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Hazard Herald - 1.4.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Hazard Herald
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for news of Hazard in Perry County Unwin Townshend. We
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begin with the online edition dated December thirty first, twenty
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twenty five, as a reminder, radioized or reading service intended
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for people who are blind or have other disabilities that
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make it difficult to read printed material. Fiscal Court approves
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grant submission for the Wildcat Co Lodge project by Justin Begley.
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The Perry County Fiscal Court approved a resolution during a
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specially called meeting on December twenty third, authorizing the completion
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and submission of a grand application for the Leatherwood Wildcat
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Co Lodge Project in the amount of two point three
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million dollars. Perry County Judge Executive Scott Alexander said one
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part of the lodge will be a kitchen which will
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host a culinary arts program and serve as a restaurant,
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while the rest of the lodge will serve as an
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overnight destination for tourists. Alexander said the project aligns with
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the ongoing development efforts in the Leatherwood area, particularly those
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tied to tourism and outdoor recreation. The Wildcat Co Lodge
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will help with the growing tourism of Leatherwood. It will
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give guests a great place to stay while enjoying the
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beauty of our trails and mountains. This goes along with
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everything else happening in Leatherwood, including the off road park.
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It's really attracting a lot of tourism and tourism dollars
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to our community. It's another great project that will really
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help our economy and really help our people while continuing
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to help grow tourism. Alexander said the increase in visitors
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to the area has highlighted a growing need for lodging accommodations.
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With the people coming to Leatherwood, we're learning that places
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to stay is becoming.
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Speaker 2: One of the hot buttons here.
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Speaker 1: A lot of people from other states and other communities
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are visiting here wanting to spend their weekends here, so
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as well as other days, we need accommodations for them
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to come to. Alexander said. The proposed line project is
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expected to support broader economic growth tied to existing and
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future attractions in the county. With more visitors coming in,
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it will cause growth in a lot of areas.
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Speaker 2: He said.
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Speaker 1: We're excited to see all the new growth happen around
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the off Road Park and the Horse Center, as well
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as everything else that's happening around the county. Alexander said
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the project also represents a broader ship in Leatherwood's identity,
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connecting its pass to its future. This is a sign
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that Leatherwood in its heyday was one of the best
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mining towns in America, and now it's about to become
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full circle and be one of the destinations for off
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road tourism. Alexander said, this is a sign that Leatherwood
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is coming back in a big WAYSPE spreads Christmas cheer
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with Walmart. Kentucky State Police Post thirteen partnered with the
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Hazard Walmart during its annual Shop with a Trooper event
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on December nineteenth. Day two of our Shop with the
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Trooper has come to an end, said Public Affairs Officer
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Trooper Matt Gayheart in a public statement, but the memories
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will truly last a lifetime. Every year, I think we
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can't get any better, and every year it does. All
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huge thank you to Hazard Walmart for their incredible generosity
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for hosting this amazing event and helping put smiles on
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the faces of every child who walked through the doors.
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Thank you, as well to the Perry County Central ROTC
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program for helping make the day those kids will never get.
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Fugot outlines goals for coming legislative session. A state representative,
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Chris Fugut, Republican from Javis, said he plans to pursue
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several initiatives during the upcoming sixty day budget session of
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the Kentucky General Assembly, including infrastructure, education, tourism, and affordability
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across eastern Kentucky. Fuget said the upcoming session will include
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a wide range of issues, but several projects stand out
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as immediate needs for his district. There are so many
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things we need in this budget session, said Fugut. This
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is a long session, it's a sixty day session, and
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it being a budget session, there will be a lot
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of things that will go through. But some of the
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biggest things I'm working on, in no specific order, are
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things like the Buckhorn Marina. The Buckhorn Marina has been
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down now for about three years. I did get an
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estimate of what that would cost to fix. I obtain
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that last month and I think the estimate is two
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point one million dollars. So I'm going to be working
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on growing the funding to get that Marina fixed, if
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you get said. Education related projects will also be a
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major focus during the session. The Perry County School District
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has secured the property for the Robinson School project on
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east of eighty.
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Speaker 2: He said.
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Speaker 1: FEMA will pay seventy five percent of the costs on that,
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but we have to get approximately twenty five percent, so
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I'll be working on securing that funding as well. That
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will be approximately seven to eight million dollars from the state,
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So I'll be working on that project to try and
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get that if you get also said, other large scale
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infrastructure projects may face cost challenges due to inflation and
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rising expenses. Cornwater plant has already been bid, if you
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get said, but I think there may be a shortfall
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because of inflation. When the first estimates were obtained, the
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costs were much lower than they are now. Of course,
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there's also the power rates that's a huge concern. With
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the next meeting being January eighth in Frankfurt, I plan
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on being there at that Public Service Commission. That's a
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big and important topic for us, and we're trying to
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figure out some way for us to get relief in
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eastern Kentucky. If you get highlighted, the continued investment and
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outdoor recreation and trail development as a key driver of
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economic growth. There is also the trail system expansion, he said.
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New trails have been opened up this year in Martin County,
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Lecher County, Johnson County, Floyd County and are actually selling
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permits in those areas. But we're looking for additional funding
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to hire more people to work for the Trail Authority
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so that we can expand more. It's expanded this year
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from eighteen counties to twenty one, with two more counties
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contacting to be a part of the venture. So we'll
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be looking for additional funding for the Trail Authority and
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get the trail system expanded more and more in my district,
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the eighty fourth, Perry, Breathet, and Alesley Counties. Transportation improvements
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and long term physical responsibilities will also remain part of
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the legislative of agenda, he said. I will be working
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on the expansion of Kentucky fifteen, if you get said,
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from Lower Second Creek to the Industrial Park, trying to
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get the rest of the money to finish that. There's
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a lot going on, but we're trying to get that
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stuff done this session.
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Speaker 2: That's just Perry County.
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Speaker 1: Of course, it will be our goal again to fund
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all the pension systems, not fund them, but to meet
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the actuarial costs of the pension for the teachers and
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the road at state workers, and when we've done that
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every year since twenty seventeen. We funded them for the
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last nine years, and we hope to fund them this
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year too. Those are a lot of the big things,
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but there are so many other things we will be
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working on as well. Man charged after shooting at local business.
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A Perry County man was arrested after allegedly shooting at
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a local business. According to a statement from the office
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of the Perry County Sheriff Joe Ingle, at approximately four
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to fifteen am on December twenty fourth, a passenger at
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an suv shot three times into the former TNT gas station,
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which is now operated by Perry Foods. Upon investigation, the
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statement said, deputies made contact with the driver of the suv,
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who told them the mail passenger, identified Shannon Petrum Abispor
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thirty six of Javis, told her to stop in front
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of the store, then fired shots from the vehicle at
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the business. Abispoor, the statement said, was arrested at approximately
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two PM on December twenty fourth and lodged in the
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Kentucky River Regional Jail on charges of first degree criminal mischief,
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public intoxication, and discharging a firearm across a public road.
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The case remains under investigation by Deputy Gavin Bowen.
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Speaker 2: The statement said.
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Speaker 1: Mayor Donald Happy Mobilini recognized Nadine mccrindall, Regional Chief Executive
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Officer of the American Red Cross by bestowing her the
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title Duchess of Hazzard on December seventeenth. Kentucky set the
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pool funding from Peer Support for Recovery is asked to
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consider Chris Sonth sold drugs to support a long addiction
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to heroin and methamphetamine, notting himself a criminal record. While
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that resume would put off many employers and eminently qualified,
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Sutdeth for the job he's done for the past three years,
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work that he loves and worries he will soon lose
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because of a change in Kentucky law. Sutteth is a
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peer support specialist earning fifteen to eighteen dollars an hour
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to help other people who are trying to overcome substance abuse.
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The support row is recognized as vital in recovery. On
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January first, Kentucky's licensing standards will change, making thousands of
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peer support specialists, including sutath, no longer eligible to work
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in many treatment and recovery settings or be paid through Medicaid,
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the state federal program that is the financial backbone of
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many recovery providers. As of December twenty ninth, only fifty
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support specials had met the new licensing requirements, compared with
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sixteen eight hundred eighty three who are certified under the
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previous standards. I'm terrified. I'm invested in all this, in
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getting certifications that because of the new law, I'm not
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going to be able to use, said Subteth forty three
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of Georgetown. All of this is just surreal. I'm afraid
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I'm going to lose my apartment, everything I've worked for
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these three years. Even more, I'm afraid I'm going to
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lose my sobriety over it. Clerk's office rolls out new
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text messaging system. Perry County Clerk Wayne Napier announced the
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launch of a new text messaging notification system designed to
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improve communication with residents, Officially rolling out the service to
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the public on December eighth, Napier said, residents initially received
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a message from the clerk's office introducing the service and
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explaining how to participate. Residents received a text message from
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eighth nine four six from our office initiating the service,
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said Napier. You can choose to opt out or stop
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at any time by texting stop. If you don't receive
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the initial message, you can choose to opt in by
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texting the keyword Peririe County Clerk to number eight zero
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nine four six. That's Peririe County Clerk to eight zero
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nine four six. After sending the initial keyword, you'll be
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asked to apply yes to confirm opt in. Napier said
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the system will be used to share timely and important
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information related to county operations. Residents may receive notifications for elections, closing.
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Speaker 2: Delays, et cetera.
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Speaker 1: We feel that it's imperative to communicate with the public
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and keep everyone up to date. You can also visit
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our Pirie County Clerk website and click on the text
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by Gov widget to opt in, he said nape You're
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said adopting the services reflect the county's efforts to modernize
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how it communicates with the public. The County's use of
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this technology is another example of how our community enhances
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residents services by implementing twenty first century solutions. Napier said,
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We're excited about this new way of communicating with residents
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and look forward to sharing important county notifications. Other governmentities
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across the country are utilizing this system with great success.
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Stay informed, Stay ahead from the opinion page move by
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Rust Cassaday. All of Appalachian's problems have been solved thanks
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to the commenters on the Wall Street Journal website. I
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know online comments offering a solution. That's crazy, right it is. Recently,
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the WSJ did a piece on the water woes facing
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McDowell County, West Virginia. The article included an interview with
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my friend and former Mingo Messenger staff writer Brad Davis,
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who serves as a Methodist pastor there. The article was
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fine and hopefully we'll bring some attention to a massive
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ongoing problem in the region, especially in McDowell County, which
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is a full blown water crisis. A majority of the
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commenters on the WSJ article had an interesting suggestion for
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the people of the region to solve their woes.
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Speaker 2: Just move.
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Speaker 1: That's it, people, there's the answer, we all just pack
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up and move, leave behind our homes and families, and
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move to cities where we can again provide the workforce
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the power of the nation. We're used to that. From
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the Industrial Revolution to the Detroit Auto Boom, and even
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in war time, Appalachians have provided the back bone of
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this nation. Our coal and miners fueled this nation's rise
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to superpower while the wealth grew elsewhere. Now the sentiment
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is that we should just move away, leave it all behind.
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I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but i will say the
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timing is awfully convenient for this perfect storm of economic
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factors to force a mass migration. Appalachia is beautiful, rich
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in history, and full of opportunity. Despite all its problems,
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it could be a paradise. All it needs is an
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economic boost or two. The region is attractive for people
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growing weary of the issues of modern urban life, people
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with disposable income. At the same time, it's much more
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feasible for the poor to migrate to urban areas where
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there are jobs. All this is occurring against the backdrop
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of false narrative that we in this region somehow take
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more than we give. That might be true to an extent. However,
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ask Toyota how many workers they have with the area
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code six O six and their phone numbers. Take a
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look at how many eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia
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natives occupy seats of power throughout this nation. It's funny
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how many times I find our public officials and leaders
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of big business are natives of the mountain regions. Our
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best and brightest are the fuel of this nation, and
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those who stayed behind have been exploited to the hilt
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for their labor. And yet we're told we contribute nothing
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and deserve nothing, even the basics of survival, like water.
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What we deserve is better than what we've gotten. We
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deserve better than a false narrative that clears the way
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for a safe place for those fleeing the society and
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culture they've built for themselves. Move huh. I guess we'll
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just do what we should have been doing all along
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and come up with our own answers. If that's the
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best you can come up with. Don't live the same
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year seventy five times a column by Justin Begley. I
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heard a quote not too long ago that stuck with me.
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Don't live the same year seventy five times and call
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it a life. The longer I've set with it, the
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more it's echoed. As the new year begins, we naturally
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look backwards. We take inventory what we did, what we didn't,
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what we survived, what we lost, what we meant to
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get around to Another year passes the way water slips
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through open hands, felt for a moment, then gone. And
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when we look ahead, what are we really searching for?
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Some of us are chasing more things, but so many
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of us are chasing meaning. We want something that feels real,
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something that leaves a mark, something that reminds us we
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were here and awake, and we left our mark on
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the world. Yet somehow December arrives again, and we ask
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the same quiet question, where did the time go? Time
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and attention are the most valuable resources we have. How
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we spend them, what we give them to shapes our
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lives far more than we realize. When our days become repetitive,
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When routines go unchallenged, memory stops filling moments separately, days blur,
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weeks collapse. Time feels like it accelerates, not because it does,
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but because nothing stands out enough to slow it down.
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We assume tomorrow will always come, and in that assumption
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we grow comfortable. We postpone what matters. We tell ourselves
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that later will be better, easier, more convenient. But sometimes
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later never arrives. If today were your last day, would
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you be satisfied?
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Speaker 2: How you spend it?
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Speaker 1: If this was your final year, would it feel lived
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or simply endured? And if you've only had an hour left,
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would you spend it arguing that an hour isn't enough?
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Or would you use it to do something anything different?
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It's easy to believe the world is falling apart if
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you live chronically online or keep the news on a
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steady loop. The chaos can feel overwhelming. Everything is urgent,
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everything is dire, everything is broken. But step outside, put
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the phone away, look around. What do you see? What
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do you feel right now in your body, on this
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strange and beautiful rock floating through space? Are you okay?
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Not your job, not your status, not your possessions, just you?
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Speaker 2: As we move into.
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Speaker 1: Twenty twenty six, I feel something unexpected, hope. In an
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era defined by irony, cynicism, and detachment, there's a quiet
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hunger for sincerity returning. I desire to feel again, to
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mean what we say to rebuild something human beneath the noise.
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Maybe we're showing signs of remembering ourselves. So don't wait.
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Don't run in that same circle for another year. Don't
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save your life for a version of the future that
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isn't promised.
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Speaker 2: Do it now.
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Speaker 1: Be willing to change, to adapt, to rediscover who you
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are beyond habit and expectation. Color outside, the lines are
20:37
off the page.
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Speaker 2: Entirely.
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Speaker 1: Say yes to something unfamiliar. Break the rhythm that's been
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putting your days to sleep. We only get this moment,
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and it could end at any time. So love deeply,
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see widely, be fully. Don't live the same year seventy
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five times and reach the end haunted by what if.
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Step away from the noways. Let go of the grudges
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you've been carrying, Release the tension you keep clenched inside.
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Wipe the slate clean when you can. Each day is
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a gift, and gifts are meant to be opened, not
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set aside for later.
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Speaker 2: Don't waste it. Happy New Year here arguebituaries.
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Speaker 1: Sharon Caudles, sixty nine of Cornetsville, died November fifth. Linda
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Bagley Eversow seventy three, of Busy died Monday.
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Speaker 2: December twenty second.
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Speaker 1: Anita Cornet seventy if Slimp died Tuesday, December twenty third.
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Bettie Makenkosh seventy three of Buckhorn died Saturday, December twentieth.
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Edward Dean Noble seventy six of bw And died Friday,
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December twenty sixth. Harold Slicksmith seventy seven of you On
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died Sunday, December on twenty five first. Helen Fay Westerfield
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eighty five of Hazard died Sunday, December twenty first. Lloyd
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Garrett Feldner fifty five of Salt Lick died Wednesday, December
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twenty fourth.
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Speaker 2: Leslie K.
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Speaker 1: Miller fifty nine of Hazard died Saturday, December twenty eighth.
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Elizabeth had Exceealed seventy seven Ivico died Wednesday, December twenty fourth,
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and Bobby Darryl Tolsen fifty one of Hazard died Monday,
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December twenty second. The small business spotlight is on the
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Pantry Shelf. The Pantry Shelf, family owned has been serving
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Perry in eastern Kentucky since nineteen sixty seven, known for
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the famous handmade Fresh Daily Donuts, Clays Chocolate, Cleanfield, Fruity Pebbles,
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fruit toppings, and more. Voted best of the best in
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the Reader's Choice Awards for the famous doughnuts and the
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deli where you can get fresh sandwiches, wings and wing bites,
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hot dogs, pizza, and fresh slice sandwich meats. Don't forget
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the ice cream cone with specialty flavors. This convenience store
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is groceries, beer, unique candies, Tobaico products, and a beverage center.
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Speaker 2: It's a one stop shop.
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Speaker 1: South and Brotherton invites you to come by you where
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you'll feel right at home. At four twenty six Memorial
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Drive in Hazard and boys basketball Bulldogs fall in pit
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to Shelby Valley. Two Mountain heavyweights clashed in the fifth
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place game of the seventy fifth annual Pip Bell Invitational
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Tournament at Pintwell High School this pass Monday, as the
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fourteenth Regions Hazard Bulldogs took on fifteenth Regions Shelby Valley Wildcats,
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and what turned out to be a good day for
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the Wildcats, it turned out to be a bad day
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for the Bulldogs as Shelby Valley picked up a fifty
23:58
seven to.
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Speaker 2: Forty nine wins.
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Speaker 1: Shelby Valley raced out to an early six zero league
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to take the upper hand. After that, the Wildcats held
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their lead by nailing ten team three pointers to fend
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off multiple Hazard rallies. All Mountain Boys Soccer. The twenty
24:16
twenty five Boys All Mountain Soccer Team consisted of teams
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from the fifteenth Region, Hazard, Perry Central, Buckhorn, not Central,
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and Lecture Central. The twenty twenty five All Mountain Team
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was selected by Appalachian newspapers Randy White, Steve Lamaster, and
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Andy and Adam Mayhan for All Mountain Players of the Year.
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Nominees included Jackson, Evans and Johnson Central, Tadan Sloan, Prestonsburg,
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Andy Cardenis Prestonsburg, Christian Amador, Prestonsburg, King Bailey, Hazard, Landin, Sebastian, Hazard,
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Neemia Collier, Hazard, All Mountain Soccer Boys Soccer, Johnson Central, Jackson, Evans,
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Jared Ziebelman, Ty Wilson, and Gavin Webb from Hazard, King Bailey, Landon, Sebastian, Dmi,
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Collier and Wyatt Barron from Perry Central, Preston Dunn and
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Wayne Bennett from All Mountain Girls Soccer. The twenty twenty
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five All Mountains Soccer team from Girls consisted of teams
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from the fifteenth Region, Hazzard, Perry Central, Not Central, and
25:35
Letcher Central. All teams were selected by Appalachian newswriters Randy White,
25:41
Steve Lamaster and Adam Mahon. Player of the Year nominees
25:46
were Brailey Murphy from Johnson Central, Faith Calwell from Martin County,
25:53
Jade Fitzpatrick and Prestonsburg. Emma Adams from Letcher Central, selected
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from Hazard Where, Jaden Fields, Ali Caldwell, Eliza Howard from
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Perry Central, Lexi Hurt, Jenny Perry, Ellery Fugen and Hayden Young.
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All Mountain volleyball selections from Hazard Savannah Combs, Mallory Mitchell,
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Rachel Allen and Addison Gent from Perry Central, Laney Davis,
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Lylah Sullivan, Megan Asher, Kenley mcgrannor and Chloe Campbell from Buckhorn,
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Ashland Adams, Chastity Turner and Hayley Drew Blank. The start
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of the new year means it's winter, which is a
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difficult time on blood supply. Weather related cancelations and uptick
26:47
in illnesses during the winter months. Can Hamper Collections. Proactive
26:51
blood donation ensures a healthy blood supply for local patients
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between the start of a new year and National Blood
27:00
Donor Month in January. There's no time like the present
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to donate blood and save lives. WYMT has from Monday,
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January fifth, from three to seven pm the KBC Bloodmobile
27:15
at one ninety nine black Gold Boulevard in Hazard. This
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concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald. Please stay tuned
27:22
for continued programming. Thank you for joining me and on
27:25
behalf of everyone here at RADIOI.
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Speaker 2: This is Lee Townshend, wishing you a good day.