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Licking Valley Courier - 4.24.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Licking Valley Courier to bring
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you news from in and around West Liberty. Your reader
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today is Janis. We begin with the addition dated Thursday,
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April twenty third, twenty twenty six, as a reminder RADIOI
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as a reading service intended for people who are blind
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or have other disabilities that make it difficult to read
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printed material. Our first article today is Morgan County Tennis
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sixls at EKC Tournament by Hope Phipps. Morgan County Tennis
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had an EKC tournament to remember last week at Rowan
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County High School. The Morgan County High School tennis teams
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represented Morgan County beautifully across boys and girls singles and doubles,
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competing at high level both days. For the boys, it
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was an incredible run. Gavin Turner and Brad Johnson captured
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the boys doubles championship, while Adam Gunnell claimed the boys
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singles title and Luke Roseberry finished as runner up to
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help propel the boys to the EKC Team championships. The
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girls doubles teams battled hard, with Carly Basham and Livy
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Stacey advancing to the semifinals before falling to eventual champions.
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Both Lilly Little and Danika Phipps reached the semifinals. Danica
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Phipps fought hard against Russell's number one player, but fell
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just short. Lily pushed through her semifinal match against Russell's
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number two competitor and went on to dominate in straight
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sets in the finals against Russell's number one. With that win,
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Lily secured the EKC team's championship for the MChS girls teams.
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The EKC tournament consisted of eighth sixteenth region schools East
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and West, Carter, Boyd County, Pardon Me, Fairview, Russell, Independent,
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Lewis County, Rowan County, and Morgan County. Our next article
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is LPD Police Department investigating multiple cases of fraudulent mail
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activity identity theft. Police say they have identified up to
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upwards of fifty thousand dollars in stolen checks. Editor's note.
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The following press release detailing ongoing fraud investigations was provided
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by Detective Michael Williams of West Liberty Police Department. West
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Liberty Police Department is currently conducting investigations into fraudulent mail
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activity and identity theft. The West Liberty Police Department confirmed
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these active investigations have identified upwards of fifty thousand dollars
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in stolen checks from businesses and entity within Morgan County,
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and more are believed to have occurred. The investigation encompass
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three separate cases of multiple mail checks being intercepted en
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route to their intended destinations pardon me. These occurrences are
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believed to be related acts part of a larger identified
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problem burdening the commonwealth in the country, the simplicity of
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the methods utilized in altering the checks and obtaining illicit
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gains and usable identifiable information from them provides for a
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low cost, high reward fraud for threats. For threat actors,
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the theft of these mail checks is simply the initial
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phase of the fraud. The police Department has observed the
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thefts develop into identity theft to include the reuse of
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the victim's names, signatures, and addresses. Threat actors utilize the
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combination of identifiable information to conduct open research, open pardoning,
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open source research on the victim and in doing so
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build target packages and combo list which they utilize to
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commit further fraud or to sell to other threat actors.
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West Liberty Police Department observed threat actors to have open
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bank accounts, utilizing victims information, and to have utilized victim
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information and fraudulent acts against other victims, effectively making their
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identity with the original victims. The particular checks originating from
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multiple entities related to these investigations were destined for delivery
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in Georgia and Illinois. We have subsequentially identified further victims
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in Louisville and Philadelphia. During the course of the investigations,
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the West Liberty Police Department is conducting court authorized activity
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in cooperation with civilian fraud units within numerous financial institutions
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in multiple states, to include Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Minnesota,
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and New York. During the course of the investigations, the
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West Liberty Police Department has flagged two persons of an
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interest in Chicago, Illinois in Dalton, Illinois, and is working
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with law enforcement partners, financial institution investigators, and intelligence providers
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to confirm the identities of these persons of interest. However,
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it is anticipated these persons of interest are a small
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entity in a much larger scheme which we have identified
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while canvassing for similar cases and while conducting dec confliction
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with other jurisdictions. A simple Google search of check theft
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will provide the reader with countless pages of active and
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resolved investigations around the country related to this act. Often,
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a sophisticated yet rudimentary operation is identified which develops recognizable
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hierarchies and pipelines of theft from persons with special access
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to the material, robberies, burglaries, and organized crime, leading to
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physical and online markets showcasing these stolen articles. The financial
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losses are often reimbursed by financial institutions after identifying and
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confirming the fraudulent acts. However, the stage of identity theft
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continues against the victim, often without their knowledge as it
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relates to the active investigations. West Liberty Police Department has
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observed numerous forms of check fraud and identity theft to
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include check washing, check kiding, counterfeit checks, mobile deposit fraud,
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identity theft, check cloning. Aside from security measures utilized by
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the making of the checks by financial institutions and organizations
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to combat fraud, measures can be taken by the sender
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to enhance the security of mailing checks to include mailing
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via priority mail, allowing for the tracker of the article.
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This allows not only the sender and processor the ability
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to track the article during its journey, but also for
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law enforcement to identify probable interception locations of the article
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if the article becomes stolen. Other measures include utilizing appropriate
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packaging that effectively conceals the article's view from the naked
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eye and introduce lighting, utilizing online payment methods via secure banking,
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and utilizing indelible black and jail pens to compat to
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pardon me to combat chemical washing of the checks. These
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investigations represent only a portion of fraudulent crimes being actively
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investigated and prosecuted. Others include online romance scams, online extortion,
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cryptocurrency crimes, fishing, spoofing, malware introduction, bank fraud, account a
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pardon me account takeovers, and cloning, identity theft, and elder fraud.
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Statistics show check fraud is up thirty three hundred eighty
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five percent, with an estimated twenty billion in losses to
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victims in twenty twenty three alone and in twenty twenty five.
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Cyber crimes related to many of these frauds account it
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for victim's losses up to twenty one billion dollars educating
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yourself about the different types of scams and frauds, in
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combination with safeguards like strong passwords, limited open source information,
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and verification of requesters are simple and effective approaches to
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safeguard yourself from falling victim to these threat actors. Anyone
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with information regarding suspected fraudulent activity is urged to contact
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West Liberty Police Department at seven four three forty three
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forty pardon me seven three forty three eighty five. Our
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next article is water Board accepts resignations of Donala Harper.
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At April twentieth meeting, Judge Gaizy addresses Harper's comments board
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appointment process and noted as her state statue. Chair speaks
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on statement on PJT cost from Harper by Miranda M. Cantrell.
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The Morgan County Water District Board of Commissioners voted unanimously
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to accept Commissioner Donald Latta Donald Law Harper's resignation from
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the entity during a special meeting held one pm Monday,
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April twentieth at the County Government building. All four remaining
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board members, including Chairman Chris Adams, Commissioners William Lamaster, Ellen Motley,
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and Patty cor Cordeaux were in attendance. Also present was
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the water District's general manager, Andy LaGG, as well as
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magris states Tommy Fannon, Brandon Evans, and Eric Pelfrey. The
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meeting adjourned with no additional comments from the board members,
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leg or the magistrates. Judge Executive Jim Gazey initially announced
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Harper's resignation to wl EX on April fifteenth, following her
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remarks about the local resident Caitlin Haney, after Haney addressed
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board members during their regular April thirteenth meeting. Neither Harper
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nor Haney attended the special April twentieth meeting. After Haney's
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departure from the April thirteenth meeting, Harper made the following
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comment to follow board members prior to the German So,
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I asked Caney how far down did they drill to
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hit water at his house. It was going to cost
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too much to drill it down too far, But he
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doesn't care that it's going to cost an arm in
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a leg to put water to his house. I don't
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care if it's that little. I ever get water, Oh,
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blankety blank, ever get water? April thirteenth meeting, which Mountain
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telephone broadcast television will as well as the Spree TV
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production's Facebook page and YouTube channel, garnered significant attention on
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social media, with commenters largely classifying Harper's comments as unprofessional
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several and several calling her dismissal from the water board.
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Some posters were also urged the public to contact Judge
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Casey's office with complaints regarding Harper's statements at the board meeting.
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Commissioners are appointed by the Judge Executive. Judge Gasey, who
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was out of state admitt his father in law's passing
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at the time of this incident, issued a statement to
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the Courier on April nineteenth. I have received and accepted
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the resignation of Morgan County Water District Commissioner Donala Harper.
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Tments made during the recent board meeting do not reflect
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the standards and professionalism expected in public service. The vacancy
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will be reported to the Kentucky Public Service Commission as
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required by law, and the position will be filed filled
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pardon me promptly through standard appointment process with fiscal court approval.
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Our office remains committed to professional governance in addressing the
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water and service needs of Morgan county. The appointment process
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for the water District board members is as follows per
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state statue. If a district lies wholly within a single
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county or operates as a single county district as provided
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in paragraph C of this sub section, the Board of
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Commissioners shall be composed of either three or five members
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of as the County Judge Executive shall determine. Members of
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the board shall be residents of the district or of
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any incorporated or unincorporated area served by the district in
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the county which the district was originally established, who shall
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be appointed by the County Judge Executive with approval of
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the Fiscal Court. Initial appointments shall be for terms of two,
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three and four years as designated by the Court. Additionally,
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this process for filling board vacancies is as outlined on
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KRS seven four dot zero two zero number four. Vacancy
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shall be filled by the same appointing authority which is
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empowered to make the original appointment. Vacancies resulting from the
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cause other than expiration of the term shall be filled
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for the unexpected term only. Notwithstanding KRIS sixty seven point
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seventy ten. A vacancy resulting from the expiration of a
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term or death, resignation or removal of the incumbent shall
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be filled by the Public Service Commission if within ninety
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days following the vacancy. The vacancy has not been filled
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by appointment County Judge Executive with approval of the Fiscal Court.
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Judge Gayzy noted in an April twentieth interview with WKYT
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that the Kentucky Public Service Commission must also accept Harper's
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resignation before the vacancy can be filled. Caitlin Haney, who
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resides on Bethel Chapel Road off Highway one ninety one,
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indicated during the April thirteenth meeting that he had previously
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addressed the board in hope of obtaining water service for
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his home. An extensive discussion ensued as Haney highlighted the
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inadequacies of the well that currently serves his home, including
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low water pressure, hard water, and water stains. Haney questioned
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whether the Morgan County Water Department is actively pursuing grant
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funding for water line extensions, before mentioning the state's Water
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and Wastewater Assistance for Economically Restrained Systems WWA no W
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waters program, and urged board members to apply for those moneies.
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The Morgan County Water Department General Manager Andy Legg told
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Haney that the Water Department had received five hundred thousand
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dollars in W Water's funding. The Morgan County Water Department
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Board Chairman Chris Adams clarified last week to The Courier
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as no it previously noted in this publication. W Water
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funds awarded in twenty twenty five were allocated for payment
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of outstanding debts that were incurred during the administration of
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former Morgan County Water Department General Manager Shannon Elam and
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the previous board. However, leg indicated during the April thirteenth
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meeting that a pump station must be installed to provide
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adequate water pressure to Haines's home, and that such a
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project would require an engineer's planning and the approval of
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the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Additionally, Legg told The Courier
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on April twentieth that Hainey had previously stated the distance
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from the main line to his home is approximately a
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quarter of a mile. Chairman Adams clarified the board's response
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to Haney's requests last week's edition. In the Career to
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address mister Haney's desire to have water run to his home,
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we have offered to set a meter at cost as
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far as for all water customers, Adams said, by PSC regulations,
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we can only install a meter at the beginning of
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his driveway. We cannot install water lines from his meter
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once he chooses to have that place, and that is
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the customer's obligation as it has always been, and we
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cannot make an exception. Our priority is to reach areas
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with multiple families. Donald Harper echoed Chairman adams comments in
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an April nineteenth interview with WKYT and further stated that
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the cost involved in providing water service to Haines's home
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would be nearly seven hundred thousand dollars. Chairman Adams told
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The Courier April twentieth that he couldnot verify the amount
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cited by Harper, which he assumed would include the cost
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of a pump station. We have never put a price
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on it, Adams said, I'm not sure where she got
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that number. We can't even get a quote on it
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without consulting in engineer. Chairman Adams also reiterated, as Harper
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has in multiple public statements, that the Morgan County Water
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Department has not denied water access to Hainey. Haney told
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w l e X in an April fourteenth interview that
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he will continue to advocate for water access and again
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express his desire as stated during the April thirteenth meeting,
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to work with the Morgan County Water Department on the issue.
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For additional information, the next regular meeting of the Morgan
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County Water Department Water District Board of Commissioners is scheduled
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for six pm Monday, May left at the County Government
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Building located at four fifty Prestonburgh Street. Our next article
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is Commodities Giveaway for senior citizens scheduled May six. Commodities
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will be given out on Wednesday, May sixth from eleven
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am to four pm for the active and waiting list.
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It will be an Index Community Church Community Center at
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seventeen forty nine West Main Street. Please bring a tote
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or basket with your name on it. If you have
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any questions or concerns, call six oh six five two
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two thirty nine eighty eight or six oh six four
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nine five fifty six thirty one. Our next article is
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table tennis icon to return to West Liberty Dan C.
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Miller Classic three slated for April twenty fourth, twenty fifth,
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twenty six at Wellness Center. The national table tennis legend,
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Sea Miller will be returning to West Liberty for the
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third annual Butterfly Dan Sea Miller Classic three slated for
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April twenty fourth, twenty fifth, and twenty six at the
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Morgan County Wellness Center. Eastern Kentucky Table Tennis EKATT is
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set to host one of the premier table tennis events
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in America, which will kick off on Friday, April the
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twenty fourth, with Ce Miller and his son Dan Junior
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teaching the clinic winning table tennis on Friday April the
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twenty fourth from six to eight thirty pm. Other tournament
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events will include the following April twenty fifth Dan Sea
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Miller Classic Tournament beginning at nine am, April twenty sixth
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Dan Ce Miller Classic Giant Round Robin Tournament beginning at
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nine thirty am. Brian Risner of e K t T
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will serve as announcement director. We are beyond excited to
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have Dan See Miller, Dan See Miller Junior, Randy Sea Miller,
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Chip Colter, and some of the premier players in America
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at the Butterfly Dan S. Miller Classic three. Risner said
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it is the first three Star USA Table Tennis sanctioned
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tournament to be held in Kentucky. Risner and the kay
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E K t T would like to thank Judge Executive
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Jim Gaysey, West Liberty Tourism, West Liberty, Kawana's Club, Allen Construction,
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Bank of the Mountains, Doctor Ward's Animal Care Hospital, and
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Wells Ready Mix for their support of this event. For
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additional information regarding entry fees and more, contact tournament director
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Brian Risner at six oh six seven nine four twenty
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two ninety five or me em him at thhe b
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y ro n j at gmail dot com. Our next
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article is grand Jury indicts fifteen people in recent session.
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The Morgan County Circuit Court Grand Jury has indicted fifteen
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individuals in a recent court session. Number one Christopher Bush,
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twenty sixth of West Liberty, flagrant non support of minor child.
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Number two Chesty Lewis thirty nine of West Liberty, Kentucky,
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flagrant non support of minor child. Number three Lewis Scott Reid,
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forty four of Cannell City, Kentucky, burglary third degree assault,
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fourth degree criminal mischief first degree number four. Tim Gullett
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fifty four of West Liberty, Kentucky, giving officer false identifying information,
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possession of a controlled substance, first degree drug perphernalia by
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or possessed publican das oxication Number five, Dustin Praterer twenty
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seven of West Liberty, Kentucky. Tampering with physical evidence, public intoxication,
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possession of a controlled substance, first degree first offense meth amphetamine,
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drug paraphernalia by possess, possession of a firearm by convicted felon.
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Number six. Carol Gullet fifty six of West Liberty, giving
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false giving officer of false identifying information, public intoxication, drug
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paraphernalia by possess possession of firearm by convicted felon, Possession
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of a controlled substance, first degree, second offense, methamphetamine Number seven.
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Julie Wilder e Lee forty eight of Middlesboro, Kentucky, Promoting
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contraband first degree Eastern Kentucky correctional complex drugs, trafficking and
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control substance first degree first defense meth amphetamine trafficking and
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a control substance, second degree sub oxidon oxidon, Engaging in
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organized crime and or participating in organized criminal synegate, illegal
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drug trafficking activities and promotion of contraband and Eastern Kentucky
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Correctional Complex, Bobby number eight, Bobby Wilder, Junior fifty two
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of Miracle Kentucky Promoting contraband first degree Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex,
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Drugs trafficking in a control substance the first degree, first
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defense myth amphetamine tracking in a control substance, second degree
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sub oxum, Engaging in organized crime and or participating in
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organized criminal synegate, illegal drug activities and promotion of contraband
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at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex. This concludes excerpt from recent
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editions of The Licking Valley Courier. Your reader has been
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Janus On behalf of everyone here at radio. I thank
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you for listening, keep on listening, and I hope you
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have a very good day