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Manchester Enterprise - 3.6.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the Manchester Enterprise to read news
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from and around Manchester. Your reader today is Jim Rice.
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We will begin with the addition dated March fourth, twenty
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twenty six. As a reminder, RADIOI as a 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. Top Fed
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comes to Manchester. FBI Director Cash Patel Congressman Rogers announce
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federal funding for law enforcement agencies Manchester. Federal, state, and
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local law enforcement officers from across Eastern Kentucky gathered at
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Eastern Kentucky University's Manchester campus this week as FBI Director
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Cash Battel headlined an invitation only law enforcement appreciation luncheon
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and panel discussion organized by US Representative Hal Rogers. The
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closed door event, which was not open to the public
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or media, brought together officers from agencies throughout Kentucky's fifth
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Congressional district to discuss rural policing strategies and crime fighting
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efforts in small communities and mountain towns. Quote I invited
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Director Cash Paatel to come to Eastern Kentucky to celebrate
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our law enforcement officers in rural America. Rogers said. During
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the event, Rogers announced that he had secured twenty million
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dollars in federal funding for communications equipment designed to improve
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coordination among agencies during emergencies and natural disasters. Quote you
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can't do the job if you don't have communications equipment unquote,
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Patel said, emphasizing the importance of interoperable systems that allow
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agencies to communicate seamlessly across jurisdictions. Petel also pointed to
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what he described as crime fighting successes under the Trump administration,
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citing a lower national murder rate and significant fentanyl seizures
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in Kentucky as examples of ongoing federal enforcement efforts. Protests
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outside the luncheon while officials met inside, a loan protester
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stood quietly outside the venue. Remy Hicks held a weed
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eater and a sign that read, quote who was supposed
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to protect Doug from LPD? Question mark question mark question mark.
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Hicks was referencing Douglas Doug Harless, who was shot and
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killed by officers with the London Police Department in December
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twenty twenty four as they attempted to serve a warrant
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for a stolen weed eater at what was later determined
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to be the wrong residence. A grand jury declined to
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indict any of the officers involved in the shooting. Quote.
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I hope we can get justice for Doug Harless, accountability
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and transparency on the case. Somebody to take responsibility for
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their actions unquote, Hicks said. Hicks said he did not
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personally know Harless, but shares concerns voiced by several Laurel
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County officials who have formally requested a federal review of
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the case. In a February twenty third, twenty twenty sixth letter,
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Laurel County Judge Executive David Westerfield asked the FBI, the
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US Attorney's Office for the Eastern Kentucky District of Kentucky,
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and US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to conduct
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an inquiry into the fatal shooting. When asked during the
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news conference about the request, Patel said he was not
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personally familiar with the letter, but indicated that any such
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request would follow standard review procedures. Quote. I don't have
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personal knowledge of the letter, but I'm sure if it
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was sent, it was received unquote, Patel said. Quote. What
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we do with any request or inquiry like that is
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there's a process with the to review the matter with
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our state and local authorities and our partners at the
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Department of Justice, and then we'll make a decision on
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whether or not, based on the facts and the law,
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any sort of inquiry is further required, we will look
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at it. Hicks and others advocating for further review said
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they are now waiting to see whether federal authorities will
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move forward with the investigation. Next article. Big Acts coming
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to ce Sea Days. Eddie Montgomery, Sawyer Brown headline Clay
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County Day's festival Manchester. Clay County Days will return May
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twenty eighth through the thirtieth, twenty twenty six, bringing three
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days of music, celebration and community pride to Clay County, Kentucky.
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Organizers have announced a strong entertainment lineup headlined by country
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music favorites Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery, along with country
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music legends Sawyer Brown. The annual festival hosted in Clay
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County continues to grow each year and has become one
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of the region's premiere summer events. This year's musical lineup
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blends national acts with regional and local favorites offering something
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for every music fan. Joining the headliners will be Elvi
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Shane Second Helping Dowanna and the Funky Bunch, Alex Miller,
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Paisley Grace, and Red River Gorge. Organizers say the diverse
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mix of country, Southern rock, and regional talent reflects the
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festival's commitment to both big stage entertainment and hometown roots.
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Clay County Days He's evolved into more than just a
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concert series. The three day event traditionally features food vendors,
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craft booths, family activities, and community showcases that draw visitors
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from all across Eastern Kentucky and beyond. Local tourism leaders
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emphasize the economic impact the event brings to Manchester and
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surrounding communities, with restaurants, shops, and lodging facilities seen increased
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traffic throughout the weekend. The festival is presented with support
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from Clay County Tourism and Manchester Tourism, whose continued investment
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has helped elevate the event's profile. Premium sponsors include Clay
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County Tourism and Manchester Tourism. In recent years, Clay County
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Days has become a cornerstone event for the area's tourism
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Calendar officials say events like this are key to attracting
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visitors and showcasing Clay County's natural beauty, hospitality, and growing
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entertainment scene. The festival branding this year's features a scenic
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mountain backdrop, reflecting the county's Appalachian heritage and outdoor appeal.
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Organizers say that theme can't captures what makes Clay County
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special music, mountains, and community. Additional details regarding performance times,
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vendor registration, and event activities are expected to be released
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in the coming weeks. For residents, Clay County Days represents
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a time to gather and celebrate local pride. For visitors,
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it offers an opportunity to experience the culture, music, and
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welcoming spirit that define Clay County. Mark your calendars for
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May twenty eighth through the thirtieth. Twenty twenty six, Clay
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County Day's promises three days of unforgettable entertainment in the
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heart of eastern Kentucky. Launch Leap Accelerators named by one CC.
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Clay County is celebrating a major milestone with the start
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of the first ever one CC Launch and Leap Accelerator
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presented by one Clay County empowered by SORE Innovation. The
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accelerators selected two inaugural cohorts for twenty twenty six Launch
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supporting early stage entrepreneurs and Leap, supporting existing Clay County
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businesses preparing for their next phase of growth. The one
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cced Launch and Leap Accelerator was created to strengthen Clay
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County's local economy by helping commit Unity members turn ideas
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into viable operations and helping establish businesses expand with intention.
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Over six weeks, fellows take part in guided programming that
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results in a practical business model, a twelve month roadmap,
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and a basic financial plan tied to measurable milestones. This
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inaugural selection process was highly competitive, drawing forty one strong applicants.
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Every applicant should be proud of the quality of ideas
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and commitment demonstrated. Applications were reviewed by five judges appointed
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by SORE and evaluated using the co founder's OS system
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to support a consistent and objective comparison process. Upon successful
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completion of the program, fellows are eligible for micro grant
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from one Clay County to help move their businesses forward
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meet the one CC Launch Elite Fellows Launch cohort for
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idea stage and early stage entrepreneurs. One CC Launch Fellows
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Shannon Garrett Shannon Marie Art Potterswill, a pottery business building
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toward a dedicated studio in future storefront with plans to
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offer classes. Cassidy Hensley The Village Spoon, a proposed ice
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cream shot paired with soups and sandwiches plan for downtown Manchester.
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Antt Mitchell Sweet Annie's a home based bakery focused on
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custom desserts in expanding kitchen capacity to serve more community
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orders and events. Jared Smith Jay Rod Customs and Repairs,
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a custom phishing, ride, build and repair business focused on
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Hadn't crafted, made to order gear for anglers. Leap cohort
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for existing revenue generating Clay County businesses ready to expand,
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hire or reinvest locally once he see Leap Fellows. Michael
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Bargo Bargo's Guns and Ammal, a retail and training business
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expanding education and community focused offerings. Maggie Bowling Old Home
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Place Farm, a farm and subscription based food business expanding workshops,
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events and regional education programming. Lisa and Amy Bork Acres
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of Grace Farm of Bake Goods and Farmed the Table business,
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expanding into more on farm learning and agritourism experiences. Jackson
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Mutton Fancy Pet Grooming and Design LLC, a grooming and
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pet care business, planning facility improvements and expanded services. Kelsey
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Moore Slab and Cedar Ceramics. The Artists Loft, expanding from
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pottery sales into creative community space with classes, exhibits and events.
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Michael Moore six to oh six Kitchen, a mobile food
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and coffee concept focused on consistent weekday service and specialty
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specialty coffee offerings. John Taylor Smith Cross Mountain Campground, an
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established destination campground working to expand overnight lodging in visitor capacity.
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Community Showcase Day. The public is invited to attend and
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support the inaugural Fellows at Community Showcase Day on April
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twenty second, twenty twenty six, from twelve to three pm
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at EKU, Manchester. Community members are encouraged to come out,
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meet the entrepreneurs and celebrate the first chapter of the
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one CC Launch and Leap Accelerator. The first ever cohort
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marks an important step toward forward for entrepreneurship in Clay County,
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setting the foundation for continued business growth, job creation, and
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long term local investment. The road to rut Tigers opened
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with top seed Bell County in first round of Region
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tourney by Tanner Hoskins Enterprise Sports. Coming into the thirteenth
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Region tournament as the forty ninth district runner up, Clay
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County knew the path forward wouldn't be easy, but drawing
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the region's hottest team in the opening round that's about
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as tough as it gets. The Tigers will square off
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Wednesday night against twenty five and six Bell County squad
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that has been nothing short of dominant this season. Coach
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Brad Seismore's Bobcats finished with the best overall record in
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the thirteenth Region and went a perfect fifteen to zero
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against in region opponents, a remarkable feat in one of
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Kentucky's most competitive regions. That run included a signature sixty
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four to fifty nine victory over North Laurel and Bell
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captain's district tournament with an emphatic seventy two to forty
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win over Harlan to claim the fifty second district championship.
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The Bobcats bring one of the most explosive offenses in
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the region into Corbin Bell has poured in two thousand,
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two hundred and forty four points this season, averaging seventy
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two points per game, the highest scoring output in the
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thirteenth Region. Senior Blake Burnett leads the charge at nineteen
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points per game while shooting an efficient sixty percent from
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the floor. Junior Ethan Buell fouls at seventeen points per
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contest and is connecting at a fifty two percent clip,
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and it doesn't stop there. Freshman Braxton Ferguson has emerged
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as another scoring threat at fourteen points per game, has
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knocked down forty seven to three pointers this season. Junior
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Jackson Thomas averages nine points per game and leads the
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team with fifty seven made three pointers, giving Bell multiple
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p perimitter weapons capable of stretching defenses. Quote. They love
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to shoot the three unquote, Clay County coach Michael Jones said, quote,
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they're simply an outstanding team. Our defense has to really
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step up better than we've done off season if we're
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going to advance unquote. Containing balanced attack will be priority
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number one for the Tigers, who have battled their own
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adversity down the stretch. The biggest question mark for Clay
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is the health of leading score Aiden Grubb. The junior
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has been hampered by a high ankle sprain and was
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visibly limited during the forty ninth District tournament. Quote we're
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treating the injury day to day unquote, Jones said. Quote
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Hopefully he comes out Wednesday night in better health than
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he has been unquote. While Grub's status remains unser senior
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Aiden Bear Wagers has carried the offensive load. Wagers is
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averaging twenty four points per game over the tigers last
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three contests and has elevated his play as postseason intensity
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has increased. Clay will also need a steady performance from
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souphomore guard Jacob Rogers, whose perimeter shooting in playmaking could
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prove critical against Bell's defensive pressure. The Tigers understand the
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challenge ahead. Bell County enters the matchup confident, battle tested
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in writing momentum, but Clay has shown resilience all season
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and tournament. Basketball has a way of rewarding the team
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that plays with the most grit and focus on a
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given night. Tip Off is set for six pm Wednesday,
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March fourth, at the Arena in Corbet. Next article Wealth
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just too much for Lady Tigers. Clay goes out in
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first round to arguably the region's top team. By Tanner
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Hoskins Enterprise Sports, Corbyn defense is the name of the
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game in the South Laurel Lady Cardinals know how to
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play it. South cruise to an opening round win over
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the Clay County Lady Tigers sixty nine to twenty nine
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in the thirteenth Region Tournament. A smothering full court press
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gave the Lady Tigers fits all night long. Clay committed
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twenty one turnovers. The second half was much like the first,
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with South scoring fast and often in the Lady Tigers
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committing too many turnovers. Just like in the forty ninth
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championship game, Clay collapsed in the third quarter. South went
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on a fifteen to three run midway through to go
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ahead by thirty at fifty five to twenty five. The
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running clock kicked in with just under two minutes to
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play at sixty one to twenty five on a three
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pointer by Macey miss Messer. Leading scorer Macy White made
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her returned to the court in limited action over four quarters,
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but this night belonged to South. From the opening tip,
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the Lady Cardinals jumped out to it quick sixteen to
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five lead and never looked back. They entered the second
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quarter ahead eighteen to nine. South opened the quarter on
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a nine to zero run to jump ahead twenty seven
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to nine. Harper Rice scored seven points in the quarter
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and White added two as their team trailed thirty six
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to twenty going into halftime. Clay County has not had
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a winning record since the COVID shortened twenty twenty one season,
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when they finished thirteen to nine. It was also their
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last appearance in the thirteenth Region Tournament until this year.
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Rice led Clay in scoring with thirteen, Carly Folts seven,
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Madison Pendland four, Lauren Sizemore three, in Macy White two.
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The Lady Tigers finished the season at sixteen and seventeen,
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with four starters returning. Next article, Time marches on Melissa
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Garrison down home with Melissa. Time marches on, I don't
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know about you, but this winner has felt like it
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lasted an entire year. Back in December, I boldly said
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I don't think we're going to have a bad winner. Well,
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I take it back. It seems like winter showed up
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the very next day just to prove me wrong. It
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has been cold, dreary, and down right yucky. But thankfully
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that's about to change. Spring is just around the corner.
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I'm already seeing easter flowers or buttercups. I think they're
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the same thing popping up, and that is such a
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welcome sight. Today is Sunday, and it is absolutely beautiful outside.
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The sun is shining, the air feels fresh, and for
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a moment, it feels like winter has finally loosened its grip.
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Then my daughter walked inside with a tick on her arm,
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No joke, a tick already. I sure hope that isn't
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a sign of what's to come. I absolutely hate ticks.
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They cause so much sickness, and I get nervous every
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time I find one. Surely I'm not the only one
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who feels that way. Still, I think most of us
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are happy to see warmer weather heading our way, fresh air,
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birds singing, maybe even a trip or two to Loas
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to get in the gardening mood. It just feels right,
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doesn't it. I'm ready to get back on my health
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journey too. Winter has had me in a slump, but
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I want to do better with diet and exercise. There's
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something about spring that makes you want to reset and refresh.
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And of course it's an election year, so campaign signs
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are popping up just as quickly as those buttercups. Speaking
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of things that need attention, I sure wish my road
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would be fixed. It was heavily damaged during the flood
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of twenty two and there are still sections that are
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in terrible shape. I hope at some point it becomes
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a priority. We really do need to think carefully before
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we vote. On a much sweeter note, our family is
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preparing to welcome a new baby any day now. Within
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the next week, we should be meeting baby Rice. We
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don't know the first name yet, but we couldn't be
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more excited for Casey and Riley Blue. There is nothing
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better than a new baby that to remind you that
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time truly does march on. One thing about Kentucky weather.
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If you don't like it right now, just wait, it
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will change. So go ahead and get your tillers and
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garden holes ready. Keep your rain boots and umbrella's handy too,
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because that you'll need them. Spring is springing, and I'm
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here for all of it. Fun folklore says quote thunder
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and spring cold will bring unquote quote so many mist
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and marchs, you see so many frost and may will
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be unquote. If you need a good song to celebrate
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the sunshine, take it way back to el O and
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listen to mister Scott Blue Sky. It's one of my
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kid's favorites and it just fits this time of year.
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Have a great last week of winter, y'all. I'm about
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ready to say peace out, girl Scout springs. Greatest joy
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beyond a doubt is when it brings the children out.
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That's my ed, your guest. This concludes the reading of
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the Manchester Enterprise. Your reader has been Jim Rice. Now
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please stay tuned for continued programming and on behalf of
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everyone here at RADIOI thank you for listening and we
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hope you have a good day.