Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Ashland Daily Independent - 5.27.26

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Ashland Daily Independent - 5.27.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Ashland Independent to bring you
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news from in and around Ashland and Boyd County. Your
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reader today is Jane. We begin with the addition dated
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May twenty sixth, twenty twenty sixth, as a reminder, radioized
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a reading service intended for people who are blind or
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have other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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Our first article gate City celebrates America to fifty with
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Lunch on Lawn by Allison Scott for the Daily Independent.
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Despite the reign, the city of Katlitsburg hosted its Lunch
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on the Lawn event, moving the festivities to Katlitsburg Elementary's
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jim Although lunch wasn't on the lawn of the Boyd
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County Courthouse. Families celebrated Memorial Day weekend and America's two
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hundred and fiftieth anniversary with live music, food and more.
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Susan Campbell, Katletsburg City Council member, hosted the event with
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a desire to bring this community together and kick off
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the city celebration of the country's anniversary. I think Memorial
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Day is a sacred holiday, said Mike Wurtz. For the
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last twenty one years, I placed the flags on service
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member's graves, and this year was no exception. We think
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about the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice. That's what
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it's all about. Wurtz, a veteran who came from a
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military family, was asked to lead those in attendance through
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prayer and the pledge of allegiance. After twenty one years
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of doing that, it really hits Homewards, said Wort's wife,
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Tracy agreed and said that all the sacrifices that everybody
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has made to get us here after two hundred and
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fifty years is a big deal. Boyd County Jazz Band
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started the evening off, while lunch was provided from Double
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Drizzle to those who paid for tickets in advance, along
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with dessert from Wits Frozen Custard. Following the band's performance, Maddox,
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Hot Hail, Huck Brown and the c K Alumni Band
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also performed the rest of the evening, while Peanut the
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Clown made balloon animals for both the performers and children
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at the event. Campbell thanked those who attended, along with Marathon, Heart,
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Sanitation and more for helping make the event possible. In
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other news, rehabbed renewed local church moves to preserve antique
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windows by Lee Ward for the Daily Independent. First United
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Methodist Church is investing in the future having its antique
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stained glass windows refurbished. The complex task undertaken by Ziegler
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stained Glass of Lexington, begin May fourth, when panels in
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the center of the south side window were taken to
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the business for refurbishing. When completed, they will be reinstalled
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and the remaining panels in the set of windows will
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be removed for the same process. The Reverend Jeff Brammel,
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Senior pastor of the church, said the stained glass panels
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are over one hundred years old and have begun to
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show their age, he said, adding the windows are estimated
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to be one hundred and five years old, but the
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church has no record of their purchase or who made them.
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Tim Albert moved to the area in two thousand and
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six from Charleston and began attending the church. He's the
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chair of the trustee committee. We want to maintain the
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historical church, its beautiful inside and its beautiful outside, he said,
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noting taking care of the building is a work of love.
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Anne Strasneider was key to collecting bids for the work.
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She has attended First United Methodists most of her life
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and restoring the windows is important to her. I grew
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up with them and I think they're beautiful and they're
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part of the church and it wouldn't be the same
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without them, she said. The windows getting treatment first are
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the oldest and most damaged, as they are the heaviest
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and get the most sunlight and heat contributing to its condition,
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Brammel said. He said the larger windows expected to be
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done in June, while the addition to will be done
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by October. In the spring, the church will continue rehabbing
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the rest of the church's windows. Cost is just short
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of forty nine thousand dollars, which Brammell said was raised
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by the congregation. Our congregation has been very, very generous,
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he said of members. They love their church and are
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committed to staying in ministry in downtown Ashland. Albert said
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he encourages anyone interested to stop buy and see the
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windows when they're done, or come inside and see the
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pipe organ. We're a very open church, very friendly, he said.
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People love the building and love one another. We're a
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very welcoming congregation. Our desire is to maintain the church.
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It's our job to be good stewards of it and
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keep it in good shape. Our next article, Sailor with
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family ties to Ashland Defends America from under the Sea
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by Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer
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first Class Cody Vorndran, whose family lives in Ashland, serves
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the US Navy assigned to USS Greenville, a fast attack
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submarine homeported at Naval Base Point Loma. As a submariner,
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voron Drand is part of a small percentage of Navy
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personnel continuing a one hundred and twenty five year tradition
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of service under the sea to help ensure American safety.
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The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy
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are similar to those found in Ashland, where vorn Drand's
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father and grandparents live. Growing up, I learned the importance
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of working for what you have, vorn Drand said. I
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grew up around blue collar folks who worked hard to
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get by, and I greatly appreciate that having that background
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and mindset has gotten me further in advancing with evaluations
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and awards and such. Von Drand joined the Navy eleven
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years ago. Today, vorn Drand serves as a Yeoman submarine.
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I wanted to see new places and meet people from
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all backgrounds while gaining leadership and working experience. Vorn Durand said,
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I thought the Navy had the coolest uniforms at the time,
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the blue camouflage. I liked the idea of being on
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ships known as America's Apex Predators. The Navy Submarine Force
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operates a large fleet of technologically advanced vessels. These submarines
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are capable of conducting rapid, defensive and offensive operations around
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the world in support of US national security. There are
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three basic types of submarines, fast attack submarines, ballistic missiles submarines,
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and guided missiles submarines. Los Angeles class fast attack submarines
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like Greenville have been the backbone of the Submarine Force
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for the last forty years, with approximately twenty three in service.
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Fast attack submarines are designed to hunt down and destroy
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enemy submarines and surface ships, strike targets ashore with cruise missiles,
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carry and deliver Navy seals, conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions,
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and engage in mine warfare. Eclipped equipped with twelve vertical
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launch system tubes for firing Tomahawk cruise missiles. Greenville is
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only slightly longer than a football field at three hundred
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and sixty feet long and thirty three feet across at
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its widest point. Greenville is crewed by more than one
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hundred and forty enlisted sailors and officers. Strategic Deterrence is
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the nation's ultimate insurance program, according to Navy officials. As
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a member of the Submarine Force, foreign serves aboard a
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platform capable of bringing the fight to enemies in defense
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of America and its allies, vorn Durand has many opportunities
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to achieve accomplishments during military service. Recently, my division earned
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the Commander Submarine Squadron eleven Personnel p which recognizes the
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top performing yeomen division of the ships on the waterfront.
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Vorn Durand said, winning that means everything to me. The
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younger version of me never saw me winning something like that,
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so I'm proud of that. Being recognized as the best
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ship's office of the four boats down here is a
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big thing. This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution
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to the nation's defense as the United States celebrates two
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hundred and fifty years of independence. According to Navy officials.
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From more than two hundred and fifty years, the Navy
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has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity. With
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ninety percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access
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to the Internet relying on the security of undersea fiber
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optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity
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of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and
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retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
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Serving for me means serving the country and supporting the
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people who make this country so great. Vorn Drand said,
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I also just enjoy representing our US Navy. Vorn Durand
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is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
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I want to thank my grandparents and my parents who
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supported me heavily. Vorn Drand said, I also want to
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thank all of the previous les yeomen I served with
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who shaped me into who I am today. In other news,
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faculty member earns terminal degree. Kentucky Christian University's Vicki Madden,
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Director of Institutional Assessment and Accreditation, has earned her Doctor
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of Education in Educational Leadership with a specialty in Business
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from the University of the Cumberlands. Madden successfully defended her
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dissertation titled impact of adjunct to full time faculty Ratios
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on student retention in Christian higher Education on April third.
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Her reset research reflects a deep commitment to Christian higher education,
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institutional effectiveness and student success. Vicki's journey is a powerful
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example of faithfulness, perseverance, and calling, said doctor Terry Alcorn,
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President of Kentucky Christian University. From beginning her work at
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KCU in housekeeping to now serving in a key leadership
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role in institutional assessment and accreditation, doctor Madden represents the
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very best of what it means to serve with humility, excellence,
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and purpose. Madden began working at Kentucky Christian University in
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twenty fourteen. Over the past decade, she has grown into
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a vital leadership role helping guide the university's assessment and
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accreditation work. She has been actively involved in major institutional initiatives,
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including sac s COOC level change efforts and approvals connected
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to kcu's expanding online academic programs. Her educational journey is
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also closely tied to Kentucky Christian University. Madden earned her
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Bachelor of Science and Biblical Studies and Secondary Social Studies
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Education from KCU in twenty twelve and her Master of
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Arts in Christian Leadership from KCU in twenty twenty before
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completing her doctoral work at the University of the Cumberlands.
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Beyond her professional work, Madden remains actively involved in church ministry,
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including Missions eighteen twenty four, College Age Ministry, and the
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Welcome Team. Her service reflects a continued commitment to Christian leadership,
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both on campus and in the local church. Earning a
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terminal degree is a tremendous accomplishment, Alcorn said, but what
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makes Vicki's story so meaningful is the way she has
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used every step of her journey to serve others, strengthen
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the university, and advance the mission of christ centered education.
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Our next article. Westwood man indicted on arson charge by
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Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent. A Westwood man has
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been indicted on a first degree arson charge and was
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jailed in the Boyd County Detention Center on a two
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hundred and fifty thousand dollars cash bond. A Boyd County
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grand jury entitled Ronald E. Lockwood, forty seven on the
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charge last week. According to court records, the crime allegedly
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occurred on or about March thirteenth. First degree arson is
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a Class A felony. The charge means there was intent
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to destroy or damage a building when it was inhabited
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by other another person. An indictment is not necessarily an
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indication of guilt. Anyone listed in this round up should
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be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a quart of law.
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Dylan in Hunt, twenty of Ashland was indicted on charges
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of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a
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minor under twelve in tampering with physical evidence. Matthew Arthur
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o'dyne forty nine of Catletsburg was indicted on these charges
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second degree escape in tampering with prisoner monitoring device. George F.
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Smith fifty of Ashland was indicted on the following charges,
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second degree forgery two counts and second degree criminal possession
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of a forged instrument two counts. Cecil C. Williams twenty
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nine of Ashland was indicted on charges of theft of
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identity of another without consent and theft by unlawful taking
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or disposition all others. Brandon S. Sanders thirty five of
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an unknown address was an indicted on a third degree
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burglary charge. Sherry L. Collins fifty six of Portsmouth, Ohio
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was indicted on a first degree criminal possession of a
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forged instrument charge. Charles D. Brown fifty nine of Huntington
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was indicted on a charge of theft by deception including
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cold checks ten thousand dollars or more. Tamora Gene Dillon,
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forty of Ashland was indicted on these charges first degree
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possession of heroin, first degree possession of meth, and drug
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paraphernalia by possess. Michael D. Price fifty one of Ashland
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was indicted on charges of first degree meth possession and
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tampering with physical evidence. Benjamin W. Blevins thirty one of
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an unknown address was indicted on charges of first degree
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second offense, meth possession and drug paraphernalia by possessed. Kevin
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Kaine's forty of Ashland was indicted on charges of first
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degree second offense meth possession, marijuana possession, and drug paraphernalia
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by possess. Brandon S. Bailey thirty three of Klitzberg was
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indicted on a first degree fentanyl possession charge. Jimmy White
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fifty five of Ashland was indicted on a first degree
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meth possession charge. Anna M. Gillespie thirty six of Ashland
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was indicted on the following charges public intoxication controlled substance
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excludes alcohol and first degree meth possession, third or greater offense.
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Sean F. Pernicesty fifty of Raceland was indicted on these
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charges failure to or improper signal, failure to produce insurance card,
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and first degree meth possession. Use in brief Traffic safety
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checkpoints and Board Boyd, The Boyd County Sheriff's Office will
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conduct traffic safety checkpoints during June and July, according to
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a news release. During the checkpoints, officer will enforce laws
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related to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence
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of drugs or alcohol, licensing of motor vehicles and operators,
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registration and insurance violation, seat belt and child restraint violations,
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and motor vehicle equipment violations. Traffic safety checkpoints are a
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valuable tool used to promote the safety and wellbeing of
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the public, as well as providing deputies with visibility and
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interaction with the community. Checkpoints are utilized throughout Kentucky to
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help promote highway safety. A complete list of the authorized checkpoints.
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Locations are accessible in person at the Boyd County Sheriff's
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Office in Catletsburg or at Boyd County, ky dot gov.
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Meetings Today at six pm. Boyd County Board of Education
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Regular Session BCHS Alumni Auditorium, Friday six thirty pm, Raceland,
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Worthington Board of Education Special Session RWHS Principal's Office. Recent
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habituaries flem Tyson Compton sixty six of Louisa, Virginia. J.
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Hamphrey eighty eight of Ashland, Lorraine Hendricks ninety two of Ashland,
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Dana Caniff eighty eight of Russell, and Ron Felte eighty
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two of Ashland. In other news, Rush resident takes issue
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with off road park by Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent.
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A Rush resident expressed concerns about Rush off road, saying
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quality of life is eviscerated because of the adventure park
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near her residence. Shanna mcowan voiced issues with the park
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during the community comment portion of Tuesday's monthly Boyd County
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Fiscal Court meeting. They don't follow the noise ordinance. Mcowan said,
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the trails are so close to our house you can
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see them. You can see there is a trail and
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see them on it. They go all night. You're sleeping
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and it's three o'clock in the morning and they come
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by and it jolts you awake and you feel like
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you're having a heart attack. Mcowan said one of her
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neighbors is a veteran with PTSD. She also has PTSD
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from an accident in which she was involved. She said.
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Mcowan is particularly concerned about two big events coming up
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at Rush off Road Rush and Rowdy June twenty ten
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fourteen and September Slam part from the twenty fourth through
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the twenty seventh of that month. They start going all
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night when they have these events, McCowan said, it's like
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a war zone, never ending. Constant Judge Executive Eric Cheney
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said one issue is Rush off Road is private property.
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The owner of the property has a business that should
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enforce the noise ordinance on their own property. But the
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problem is how you get there with thousands of people
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on fifty eight hundred acres, Cheney said. Cheney used the
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example of Rock the Country, a concert festival near the
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Boyd County fairgrounds every year for the past three including
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the twenty twenty sixth installment this July. He said there
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are multiple deals signed with emergencies services in Boyd County
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to help regulate the event and avoid these problems. One
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way to do it is to work the same deal
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with Rush off Road and supply X amount of emergency
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personnel to cover this event and enforce it. Cheney said
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the owner would have to handle that expense, though, Cheney said.
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Cheney said the County Commission can also look at the
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noise Ordinance and really start putting some teeth in it.
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He wants to avoid government overreach though, and continue boosting
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economic development through tourism. You should be allowed to do
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what you want on your property until it starts affecting
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your neighbor's, Cheney said. The Judge executive said Sheriff Jamie
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Race and his deputies have decreased the number of issues
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on the four miles side, but he acknowledged the Kentucky
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eight point fifty four side is where the county mostly
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hears complaints from. I want for people to come to Rush.
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I love my community, mcowan said. I want people like
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them who respect the land and expect quality of life
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to want to stay. I just feel like we should
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have made more headway than what we have. Cheney said.
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Text my Gove is a great asset for county residents.
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Boyd Countians can utilize the feature for two main reasons,
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reporting issues and receiving alerts. To find information and report issues,
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get the ball rolling by simply texting high to area
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code six O six six four four one six four four.
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If you've got a pothole, you can take a picture
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of it and send it straight to the government and
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will generate a work order from there. Cheney said, I
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strongly encourage everyone to use it. It's just another way
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to reach out to your local government. To receive tex
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olos ertz, text Boyd County to nine one eight nine six.
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Lockwood resident Jimmy Taylor said during community comment he is
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unhappy the county tore out a walking bridge near the
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park at White's Creek Road. Taylor said that bridge needed
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some repairs, but didn't need to be eliminated. He said
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he would have been glad to help with the work
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since he was instrumental in building the original structure that
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was a good bridge. So this has bothered me Taylor said.
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He said all it needed was a piece of steel
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grading and for the concrete to be replaced. Cheney asked
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him Morrison, safety coordinator of the Roads Department, about the structure.
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Morrison said the concrete was four inches away from being
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able to touch the bridge. If somebody would have walked
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on the concrete, it would have more than likely went down,
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Morrison said. Morrison said he had pictures of the bridge
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before it was taken out. There was deterioration on one
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end and five foot up the side, he said. Cheney
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said he understands the safety concerns, but said he should
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have asked more questions before the bridge was torn out.
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Commissioner Dave Salisbury said he's heard a lot about the
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bridge over the last three years. He said the Fiscal
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Court would ideally arrive at a low cost or no
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cost solution. Commissioner Randy Stapleton emphasized the importance of if
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another bridge is erected, it preferably just being a walking bridge.
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You don't want people on a four wheeler coming across there,
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Stapleton said. Cheney said the Court would look at potentially
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constructing a new bridge. Cheney said Boyd County jail inmates
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are not permitted by state law to do work on
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privately owned cemeteries. The cemeteries it must be public or
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nonprofits in order for inmates to work on them. He said.
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We're no longer going to do private cemeteries. Cheney said,
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I fully understand there are cemeteries. When you pull them
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up on a PVA map, there is no owner. Those
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must be nonprofit organizations for the jail to work on them.
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We've got to get some things dialed in there. It's
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a liability issue. The Fiscal Court approved an agreement with
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Camp Investments, LLC for access on the Camp Landing property
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for work on the sports complex. This will allow us
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to get started on site work, utility work, gas, water seward,
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Jamie said. Second Slim Chickens opens in Boyd County. Slim
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Chickens has opened a second store in Boyd County as
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the Meads location celebrated with the Northeast Kentucky Chamber of
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Commerce to ribbon cutting on Thursday morning. Slim Chickens also
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has a location by the Ashland Town Center Mall. This
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concludes excerpts from recent editions of the Ashland Daily Independent.
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Your reader has been Jane On behalf of everyone here
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at radio. I thank you for listening, keep on listening
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and have a good day.