Transcript

1.15.26 · Springfield Sun

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Speaker 1: Welcome to this reading of the Springfield Design. Your leader
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today is Amy Jones Timmoy. As a reminder, RADIOI is
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a reading service intended for people who are blind or
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who have trouble reading the written words. We begin with
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the article dated Wednesday, January fourteenth, twenty twenty six. Washington
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County Schools to receive seventy five thousand dollars Spark Brand
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by Jenna George. Washington County Schools has been selected as
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a recipient of the Kentucky Transition three sixty supporting post
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Secondary Achievement and Resources for Kentucky Students with Disabilities or
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Spark Brand. This seventy five thousand dollars grant from the
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Kentucky Department of Education will be used to strengthen the
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foundation the school system already has that help students with
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disabilities transition to adulthood. The announcement came at the January
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fifth meeting of the Washington County School Board. With this
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meeting kicking off this calendar year, the board's positions came
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out for reelection. Although each physician had the opportunity to
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have another individual in its place, each slot will be
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retained by their prior owner. The school board chairman remains
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Curtis Hamilton, the board treasurer is Judy Spaulding, Legislative liaison
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continues to be Jeremy Thompson, and the board's secretary is
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doctor Robin Cochrane. This week, the underground electric and plumbing
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was completed at the new sports complex, along with hopes
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of cementing over top of it. The rainy days delayed
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construction for the complex, although with sunny days ahead there
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is time for the construction workers to double down on
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their efforts and hopefully make up for lost time. Just
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before break, previous high school principal Charlie Cox resigned. With
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his resignation, the school needed interim principle, and former WHS
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principal Melissa Hutchins is that individual. Hutchins will remain as
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the principal of Washington County High School until May from
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the twenty twenty five twenty twenty six school year wraps up.
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As for the schedule for the board meetings in the
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twenty twenty sixth year, each will continue to be on
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the third Monday of the month. However, there will be
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exceptions to the school in the months of May and
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December this year alalm with January. In twenty twenty seven,
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the meeting for May will be on the eleventh and
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in December on the seventh. The meetings will begin at
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six pm, per routine. Next month, the school board meeting
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will be on February sixteenth, twenty twenty sixth, at six
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pm at the Tel Center. Dollar General robbed at gunpoint
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by Jane Reclimb January fourteenth, twenty twenty sixth. The Dollar
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General store and Industry Drive in Springfield was robbed a
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gunpoint on Saturday, January tenth. According to a release from
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the Springfield Police Department, the robbery occurred Saturday night at
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approximately nine ten pm. Springfield Police in Washington County Share responded,
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but suspect had fled the sea. The report stated an
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area of search was conducted, but the suspect was not found.
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No one was injured, but the suspects left with approximately
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fifteen hundred dollars in cash. Police chiefs Sue MUDs that
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the suspect is a male unknown race, about five foot eight,
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medium build, wearing dark clothing and an orange brown ski mask,
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light colored footwear and sunglasses. He had blue, yellow and
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white gloves and was carrying a dark colored backpack. The
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report states the suspects left on foot in an unknown direction.
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There's no information on a possible vehicle. Other counties have
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been advised, and law enforcement asked that anyone with information
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please contact local law enforcement. Legislative coffee focuses on state budget, environment,
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and education, also addressed by Jane Reed Climbed January fourteen
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to twenty twenty six. Medicaid, education, and incarceration make up
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ninety percent of Kentucky's fifteen billion dollar budget. Senator Jimmy
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Higden told those gathered at the Opera House for his
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annual Legislative Coffee on Thursday, January eighth. The event is
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sponsored and hosted by the Springfield, Washington Chamber of Commerce.
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Budget issues highlighted the presentations by Senator Higden and Representative
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Kim Kinge before opening the floor for questions. Higden and
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king are long standing members of the legislature. Each have
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received number five in seniority in their respective chambers. As
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the sixty day legislative session gets under way, legislators are
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meeting in temporary facilities that are small and allow for
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no guests. I hate that, said Higdon. The sessions can
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be watched on k E T, but guests are not
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permitted into the meeting rooms. Higden said the renovations on
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the capitol are expected to take three to five years,
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but King said it could take much longer. In the meantime,
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temporary arrangements have been made for legislators. The state's budget
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is always the top priority in a sixty day session,
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and it was the top issue at the legislative coffee. Quote.
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We have been working on the budget since passing the
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current one in twenty twenty four, King said. Quote. We
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have fifteen billion dollars in revenue, said Higden, and one
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hundred and fifty billion dollars in request for how to appropriate.
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Higden went on to say that two years ago the
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state had a five billion dollar surplus. He said they
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wanted to use some of that surplus on one time
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projects like infrastructure, but not on recurring expenses. At that time,
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legislators spend two billion dollars per cent two billion dollars
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on one time projects. He said. The guideline is to
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keep ten percent of the budget in a rainy day fund,
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but he believes it should be a little more than that.
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We will keep approximately two billion dollars in that rainy
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day fund, he said. He noted recent cuts to snap
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Medicaid and Medicare on the federal level means the state
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will have to make up the difference. With one in
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three Kentuckians on Medicaid, Kentucky will spend about five billion
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dollars on the program. While on the topics of budgets
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and finance, Keene announced the most recent cut in the
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personal income tax. On January first, twenty twenty six. The
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state's income tax will drop from four and a half
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percent to three and a half percent. She said she
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does not expect it to go lower than three percent,
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as that would require adding sales tax to currently untaxed
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items like food and residential utilities. She said legislators do
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not want to tax those necessary items. The floor was
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then opened for questions, as Higden said the purpose of
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the event is to hear from constituents and learn about concerns.
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The first question came from volunteer firefighter Scott Lawson. He
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presents his question by stating local departments receive eleven thousand
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dollars from the state, that it takes over four thousand
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dollars to outfit one new firefighter with the required safety gear.
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He also mentioned a small tax credit for volunteers. Higden
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said he supports increased funding for volunteer fire department and
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noted when you call nine one at nine one one
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in an emergency, you expect a timely response and responders
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who are well trained and well equipped, he said. King
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noted the issue of local firefighters was made even more
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real to her when there was a fire in a
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hay barn at her Mercer County home, and she strongly
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supports any assistance the state can give to those volunteers.
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County Judge Executive and Graves asked them to listen to
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the area development districts and county judges. He noted the
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county's biggest strain is jails and ems and thanks them
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for their help in those regards. How Good asked about
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pre K for all the governor's plan won't pass, said Higden.
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He noted access to pre K is important, but the
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governor's plan for mandated pre K is not feasible at
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this time. When you mandate something, you must fund it,
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Higden said. He went on to say that the schools
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do not have the space to house a mandated pre
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K program. We hope to come up with a plan
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that is affordable, he concluded. King said she does not
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support Manda Harry's pre K because it would put childcare
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providers out of business and she cannot support anything that
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hurts local business. She also noted that schools do not
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have the facilities, staff, or other necessities for such a program.
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When New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future asked about help
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for farmers, Higden noted there are many grants and programs
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for farmers that are greatly underutilized. The next set of
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questions came from Marge Crowley. Crowley complained about pollution from
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coal fired electricity generators. When asked what she would do
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with a toxic waste at the end of life of
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solar panels and woodmills, she refused to answer, but continued
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to press King about environmental issues. Crowley and others from
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the Democratic Party brought posters and attempted to heckle the speakers,
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blaming Higden's for federal cuts, and tried to talk over
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Higden and King when they were attempting to answer the
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questions and respond to the concerns. Lynn Shelburne, candidate for
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Higden's c Asked about K twelve education and funding, King
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responded that public education is how she put it, virtually
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or vitally important in Washington and Mercer County. She said
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she supports public charter schools and cited Bergen Independent Schools
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as an example. The event concluded with information from Darren
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Thompson from the Water Company regarding the Willisburg Dam project
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and what lowering the level of the lake during the
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upgrade to the dam will mean to the water company
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and its customers. Ashton Jones named top ten in state
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d y W by Dane Reclined. January fourteenth, twenty twenty five,
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Washington County's Distinguished Young Woman, Ashton Jones made her way
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into the top ten of the Distinguished Young Woman of
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Kentucky competition. Jones competed with twenty eight other participants in
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the state competition over the weekend after winning the local
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title in June. Following several days of activities and competition
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in Lexington, Jones was named a top ten finalist, earning
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her another five hundred dollars scholarship to add to the
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six nine hundred fifty dollars earned during the local competition.
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Participants are judged on five separate areas and review scholastics, fitness, talent,
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and self expression. Each area accounts for ten to twenty
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five percent of the total score. Final results from the
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Distinguished Young Women of Kentucky competition were not available as
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of The Sun's Sunday morning print time. Local students receive
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academic honors by Jane Reidkline. January fourteenth, twenty twenty six.
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Lindsay Wilson University. Christy Coulter from Springfield has been named
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to the Lindsay Wilson University Deansless for the Fall twenty
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twenty twenty five semester. The Deansless recognizes full time undergraduate
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students who have achieved a grade point average of three
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point five zero or higher on a scale of four
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point zero zero and who were in good academic standing
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for this semester University of the Cumberlands. In recognition of
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academic performance, the Office of Academic Affairs at the University
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of the Cumberland has announced the following students were named
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to the Deans List for the Fall twenty twenty five semester.
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Bethany Deuis of Springfield, Kentucky. Catherine Hood of Willisburg, Kentucky,
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Brianna Norton of Willisburg, Kentucky, Tamila Pack of Springfield, Kentucky,
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Eric Williams of Willisburg, Kentucky. The following students were named
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to the President's List for the fall twenty twenty five semester.
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Veronic Dakaslow of Springfield, Kentucky, Caitlin Fairley of Springfield, Kentucky,
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Colehannon of Springfield, Kentucky, Colin Reynolds of Springfield, Kentucky, Kristen
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Ruley of Springfield, Kentucky, and Ronnie Saltzman of Springfield, Kentucky.
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Farm Credit mid America opens applications for twenty twenty six
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scholarships and recline. January fourteenth, twenty twenty six, Farm Credit
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mid America is now accepting applications for its Customer Scholarships
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and Farm Credit Mid America scholars Program. Over the past decade,
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the association has awarded more than two million dollars in
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financial and educational support to students pursuing careers that strengthen
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agriculture and rural communities, and expects to award up to
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one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars in academic supports
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this year. These students represent the future of agriculture and
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rural communities, said Scott Feedle Talent Programs, an onboarding manager
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at Farm Credit Mid America. Our investment in their education
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is more than support. It's a partnership to ensure long
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term success for them and for the communities they serve.
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Customer Scholarships provide fifteen hundred dollars in financial support to
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children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Mid America as customers
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pursuing careers connected to agriculture or rural communities. Applicants may
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attend an accredited to or four year college, university, vocational school,
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or trade school. The Farm Credit Mid America scholars program
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is open to rising college sophomores and juniors majoring and agriculture.
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Each year, a new cohort of students received five thousand
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dollars in financial support over two academic years. Scholars also
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take part in on site learning and travel experiences focused
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on leadership development and financial literacy. To learn more about
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the Farm Credit Mid America's scholarship programs, including eligibility requirements
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and application deadlines, or to apply, visits the scholarship's page
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on their website, and just to note that the College
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Scholarship applications are due by January fifteenth, twenty twenty six.
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Applications for the Farm Credit Mid America scholars Program are
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due by January thirty first, and recipients for both programs
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will be announced in twenty twenty six. Higden files Phone
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Down Kentucky Act to curb distracted driving by Jane Reclimbed
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January fourteenth, twenty twenty five. Senator Jimmy Higden, a Republican
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from Lebanon, has officially filed Senate Bill twenty eight, known
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as the Phone Down Kentucky Act, to kick off the
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twenty twenty sixth legislative session, which began last week in Frankfort. Higden,
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serving his final term as state senator, is seeking to
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close gas in state law that currently allow drivers to
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use cell phones behind the wheel. The legislation would expand
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Kentucky's existing ban on texting while driving to prohibit nearly
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all hand held use of mobile devices while operating a vehicle.
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Exceptions remained for GPS, navigation emergencies and law enforcement. Higden,
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who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said the measure is
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aimed at preventing further tragedy on Kentucky roads. The proposal
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is inspired by the twenty twenty one death of two
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year old Camberly Burns, who was killed in a crash
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caused by a distracted driver. Her mother, Elisa Burns, has
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become a vocal advocate for reform and testified in supported
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the measure during an interim committee hearings last fall. All
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it takes is one glance at a phone to shatter
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a family forever. Higden said, this bill gives us a
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chance to prevent more heartbreak. Distracted driving killed more than
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three hundred people in the US in twenty twenty two.
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According to federal data. Kentucky is one of a few
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remaining states without a comprehensive handheld phone band, despite all
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seven of its neighboring states adopting similar laws. The final
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language reflects input from public safety officials and the Kentucky
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Transportation Cabinet. Higden said that he hopes the bill will
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get swift bipartisan support. This is about protecting lives, he said.
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We've waited long enough. Kentucky House Democrats roll out a
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common Vision for the Commonwealth by Jane Reid Climb January fourteenth,
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twenty twenty six Kentucky House Democrats in Frankfurt unveled their
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twenty twenty sixth legislative agenda last week with a focus
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on affordability and easing financial pressures on working families. The platform,
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titled a Common Vision for the Commonwealth, outlined five priorities
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Democrats stay will guide their proposals in the twenty twenty
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sixth session of the Kentucky General Assembly. No Hungary Kentuckian,
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affordable and accessible healthcare, an affordable Kentucky home, strong schools,
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and a fair shot for families. House Democratic floor leader
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Pamela Stevenson of Louisville said the agenda reflects what lawmakers
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here from people across the state. Families are working hard
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and still falling behind. Stevenson said groceries cost more, rent,
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childcare and utilities cost more, healthcare cost more, wages have
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not kept up. Stevenson said those pressures are not accidental,
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but the result of policy choices that have favored wealthy interest.
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The struggles people face in the economy that too often
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seems rigged against them are not a hoax, she said.
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On food security, the caucus proposed adding fifty million dollars
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to the state budget in twenty twenty six and sixty
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six million dollars in twenty twenty seven to offset new
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federal cost ships affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which
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serves nearly six hundred thousand Kentuckians. If we want people
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to have food on the table, we must protect the
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programs that help make this possible, Stephenson said. The platform
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also calls for strengthened the Meals for Seniors programs and
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branding support for food banks and local food partnership, including
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efforts that connect Kentucky farmers with hunger relief organizations. Health
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Democratic Caucus Chair Lindsay Burke of Lexington outlines healthcare proposals
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aimed at limiting medical debt and stabilizing rural hospitals. When
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you are sick, you shouldn't face roadblocks like impossibly high cost,
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nky weight times, or distant travel for the care you need,
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Burke said. We want a Kentucky where a health crisis
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does not become a financial crisis. House Democrats propose capping
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medical debt interests at three percent, preventing medical debt from
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damaging credit scores, and requiring equal insurance coverage for mental
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and physical care. The agenda also calls for investing three
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hundred and thirty five million dollars in a rural hospital fund,
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citing the risk of closing of closure facing dozens of
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hospitals statewide when a rural hospital struggled and entire community
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fills it. Burke says Er said housing affordability was addressed
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by how democratics live. Joshua Watkins of Louisville, who said
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Kentucky faces a shortage of roughly two hundred thousand affordable
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housing units, with too many Kentuckians spending nearly half of
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their income on rent. Families need relief now, not years
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from now, Whatakins said, The conference is proposing a one
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hundred million dollar Affordable Housing Loan Fund to help local
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governments and housing partners build and preserve affordable homes. Education
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proposals include expanded access to early childhood education, pay increases
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aimed at retaining teachers, and measures to keep higher education affordable.
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Watkins said Democrats support adjusting key scholarships to keep pace
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with rising costs and creating a refundable tax credit for
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contributions to five hundred and twenty nine college, stating plans
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we envision a Kentucky where every child starts school ready
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to learn, where teachers can afford to stay in the
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profession they love, where higher education is accessible, and where
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every student has the support they need. Wakin said. The
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agenda also calls for raising Kentucky's minimum wage, which has
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not changed in sixteen years. Burke sid Democrats propose increasing
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the wage in gradual steps to reach seventeen dollars an
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hour by twenty twenty nine, with future increases tied to inflation.
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If you work full time, you should be able to
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afford the basics, Burke said. Stevenson closed the event by
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describing the platform as both a policy roadmap and a
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statement of priority. We can tell what the state values
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by where we put our money in focus. Stevenson said
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that money and SOFIS should be on creating an environment
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where families can work and thrive. These priorities feeding families,
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creating homes, protecting health, improving wages, and giving tax relief
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to working families form our common vision for the Commonwealth,
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she said. Republican voter registration surges in December by Jane
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Reid Climb January fourteenth, twenty twenty six GOP accounts for
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nearly all new registrations on the last daya file of
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a candidate in the twenty twenty six primary season. Secretary
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of State Michael Adams announced that in December twenty twenty five,
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Kentucky's voter roles grew by six thousand, five hundred fifty
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with Republicans picking up five thousand, six hundred ninety of
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the new of the net new registrant. Eighty six percent
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of our new voter registrations in December were Republican. Adam said,
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this shows the importance of our primary elections and we
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hope for a solid turnout in May. In December, four thousand,
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four hundred twenty two voters were removed, three thousand, nine
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hundred six who were deceased, two hundred thirty two who
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moved out of state and re registered, one hundred seventy
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fellony convicts, sixty six adjudged mentally incompetent, seventeen who voluntarily
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de registered, nineteen duplicate registrations, and twelve non citizens. Republican
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registration constitutes forty eight percent of the electorate, with one million,
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six hundred one thousand, ninety eight voters. Republican registration grew
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by five thousand, six hundred ninety voters appoint three six
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percent increase. Democratic registration accounts for forty one percent of
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the electorate with one million, three hundred seventy five thousand,
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three hundred seventy eight voters. Democratic registration fell by four thousand,
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five hundred eighty a point three three percent decrease. There
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are three hundred seventy two thousand, nine hundred seventy three
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voters registered under other political affiliations, mostly independent, making up
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eleven one percent of the electorate. Other registration rose by
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one thousand and eighteen a point two seven percent increased.
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And now turning to some obituaries from the area, Terry
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Lee Tope, seventy five, of Springfield, Kentucky, passed away peacefully
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surrounded by his family on Saturday, January third, twenty twenty six,
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at five thirty pm at the Ephraim mcdell Medical Center
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in Danville, Kentucky. Funeral services were provided by the Carrion
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Sun Funeral Home. Visitation was Wednesday, January seventh, twenty twenty six,
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at ten am, and burial was at the Beach Grove
24:46
Baptist Cemetery. Geraldine Francis Jerry Smith, seventy five of Springfield, Kentucky,
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passed away at four thirty one pm Sunday, January fourth,
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twenty sixth at the Springview Hospital in Lebanon. A Mass
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of Christian burial was held at eleven o'clock Wednesday morning,
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January seventh at the Saint Dominic Catholic Church, with the
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Reverend Culpepper Elliott officiating. Inermitt was at the Saint Dominic
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Holy Rosary Cemetery. Harry and Sun Funeral Home was in
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charge of the arrangements. Turning to a little sports, commander
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Et continue to struggle, Washington County couldn't come back from
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behind as Bullet East won eighty six to thirty eight
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in a girls' high school basketball matchup on Wednesday, January seventh.
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With the Walls, Washington County fell to one and eleven
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and then the Commander's fall in the semi finals of
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the fifth Region all a classic. Commander's outlast Dragons and
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fifth Region all a classic. Opening round determined. Washington County
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outlasted Green County seventy one to sixty nine during the
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opening round of the fifth Region All a classic. On Monday,
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January fifth. The Commanders and Dragons exchanged leads throughout the
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tournament game. Washington County outsquored Green County eleven to nine
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in the opening quarter. The Green County moved out in
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front in the second period and entered halftime ahead twenty
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nine to twenty six. Balancing back after the break. Washington
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County regained the lead early in the second half and
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exited the third quarter leading fifty one to forty three.
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Washington County shot forty seven point eight percent twenty two
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to forty six from the field. The Commanders made six
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of twenty three three point sol goal attempts. Washington County
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shot seventy percent or twenty one to thirty from the
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free throw line. The Commanders benefited from a balanced scoring effort.
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Colonels eliminate Commanders from fifth Region ALA Classic. Caverna eliminated
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Washington County from the sith Region all A Classic, defeating
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the Commander eighty one to fifty six during the semi
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finals of the tournament at Bethlehem on Wednesday, January seventh.
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With the walls, Washington County fell to three and ten.
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Caverna excelled offensively and defensively. And this concludes excerpt from
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recent editions of the Springfield Sun. Your leader today has
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been Amy Jones, timmoy On behalf of everyone here at radio.
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I thank you for listening, keep on listening, and have
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a good day.