Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Pike Co. News - 9.14.26

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Pike Co. News - 9.14.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Now, we turn to the reading of the Appalachian News
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: Express for news in Pikeville and Pike County. As a reminder,
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Radio Eye is a reading service intended for people who
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  Speaker 1: are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
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  Speaker 1: to read printed material. The Appalachian News Express is donated
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  Speaker 1: to Radio Eye by the publisher. Your reader today is Naya.
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  Speaker 1: Our issue... Today is dated September 11-14, 2026. Our first
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  Speaker 1: article is dated B.S.C.T.C. Host 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony by Terry L. May,
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  Speaker 1: News Editor. Big Sandy Community and Technical College's Pikeville campus
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  Speaker 1: conducted a special ceremony on September 10th in remembrance of
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  Speaker 1: the 25th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attack against the
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  Speaker 1: United States. The program featured several musical performances by the
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  Speaker 1: Pike County Central High School Band under the direction of
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  Speaker 1: Jason Johnson, who served as the event's keynote speaker. Also,
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  Speaker 1: The PCHS Junior ROTC presented colors and raised the United
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  Speaker 1: States and Commonwealth of Kentucky flags, then lowered them to half-staff.
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  Speaker 1: Johnson delivered a commemorative speech about the attacks, encouraging everyone
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  Speaker 1: to ensure that the cost of human lives lost on
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  Speaker 1: September 11, 2001, be preserved for future generations. He talked
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  Speaker 1: about advice given to children's educator and television icon Mr.
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  Speaker 1: Rogers by his mother. When frightening things happen, look for
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  Speaker 1: the helpers. Quote, Look for the helpers. You will always
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  Speaker 1: find people helping, Johnson said. September 11th showed us the
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  Speaker 1: very worst of what human beings are capable of doing
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  Speaker 1: to one another. But in that very same moment, we
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  Speaker 1: also witnessed amazing examples of what human beings are capable
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  Speaker 1: of doing for each other. We found the helpers, he continued.
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  Speaker 1: They were the firefighters climbing the stairwells. They were the
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  Speaker 1: police officers and paramedics who were moving toward danger. They
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  Speaker 1: were ordinary people carrying strangers down the stairs, end quote. Johnson,
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  Speaker 1: pastor of the Prestonburg Church of God, called the relief
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  Speaker 1: work seen on September 11, 2001, and the following weeks
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  Speaker 1: a living testimony of people rising to the call of service. Quote,
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  Speaker 1: On September 12, 2001, we lived out to love our
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  Speaker 1: neighbor as ourselves, he said. Tell future generations about firefighters
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  Speaker 1: who traveled across the country to help people they had
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  Speaker 1: never met. Tell them about churches, civic organizations, schools, businesses,
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  Speaker 1: and the ordinary citizens who asked the simple question, what
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  Speaker 1: can I do to help? Johnson said our responsibility did
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  Speaker 1: not end with 9-11. but that we make sure those
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  Speaker 1: memories are not forgotten. There will come a day when
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  Speaker 1: nobody alive will remember September 11th personally, but there shall
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  Speaker 1: never be a day when America forgets what happened. So
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  Speaker 1: when a young person asks you about 9-11, don't tell
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  Speaker 1: them to Google it. Tell them your story. He also
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  Speaker 1: challenged his audience to continue the spirit of community service.
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  Speaker 1: We have to honor... the heroes of 9-11, by choosing
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  Speaker 1: to become helpers ourselves, Johnson said. When someone is hurting,
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  Speaker 1: be the helper. When your community needs someone to step forward,
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  Speaker 1: be the helper. When fear tells everyone to run and
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  Speaker 1: look out for themselves, be the helper. That is a
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  Speaker 1: legacy worthy of the men and women that we remember today,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. BSCTC Chancellor Dr. Samuel Todd Brandt said he
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  Speaker 1: is proud that the college's faculty, staff, and students organized
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  Speaker 1: the ceremony. Quote, Events like these are important because they
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  Speaker 1: give us an opportunity to come together as a community,
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  Speaker 1: remember the lives lost on September 11th, and ensure that
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  Speaker 1: the significance of that day is never forgotten, Brand said.
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  Speaker 1: These events help us honor those who were affected and
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  Speaker 1: provide an opportunity for our students, faculty, and staff. to
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  Speaker 1: commemorate the sacrifices made by our first responders, end quote.
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  Speaker 1: Our next article is called Ollie's Sees Success Before Grand
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  Speaker 1: Opening by Terry L. May, news editor. Opening a new
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  Speaker 1: Ollie's discount store in Colerun was both a race and
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  Speaker 1: a challenge for the store's manager. Having accomplished both, she
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  Speaker 1: is already declaring the new location a success. Quote, I
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  Speaker 1: am in in-house promotion, and when I got here it
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  Speaker 1: was just four walls and they were still painting the
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  Speaker 1: poles red when I walked in. Ollie's store team lead,
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  Speaker 1: Courtney Gillum, told the News Express, Quote, to see it
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  Speaker 1: go from that to the shelves being built and merchandise
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  Speaker 1: on them was amazing. One day you are like, there
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  Speaker 1: is no way this is going to happen in just
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  Speaker 1: 30 days, because I know what an Ollie's looks like.
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  Speaker 1: The whole process to get the shelves stocked, train cashiers
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  Speaker 1: and managers, and the whole staff has been overwhelming at times,
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  Speaker 1: she continued. But our employees are great. They are not
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  Speaker 1: afraid to work, and I am so proud of them,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. She said the store employs about 65 people. However,
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  Speaker 1: she and market team lead Jim Payne said more than
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  Speaker 1: 700 came to hiring events the store held earlier in
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  Speaker 1: the summer. Quote, We did five open interview days and
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  Speaker 1: were there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day,
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  Speaker 1: end quote, Gillum said. We didn't leave for lunch or
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  Speaker 1: anything because we couldn't. We were just back-to-back interviewing at
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  Speaker 1: that point. I have heard from our store opening coordinator
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  Speaker 1: on many occasions that this is the best store they
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  Speaker 1: have ever seen because everybody works, end quote. Gillum comes
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  Speaker 1: to the Coal Run location from Cincinnati. Quote, I am
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  Speaker 1: originally from Lawrence County, so this is like coming home
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  Speaker 1: for me, she said. When talking about plans for the store,
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  Speaker 1: she said a number of goals have already been set
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  Speaker 1: for her, including sales numbers. To that end, the store
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  Speaker 1: has been conducting a soft opening since September 2, and
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  Speaker 1: during that time, store sales have already reached more than
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  Speaker 1: a quarter of its first objective. Quote, At this point,
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  Speaker 1: I don't really call that a soft opening anymore, Gillum said.
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  Speaker 1: That is the kind of unheard of in Ollie's. I
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  Speaker 1: think the community will truly support us. But from there,
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  Speaker 1: I have already talked to my regional office about becoming
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  Speaker 1: a training store, she continued. Ollie's expands about 10% each year,
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  Speaker 1: so there are always new stores opening. We can tell
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  Speaker 1: you that for sure. If we are chosen, we will
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  Speaker 1: be set to train other stores in Kentucky- West Virginia,
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  Speaker 1: and Virginia. The new Ollie's location is in the former
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: Big Lots building in the Weddington Branch Shopping Center in
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  Speaker 1: Cole Run. Our next article is entitled, Pike Board of
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  Speaker 1: Education Approves 2027 Budget by Terry L. May, News Editor.
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  Speaker 1: The Pike County Board of Education approved a $ 105 million
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  Speaker 1: working budget for the 2027 fiscal year during its September
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  Speaker 1: 8th meeting. The Board of Education also approved tax rates
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  Speaker 1: and voted to convene the local planning committee. Now that
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  Speaker 1: the board has approved the working budget, Pike County Schools
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  Speaker 1: Treasurer and CFO Rodney McCoy said the next step is
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  Speaker 1: to present it to the state for final approval. That
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  Speaker 1: has to be done by the end of the month. Quote,
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  Speaker 1: we are looking at a $ 22. 8 million beginning balance, he
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  Speaker 1: told the board. We're projecting receipts for.
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  Speaker 2: The year of $ 82. 2 million for the fiscal year 2027,
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  Speaker 2: bringing the total budget to $ 105 million, end quote. The
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  Speaker 2: district's primary receipts come from state sources, including SEEK funding,
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  Speaker 2: McCoy explained, Those receipts are expected to be $ 59. 3 million,
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  Speaker 2: or 72.1% of the revenue stream. Local sources are expected
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  Speaker 2: to bring in another 24.4%, or $ 20. 06 million. McCoy added
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  Speaker 2: that the contingency fund is around $ 13. 7 million, quote, which
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  Speaker 2: is actually a little bit better than what we had
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  Speaker 2: last year, end quote. Projected expenses, according to McCoy, are
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  Speaker 2: estimated at $ 91. 2 million, higher than the projected receipts. However,
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  Speaker 2: the strong beginning balance will cover that deficit, keeping the
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  Speaker 2: budget strong. Along with the budget, the Board of Education
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  Speaker 2: approved another financial matter and set the fiscal year 2027
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  Speaker 2: property tax rate. The Board of Education has often expressed
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  Speaker 2: its aversion to raising taxes and, over the past few years,
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  Speaker 2: has even reduced tax rates. While the tax rate will
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  Speaker 2: not go down again this year, it will not increase,
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  Speaker 2: as the Board voted to keep it the same rate.
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  Speaker 1: As last year, $ 82. 8 per $ 100 of assessed value. Our
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  Speaker 1: next article is entitled, Water Projects Progress in Elkhorn City,
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  Speaker 1: by Gary Sloan, staff writer. Elkhorn City is making progress
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  Speaker 1: on reducing its water loss, the City Council learned during
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  Speaker 1: its September 8th regular meeting. Denny Jackson, Water Supervisor for
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  Speaker 1: the City, reported to the Council that the water loss
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  Speaker 1: for the city water remains at 46%. Quote, Once the
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  Speaker 1: Aging Water Main project is completed, which is anticipated to
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  Speaker 1: be within the next four weeks, according to the Summit
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  Speaker 1: Engineering Committee, we should see a further reduction in water loss,
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  Speaker 1: Jackson said. From where we were back last year when
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  Speaker 1: we saw 70% water loss to where we are now
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  Speaker 1: at 46%, we've already seen a major improvement, and I
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  Speaker 1: expect that once the projects are completed, we should be
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  Speaker 1: around 34% water loss or less, end quote. To further
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  Speaker 1: reduce water loss, the city is bidding out a meter
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  Speaker 1: replacement contract that has been advertised for bids. This project
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  Speaker 1: will replace all meters in the system, Jackson said. The
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  Speaker 1: pre-bid meeting will be held on September 15th, with a
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  Speaker 1: bid opening on September 23rd for that project. Summit Engineering
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: also submitted an updated agreement for the Stillhouse Water Storage
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  Speaker 1: Tank project, which supersedes the agreement between the firm and
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  Speaker 1: the city that was passed in August 2023. Now that
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  Speaker 1: the Stillhouse Water Storage Tank project is fully funded by
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  Speaker 1: the USACE and state matching funds, the council voted unanimously
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  Speaker 1: to approve the agreement. In other actions, Elkhorn City Mayor
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  Speaker 1: Nathan Bryan announced that the city has formally been notified
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  Speaker 1: that money for debt reduction relief has been awarded and
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  Speaker 1: the money can come in at any time. Quote, This
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  Speaker 1: has been a long time coming, Bryan said. We've been
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  Speaker 1: patiently waiting for this money, and now it's been officially approved,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. Bryant said that when the city receives the money,
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  Speaker 1: an announcement will be made to inform the public. Quote,
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  Speaker 1: We want to be transparent, and this is a major
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  Speaker 1: amount of money, and will be used to pay down
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  Speaker 1: debts the city has, Bryant said. Nothing moves very quickly
• 12:32
  Speaker 1: when dealing with large amounts of money, but as soon
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  Speaker 1: as this comes in, the public will know. I really
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  Speaker 1: want to thank Mountain Watchers District, Kentucky Power, and others
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  Speaker 1: who have worked with us since I became mayor, he continued.
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  Speaker 1: We've kept in contact with these folks and saw they
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  Speaker 1: were working diligently in getting the city on good financial footing.
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  Speaker 1: They worked with us and we appreciate that, end quote.
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  Speaker 1: The council also voted unanimously to apply for additional funding
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  Speaker 1: through the Kentucky W. Waters Assistance Program, which it administered
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  Speaker 1: through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. This is just another example
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  Speaker 1: of the city trying to alleviate itself of a financial burden,
• 13:13
  Speaker 1: Bryant said, and I want to remind the public that
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: we post the city's financial bank statements on the bulletin
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  Speaker 1: board each month in the lobby of City Hall so
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  Speaker 1: anyone can come in and see what money the city
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  Speaker 1: has and where the city is spending money, and that
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  Speaker 1: will continue to be a policy as we continue to
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  Speaker 1: be transparent to our residents. The next regular scheduled meeting
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  Speaker 1: of the Council is set for 7 p.m. on October
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  Speaker 1: 13th at Elkhorn City Hall. Our next article is entitled,
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  Speaker 1: Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Humana Makes Fitness Equipment Donation, a
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  Speaker 1: special to the Appalachian newspapers. Humana, in partnership with the
• 13:58
  Speaker 1: Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, donated more than 940 individual pieces
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  Speaker 1: of fitness equipment to Hazard High School, Appalachian Arts Alliance Studio,
• 14:10
  Speaker 1: Bees App Arts Movement Studio, and Pikeville Area Family YMCA,
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  Speaker 1: all located in the Appalachian, Kentucky region, according to a
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  Speaker 1: statement from the foundation. The equipment was delivered to all
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  Speaker 1: three locations on August 20, the statement said. Quote, As
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  Speaker 1: a company proudly rooted in Kentucky, we are committed to
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  Speaker 1: investing in the health and well-being of communities around Across
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  Speaker 1: our home state, said Jeb Duke, Humana Senior Vice President
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  Speaker 1: and Medicaid Division Leader. Through our partnership with the Foundation
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: for Appalachian Kentucky, these fitness equipment donations will help create
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  Speaker 1: more opportunities for people in eastern Kentucky to stay active, connective,
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  Speaker 1: and healthy. We know that whole-person health goes beyond medical care,
• 15:00
  Speaker 1: and strong communities play an important role in helping people
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: live their healthiest lives. In April, Humana reached out to
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  Speaker 1: the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky to request suggestions for groups
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: that might benefit from the equipment, as well as help
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  Speaker 1: with facilitating donations, the statement said. Foundation staff made inquiries
• 15:22
  Speaker 1: in several areas Appalachian Kentucky counties, and connect to Humana
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: with the school, studio, and YMCA, the statement said. Hazard
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: High School received over 50 pieces of equipment, Studio B's
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: App Arts Movement Studio received over 170 pieces, and Pikeville
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: YMCA received over 700 pieces, according to the statement. These
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: groups will use the donations to serve their communities by
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: offering access to high-quality fitness equipment, according to the statement. Quote,
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  Speaker 1: partnerships like this are a great example of what can
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: happen when we listen to our communities, understand their needs,
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  Speaker 1: and connect them with resources that can make a real difference,
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: said Kristen Walker-Collins, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: Appalachian Kentucky. We are grateful to Humana for trusting the
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: Foundation to help place this equipment where it can have
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: a meaningful, lasting impact. Whether it's a school, an arts
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  Speaker 1: and movement space, or a YMCA, these organizations are deeply
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: rooted in the communities they serve, and we are proud
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: to help strengthen the work they are already doing. Our
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: next article is entitled, Sheriff's Office Begins Camping Enforcement, by
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: Heather Doody, Appalachian Newspapers. Williamston, West Virginia, the Mingo County
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: Sheriff's Department is said it has spent the past four
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: weeks offering housing, rehabilitation, food and medical assistance to people
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: living outdoors in Williamson, but will now begin shifting its
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: focus to enforcing the city's anti-camping ordinance. In a September
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: 2 social media statement, the department says deputies have been
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: working with the county quick response department team, the health department,
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: Williamson Police Department, and the Sheriff's Department victims advocate to
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: contact people throughout the city. Quote, we have encountered individuals
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: living under bridges, sleeping in tents, and on cots along
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: the flood wall, the statement said. We have offered approximately
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: 40 individuals assistance with housing, drug rehabilitation, food, and medical care,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. The department said about 75% of the people
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: contacted were local residents from Mingo, Pike, or Martin counties.
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: Officials also said not everyone seen under a bridge or
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: walking through town with a backpack is homeless. Several people
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: contacted by the outreach team, the statement said, had housings
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: and utilities but chose to remain outdoors. Quote, Almost everyone
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: we spoke to was appreciative of the help that was offered.
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: but very few took advantage of the resources that were available,
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  Speaker 1: end quote, the statement said. The outreach effort was intended
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: to reach people throughout Williamson, from East End to West End,
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: and personally offer assistance, according to the statement. Quote, With
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: the goal, when we started this four weeks ago, to
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: reach out to every individual in Williamson, from East End
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: to West End, and personally offer them help, the statement continued,
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: The statement additionally said one city ordinance prohibits camping without
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: a permit inside city limits. As Sheriff of Mingo County,
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: I want to personally thank QRT for all their hard
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: work and dedication. Sheriff Joe Smith said in the statement,
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: Williamson Mayor Mike Casey said the city appreciated the sheriff's
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: department's assistance, particularly as the city faces a shortage of
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: police officers. Quote, in enforcement of the ordinances, especially with
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: our shortage of officers in the city, Casey said. The
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: Williamson City Council unanimously approved the anti-camping ordinance on July 10, 2025.
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: The ordinance establishes restrictions on camping and related activities on
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: public property. During the meeting, City Attorney Nathan Brown cited
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in, quote, City of Grants
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: Pass v. Johnson, end quote, while summarizing the ordinance for
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: council members. Quote, So it is the city of Williamson's
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: desire to better maintain its public properties. It defines camping
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: and prohibits camping upon city property, end quote, Brown said.
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: The ordinance allows camping on city property only for historical, cultural,
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: or educational purposes and requires a permit from city hall.
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: Violations carry a monetary fine rather than incarceration. An offense
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: that could be punishable by up to a $ 500 fine,
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: Brown said. The ordinance prohibits camping, sleeping, storing personal belongings,
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: or cooking without a permit on streets, sidewalks, alleys, easements, parkways, preserves,
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: conservation areas, parking lots, public grounds, driveways, bridges, and viaducts
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: covered by the ordinance. Quote, This is no way to
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: punish people. It's more of a safety aspect for the
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: city as certain populations grow, Brown said. That's what the
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: goal of it was, end quote. The Sheriff's Department said
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: its outreach phase has now concluded for the people it contacted,
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: and enforcement assistance will continue in coordination with the Williamson Police.
• 21:21
  Speaker 1: The department said the effort connected about 40 people with
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: offers of support, while acknowledging that only a small number
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: accepted the services. Our next article is entitled, Entitled, FCCF
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: Gives to Cash for Trash Program, a special to the
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: Appalachian newspapers. The Floyd County Community Foundation awarded a $ 2, 500
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: grant to the Floyd County Fiscal Court to support the
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: county's Cash for Trash Program, an initiative that combines community service,
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: environmental cleanup, and fundraising opportunities for local civic and school groups,
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: according to a statement from FCCF. The FCCF grant was
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: matched with an additional $ 2, 500 from the Highlands Foundation. Together,
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: those funds were then matched by a private donor, bringing
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: the total funding available for the program to $ 10, 000, the
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: statement said. Cash for Trash, the statement said, provides an
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: opportunity for civic organizations and school groups to raise money
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: while helping keep Floyd County's roadsides and communities clean. Participating
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: groups receive $ 100 per mile of trash collected and may
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: clear up to five miles, providing the potential to earn
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: as much as $ 500 for their organization. The Floyd County
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: Sheriff's Office also plays an important role in the program
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: by providing security for participants as they work along roadways
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: collecting trash, the statement said. Quote, We are proud to
• 22:58
  Speaker 1: support a program that brings people together to make a
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: visible difference in Floyd County, while also helping local civic
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: and school groups raise money for their organizations, end quote,
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: said Ellen Harris, chair of the Floyd County Community Foundation.
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: It is a wonderful example of what can happen when
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: community partners come together and leverage their resources. A $ 2, 500
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: grant from the Community Foundation ultimately helped generate $ 10, 000. for
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: this important effort.
• 23:29
  Speaker 2: End quote.
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: Harris added that the program reflects on the community foundation's
• 23:34
  Speaker 1: commitment to supporting projects that strengthen Floyd County and encourage
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  Speaker 1: community involvement. Quote, Cash for trash is about more than
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: picking up litter, Harris said. It gives young people and
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  Speaker 1: community members an opportunity to take pride in where they live,
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  Speaker 1: work together, and see the direct impact of their efforts.
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  Speaker 1: We are grateful to the Highland Foundation and the private
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  Speaker 1: donor for helping us multiply the impact of this grant,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. To support more projects like this that benefit
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  Speaker 1: the Floyd County community, donations can be made to the
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  Speaker 1: Floyd County Community Foundation online at http: / / bit. ly /.
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  Speaker 1: floydcf or mail to P.O. Box 1734 Prestonburg. KY 41653.
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  Speaker 1: This concludes today's reading of the Appalachian News Express. Your
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: reader has been Naya. Thank you for joining me. Now please,
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: stay tuned for more programming on Radio Eye.