Franklin County sheriff dies of cancer

COLUMBUS (AP) — The sheriff of the central Ohio county that includes Columbus has died after a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Franklin County sheriff’s Cpl. Sam Byrd says Sheriff Jim Karnes died at about 12:30 p.m. today at the Ohio State Medical Center. He was 71.

Karnes was the county’s 50th and longest-serving sheriff.

He began his law-enforcement work in 1963 as a deputy at the sheriff’s office. Over the years he worked as a supervisor in many of the office’s divisions and retired as a lieutenant in 1992, the same year he was first elected sheriff.

Karnes announced his diagnosis in April and said he would receive chemotherapy.

The sheriff’s office website says Karnes is survived by his wife, Sandy, and three daughters.