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Licking Valley Courier - 8.28.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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  Speaker 1: We now turn to the Licking Valley Courier to bring
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  Speaker 1: you news from in and around West Liberty. Your reader
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  Speaker 1: today is Janice. We begin with the edition dated Thursday,
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  Speaker 1: August 27, 2026. As a reminder, Radio Eye is a
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  Speaker 1: reading service intended for people who are blind or have
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  Speaker 1: other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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  Speaker 1: Our first article is a picture, and it's a picture
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  Speaker 1: of a bunch of young ladies and it says Lady
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  Speaker 1: Cougars runners up in all a soccer tourney and then
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  Speaker 1: there is the picture below the picture it says pictured
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  Speaker 1: above our Morgan County High School Lady Cougars soccer team
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  Speaker 1: members following their runner-up finish in the girls 16th region
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  Speaker 1: all a soccer tournament the tournament took place last week
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  Speaker 1: in Olive Hill This marks the first runner-up finish in
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  Speaker 1: the tournament for the Lady Cougars since 2016. Congratulations on
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  Speaker 1: this accomplishment, girls. Our next article is Laura Sparkman is
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  Speaker 1: first runner-up in International Modeling Talent Competition, West Liberty, Kentucky.
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  Speaker 1: Laura Sparkman, 13, daughter of Sherry and Derry Sparkman of
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  Speaker 1: West Liberty, recently represented her hometown at the International Modeling
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  Speaker 1: Competition and Talent Association, IMTA, competition in New York City,
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  Speaker 1: where she earned first runner-up in Junior Female Dancer of
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  Speaker 1: the Year. During the week-long competition, Sparkman showcased her versatility
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  Speaker 1: by competing in several areas of the entertainment industry. In
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  Speaker 1: addition to her award-winning dance performance, she competed in runway, jeans, swimwear,
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  Speaker 1: and TV beauty commercial, gaining experience in both modeling and
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  Speaker 1: on-camera performance. IMTA is an international convention and competition where
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  Speaker 1: aspiring actors, models, and performers showcase their talents in front
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  Speaker 1: of agents, managers, casting directors, and other industry professionals from
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  Speaker 1: major entertainment and modeling markets. Sparkman spent nine months preparing
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  Speaker 1: for the competition through images and model and talent agency
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  Speaker 1: in Lexington, developing her skills in preparation for the variety
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  Speaker 1: of competitions and industry opportunities she would encounter in New York.
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  Speaker 1: Her first runner-up finish in junior female dancing was the
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  Speaker 1: highlight of the week and reflected the hard work and
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  Speaker 1: dedication she put into preparing for the competition. Sparkman also
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  Speaker 1: attracted interest from industry professionals during IMTA, receiving multiple callbacks
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  Speaker 1: following the event. At just 13, Sparkman plans to continue
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  Speaker 1: developing her skills in dance, modeling, and performance while pursuing
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  Speaker 1: future opportunities in the industry. For more information about Laura
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  Speaker 1: Sparkman or inquiries about working with her, please contact Janie Olmstead,
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  Speaker 1: owner of Images Model and Talent Agency at 859-273- 2301.
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  Speaker 1: Our next article is Extension Office Fair Market is slated
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  Speaker 1: for Saturday, August 29th. We'll include handmade goods and locally
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  Speaker 1: grown produce tractor show. The Morgan County Extension Office will
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  Speaker 1: host the Morgan County Fair Market event Saturday, August 29th
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  Speaker 1: at the Extension Office located at 1002 Prestonburg Street in
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  Speaker 1: West Liberty. The event will run from 10 a.m. to
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  Speaker 1: 4 p.m. and will feature locally grown produce and handmade
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  Speaker 1: goods in celebration of the Morgan County Fair. There will
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  Speaker 1: also be a tractor show during this time. Registration will
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  Speaker 1: begin at 10 a.m. The Morgan County Homemakers will be
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  Speaker 1: selling concessions and the 4-H Teen Club will be hosting
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  Speaker 1: fun carnival games as well. There are limited spots for vendors.
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  Speaker 1: So please get your applications in as soon as possible.
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  Speaker 1: For additional information regarding this event, contact the Morgan County
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  Speaker 1: Extension Office at 743-3292. And underneath that is a cute
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  Speaker 1: little thing. It says least expected. What we anticipate seldom occurs.
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  Speaker 1: What we least expect generally happens by Benjamin Disraeli. Okay,
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  Speaker 1: our next article is County Fair opens today at fairgrounds. Rides, wrestling,
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  Speaker 1: dog show, and music on tap. Kids, night is tonight.
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  Speaker 1: The Morgan County Fair will be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
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  Speaker 1: August the 27th, 28th, and 29th at Morgan County Fairgrounds
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  Speaker 1: located at 400 New Fairground Road in West Liberty. The
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  Speaker 1: event will include carnival rides and special events on each night. Thursday,
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  Speaker 1: August 27th, gates will open at 5 p.m. for Kids Night.
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  Speaker 1: Free admission tickets for kids will be available at all
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  Speaker 1: Morgan County schools the week of the fair. Tickets are
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  Speaker 1: also available for homeschool students at Giovanni's and Commercial Bank
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  Speaker 1: can be picked up the week of the fair. Adult
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  Speaker 1: admission on this date will be $ 15. 00. At 7 p.m.,
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  Speaker 1: there will be a dog show sponsored by the West
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  Speaker 1: Liberty Veterinary Clinic. Friday, August the 28th, gates will open
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  Speaker 1: at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., there will be a
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  Speaker 1: wrestling event, AMW Micro Wrestling Match. Admission will be $ 20
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  Speaker 1: on this date. August the 29th, Gates open at 3 p.m.
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  Speaker 1: At 6 p.m., there will be a hot dog eating
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  Speaker 1: contest sponsored by 606 Food Truck. There will also be
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  Speaker 1: entertainment with Isaac Sexton opening the show at 7 p.m.
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  Speaker 1: and Crossroads taking the stage at 8 p.m. Admission will
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  Speaker 1: be $ 20 on this date. This event is sponsored by
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  Speaker 1: the West Liberty Tourism, Giovanni's Pizza, Commercial Bank, and Bank
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  Speaker 1: of the Mountains. Bring your family and friends and enjoy
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  Speaker 1: all of the rides and entertainment. Our next article is
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  Speaker 1: Foreign National Indicted for Trafficking. Federal Authorities Assisting with Search
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  Speaker 1: Grand Jury Indicts Nine People in Recent Session by Miranda M. Cantrell.
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  Speaker 1: The Morgan Circuit Court Grand Jury. has indicted a foreign
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  Speaker 1: national for multiple offenses related to the alleged trafficking of
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  Speaker 1: a juvenile who went missing from Morgan County last year.
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  Speaker 1: The Courier reported on January 22, 2026, that a case
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  Speaker 1: against Carlos Jose Flores Alcaron, 20, last known location in
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  Speaker 1: San Antonio, Texas, was initiated after the Morgan County, no,
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  Speaker 1: initiated after the Morgan County School District truancy officers discovered
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  Speaker 1: in August 2025 that a female juvenile residing in West
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  Speaker 1: Liberty had not attended classes during the 2025-26 school year.
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  Speaker 1: The truancy officer and a school resource officer from Morgan
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  Speaker 1: County Sheriff's Office on August 14, 2025, contacted West Liberty
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  Speaker 1: Police Department about the juvenile, who was approximately 14 to
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  Speaker 1: 15 years of age at that time. The truancy officer
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  Speaker 1: who requested a welfare check had reportedly received conflicting reports
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  Speaker 1: as to the juvenile's location from the individuals associated with
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  Speaker 1: the girl. The investigation continued until information was received indicting
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  Speaker 1: the juvenile, a foreign national of Guatemala, had been missing
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  Speaker 1: unreported for approximately three months prior to the start of
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  Speaker 1: school year. Associates of the juvenile provided information indicating that
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  Speaker 1: she was possibly residing within the San Antonio, Texas area
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  Speaker 1: with an adult male. West Liberty Police Department was able
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  Speaker 1: to track and locate the juvenile utilizing background image analysis
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  Speaker 1: via social media platforms associated with her and an adult
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  Speaker 1: male subject. With the assistance of Leon Valley Police Department
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  Speaker 1: in Texas and AT & T Services, investigators were able
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  Speaker 1: to locate and recover the juvenile in the Leon Valley
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  Speaker 1: area of San Antonio, Texas. Representatives of West Liberty Police
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  Speaker 1: Department traveled to Texas and transported the juvenile back to
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  Speaker 1: West Liberty in September of 2025. After further investigation into
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  Speaker 1: statements made by the juvenile and electronic evidence associated with
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  Speaker 1: the cellular device warrants, authorities discovered an adult male subject
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  Speaker 1: financed the transportation of the juvenile from West Liberty to Texas,
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  Speaker 1: subsequently engaged in a relationship with her. The male subject
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  Speaker 1: was identified as Carlos Os Flores Alacron, a National Guard
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  Speaker 1: a foreign national from Honduras who has since been indicted
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  Speaker 1: in Morgan County on the following charges. Human trafficking. Prohibited
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  Speaker 1: use of electronic communication systems to procure a minor to
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  Speaker 1: commit a sexual offense. Distribution of matter portraying sexual performance
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  Speaker 1: by a minor victim over 12 but under 18. Detective
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  Speaker 1: Michael Williams of West Liberty Police Department told The Courier
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  Speaker 1: on August 24 that Alacron, despite his recent indictment, has
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  Speaker 1: not yet been located. We don't know if he's in
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  Speaker 1: Texas right now or if he's crossed the border. Williams
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  Speaker 1: said before indicting that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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  Speaker 1: Agency will assist in the search for Alacron. Detective Williams
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  Speaker 1: also noted that Alacron is thought to have facilitated the
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  Speaker 1: juvenile's fraudulent documentation and identification. In addition to West Liberty
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  Speaker 1: Police Department, other agencies have contributed to the investigation are
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  Speaker 1: law enforcement agencies in Kentucky, including the Department of Community-Based Services, DCBS,
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  Speaker 1: in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, as
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  Speaker 1: well as U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Other indictments, a
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  Speaker 1: total of nine people were indicted in the most recent
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  Speaker 1: grand jury session, including Zachary Gamble and Justin Ross, both
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  Speaker 1: of West Liberty for sexual offenses involving minors, as well
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  Speaker 1: as Joe Kress of Hazard, a former employee of the
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  Speaker 1: Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex for offenses that occurred at the prison.
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  Speaker 1: The following is a complete listing of indictments. Number one,
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  Speaker 1: Carlos Os Flores Alacron, 20, of San Antonio, Texas, human trafficking,
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  Speaker 1: prohibited use of an electronic communication system to procure a
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  Speaker 1: minor to commit a sexual offense, distribution of matter, portraying
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  Speaker 1: sexual performance by minor victim over 12 but under 18,
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  Speaker 1: Number two, Zachary Gamble, 24, of West Liberty, rape, first degree, sodomy,
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  Speaker 1: first degree, unlawful transaction with a minor, third degree, intimidating
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  Speaker 1: a participant in the legal process. Number three, Thomas Phillips,
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  Speaker 1: number 28, 91, 45, comma, 32, Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex
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  Speaker 1: inmate promoting contraband, first degree, drugs, persistent felony offender, second degree.
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  Speaker 1: Number four, Justin Ross, 35, of West Liberty, Kentucky, use
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  Speaker 1: of a minor in a sexual performance under 16, two counts,
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  Speaker 1: procuring or promoting use of minor by electronic means to
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  Speaker 1: engage in sexual or other prohibited activities, endangering the welfare
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  Speaker 1: of a minor, solicitation to incest, person under 16. Number five,
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  Speaker 1: Phillip Faulkner, 35, of West Liberty, Kentucky. Abandonment of a minor,
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  Speaker 1: two counts, fleeing and evading police, third degree, on foot.
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  Speaker 1: Number six, Nijaya Evans, number 324074, 24, at Eastern Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: Correctional Complex, inmate, Assault, first degree, persistent felony offender, second degree.
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  Speaker 1: Calvin Winston, number 313309, 26, Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex inmate. Assault,
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  Speaker 1: first degree, persistent felony offender, second degree. Number eight, Chance Merrick,
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  Speaker 1: number 328548, 28 years old, Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex inmate. assault,
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  Speaker 1: first degree, persistent felony offender, second degree. Number nine, Joe A. Krest, 60,
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  Speaker 1: of Hazard, Kentucky, former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex employee, promoting contraband,
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  Speaker 1: first degree, drugs, trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree,
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  Speaker 1: official misconduct. Editor's note, an indictment is not proof of guilt,
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  Speaker 1: but merely an allegation. that a crime has been committed.
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  Speaker 1: Our next article is Planning is Underway for the Sargum Fest.
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  Speaker 1: 55th annual event is September 25th, 26th, 27th in downtown
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  Speaker 1: West Liberty. Planning is underway for the 55th annual Morgan
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  Speaker 1: County Sargum Festival slated for September 25th, 26th, and 27th
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  Speaker 1: in downtown West Liberty. Sargam Festival Committee members have announced
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  Speaker 1: that this year's theme will be Taste the Past, Making
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  Speaker 1: Memories that Last, and will include handmade crafts, food booths,
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  Speaker 1: children's activities, parade, mule-drawn Sargam meal, and live music. This
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  Speaker 1: year's entertainment headlines will be acclaimed by bluegrass artist Don
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  Speaker 1: Rigsby of Isonville in Elliott County. Pardon me. on Friday,
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  Speaker 1: September 25th, and rising country music artist and former American
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  Speaker 1: Idol contestant Layla Sprang on Saturday, September 26th. Don Rigsby
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  Speaker 1: has released numerous solo bluegrass albums in addition to his
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  Speaker 1: work with J.D. Crowe and the New South, the Lonesome
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  Speaker 1: River Band, Longview, Rock County, Midnight Call, and Flashback. Additional
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  Speaker 1: information Additionally, Rigsby has received multiple International Bluegrass Awards as
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  Speaker 1: well as the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music
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  Speaker 1: Song of the Year Award for his song Empty Old
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  Speaker 1: Mailbox in 2001. Rigsby will be supported by a special guest,
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  Speaker 1: Kevin Denny, a country and bluegrass artist from Monticello, Kentucky,
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  Speaker 1: who has written songs for Craig Morgan, Easton Corbin, and
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  Speaker 1: Tracy Byrd and also achieved his own Billboard Top 20
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  Speaker 1: single with That's Just Jessie in 2002. Rixby and Denny's
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  Speaker 1: music can be found on all streaming platforms. Layla Spring,
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  Speaker 1: a native of Lebanon, Kentucky, was a finalist on American
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  Speaker 1: Idol in 2018 and was voted back onto the show
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  Speaker 1: in 2020. Throughout her career, Spring performed alongside several notable
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  Speaker 1: country artists including Sugar Land, Leanne Rimes, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Fort,
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  Speaker 1: Easton Corbin, Exile, and Terry Clark. Spring's single, Another You,
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  Speaker 1: can be found on all streaming platforms. Event co-chair and
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  Speaker 1: music chair Grant Sorrell said that all music performances will
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  Speaker 1: be atop the parking garage adjacent to the commercial bank
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  Speaker 1: this year. The following is a complete listing of this
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  Speaker 1: year's music schedule. Friday, September the 25th, it's Bluegrass Friday.
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  Speaker 1: From 1 to 1.45 p.m., Lundy Wright, Jamming to the Oldies.
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  Speaker 1: From 2 to 3 p.m., Middle Run Grass. 3.30 to 4.30 p.m.,
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  Speaker 1: Drayden Gordon and the Ridge Runners. 4.45 to 5.45 p.m.,
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  Speaker 1: Blue Debut. 6.15 to 7.15, Silver Dollar Band. 7.45 to 9.00 p.m.,
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  Speaker 1: Don Rigsby and the Fly-By-Nights with very special guest, Kevin Denny. Saturday,
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  Speaker 1: September 26th at 9.45 to 10.15 a.m., Goble Cantrell. 10.30
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  Speaker 1: to 11.30 a.m., Randall Maloney and Friends. Break for a Parade,
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  Speaker 1: At 2.15 to 3 p.m., Justin Lee Harris. 3.15 to 4.15 p.m.,
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  Speaker 1: Plum Rotten. 4.30 to 5.30 p.m., Fletcher Stone. 6.30 to 7.30 p.m., Longshot.
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  Speaker 1: 8 to 9.30 p.m., Layla Spring, rising country music artist
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  Speaker 1: and American Idol contestant. Sunday, September 27th, 11 a.m. to
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  Speaker 1: 3 p.m., gospel and worship music brought to you by
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  Speaker 1: the Morgan County Ministerial Association. In other festival news, the
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  Speaker 1: Morgan County High School Cougar football team will play the
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  Speaker 1: Iroquois High School Raiders in the Sargum Bowl, which is
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  Speaker 1: slated for 7.30 p.m. Friday, September 25th at the Don
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  Speaker 1: McKenzie Field on the Morgan County High School campus. This year,
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  Speaker 1: Sargum Cougars will be selected by popular vote of the
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  Speaker 1: student body, will be crowned at halftime. The candidates will
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  Speaker 1: be announced in the Courier next month. The annual Sargon
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  Speaker 1: Parade will be Saturday, September 26th, with units departing the
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  Speaker 1: Lion Apparel parking lot at 1 p.m. Cash prizes will
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  Speaker 1: be awarded for this year's best floats. The Morgan County
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  Speaker 1: Extension Office will be hosting a home lawn business decoration contest.
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  Speaker 1: The deadline to enter is Wednesday, September 16th, with judging
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  Speaker 1: to take place on Friday, September 18th. For additional information
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  Speaker 1: about lawn decoration contests, contact the Morgan County Extension Office
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  Speaker 1: at 606-743-3292. Message from Festival Chair Committee. Or, pardon me,
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  Speaker 1: Message from Festival Committee Chair. There we go. This year's
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  Speaker 1: Sargon Festival Committee Chair, Walker Crace, shared the following message
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  Speaker 1: regarding the festival with the Courier. Our whole lives, the
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  Speaker 1: Sargon Festival and the Sargon Bowl, have been staples of
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  Speaker 1: our community and traditions I've always looked forward to. They're
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  Speaker 1: about so much more than just a festival or a
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  Speaker 1: football game. They're about home. The Sargum Festival gives our
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  Speaker 1: schools a long weekend, brings families back home to visit,
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  Speaker 1: and gives us opportunity to see familiar faces we may
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  Speaker 1: not have seen in years. From the middle school Sargum
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  Speaker 1: Bowl to Friday night Sargum Bowl, these traditions help set
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  Speaker 1: the tone and excitement for one of Morgan County's most
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  Speaker 1: special weekends. Going into last year's festival, we listened to
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  Speaker 1: the people and worked To bring more to the table,
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  Speaker 1: we added new tents, changed their locations to create a
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  Speaker 1: more open and accessible setup, expanded food vendor options, and
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  Speaker 1: looked for new ways to increase interest and involvement throughout
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  Speaker 1: the festival. We will continue listening, improving, and doing everything
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  Speaker 1: we can to accommodate our community while bringing new life
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  Speaker 1: and new ideas to the Sargon Festival each year. without
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  Speaker 1: losing the traditions that make it special. We are also
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  Speaker 1: continuing to working on growing our Sargam Festival parade and
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  Speaker 1: bringing more excitement and participation to it each year. The
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  Speaker 1: parade has always been an important part of the festival,
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  Speaker 1: and we encourage our schools, churches, businesses, organizations, teams, clubs, families,
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  Speaker 1: and anyone else interested to participate. The more our community
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  Speaker 1: gets involved, the bigger and better we can make this
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  Speaker 1: tradition for everyone. Our board members work extremely hard behind
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  Speaker 1: the scenes to make this event the best it can
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  Speaker 1: possibly be, and I'm thankful for the time and effort
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  Speaker 1: they put into it every year. I hope everyone is
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  Speaker 1: as excited as I am for this year's Sarkham Festival.
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  Speaker 1: It's a time for football, family, old friends, great memories,
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  Speaker 1: community traditions, and most importantly, coming home to Morgan County.
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  Speaker 1: Sargam Festival Committee members, Executive Committee Chairman Walker Crace, Co-Chair
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  Speaker 1: Grant Sorrell, Treasurer Ashley Likens, and Secretary Christy Gullet. Board
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  Speaker 1: members Henrietta McKinley, Judy Townsend, and Leona Cantrell. Chair members
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  Speaker 1: Grant Sorrell, Music, Liz Conley, Advertising, Facebook, Troy and Sandra Dye,
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  Speaker 1: Food Booths, Ashley Mason, Crafters Booths, Troy Dye, Port-A-Potties, Christy Gullet,
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  Speaker 1: Souvenir Booth, Danny Townsend, Sargum Sales, Helen Lewis, Country Store,
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  Speaker 1: Walker Crace and Danielle McKinney, Parade, Kim Lane, Food Preservation,
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  Speaker 1: Lacey Mays, Sargum Growers, Kyle Risner, City Representative, Martha Lewis
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  Speaker 1: and Mary Sandifer, Hannah Likens, youth member, and Brinley Gullet
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  Speaker 1: and Jackson Sorrell, social media. For additional information regarding the
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  Speaker 1: Sargon Festival, contact City Hall at 606-743-3330 or visit the
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  Speaker 1: Morgan County Sargon Festival Facebook page or the website at
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  Speaker 1: Our next article is City Council Holds Regular Meeting by
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  Speaker 1: Miranda M. Cantrell. The West Liberty City Council, during a
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  Speaker 1: regular August 24th meeting, approved the property tax rate and
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  Speaker 1: awarded the annual blacktop bid. The following is a listing
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  Speaker 1: of items approved during the meeting. Property tax rate. The
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  Speaker 1: council voted to keep the property tax rate the same
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  Speaker 1: as last year's at $ 0. 092 per $ 100 of assessed value.
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  Speaker 1: Blacktop bid opening. There was only one blacktop bid from
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  Speaker 1: Sandiford Builders at $ 135 per ton. Last year's rate was
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  Speaker 1: $ 125 per ton. The total cost will be $ 66, 825. The
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  Speaker 1: blacktop list presented at the July totaled $ 451. 61. Grant application resolutions.
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  Speaker 1: The council also approved grant application resolutions for three projects
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  Speaker 1: related to upgrades on the water plan, sewer plan, and
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  Speaker 1: sewer collection system. AirVac coverage plan. The council also approved
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  Speaker 1: a three-year AirVac medical helicopter coverage plan for city employees,
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  Speaker 1: council members, city attorney, and mayors at $ 9, 361 per year.
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  Speaker 1: Heir of Act representatives had presented coverage plans at July
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  Speaker 1: council meetings. The brief meeting concluded as Councilman Mark Walter
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  Speaker 1: offered the city's condolences to the community dealing with the
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  Speaker 1: loss of loved ones and illness. The West Liberty City
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  Speaker 1: Council meets at 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday of
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  Speaker 1: each month in the upstairs council room at City Hall.
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  Speaker 1: This concludes excerpts from recent editions of the Licking Valley Courier.
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  Speaker 1: Your reader has been Janice. On behalf of everyone here
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  Speaker 1: at Radio I, thank you for listening. Keep on listening,
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  Speaker 1: and I hope you have a very good day.