Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Ashland Daily Independent - 5.13.26

Transcript

Ashland Daily Independent - 5.13.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

0:01
Speaker 1: We now turn to The Ashland Independent to bring you
0:04
news from in and around Ashland and Boyd County. Your
0:08
reader today is Jane. We begin with the addition dated
0:12
May twelfth, twenty twenty six, as of a reminder radioized
0:17
reading service intended for people who are blind or have
0:20
other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
0:25
Our first article Russell's Students Hit Stride and Dare to
0:30
Dream Event by Alison Scott for the Daily Independent. Several
0:36
Russell Area Technology Center students brought home more than six
0:40
thousand dollars for their winning business projects. Two groups of
0:45
RATC students develop business pitches, including a stretching device and
0:52
a mobile detailing business that won them cash prizes during
0:56
Glottner's Dare to Dream Event, the twelfth annual High School
1:00
Regional Business Competition. I'll have kids come back and say
1:05
when they get to college, they always say Dare to
1:09
Dream was the best thing they did, said teacher Melissa Wilburn.
1:13
It puts reality with concepts. We're teaching concepts in the
1:17
classroom and that just makes it concrete and hands on
1:22
and shows them how to get started and transition that
1:25
into a real business. Fourteen teams competed this year to
1:30
take home their share of thirty thousand dollars in cash
1:33
prize money, pitching their businesses at the Shawnee State University
1:37
Cricker Innovation Hub in front of a panel of judges.
1:42
Prior to the final competition, program facilitator and Tri State
1:46
Angel Investment Group board member Mike Thompson visited participating schools
1:52
for coaching sessions and the semi final competitions. As r
1:58
ATC's business teacher, years, Wilburn said she and her classes
2:03
have participated in the competition every year, recruiting students and
2:08
working alongside them to develop their business pitches. The business
2:12
group Stride Right, consisting of Caleb Glasser, Joy Bostick, and
2:18
Zach Brown, pitched their stretching device they designed with the
2:21
help of the RATC Welding Shop, winning them second place
2:26
with the four thy five hundred dollars cash prize. The
2:30
idea started after welding teacher Aaron Woolham was approached by
2:36
Brad Profit from Bodyworks, the physical therapy and chiropractic wellness
2:41
center in Russell, with a desire to build a stretching
2:44
device in front of the clinic to prevent injuries for
2:48
those that often walk the sidewalks along Dietrich Boulevard.
2:52
Speaker 2: According to Wilburn.
2:53
Speaker 1: The group is looking to expand and get more stretching
2:56
devices for Ashland's Central Park and the Flatwood's City Park,
3:02
winning six places and taking home two thousand dollars. Grayson Kaiser,
3:07
Brennan Groves, and Finn Robinson's group Fresh Ride worked to
3:12
detail cars this past winter when most car washes were closed.
3:17
We started out with some friends of my mom's cars,
3:20
and then we kind of just reposted the work that
3:24
we did and then expanded out, said Robinson, a senior.
3:28
We ended up getting a guy with a car rental company,
3:31
so that expanded us out there, and then it kind
3:34
of became a thing that we were doing every day, honestly.
3:39
The group began detailing car interiors and driving to their
3:42
clients before eventually also detailing exteriors of cars, helping those
3:48
with road salt and ice build up. With his portion
3:52
of the prize money, Robinson said he plans on saving it,
3:56
investing in college, and putting some back into their business
3:59
that he hopes to keep working over the summer. Wilburn
4:04
said she encourages students interested in competing to begin planning
4:08
and working toward their businesses over the summer to help
4:12
them gain experience and prepare them for the competition. Next
4:17
Ohio river Way Challenge starts in Ashland by Aaron Snyder
4:22
of The Daily Independent, a nonprofit geared toward highlighting Ohio
4:27
river communities, kicked off its biggest challenge yet at the
4:31
Port of Ashland Monday morning. Ohio Riverway launched a twenty
4:36
three day, four hundred and eighty eight point five mile
4:39
adventure as a volunteer crew of paddlers will navigate the
4:43
waters until they arrive at Evansville, Indiana. This marks the
4:48
sixth year of the event, which has grown. This is
4:52
our biggest challenge yet, not just in miles, but in scope,
4:56
said Ford's Clevenger, executive director of Ohio River Way. We've
5:02
been bringing together paddlers, students, artists, community partners, and a
5:07
filmmaker to celebrate the beauty, history and culture of the
5:11
Ohio River. Ian Forrester is the filmmaker to whom Clevenger referred.
5:17
He is paddling the full expedition as he gathers footage
5:21
to be featured in a documentary. Project co produced by
5:25
the Ohio Riverway in partnership with the National Park Service.
5:30
The US Department of the Interior officially recognized the Ohio
5:35
River Way, which spans from Ashland to West Point, as
5:39
a National Water Trail in June twenty twenty five. Now
5:44
we are part of the National Water Trail, and Ashland
5:47
is the start of it, said Mayor Chuck Charles. When
5:50
people think of the river, yes for its industry and
5:53
economic development, but there's a lot of recreation within it too,
5:59
Charles said. Ashley being the site of the challenge kickoff
6:02
made for a great way to start out the week.
6:05
I'm really proud that Ashland is a significant part of this,
6:08
Charles said. The beauty of that river, it makes for
6:12
great backdrop, especially in Ashland. Volunteers are set to paddle
6:17
between fifteen and thirty five miles each day. The voyage
6:22
features two thirty foot and one twenty twenty six foot canoe.
6:29
They'll be stopping in river communities along the way to
6:32
meet with elected officials and residents. They will camp on
6:36
the river bank each evening. Each member of the crew
6:39
is raising funds to support the Ohio Riverways mission. In
6:45
addition to the canoes. According to a press release, the
6:49
Ohio Riverways Floating Lab will set sail for the second
6:52
year student interns on a fifty five foot house boat
6:57
will conduct multidisciplinary rest searched throughout the expedition. It's more
7:03
than people out there paddling for a cause, it's also educational.
7:07
Charles said, not only will this help improve the river,
7:12
but it will help improve our lives. Local leaders joined
7:17
participants in the River Ohio river Way Challenge for a
7:21
photo on Monday morning in Ashland. In other news, Ramsey
7:28
Woods Vifer Boyd PVA by Tammy Hetzer Walwack for The
7:33
Daily Independent. Looking out over the crowd gathered at the
7:37
Boyd Community Center Tuesday, Brandon Reid Ramsey said it feels
7:42
like he is home because he is raised in Boyd County.
7:46
Early days were shaped by sports and discipline. Diamond lessons
7:51
were learned on the same property where the folding chair
7:54
sat on Tuesday. This property was once my family farms.
8:00
Ramsey reminiscing the parking lot where you park tonight was
8:05
where we played basketball, baseball. Everything those days remained in
8:10
his heart. He became a baseball coach and began work
8:13
in forty courthouses statewide. Moving forward was always the mindset.
8:20
Homecoming remained the dream, so he decided to run for office.
8:25
Ramsey vowed, if elected, the entire Boyd County PVA office
8:29
would retain jobs. We will work together, learn and solve problems.
8:36
Homer Jay Woods Junior is a man of few words.
8:40
In his own description involving this election, pray and leave
8:44
it to the Lord. He worked in the Boyd PVA
8:48
office since nineteen ninety six, and family backing is a
8:52
secret to that success. He is immensely thankful for the support.
8:57
Woods show's gratitude in ways with his house of grace flock.
9:03
Annually he grows a small garden of tomatoes and hot peppers,
9:07
the kind of stuff to can and give away as
9:10
salsa in the office and onward. Hand harvested crisp cucumbers
9:16
yield his famed hot PVA pickles he hands out at
9:21
food pantries. Anything else he needs for his homemade gifts
9:25
he sources locally. His specialties are always free. Just ask,
9:31
he said. He is not one to boast. He lowers
9:34
his voice to a whisper to speak. Woods Boyd County
9:38
PVA Office has garnered Kentucky Office of the Year, Deputy
9:43
of the Year, and Chief Deputy of the Year.
9:47
Speaker 2: But I don't want to.
9:48
Speaker 1: Come across as bragging, he assured. Our next article to
9:53
take aim at District three commission by Timmy Hetzer Walmack
9:58
for the Daily end of At Last Night's At Last
10:03
Tuesday Night's Republican Forum. Boyd County Commissioner District three candidate
10:09
Randy Stapleton does not have much to say because the
10:12
future of this area is unable to say much either,
10:16
he says. Stapleton views himself a leader to all these
10:21
country kids who need more from their leaders. Facan Holmes
10:25
sits silently, as do former factories. Stapleton promises he is
10:30
no run of the mailman. He plans to help area
10:34
children grow up with new industry and thriving storefronts. I'm
10:39
a sixty three year Boyd County in He pauses with
10:43
a prayer for all the kin he loves and helps raise.
10:46
As a self employed small business owner, he points out
10:51
there is not much around these parts to keep the
10:53
flock flying home. Rusted belts need good polishing. That is
10:58
why he is running. In twenty Economic.
11:02
Speaker 2: Development is rising action.
11:06
Speaker 1: Denowment keeps his growing family of babies back home in Boyd.
11:13
This is for the kids, he nodded before sitting down. William,
11:17
but Stephens Junior is a familiar face, taking the podium
11:22
confidently with a lifetime of politics on his resume. I
11:27
was a county judge executive, and this building you're sitting
11:30
in tonight was once a horse barn, he began, adding
11:34
his two terms helped construct the sprawling Boyd County Community Center,
11:40
a spot which generates events artisan and hobbycraft fairs, wrestling shows,
11:46
and even worshipers. Economic development is harder than one thinks.
11:51
Stephen reminds it's easily easy to govern with money, he argues,
11:57
contending big business expects a high quality of life to
12:01
open shop, but Boyd County in struggled to make ends meet.
12:06
One cannot expect booming towns without a fiscal court able
12:10
to make needed changes.
12:11
Speaker 2: He said. He plans to move.
12:14
Speaker 1: Forward the Boyd County governing body if elected. Politics is politics,
12:21
promises is promises. I'm a worker, I'm not a talker.
12:26
I'm a doer. Stevens finished, that's rare. Next, rams don't
12:32
profit run for Constable by Timmy Hetzer Walmack for The
12:37
Daily Independent. Aaron has a lifelong desire to serve in
12:43
public office, a realism of lessons his dad taught him
12:47
as a lifelong pastor. There's a passion inside me, Profit
12:51
said during the Boyd County Republican Forum last Tuesday at
12:56
the Boyd County Community and Arts Center. I want to
13:00
show godlike character to the public and love for everyone.
13:05
Speaker 2: He said.
13:05
Speaker 1: Those actions service purfos in the Boyd County District one
13:09
Constable position upon retirement from his City of Ashland employment.
13:15
He wants to work to engage with children and help
13:18
them see the importance of helping others. He hopes to
13:22
work with fellow law enforcement to find simple ways the
13:25
Constable office is utilizing, including traffic control at athletic events.
13:32
I want to be fair and consistent, log my work
13:35
and show them my work ethic. I want to heartily
13:39
serve the Lord, Prophet concluded. Also running for Constable District I,
13:45
incumbent Brian Ramsdale emphasizes experience matters. After thirty one years
13:51
as a firefighter being on call rushing to the aid
13:55
of many, he has often asked about constable roles. I'm
14:00
there for anyone to serve, protect, and be present in
14:04
the community. I never spend one penny of your tax dollar,
14:08
all the gas money, uniforms training. Ramsdell often stops his
14:14
route to check churches, businesses, vacant homes, or those on vacation.
14:19
He said he is available and approachable. One of the
14:24
Constable jobs he enjoys most is reaching out to a
14:27
person who lost a loved one to keep an eye
14:30
on the person's home. He takes extraordinary pride in knowing
14:34
that small task helps someone who is grieving. He often
14:39
sits at homes for families during funeral visitations to curtail
14:43
burglar burglaries. Although Kentucky provides Constable's little training, Ramsdale hopes
14:51
the Commonwealth soon agrees to allow the elected office to
14:54
assist with policing. He often patrols the streets night to
15:00
be an extra set of eyes for police. In other news,
15:06
Greenop County adding resource for veterans by Aaron Snyder of
15:10
The Daily Independent. Greenop County Judge Executive Bobby Hall announced
15:16
the upcoming launch of the Veterans Service Outreach of Greenop
15:20
County Friday during the fiscal court meeting in the county
15:24
Courthouse annex. The group will have an office in the
15:28
courthouse in the near future. Hall said he teased more
15:32
details to come at the June ninth Fiscal Court meeting.
15:37
It's going to be a good thing for our veterans
15:39
and families, Hall said. Veterans R. D. Archie, Joe Petty,
15:45
and E. J. Clark were in attendance for Friday's meeting.
15:49
Archie said their goal is to simply be a resource
15:52
for veterans whenever and wherever.
15:55
Speaker 2: Assistance is needed.
15:58
Speaker 1: A lot of it will probably be helping to get
16:01
veterans to and from appointments, Archie said. Other highlights from
16:06
Friday's meeting and Steven's extension agent for Community Arts and
16:11
Development in Greenop County quiz the judge, executive and commissioners
16:17
as to when the farmer's market opening date would be.
16:20
Before they could answer, Sheriff Matt Smith chimed in from
16:24
the back May ninth, I saw the sign. Stevens was
16:28
impressed at the astute law enforcement leader's observation, that's right tomorrow,
16:35
Stevens said on Friday, the opening was indeed this past Saturday.
16:41
It is the perfect example of all the partnerships that
16:44
come together to extend the resources of the University of
16:48
Kentucky for our county. Stevens said, every year's vendor group
16:53
is unique and there's many layers of approval to go through.
16:58
It is a place in our community where our leaders
17:00
can come together and connect with all of our people.
17:04
It is an experience. The Fiscal Court approved the contract
17:09
between the Greenow County Fiscal Court, Load Volunteer Fire Department
17:14
and Wolf Contracting in order to proceed with the Load
17:19
Fire renovation project. Lance Warnock, Solid Waste Director, said the
17:25
department ran fifty four dumpster loads one hundred and eighty
17:29
eight tons to the landfill in April. He also reported
17:33
Solid Waste transported five loads of metal nineteen point three
17:38
tons to the scrapyard. They walked thirty seven point six
17:42
miles of roadway, collecting two hundred and fifty six bags
17:46
of litter. The department had spring clean up on Saturday
17:50
May second and Saturday May ninth for Greenof County residents
17:55
who can't access the lot on regular schedule. Safety Director
18:01
Beauford Hurley said he has made progress in the process
18:05
of hopefully receiving an eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars
18:09
federal grant to update communication systems across the county. According
18:15
to Hall, it would benefit police, fire and ambulance departments
18:20
and more. We're keeping our fingers crossed that grant comes
18:24
through Hall said. Ambulance Authority Director Kevin Callahan said the
18:30
county wide service fielded six hundred and sixty seven calls
18:35
and logged fifteen thousand, eight hundred and sixty two miles
18:39
in April. The call tally is now at three thousand,
18:43
thirty nine. In twenty twenty six, he said GCAA participated
18:49
in a prom promise at Greenough County High School. It
18:53
was an accident reconstruction aimed at teaching students the dangers
18:59
of drinking a driving. Several departments requested the hiring of
19:04
summer help. All were approved. Here are some recent obituaries.
19:11
Speaker 2: Edward W. Isaacs eighty eight.
19:14
Speaker 1: Of Olive Hill, Helen Marie Hunt eighty eight of Ironton,
19:20
Paul Larry Bailey Junior, formerly of Ashton, Ashland sixty seven,
19:27
Sharon Nadine Newkirk Chandler eighty four, HERK Conley eighty four
19:33
of Ashland, and Anna Fuget moving on Grant writer commended
19:39
for work in Raceland by Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent.
19:44
After the Greenop County Fiscal Court voted to convert Legion
19:48
Drive in Raceland from a county road to city road,
19:52
Raceland City Administrator Dustin Burchett asked to invite Eric Patton
19:57
to the front of the room. Birchet presented a ten thousand,
20:01
three hundred and thirty five dollars check to Patent, Greenom
20:05
County's grant development coordinator, for his role in helping bring
20:09
a great deal of grant money into Raceland, specifically to
20:13
make progress for the Southern Ohio Medical Center project. Burchette
20:19
handed the check to Patent during Friday's fiscal Court meeting
20:23
in the County Courthouse Annex. Grant writers typically collects fees
20:28
for each grand amount per project. Patten has done a
20:32
tremendous job, Burchette said, referring to his role in bringing
20:36
in almost half a million dollars in grant funds to Raceland.
20:40
Burchett's head funds have gone towards streets, fire hydrants, and
20:45
into the SOMC Raceland Family Practice and Specialty Associates, which
20:51
is under construction for half a million dollars. He comes
20:55
off pretty cheap, Burgette said with a laugh. On the
20:59
property in WHICHMC is building, there was no sewer and
21:03
water initially. If it wasn't for Eric working with us
21:07
on that, we might have lost seventy five new jobs.
21:11
Perchet said. The facility will offer primary care, orthopedics, general surgery,
21:18
walk and visits, X ray services, lab services, and a
21:23
pharmacy with a drive through.
21:27
Speaker 2: Next.
21:27
Speaker 1: Body recovered from Ohio River identified as Columbus man Lewis
21:33
County Herald Report. Authorities have identified the man whose body
21:38
was recovered from the Ohio River in Vansburg earlier this
21:41
week as Jason D. Frisbee, thirty eight, of Columbus, Ohio.
21:48
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said local authorities worked with
21:51
officials in Ohio as part of the identification process. Lewis
21:58
County e nine to one one recent to call at
22:00
approximately four thirty seven pm Monday, May fourth, reporting a
22:07
body in the water Neil Scott Park on Front Street
22:10
in Vanceburg. Responding agencies included the Vansburg Police Department, Lewis
22:16
County Emergency Management, the Lewis County Coroner's Office, and the
22:21
Vansburg Fire Department. The body was recovered from the river
22:25
under the direction of Lewis County Coroner Tony Gados, and
22:30
transported to the State Medical Examiner's office in Frankfurt for
22:34
examination and positive identification. Lewis County Emergency Management Director Dennis
22:41
Brown expressed sympathy to the family and appreciation to the
22:45
agencies involved in the recovery and identification effort. Our thoughts
22:51
and prayers are with the family and loved ones of
22:53
mister Frisbee during this very difficult time. Brown said, we
22:58
appreciate the cooperation and professionalism shown by all responding agencies,
23:04
including local responders, the Coroner's office, Sheriff Johnny Bivens, and
23:10
the officials in Ohio who assisted with the identification process.
23:15
I also want to recognize the Lewis County dispatchers who
23:19
handled numerous calls, tips, and pieces of information from the
23:24
public while efforts were underway to determine mister Frisbee's identity.
23:30
Their professionalism and patients were greatly appreciated throughout the process.
23:36
The incident remains under investigation. No additional information is being
23:41
released at this time. The next article, comber Talks twenty
23:46
twenty seven plans in Greenup by Aaron Snyder of The
23:50
Daily Independent. After a quarter century in Kentucky politics, James
23:56
Comber feels fit to lead the state. I plan on
23:59
running for governor in twenty twenty seven, Comber said Thursday
24:03
in Greenup.
24:04
Speaker 2: It's not official yet.
24:06
Speaker 1: It will probably be official somewhere around December. Representative Comber,
24:11
Republican Tompkinsville, made rounds in northeast Kentucky Thursday morning, including
24:17
stops in Boyd, Greenup, and Carter Counties. He was at
24:22
the Greenop County Courthouse Square around eleven am. I am
24:27
touring Kentucky, Comber said, Obviously, I'm way outside of my district.
24:33
The governor's race is in twenty twenty seven, and I'm
24:36
very interested in that race. Any day I'm not in
24:40
Washington or my district, I'm stirring around the state. The
24:44
response has been positive. I'm meeting new people and building
24:48
an organization for twenty twenty seven. Comber has been a
24:53
member of the US House of Representatives from Kentucky's first
24:56
district since November twenty sixteen. He was Kentucky's Agriculture commission
25:03
from twenty twelve to twenty sixteen. Prior to that, he
25:07
was a State House representative in the fifty third district
25:11
from two thousand and one to twelve. Senator Robin Webb
25:16
of Grayson, Representative Aaron Thompson Greenup, and Judge Executive Bobby Hall.
25:22
We're among those rallying around Comber in support on Thursday.
25:27
It's a great day in Greenop County when you have
25:30
your state representative, state senator, a state congressman, and when
25:35
all of those people are in Greenop County, it's great
25:38
to know they all know where Greenop County is. Hall said,
25:43
for Greenop County and his region to move forward, we
25:47
have to have relationships with these folks. Without them, we
25:52
can't move forward. Comer said, in speaking to Northeast Kentucky residents,
25:59
people feel less out in this part of the state.
26:02
They feel neglected and that it's not been a priority
26:06
for economic development, said Comber fifty three. This part of
26:10
the state has a lot of opportunities. The infrastructure's good,
26:14
there's a great workforce, and it's community that works together.
26:20
Comber said communication between the Governor's office and the legislature
26:25
needs improvement. Just about all elected officials in eastern Kentucky
26:30
are Republican now, Comer said all the state legislators from
26:34
northeast Kentucky are Republican. I don't feel like Andy Basheer
26:39
has a good working relationship with very many Republicans who
26:43
are local elected officials, and with no Republicans who are
26:47
in the General Assembly in this part of the state.
26:51
Comer said he has always admired former Governor Paul Patton,
26:57
a Democrat, who Comber called the most effective governor I
27:01
served under. That was a time when being a Republican
27:05
placed Comber in the minority, he said. This concludes excerpts
27:10
from recent editions of the Ashland Daily Independent. Your reader
27:15
has been Jane on behalf of everyone here at radio.
27:18
I thank you for listening, Keep on listening, and have
27:22
a good day.