Bays maintenance-free villas in Cabreo, the Clara offers formal dining and living rooms, a family room, study, three full baths and a powder room.

Scott transformed a home office between the kitchen and dining room into a butlers pantry/wine bar with cabinetry and an undercounter wine refrigerator.

The Clara features a pearl-toned 12-by-24-inch porcelain tile floor installed in a running bond pattern in main living areas and the master bathroom, with a wide-planked maple hardwood floor stained dark brown in the study. Crown molding and millwork painted bright white accent volume ceilings, a design feature introduced in the foyer and living room.

Emphasizing outdoor living and lake views, the Claras living room, kitchen and family room open through sliding glass doors to the pool deck and outdoor living area, surfaced with shell-stone pavers. The al fresco space features conversation and dining groupings, a summer kitchen with grill, sink and refrigerator, and a free-form pool with raised circular spa.

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Romanza designed Clara model opens at Mediterra

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Granite Countertops NJ For All Your Granite Countertops

If you are looking for new granite countertops NJ to replace or update you existing countertops, you have come to the right place because New Jersey Granite is undisputed the best in the business!

When considering granite countertops, New Jersey residents find the material to provide elegance as well as superb durability. In most cases, granite offers the best option when looking for a sturdy work surface for ones home. The polished granite finish does not easily wear away and is not easily affected by mold or mildew, keeping your bathroom and kitchen safe from nasty germs and looking great.

Unlike other materials, countertops made from granite can withstand the heat of extremely hot pans placed on them. There is no need to worry about abrasions, stains or chips as this durable material will continue looking great for many years.

Countertops made of genuine, high-quality granite in a home add character as well as warmth to bathrooms, kitchens, bars and many other areas in a home. The stone can enhance the appeal and overall looks of the room due to the rich iridescent look and remarkable texture it provides. The excellent qualities offered by granite mean it makes sense to select the best quality granite countertops for ones needs. Consider the following reasons this product in your next project to improve your home.

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Whether one is working with a tight budget, willing to spend some cash or are searching for discount countertops in NJ, all are available at competitive rates and offered in a large variety of products. Clients have the enjoyable and convenient experience of shopping at home and working with consultants on a cost free basis. Our consultants provide accurate measurements and bring a wide range of colors as well as other samples to the home, allowing the customer to select the best looking countertop style to complement their home while also meeting the budget.

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Granite Countertops NJ - For All Your Granite Countertops