Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Hazard Herald - 6.28.26

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Hazard Herald - 6.28.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of a Hazard Herald
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for news of Hazard and Perry County Humbley townshend. We
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begin with the online edition dated June twenty fourth, twenty
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twenty six. As a reminder, RADIOI as of reading service
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intended for people who are blind or have other disabilities
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that make it difficult to read printed material. Hazard approves
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agreement for public safety camera technology. A Hazard City Council
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approved at its June twenty second meeting a resolution to
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enter a master service agreement with Flock Group, Incorporated to
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implement public safety cameras in the city. The agreement will
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allow the city to utilize Flock camera technology designed to
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assist law enforcement and public safety efforts throughout the community, officials,
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said Hazard Police Department Captain Daniel Gross said the cameras
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can serve as a valuable tool when investigating traffic related
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incidents and other public safety concerns. Flock cameras can be
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set throughout the city and will help when it comes
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to collisions that intersection, said Gross. They are also equipped
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with license plate readers. According to city officials, the cameras
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capture still images that can be used by law enforcement
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to assist with investigations involved in tracit traffic incidents and
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other circumstances where vehicle identification may be needed. By supplying
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data that can help officers identify vehicles during investigations as well,
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City Manager Tony Ebersol said the technology has already proven
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effective in communities where it's been deployed. This technology is
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very important, said Eversoul. They have used these cameras to
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help recover kidnap children within probably several minutes. While trial
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gives Perry County students a hands on look at the
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justice system. Children from schools across Perry County stepped into
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a courtroom on June twenty second for a mock trial
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at the Perry County Courthouse, gaining a first hand look
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at how the justice system works. During an immersive experience
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organized by Boys and Girls Clubs in Appalachia, Students participating
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in the club's Summer Day camp assumed a variety of
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courtroom roles, including judge, bailiff, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors as
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they worked through a fictional case involving a missing cupcake.
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The mock trial was designed to introduce children to the
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legal process while helping build familiarity with local institutions and
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potential career paths. I think it's good to start young,
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and I feel like a lot of times our public
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perception of our court systems and our police officers is
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so negative that getting the children involved at an early
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age and seeing the process of how everything works is
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a good experience, said Kendrick Calhoun, chief operations officer for
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Boys and Girls Clubs in Appalachia. The case featured detectives, witnesses,
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and attorneys who worked to solve the mystery. After hearing
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testimony and reviewing evidence, the young attorneys ultimately determined the
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defendant was not guilty, with the investigation revealing a dog
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as a true culprit behind the missing cupcake. Beyond providing
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a fun activity, Calhoun said, the experience exposes children to
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professions they did not otherwise consider. Who knows we may
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have a defensid attorney or a judge inspired by this,
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She said, it shows them other career opportunities that they
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may be interested in that may not have been made
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aware of had they not attended the camp. The courtroom
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activity was part of the Boys and Girls Club's ongoing
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summer camp program, which offers educational and recreational opportunities for
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children throughout the summer. We're in the process of our
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summer camp, said Calhoun. We do theme weeks and this
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is our fourth week so far out of eight total.
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The children come to our site, which is located at
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Hazard Community and Technical College, and they participate in activities
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from ten am to four pm Monday through Friday. Calhoun
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said she was impressed by how engaged the students remaining
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throughout the exercise. I love seeing how comfortable the kids were,
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She said. They did a wonderful job and they were
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attended and following along. Well. I've been doing this for
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thirteen years and this is probably one of my favorite activities.
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Kylie Terry, a youth development professional with the Boys and
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Girls Clubs, said exposing children to the justice system at
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an early age can help them better understand its role
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in their lives and communities. Especially in our community with
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the crime rates and the upbringing of some of the children,
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I think it's important we introduced this to them early
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so they don't go through life not knowing they're part
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of it, she said. The school represented in the event
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were Hazard Elementary, roy G Eversoul Car Creek, r W
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Combes and East Perry Elementary. The mock trial was one
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of several themed activities planned during the club's eight week
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summer camp, providing students with opportunities to learn through hands
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on experience while exploring potential careers. Summer kicks off with
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Perry County Fair. Families from across the region attended the
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Perry County Fairs that returned June nineteenth through twentieth, bringing
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two days of entertainment, attractions, and community activities at the
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Perry County Park. The event featured a large inflatable water park,
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petting zoo, live music, stunt shows, vendors, and family friendly
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activities for all ages. It was another very successful county.
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Perry County Judge Executive Scott Alexander, It's another success due
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to the partnership of this city in county as we
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continue to work together. Community members gathered at Grand Park
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on June nineteenth for a free concert featuring performer Aristotle
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Jones as part of the Southeast Kentucky African American Museum
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and Cultural Centers in June teenth celebration. The family friendly
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event offered an evening of music, fellowship, and community engagement
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as residents came together in recognition of the holiday Fire
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Department conducting fire hydrant testing. Hazard Fire Department Chief Robert
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Keith said in a statement that fire hydrant testing will
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be conducted through July tenth. The Hazard Fire Department will
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be conducting its biannual fire hydrant testing throughout the city limits.
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Christopher Wabbaco Airport, Gardens, Combs, Bondyman, and Typo will continue
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through Friday, July tenth. Keith said this testing is a
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viil part of keeping our water lines flushed and for
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insurance rating requirements. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
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From the opinion page, look closely before leaping by Russ Cassiday.
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I generally try to operate under the idea that the
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simplest explanation for any action is the one is the
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right one In many cases. However, I also realize that,
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especially in the realm of government, most actions have through
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your motives driving them. Case in point, a recent story
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by the Associated Press which detailed that the administration of
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President Donald Trump had issued warning notices or corrective action
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plan requests citing pricing transparency issues. Like you probably were
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when you first saw this story emerge and I saw
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that Pipeful, Medical Sense and Appalachian Regional Hospital were included
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in the roster of hospital forceding warnings. I was a
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bit concerned, but to crib from Paul Harvey's old saying,
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I also was curious about the rest of the story.
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Both rh and PMC issued statements citing perfectly reasonable technical
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errors as the reason for the notice. For example pmc's case,
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an issue with a website was to blame. The hospital
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had not failed to disclose its pricing, but due to
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a website issue, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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couldn't get the right information when they did their blanket
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examination of hospitals nationwide. The issue was reported to PMC,
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action was taken to correct it, and to be fair,
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neither CMS nor the Trump administration issued a press release
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announcing the warning notices. However, I know a thing or
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two about journalism, and my gut that story was floated
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to the Associated press by someone who may have had
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a vested interest in making hospitals look bad or at
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least incompetent. Social programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and social
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Security used to be referred to as the third rail
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of politics. The references to the third rail in a
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typical subway system, which provides electricity to the trains. Touch
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it and you die. In the same way, if you
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even dared to suggest touching these social programs, you were
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touching our political third rail. It would be dead. That's
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not true today. In our current economic climate, people, many
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of whom should know better, and some who are using
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it to their advantaged, are taking aim at these social
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programs as there being a source of all of our woes.
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They're not. But I progress to really make well, it's
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to social programs. You have to convince the people that
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it's the right thing to do. And what I've seen
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over the past several years or efforts to not so
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gently guide public opinion against these programs. Maybe the simplest
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explanation for while this came about is the right one,
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just typical bureaucratic activity. However, I can't shake the feeling
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that perhaps this was intended to further the administration's aims
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of deeply cutting social programs. After all, if you want
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to cut medicaid, the medicare what better way to do that?
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Slowly and quietly beat the drum of the narrative that
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hospitals and medical providers are either incompetent or corrupt, even
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in cases like this where it appears to be a
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technical error. In the case of many of the warnings,
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if you want to cut programs like the Supplemental Nutrition
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Assistance program, it's simple beat the drums slowly and quietly
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implement the narrative that these programs don't actually help people
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and recipients are lazy and undeserving of help. Another tactic,
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eye fear, is taking place under the guise of transparency
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regulatory changes that put onerous duties on the state to
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stem fraud, a relatively low occurrence in light of the
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size of these programs, to make it so that when
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states fail a test which is designed to make them fail,
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you can make cuts. Again, the simplest explanation is often
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the right one. But I can't get the idea out
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of my head that there's something more behind all of this.
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I don't see the government demonizing gluttonous billionaires and trillionaires. Instead,
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I see a government that is currently using the limited
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cases of fraud or incompetence to paint our neighbors with
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a broad brush. It's disgusting enough when a working family
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that turns to assistance programs to help because their pay
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doesn't allow them to survive the skyrocketing costs of living
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in the modern United States feels shame for doing so.
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It's even worse when people who want for nothing are
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trying to sow seeds of division to make our attention
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away from what they're doing to us. Listen, I get it.
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Healthcare is a very scary thing, and insurance companies' actions
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en role in our current system aren't helping to reassure
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us our change is needed. Sure, our healthcare systems and
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individuals within them sometimes flawed and sometimes corrupt. Sure, However,
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I know many people who work in healthcare, and most
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of them are good folks with the best interests of
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the patients they serve in mind the quote Forrest Gump.
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I'm not a smart man, but I'm trying my best
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to examine them in this algorithmically driven world a little
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more closely before making up my mind. And understanding that
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those in power could potentially gain benefit by release of
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certain pieces of information, regardless of actual relevancy or veracity,
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is a key to better understanding what we're seeing and
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hearing it also doesn't hurt. Keep in mind that the
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social media platforms that many people count as their only
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source of information are owned and run by the technocrats
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who would benefit from lower taxes and fewer poor people. Again,
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please learn and absorb all the good, solid information you can,
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but also keep in mind that it could be intended
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to lead you down a path that's not good for
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you or your fellow man. The Guests column by John
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Park Kentucky is right to put reliable power first. Recently,
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I joined more than twenty Kentucky leaders, utilities, businesses, local officials,
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and community organizations in signing a letter from Dependable Power
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First Kentucky to EPA administrator Lee Zelden. Our message was straightforward.
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Kentucky supports EPA's efforts to restore balance to federal regulations
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that threaten the affordable and reliable electricity our farms, families,
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and communities depend on every day. That should not be controversial.
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It is common sense. Kentucky's energy advantage did not happen
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by accident. For generations, the Commonwealth has benefited from some
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of the most affordable electricity rates in the region because
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our power supply has been anchored primarily by dependable coal
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natural gas has helped too. Together, these resources provide more
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than ninety percent of Kentucky's electricity. In particular, has delivered
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around the clock power that's helped keep costs manageable for
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households and employers alike in counties like mine. Affordable and
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reliable power is not just a political talking point. It
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determines whether manufacturers can expand whether small businesses can keep
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their doors open, whether families can pay their bills, and
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whether towns can compete for new investment. Electricity is one
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of the foundations of economic development. When power becomes less
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reliable or more expensive, Kentucky families and businesses feel at first.
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That's why EPA's recent correction matters. For too long, federal
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energy and environmental policy fail to account for the realities
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of how the grid actually works. Rules that seem reasonable
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on paper can have serious consequences if they force reliable
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power plants to close. The result is higher costs, greater
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reliability risk, and less energy security. The proposed repeal of
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the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards Rule is an important example.
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Effective emissions controls are already widely deployed across the coal
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fleet Imposing additional compliance burdens on plants that are needed
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to keep the grid reliable would only add pressure to
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power system that's already being asked to do more than ever.
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Kentucky families and businesses would ultimately bear the costs. Kentucky
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should welcome innovation and new technologies, but in all of
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the above, energy strategy cannot mean by forcing dependable resources
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off the grid afore power replacements are ready, Kentucky families, farms,
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and employers cannot afford to gamble with reliable, affordable power.
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Kentucky's message to Washington should be clear, do not make
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it harder for us to keep the lights on, keep
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bills affordable, and grow our economy. EPA is right to
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restore balance to rules that went too far. Now, Kentucky
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must continue standing up for the reliable, affordable, dispatable cold
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resources that our families are using to keep US farms, businesses,
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and communities moving forward. John Park currently serves as the
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Deputy Judge Executive of Shelby County and as a member
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of the Dependable Power Kentucky First Coalition. Two hundred and
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fifty years of American tradition by Brandon Smith's State Senator
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for the district. As the Fourth of July approaches each year,
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we are reminded that Independence Days about us far more
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than fireworks and family gatherings. It's a time to reflect
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on the principles that gave birth to our nation and
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continue to guide it today. Freedom, opportunity, self government, and
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the enduring belief that a better future is always within reach.
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This year carries even greater significance as our nation prepares
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to celebrate America's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. For nearly
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two hundred and a half centuries, the United States has
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stood as a bold experiment in liberty and representative government.
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What began with a declaration from a small group of
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determined and courageous patriots grew into the greatest experiment in
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self governance the world has ever known. When our founding
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fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, they rejected monarchy and
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established a new vision for government rooted in the idea
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that power belongs to the people. That promise of freedom
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and self determination has carried generations of Americans through triumph, hardships,
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and moments that tested the very resolve of our nation.
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Through it all, the great Experiment has endured, and the
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world has been made the better for it. As we
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gather with family and friends this Independence Day, we celebrate
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not only the founding of our country and the values
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that have guided it, but the resilience of the American
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spirit that survived and thrived for two hundred and fifty years.
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We see the spirit alive today in hard working families
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and striving to build better lives, in small business owners
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creating opportunities in their communities, and in service members and
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veterans who continue to defend the common the freedoms that
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we cherish. The American dream has never promised an easy path.
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What it offers is the freedom to pursue opportunity, overcome challenges,
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and leave the next generation with something better than came.
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That promise remains as important today as it was in
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seventeen seventy six. Here in Kentucky, we know that freedom
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is not merely inherited. It's entrusted to us. From the
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Kentuckians who have worn our nation's uniforms, to the men
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and women serving their neighbors, raising families, building businesses, and
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strengthening communities. We continue to carry forward the traits that
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define America. So as flags wave and fireworks light up
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the sky this summer of fourth of July. Take a
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moment to reflect on what we're truly celebrating. Two hundred
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and fifty years of freedom, generations of Americans who fought
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to preserve it, and the enduring promise of the United
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States of America. Happy two hundred and fiftieth anniversary to
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our great nation. May God bless the USA. Here are
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the obituaries. James C. Combe seventy three diets June twenty first.
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John Charles Prater sixty four of Head died Wednesday, June seventeenth.
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Tommy Gibson seventy died Friday June fifth. Rosalie Everidge seventy
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six of Bontaman died Thursday June eighteenth, after forty years.
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Kentucky domestic violence organization closing this month. Spring Haven, a
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domestic violence organization in Elizabethtown, will close on June thirtieth.
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Its partner, organization, zero V, announced Wednesday. Zero V said
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that the closure was due to financial instability. The Kentucky
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Leonard has requested more details. Spring Haven has made a
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tremendous positive impact on the lives of thousands of survivors
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and their children in this forty years it's been opened
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in Kentucky's Lincoln Trail district. According to zero V, ZV
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recognizes this is a difficult time for the organization, its clients,
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and the larger community, and it's working to support spring
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Haven as it winds down its operations, the organization said
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in a statement. According to zero v's Wednesday statement, current
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clients will be able to access services through Barren River
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Area Safe Space in Bowling Green, the Center for Women
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and Families in Louisville, Bethany House in Somerset, and Greenhouse
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seventeen in Lexington. According to the most recent domestic violence
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data report, spring Haven provided in shelter services to seventy women,
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thirty children, and one man in twenty twenty four. The
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organization also provided support services outside of the shelter that
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year to one one hundred eighty seven women, four hundred
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and forty nine men, and forty five children. Support services
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included court advocacy, housing and career support, clothing, and more.
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Available data shows half of Kentucky women and a third
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of men will experience some level of intimate partner violence
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in their lifetime. Zero B is grateful to spring Haven's staff, volunteers, donors,
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and community partners for their four decades of dedication to
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support and empower survivors of domestic violence. Zerov said, countless
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adults and children have found safety, healing, and a new
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beginning because Spring Haven was there for them in their
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time of need. This is a legacy to be proud of.
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AT and T Kentucky targeting copper fee with ten thousand
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dollars reward. AT and T in Kentucky is offering a
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ten thousand dollars reward or tips leading to the arrest
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and conviction of copper theft suspects in Kentucky, and while
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AT and T officials say the theft is down in
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some places, there have been ninety nine thefts so far
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in twenty twenty six, costing the company roughly five hundred
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thousand dollars in repairs. However, according to AT and T
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Kentucky President Carlos Sanchez, the financial cost is not the
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only impact that's felt due to copper theft. The main
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problem here is that they're impacting important critical services to
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our customers, Sanchez said. When they cut copper lines, they
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many times cut our fib or iiO. This impacts police.
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A nine to one one center, maybe a hospital, a
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community clinic that may not be able to provide services.
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In the case of course law enforcement people won't be
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able to communicate and get emergency services. Sanchez said progress
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has been made in fighting back against copper theft, especially
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in pitcoun where a task force was put together against
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the crime. The crime is down thanks in big part
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for the leadership of the state Police, the local judge executives,
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deputy judge executive and others who've been working together. He said.
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We have providers who have joined in this effort. Kentucky
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State Police Public Affairs Officer Trooper Michael Coleman said the
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theft of telecommunications lines can be challenging for law enforcement,
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especially since it often occurs in remote areas. A big
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thing for us that we've been trying to use it
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as if it's somewhere where houses are close by. Is
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trying to use doorbell cameras or security footage to be
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able to get evidence to be able to prosecute those subjects,
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he said. Coleman agreed with Sanchez that progress is being
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made in the fight against copper theft, an effort undertaken
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recently in Mingo County, West Virginia, where an undercover operation
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was put together which resulted in criminal charges against numerous
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individuals for selling telecommunication lines, as well as the owner
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of recycling businesses who was also allegedly buying the material.
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I think that theterred people, Coleman said, some of these
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recycling businesses kind of got spooked, for lack of a
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better word, and they weren't taking it in. It's supplying demand.
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If they can sell it, they're going to it's vital.
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He said that efforts against telecommunications deff continues, especially since
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copper thieves often also cut fiber cables with houses being
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so far spread out and sell signal not very good
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in some of these areas. People depend on that landline
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for medical emergencies to be able to call out. Coleman said,
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it's not a victimless crime. It's impacting the entire community.
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A bill which was approved by the legislature common said
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makes it a felony to even possess tile a communication line.
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At and T service technician William Gowey said that after
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the coatings are stripped away from the copper wiring, there's
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very little copper to be sold. This concludes the reading
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of the Hazard Herald. Please stay tuned for continued programming.
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Thank you for joining me and on behalf of everyone
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here at Radio Live. This is Lee Townshend wishing you
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a good day. Is not good. To provide information on
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copper Theift in Kentucky, you can call eight hundred eight
27:37
zero seven four two oh five one eight hundred eight
27:43
O seven four two O five