Transcript

7.3.25 · Springfield Sun

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Springfield Sun to bring you
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news from and around Washington County. Your reader today is
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Jim Rice. We begin the edition dated July second, twenty
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twenty five. As a reminder, Radio I as a reading
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service intended for people who are blind or have other
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disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material. Grand
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Jury hands down five indictments by Jane Reid Klein, editor
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at the Springfieldsun dot com. Brian Allen Blanford, forty six,
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of Lebanon was indicted in connection to the three vehicle
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accident on Highway one point fifty near Frederickstown in July
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twenty twenty four that took the life of one motorists
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and sent three to area hospitals. Blanford was indicted by
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Washington County Grand Jury on Wednesday, June twenty fifth for
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vehicular homicide when under the influence, two counts of second
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degree assault, first degree wanton endangerment, first degree criminal mischief,
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operating a motor vehicle under the influence, second offense failure
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to give oncoming vehicle one half of the highway in
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disregarding traffic regulation. According to the report from the Kentucky
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State Police, the incident occurred around five to forty five
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pm on Sunday, July seventh. The KSP report stated, quote
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the preliminary investigation revealed that Brian Blandford, aged forty five,
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of Lebanon, was traveling east on US US one fifty
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twenty sixteen Chevrolet Traverse when he crossed the center line
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of the roadway and sideswiped a two thousand and eight
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GMC Sierra traveling west on US one fifty that was
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operated by Justin Phillips, aged thirty six, of Springfield. After
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the first collision, mister Blandford's vehicle continued to travel further
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into the westbound lane. Mister Blandford's vehicle then collided head
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on with a two thousand and seven Toyota Selera operated
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by Logan Daily, aged thirty one, of Louisville. Three patients
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were transported via air medical to area trauma centers with
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critical injuries. Daily was pronounced deceased at the scene by
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Washington County Corner Lynn Benedict. Passenger in Dally's vehicle, Gerald Neil,
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aged thirty five, of Saint Catharine, was transported to the
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hospital with serious injuries. Blandford, along with The juvenile and
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his vehicle were also transported to the hospital with serious
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but non life threatening injuries. Bond for Blandford was set
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at one hundred thousand dollars full cash. Kimberly Smith, twenty five,
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of Texas Sloops, Springfield, was indicted on seven counts. Smith
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is charged with second degree assault, two counts of first
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degree wanton endangerment, two counts of first degree criminal mischief,
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operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, in
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possession of marijuana. Smith was arrested on Wednesday, April twenty third,
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twenty twenty five, following an accident on Perryville Road in Springfield.
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According to Springfield Police Chief Sue Mudd, when Smith lost
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control over a vehicle in front of Long Branch Liquors,
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it careened into the parking lot of the local liquor store,
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striking a sign, followed by a motorcycle and an individual
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standing beside the motorcycle and a picnic bench, before coming
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to rest upon hitting a tree. The sixty eight year
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old woman struck by Smith's vehicle was taken by EMS
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to Springview Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Bond for
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Smith was set at ten thousand dollars for cash. Lacey Whittaker,
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twenty nine, of Willisburg was indicted by the grand jury
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on six counts. Charges in the indictment are possession of methamphetam,
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possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance, failure to or improper signal,
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no or expired registration, and failure to wear a seat belt.
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The charges stem from an accident on April tenth, twenty
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twenty five. Whittaker's bond was set at five thousand dollars unsecured.
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Whittaker was previously indicted in January twenty twenty five of
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charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for December twentieth incident.
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The grand jury also indicted Tanya Walker fifty two and
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Edward Leonard Whitlock fifty three, both of Mackville, for possession
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of a handgun by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana.
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Bond for each was set at fifteen hundred dollars cash.
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An indictment by a grand jury is merely a charge.
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All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the
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appropriate court of law. Perryville man arrested following automobile accident.
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Andrew Andrew K. Mccollin of Perryville was arrested following a
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one vehicle accident on Highway one fifty Perryville Road in
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Washington County on the afternoon of Friday, June twenty seventh.
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According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the twenty year
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old was reported driving recklessly at a high rate of
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speed on Highway one fifty traveling east. Witnesses told Chief
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Deputy Lynn Davis that minutes later, mccollin was observed passing
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numerous cars, almost hitting oncoming traffic head on. According to
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the witnesses, mccollin then lost control of his vehicle and
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crashed into a wooded area on the westbound side of
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Highway one point fifty. At the scene, mccollan allegedly admitted
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to driving about ninety miles per hour at the time
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of the accident. He also stated he had only owned
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the truck for about two or three months and had
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not transferred the title into his name. Mccollin was checked
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out by Washington County ems onseen, but refused transport or treatment.
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Mccollin was arrested in charge with first degree wanton endangerment,
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reckless driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license, no insurance,
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and failure to register the transfer of a motor vehicle.
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PSAP seeks to fund additional nine one one dispatchers. Washington
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County's Public Safety Answering Point Board is continuing to look
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for ways to fund the hiring of two additional dispatchers
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at the Dispatch Center. Last month, the Washington County Fiscal
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Court rejected a proposed two dollars per month increase in
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the nine one one fee on county water bills. Kevin Divine,
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director of the Office of Emergency Management, said half the
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shifts at the Dispatch Center are staff with two dispatchers,
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but there is only one dispatcher on duty the other half.
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Divine towd PSAP board members that would cost one thousand
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dollars to employ two full time dispatchers to fill that void.
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The original proposal to add two dollars monthly to each
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water bill would have generated about one hundred and twenty
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thousand dollars for the dispatch center. Divine said Nelson County
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adds just over fifty two dollars a year on property
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taxes to fund its nine one one center Washington County
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currently charges twenty four dollars annually with the two dollars
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a month fee on all water bills. Divine set another
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option as a part time dispatcher who is asked to
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go full time. Divine said if that happened, the center
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would only need one new full time dispatcher, which would
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lower the cost a little. At the Wednesday, June twenty
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fifth meeting of the PS board, several options were discussed.
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One member of the board proposed hiring a clerical person
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to answer calls on the non emergency phone line. This
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person would not require dispatcher training and the wage would
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be lower. Divine stated he did not feel that proposal
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was feasible and would not help with the times there
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is only one dispatcher on duty. Another proposal was to
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return to the city and county to request another contribution
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from each. Divine stated he believed the timing was bad
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to request an additional contribution since each not only recently
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made their respective contributions, but just to prove budgets for
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the upcoming fiscal year. He suggested waiting until the next
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budget year to request additional contributions. Also noted upcoming expenses
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when the proposed hotel in Manton is built. Quote, we
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will have costs for a tower, repeater, et cetera in
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the Mantin area, which has limited radio coverage right now.
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The final proposal from Springfield City Councilman Michael Hale was
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to return to the city in county to request a
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one dollar increase in the water bill fee, which would
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add sixty thousand dollars to the dispatch center budget, and
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ask for an additional fifteen thousand dollars from each on
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the next budget a year from now. Devine said the
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board has some moneies and CDs that could be used
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to offset the remaining thirty thousand dollars needed to fund
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the two employees. Quote. I'm concerned about using the CDs
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to pay for this, said County Judge Executive Tim Graves.
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That money is there in case a repeater or tower
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goes down and we need emergency repairs. Quote. The board
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voted six to one to approve Hale's proposal to request
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a one dollar increase now with annual automatic increases as
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allowed by the state. The board also approved advertising for
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the two new dispatchers now, but one board member stress, quote,
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I don't want to buy something we can't pay for unquote.
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It was agreed no one would be hired until funding
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was in place. Also at the PSAP meeting, Divine announced
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the approval of a thirty five third thousand dollars grant
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to upgrade the radio consoles at the dispatch center. Quote
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the will give us a direct link in better communication unquote.
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Devine said. The new councils will cost thirty nine thousand
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dollars and will be ordered in August. The PSAP board
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will have to pick up the additional four thousand dollars
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not covered by the grant. New sign raises questions. A
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sign near the Bartstown Road roundabout has raised questions from
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local residents. When was it installed, who installed it, and
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most importantly, what does it mean. The sign, located on
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Highway five five five south, just as you reach the roundabout,
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is a simple blue square with a question mark and
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an arrow pointing toward downtown. Several city and county officials
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were asked about the origin and meaning of the sign.
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No one seemed to know anything about it. Most were
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unaware of its existence, and all stated quote, now I'm
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curious about that sign. I want to know what it
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means unquote, losing hope of finding answers. Sun's staff did.
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What people in the twenty first century do? We googled it.
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According to the first Google search, the sign is directing
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drivers to quote motorists services like food, fuel, arrest, stop in,
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sometimes hospital unquote. A second search said quote A blue
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sign with a question mark often indicate a warning suggesting
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a potential hazard or unexpected situation on the road ahead. Quote.
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Another search set it is to alert drivers they may
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still have headlights on after a tunnel and should turn
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them off. Certainly does not apply in this situation. Yet
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another set It is directing you to information like a
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visitor center. What does that sign mean? In this instance,
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we still don't know, but the Sun is determined to
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find the answer. Obituary Sue NN Marple Chesser, seventy nine.
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Sue and Marple Chesster, aged seventy nine, of Willisburg, Kentucky,
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passed away at eight twenty nine pm Wednesday, June twenty fifth,
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twenty twenty five, at her home. She was born in
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Marion County, Kentucky, on March twenty ninth, nineteen forty six,
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to the late Earl in Flossi Tungate Marple. She was
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a member of the Free Pentecostal Church and a homemaker.
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Preceding her in death was her husband, Leroy Chesster on
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February one, twenty fifteen. Two grandsons, Preston David Medley on
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July fifth, two thousand and Dustin Chester on May seventeenth,
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two thoy nineteen, two brothers David Marple on September ninth,
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nineteen ninety six and Robert Marple on September twenty fourth,
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two thousand and three, and a sister, Janie Petaway on
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September eighth, two thousand and nine. Survivors include a son,
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Kurt Chesser and Audrey of Willisburg, three daughters, Beverly Chesster
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of Perryville, Brenda Smith Jeremy of Springfield, and Karen Sue
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Naley of Springfield, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Funeral
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services were held at one pm Saturday, June twenty eighth,
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at the Willisburg Church of God of Prophecy, with Reverend
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Mike Willingham officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery at Willisburg.
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Serving as pallbears were David Marple, Robert Marple, Timothy Marple,
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Connor Gardner, McKinley Lake, and Patrick Smith. Carriyon's Son Funeral
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Home was in charge of the arrangements. Public Record District Court,
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June twenty third, twenty twenty five. Tate Alexander Cunnigan public
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intoxication alcohol fifty dollars fine plus court cost. Ryan Myers
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speeding twenty miles per hour over the limit, open alcoholic
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beverage container in a motor vehicle seventy five dollars fine
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plus court costs. Shana Leslie parent no insurance a five
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hundred dollars fine plus court costs. Miguel Renteria disregarding the
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stop sign, no license one hundred and thirty five dollars
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fine plus court cost. Joshua Waldridge disorderly conduct thirty days
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probated for twenty four months plus court cost. Hagan Wilson
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licensed not in possession fifty dollars fine plus court costs
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from the Circuit Court. June twenty fifth, twenty twenty five.
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Anthony McDowell was sentenced after being found guilty by a
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jury first degree rate twenty years, three courts of first
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degree sexual abuse five years for each count. Sentences to
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want to run consecutively for a total of thirty five years.
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He must also register as a sex offender for life.
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Court costs start at one hundred and forty five dollars
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and increase depending upon the charges. SWEDA secures more than
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four hundred and fifty thousand dollars in grants. By Jane
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Reid Klein, editor the Springfield Sun dot com, the Springfield,
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Washington County Economic Development Authority was recently notified that two
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grant applications totaling over four hundred and fifty thousand dollars
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submitted in October twenty four, had been approved for funding.
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The Kentucky Product Development Initiative Program is a statewide effort
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to support upgrades at industrial sites throughout the Commonwealth and
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position Kentucky for continued economic growth. According to the Kentucky
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Cabinet for Economic Development website, this grant program is the
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result of collaboration between the KCAD and the Kentucky Association
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for Economic Development. SWEDA has previously been awarded two hundred
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thousand dollars for site development projects in the Springfield, Washington
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County Commerce Center and the Lincoln Business Park. In this
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round of funding, SWEDA was awarded at three hundred and
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ninety one thousand dollars for infrastructure extensions and improvements at
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EXIST sites and sixty three thousand dollars for funding of
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due diligence studies on future industrial sites, for a total
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award of four hundred and fifty four thousand dollars. Quote.
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We look forward to utilizing these funds to enhance the
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local opportunities for continued business and industry growth and expansion
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in Washington County, unquote, said Daniel Carney, SWEDA Executive Director,
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adding that SWEDA is grateful to KCEED and KAED for
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making this opportunity available, as well as the Kentucky Legislature
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for continuing to support and fund the KPDI program. County
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continues to boast low unemployment. Washington County has returned to
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the top ten for the lowest unemployment rate in the Commonwealth.
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Unemployment rates fell in ninety seven counties, rose in thirteen counties,
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and stayed the same in ten counties, including Washington, between
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May twenty twenty four and May twenty twenty five, According
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to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, an agency within the
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Kentucky Education and the Labor Department, labor cabinet. Woodford County
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recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth for May
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twenty twenty five, at three point four percent. It was
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followed by Fayette, Oldham, Scott Shelby Counties three point six
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percent each, and Harrison, Jessamine Todd in Washington Counties at
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three point seven percent each. Martin County recorded the state's
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high unemployment rate and nine point two percent. It was
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followed by Macgoffin County nine point one percent, Elliott County
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seven point nine percent, Lewis County seven point seven percent,
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Carter County seven point one percent, in Wolf County seven percent.
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Washington County's rate of three point seven percent is the
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same as recorded for April twenty twenty five and May
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twenty twenty four. It's almost a four percentage point lower
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than the Lincoln Trail Area Development District as a whole.
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LTA d D recorded a rate of four point five percent,
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just a tenth of a percent above the state wide
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rate of four point four KY Stats reminds readers quote
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Kentucky's county unemployment rates and unemployment levels are not seasonally
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adjusted because of small sample sizes. Employment statistics undergo sharp
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fluctuations due to seasonal events such as weather changes, harvest holidays,
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and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences
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and make it easier to observe statistical trends. The comparable
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unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was four point four
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percent for May twenty twenty five and four percent for
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the nation. Kentucky seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from five
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point two percent in April twenty twenty five to five
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percent in May twenty twenty five. Kentucky joins national initiative
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to expand post secondary opportunities for justice impacted individuals. Kentucky
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was one of five states selected by the State Higher
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Education Executive Officers Association to participate in a one year
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learning community to expand post secondary opportunities for individuals impacted
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by the criminal justice system people who are or have
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been incarcerated, on probation or on parole. The other states
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are Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Virginia. The Vera Institute for
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Justice as partner in this work, and a Syndium Education
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Group provided financial support. Kentucky's team will include representatives from
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the Council on post secondary education the Kentucky Community and
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Technical College system in the Kentucky Department of Corrections. These
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organizations will work to remove barriers to post secondary education
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for individuals with criminal records and help them make meaningful
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contributions to Kentucky's workforce. Quote. Kentucky's incarceration rate is eight
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hundred and eighty nine per one hundred thousand people, higher
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than that US average, said doctor Aaron Thompson, CPO President.
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Due to time restraints, we have to end this article
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at this time. This concludes excerpts from recent editions of
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The Springfield Sun. Your reader has been Jim rice On
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behalf of everyone here at radio. I thank you for listening,
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keep on listening, and have a good day.