Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Hazard Herald - 3.15.26

Transcript

Hazard Herald - 3.15.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

0:00
Speaker 1: Now we turned to the reading of the Hazard Herald
0:02
for news of Hazzard in Perry County Humbly Townshend. We
0:06
begin with the online edition dated March eleventh, twenty twenty
0:11
sixth as a reminder Radio Eyes of Eating service intended
0:15
for people who were blind or have other disabilities that
0:18
make it difficult to read printed material. To charge with
0:22
murder in shooting. The Perry County Sheriff's Office said in
0:26
a statement in March sixth that a second person has
0:29
been charged in connection with the March third murder. According
0:33
to the statement, on March sixth, a warrant was obtained
0:37
charging Brian Smith, forty nine, of Locust Street, Hazard, with
0:41
murder in connection with the shooting death of Jason Ryan Huugh.
0:45
On March fourth, Danny Harold Blue Asher, forty two, of
0:49
Whole School Road, was arrested and charged with murder in
0:53
connection with the case, according to a warrant written by
0:58
Prairiey County Sheriff's Captain Paul Campbell, the department's lead detective.
1:03
On March third, deputies responded to a SHOT's fired complaint
1:07
at guard Fork Road in the parking lot of Bobby
1:10
Combe's apartments found Huff dead of a gunshot wound. While
1:16
conducting video recorded interviews, what warrant said, a witness advised
1:21
that three people confronted Holl just prior to the shooting.
1:25
The warrants said. Investigators learned that Asher and another individual
1:29
who was not named in the warrant against Asher, assaulted
1:33
Huff just before one of the two shot Huff with
1:36
the intent to cause his death. Another witness, to warrants said,
1:41
told investigators that Asher stated following the incident that he
1:46
had just killed someone, referring to Huff. Smith, according to
1:50
the Leslie County Detention Center records, was booked into the
1:54
jail there on charges including third degree assault of the
1:57
police officer, assisting arrest, and drug possession on March sixth.
2:03
The Sheriff's office later said in a statement that Asher
2:06
was arrested in Leslie County on March fourth after the
2:09
Leslie County Sheriff's Office responded to a call reporting a
2:13
suspicious person. The March sixth statement said that in addition,
2:18
a warrant was obtained from Miranda kat Connor, thirty seven,
2:22
of Hazard, on a charge of hindering apprehension related to
2:26
Huff's murder. The statement said the investigation is ongoing and
2:30
additional arrests and charges are possible in the case. Investigation
2:36
in the fatal ATV crash continues. Ferry County Sheriff Joe
2:40
Ingles said March third that the investigation into an ATV
2:44
crash that killed the teenage girl is ongoing. According to Ingle,
2:50
at about nine pm on February twenty eighth, the Sheriff's
2:54
office received a call of reporting an ATV crash at
2:58
Oakwood Avenue in Docco. Ingles said the investigation found therefore
3:04
four people on the ATV at the time of the crash,
3:07
two juvenile females, one of whom was operating the vehicle,
3:11
and two adult males. The operator. Ingle said the sixteen
3:15
year old female lost control of the vehicle, which went
3:18
over an embankment, resulting in the death of the juvenile
3:21
female passenger, who's been identified as Emmelyn Clark. One of
3:28
the male passengers, Ingle said was transported from the scene
3:32
and was being treated for serious injuries. Ingle said at
3:36
the time that alcohol was believed to be a factor
3:39
and that the operator of the ATV had been charged
3:43
with DUBI. On March third, Ingle said that the investigation
3:48
that resulted from the crash is ongoing. In a statement,
3:52
Ingle said that after conferring with Perry County Commonwealth's Attorney
3:56
John Hanson, two search warrants were executed, one of which
4:01
was for a mobile phone belonging to Noah Baik Pcso
4:06
has the phone in our possession, Ingle sin in the statement,
4:09
it will be sent for analysis and another crime that
4:12
we're investigating separate from the accident. Further, Ingle sent he's
4:16
been informed that social services in the Perry County Schools
4:20
District are conducting independent investigations related to the situation and
4:26
a statement issued March third, the Perry County Schools released
4:29
a statement on their own internal investigation. We are committed
4:34
to ensuring a thorough and transparent process and are working
4:38
closely with local authorities and relevant agencies. The statement said.
4:42
No one in the ATV accident was an employee of
4:45
the school district. We can confirm that one adult male
4:50
involved had recently volunteered as a basketball coach, but is
4:54
no longer serving in any capacity with the Perry County Schools.
5:00
The statement said. The district extends its sympathies to the
5:03
victims' families and friends. The heart of our school district
5:08
is broken, and we're praying for God's comfort to our students,
5:11
our families, our community during this most difficult time. Ingle said.
5:16
The investigation continues. It's being thoroughly investigated. He said in
5:21
the statement, some evidence will take time due to waiting
5:24
for lab results. All persons involved are innocent until proven guilty,
5:29
Ingle said. Hazard Police Chief Zach Miller visited East Perry
5:35
Elementary as a guest reader for students on March fourth.
5:39
I got to read to my favorite student this morning,
5:41
said Miller. Positive interactions with students can go so far
5:45
in building trust and shaping their futures. HCTC Solar partnership
5:51
helps nursing graduates cover licensure costs. Ten nursing graduates from
5:57
Hazard Community and Technical College are one one step closer
6:01
to entering the healthcare workforce after receiving financial assistance to
6:05
cover the cost of their licensure exams through a partnership
6:10
with Shaping our Appalachian Region. Officials say the collaboration helped
6:15
remove a significant financial barrier for students preparing to take
6:19
the NCLA S, the exam required to become a licensed
6:23
registered nurse. We have numerous partnerships with Source at HCTC
6:28
President doctor Jennifer Lindon this one. Assisting the nursing students
6:33
is one of those many partnerships. HCTC and SO are
6:38
both here to assist the region wherever that looks like.
6:43
So if we see students that need help or a
6:45
community that needs help, we're all about bringing our resources
6:49
together to see how we might be able to help them.
6:53
London said, College officials discovered several recent nursing graduates for
6:58
struggling to afford the cost of se associated with the
7:01
licensure exam. You have to take it and it's very expensive.
7:05
Mom And said. There are also other fees that are incorporated,
7:09
like fees from background checks and other things as part
7:11
of that exam. Once you finish your already expensive mercing program,
7:16
then there's still the exam and you need to take
7:19
it very quickly once you finish your coursework, so it's
7:22
all very fresh in your mind. We had several graduates
7:26
who needed help taking the exam. Through conversations with SOWAR leadership,
7:32
the solution was quickly developed to help cover those costs,
7:36
allowing graduates to move forward with the next step in
7:40
their careers. I spoke to the chief operating officer of Sword,
7:44
Joshua Ball, and he just so happened to have some
7:47
funds that could help students, So we worked out an
7:51
arrangement that could cover that cost, she said. So either
7:56
the student would come to us and they've already paid
7:59
for the exam, we imburse them, or sore reimburses the US,
8:04
or we help them register for the exam and pay
8:07
for it. It helped the number of students complete their
8:10
exam and get out into the workforce and start their careers,
8:13
which is why they came to college. It's been a
8:16
great partnership and helping students who had a barrier preventing
8:20
them from getting to work. London said. The initiative reflects
8:25
the college's broader mission to support students beyond this classroom
8:29
by addressing obstacles that might otherwise prevent them from completing
8:34
their education or entering the workforce. That's what we're all
8:39
about here at HCTC, London said. We want to eliminate
8:43
those barriers through education and employment. So when a student
8:47
comes in, we work with them to eliminate any type
8:51
of barriers they have. If they need a tutor, we
8:54
work with them to get a tutor. If they have
8:57
food insecurities, we have food pantries. If it's issues with transportation,
9:02
we work with local organizations to help with that. If
9:05
we have issues with childcare, we have vouchers to help
9:08
with that. We're really treating the students in a holistic
9:12
fashion in order to complete their education and get on
9:16
with their career. We really work to eliminate all barriers
9:20
to get our students across the finish line into employment.
9:25
Attorney General Coleman emergency appeal filed to keep two hundred
9:29
and forty plus violent criminals behind bars. Attorney General Russell
9:34
Coleman announced in a statement in March sixth the filing
9:37
of an emergency motion with the Kentucky Court of Appeals
9:41
to keep more than two hundred and forty convicted violent
9:43
criminals behind bars. In February, the statement said the Franklin
9:48
County Circuit Court invalidated a portion of the Safer Kentucky Act,
9:53
which broadened the definition of violent offender to include those
9:57
convicted of strangulation, reckless homicide, attempted murder, carjacking, and more.
10:04
Earlier this week, the Circuit Court denied the AG's requests
10:08
to keep its order from going into effect while litigation continues.
10:12
According to the statement, The statement said that unless the
10:16
Kentucky Court of Appeals agrees with Conan and blocks the
10:19
Circuit Court's order, more than two hundred and forty violent
10:23
convicted felons could immediately be released by the Kentucky Parole Board.
10:28
Included in those, according to the Attorney General's Office, who
10:32
could be released due to that ruling from Perry County
10:37
Eric Campbell, who's incarcerated on a charge of first degree
10:40
criminal abuse, Jane Cecil, who's incarcerated on a charge of
10:44
second degree rate and Jerry Collins, who's incarcerated on a
10:49
charge of first degree sexual abuse victim under twelve years old.
10:53
The General Assembly passed the Safer Kentucky, aat to protect
10:57
families and support law enforcement, and said unless the Court
11:02
of Appeals steps in, more violent criminals could soon be
11:05
back in your neighborhood. The Kentucky General Assembly, led by
11:10
Representative Jared Bowman, a Republican from Louisville, and other members
11:14
of the Louisville Delegation, enacted HB five, the Safer Kentucky
11:18
Act with sweeping changes to the commonwealth's criminal justice laws
11:23
in twenty twenty four. Criminals convicted of all on offense
11:28
are prevented from release on probation, shock probation, parole, conditional discharge,
11:34
or other forms of early release until they serve at
11:37
least eighty five percent of their sentence. Hazard Fire Department
11:42
responds to three residential fires in one night. The Hazard
11:46
Fire Department responded to three residential structure fires within a
11:50
span of several hours, from the evening of March sixth
11:53
into the early hours of March seventh, according to a
11:57
statement from Fire Chief Robert Keith. Acording to the statement,
12:01
Keith said, the first call came just before eight pm
12:04
this evening. At approximately seven forty seven pm, the Hazard
12:08
Fire Department was dispatched to four eighty nine Walker Branch
12:12
Road along with Jakes's Branch Fire Department in regards to
12:16
a residential structure fire, he said. Keith said firefighters arrived
12:21
to find the structure already heavily engulfed in flames, with
12:24
nearby homes at risk. Upon arrival, crews find a structure
12:28
heavily involved with fire and other homes in close proximity
12:32
to the structure, said Keith. We began defensive attacks immediately
12:37
to protect the houses surrounding the fire building. Eventually, we
12:42
contained the fire and began monitoring the scene. When a
12:45
second structure fire was discovered from Perry County nine Poet
12:48
one at eight twenty four, Jakes Branch Fire Department cruise
12:53
assumed scene command on Walker Road as HFD units responded
12:57
to nineteen forty five Christopher Upon arrival to this fire,
13:03
HFD cruise found a single blind trailer fully engulfed with fire.
13:09
A quick, aggressive fire attack was initiated and crews were
13:13
able to bring the fire under control within just several
13:16
minutes of being on the scene. No injuries were reported
13:19
from either scene, said Keith. According to Keith, one Yearby
13:23
residence sustained damage due to the intense heat of the blaze.
13:28
One residence on Walker Branch Road sustained heavily damage to
13:32
deciding from the heat of the fire prior to our arrival.
13:35
The statement said Hazard Police Department assisted with scene control
13:40
on Christopher Road. Hazard Fire Department units are back in
13:44
service at this time. Keith also said the Hazard Police
13:47
Department assisted firefighters were scene control on Christopher Road. The
13:53
Perry County Sheriff's Office swore in Christian Steadham, announcing his
13:57
return to the Patrol Division of the Peace. According to
14:01
Sheriff Joe Ingles, Stidham began his career with the Sheriff's
14:05
Office before joining the Martin Police Department, where he achieved
14:10
the rank of chief. We're happy to have him back
14:13
holding the line for the folks at Perry County, said.
14:18
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced March sixth that the
14:22
agency has awarded Children's Advocacy Centers of Kentucky the FBI
14:27
Director's Community Leadership Award CAC of Kentucky. According to statements
14:32
from the CAC and FBI is being honored for its
14:35
statewide leadership in coordinating the response to children's abuse and
14:41
strengthening collaboration among law enforcement, prosecutors and child protection professionals.
14:48
Through its network of local centers, CAC of Kentucky assures
14:53
children receive trauma informed care while supporting thorough, multidisciplinary investigations
15:00
promote both healing and accountability. The statement said Children's Advocacy
15:05
Centers of Kentucky included Judy's Place for Kids and Pipewell
15:09
in care Cottage in Hazard. A Hazard man has been
15:14
charged with first degree Walton endangerment discharge of the firearm
15:18
after a shooting incident, according to a citation written by
15:22
Perry County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Miller. On March second, Prairie
15:26
County nine one one received a call reporting that David L. Combs,
15:31
forty seven, of George's Branch Road was shooting into vehicles.
15:36
Upon arrival at the Seam Miller Road, officers learned that
15:39
Cones had come to the residence of one of the
15:41
witnesses and pulled out a pistol, then fired into the
15:44
rear of the vehicle, striking the rear car. Cone's citation said,
15:49
also kicked the bumper of the vehicle, causing damage to it.
15:53
One of the witnesses was in the vehicle at the
15:55
time comb shot at the citation said. Cone's the citation said,
16:00
also threatened the life of one of the witnesses before
16:03
leaving the scene. Miller wrote that he located Combs a
16:07
short time later, and Combs told him that the witness
16:09
had stolen a battery boose pipe from him and the
16:12
man would not return the property. And refused to fight him.
16:17
Combs admitted that at the time he shot into the
16:19
tire and told the man he ought to kill him.
16:23
The firearm was recovered, wrote Combs was lodged in the
16:27
Kentucky River Regional Jail. In addition to Walton endangement, he
16:31
is also charged with third degree terroristic threatening and second
16:34
degree criminal mischief from an opinion page unacceptable by Jeff Vanderbeck. Recently,
16:43
tragedy struck Period County when a sixteen year old young
16:46
lady died as a result of a crash on an ATV.
16:49
According to the sheriff, it suspected that alcohol was involved
16:54
in the vehicle. Were two juvenile females and two adult males,
16:57
one of whom may have been identified. There is an
17:01
ongoing investigation that's being performed by the sheriff in the
17:04
school system. According to a statement from the school system,
17:08
none of the adults are involved with the system, but
17:11
one male recently volunteered. The statement said that the adult
17:15
is no longer in that capacity. Sheriff Ngel alluded to
17:20
additional charges. His department is investigating where the alcohol came
17:26
from and how the teams were able to have access
17:29
there have been a lot of comments on social media
17:32
that may or may not be true. Not much has
17:35
been made official at this time, so speculation is all
17:38
that's being circulated. What is clear is that adults were
17:43
riding in an ATV with an underage driver who had
17:46
allegedly consumed alcohol, resulting in the driver getting charged with
17:50
a DUI. There was another underage passenger who died as
17:55
a result of the crash. The details of the crash
18:00
are not yet available all the surface, two adult males
18:03
were riding with two underage girls. One died, the other
18:07
was charged with the UI. An investigation is pending by
18:10
Sheriff Ingel. Whatever the circumstances, the facts are unacceptable. Teens
18:15
allegedly drinking and driving with unrelated adults resulting in the
18:19
death of a promising young girl is unacceptable. The investigation
18:24
is pending and the truth will come out soon. If
18:27
any charges are to be filed, let the process do
18:30
the work to the fullest extent of the law. In
18:33
the meantime, rumors and false statements will only harm the
18:37
investigation and take away from the young lady who lost
18:40
her life and her greeting family. Our condolences are with
18:44
the family. Thanks for reading the Hazard Herald Week nine
18:50
of the twenty twenty six legislative session by Brandon Smith,
18:54
State Senator, twenty ninth District. As the General Assembly completed
18:59
the ninth week of the twenty twenty six legislative session,
19:04
the Senate continued moving the legislation forward while beginning a
19:08
deeper review of the state budget. With fewer than three
19:13
weeks remaining in this year's sixty day session, the focus
19:16
is increasingly shifting toward finalizing responsible policies and ensuring Kentucky's
19:23
next two year budget is balanced and sustainable. Earlier this
19:27
week marked the final deadline for filing legislation for this session.
19:32
Approximately three hundred and fifty bills were filed in the
19:35
Senate and more than nine hundred in the House. As
19:39
these measures moved through the process, our work remained centered
19:43
on advancing policies that strengthened Kentucky's economy, improved government accountability,
19:49
and support our communities. One of the most significant bills
19:53
the Senate improved this week was SB eight, legislation I
19:57
sponsored to modernize Kentucky's Public Service Commission. This bill is
20:02
part of the promise I made to you to fight
20:06
for more affordability in utility rates. SB eight updates the
20:13
structure and operations of the Public Service Commission to ensure
20:17
it has the expertise, independence, and capacity needed to regulate
20:22
more than eleven hundred utilities serving customers across the Commonwealth.
20:27
The bill expands the Commission from three members to five
20:31
and establishes professional qualifications so commissioners bring technical knowledge necessary
20:37
to evaluate complex utility cases involving energy, infrastructure rates and
20:44
long term investments. SB ninety four is a bill that
20:49
updates Kentucky law to ensure motor vehicle dealers are fairly
20:53
compensated for warranty repairs and recall work. SB fifty modern
21:00
es Kentucky's probated state and trust laws by streamlining inheritance
21:05
procedures and allowing electronic estate planning documents. SP fifty seven
21:11
establishes nuclear reactor Site Readiness Pilot program position in Kentucky
21:17
to compete for advanced nuclear energy developments and strengthening our
21:21
long term energy portfolio. Senate Bill fifty nine strengthens production
21:28
protections against misuse of taxpayer dollars and elections by prohibiting
21:33
the use of public funds or government resources to advocate
21:37
for or against ballot measures. Senate Bill one twenty five
21:43
strengthens Kentucky's response to youth and the juvenile justice system
21:47
with rigorous behavioral health needs. Established a clear process to
21:52
assess high acuity youth and coordinated treatment of services. Bill
22:00
fifty six strengthens Kentucky's van on child marriage by a
22:04
clearly prohibited marriage for anyone under the age of eighteen
22:09
from the habituary page. Virgie jet Baker sixty six of
22:14
Bodaman died Monday, March second. Teresa Darlene Feldner sixty three
22:20
of Either died Thursday, March fifth. Jason Ryan Huff twenty
22:25
seven of Hazard died Tuesday, March third. Shirley Marie Lawson
22:32
seventy four of Hazard died Wednesday, March fourth. Evelyn Alexis
22:37
Nicole Clark sixteen died Saturday February twenty eight. Edward Owen
22:43
sixty six died Thursday March fifth. Finley Lawrence Larry Cisco
22:49
sixty six died Saturday February twenty eight. Evelyn Hensley eighty
22:55
five of Hazard died Tuesday March third. Jason Davis Jones,
23:00
forty two died Wednesday, March fourth, and Carol Elizabeth ness Noys,
23:06
seventy two, of Busy died Monday, March second. Hazard man
23:12
charged with cocaine trafficking. A Hazard man is facing a
23:16
charge of trafficking in cocaine after Hazard police responded to
23:19
a report of suspicious persons. According to an arest citation
23:25
written by HPD officer Malcolm Trent, on March second, he
23:29
was dispatched to the Old Venders Mall parking lot on
23:32
Main Street to a report of suspicious persons. Trent wrote
23:38
that upon arrival, he saw two men behind the building
23:41
and observed one of them, Michael Edward Campbell, thirty five,
23:45
of Highland Avenue, take money from the other man, then
23:49
reach into his front pocket of his sweatpants. Trent wrote
23:53
that he approached both men and told them to take
23:55
their hands out of their pockets. The citation said that
23:58
when Trent asked Campbell what he was doing, Campbell handed
24:01
the officer two plastic bags containing a white powder substance.
24:07
Trent wrote that after placing Campbell under arrest, he also
24:11
found a mobile phone and cash on Campbell's person. Campbell
24:15
was lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail on a
24:18
charge of first degree trafficking and a controlled substance. The
24:23
University of Pikewell's Center for Public Service announced in a
24:27
statement of March sixth, the second year of the Allegheny
24:31
Civic Fellowship, a three week non residential summer camp dedicated
24:36
to cultivating future citizens in Eastern Kentucky. Building on the
24:41
success of its inaugural year, the statement said the Fellowship
24:45
will once again bring together high school students from Eastern
24:48
Kentucky for an intensive educational experience grounded in the study
24:53
of American democracy. Through daily lectures, seminar discussions, writing workshops,
24:59
and cityguidea ativities, participants will engage foundational works ranging from
25:04
classical political philosophy to the speeches and writings of major
25:10
American statesmen, the state, and said hosted on campus, the
25:15
fellowship reflects Upike's broader commitment to public service, regional leadership,
25:21
and educational opportunities. According to the statement, Throughout the three
25:25
week camp, students will read and discuss text spanning from
25:28
Plato and Aristotle to the Federal's papers, along with modern
25:32
political voices such as Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Governor
25:39
Andy Basheer said in a statement he's joined twenty four
25:42
attorneys generals and one other governor in submitting a letter
25:45
to the US Department of Education opposing a proposed rule
25:50
under the One Big Beautiful billiac that would camp federal
25:54
student loans for grad with students in nursing, physician assistants,
25:58
and other health fields, a change that would worsen health
26:01
care shortages across the country. Three people have been arrested
26:07
by the Perry County Sheriff's Office in two separate methanthetamine
26:10
trafficking cases. According to an arrest citation ridden by Deputy
26:15
Chris Jones, the first arrest occurred on Mark seventh, when
26:18
deputies went to conduct the knock and talk at the
26:21
residence on Lost Creek Road. Upon arrival Jones Road, he
26:26
saw three individuals in the garage, including Jeffrey Scott Jones,
26:30
fifty five, of Loss Creek, who told Deputy Jones to leave,
26:34
but Jeffrey Jones said he did not live there and
26:38
was not the owner of the residence. Deputy Jones wrote
26:41
that he spoke with the homeowner, who told him there
26:43
shouldn't be anybody in his garage and gave him permission
26:47
to enter the garage. Upon entry, Deputy Jones wrote he
26:52
found Jeffrey Jones sitting on a seat with a firearm
26:55
above his head. Jones, the citation said, had been found
26:59
guilty of reckless heime homicide in a previous case, meaning
27:02
that he was a convicted felon and was not permitted
27:06
to have a firearm. Deputy Jones wrote that in plain
27:10
view there were two jars of marijuana, a large number
27:14
of baggies, and a working scale. This concludes the reading
27:18
of the Hazard Herald. Please stay tuned for continued programming.
27:22
Thank you for joining me and on behalf of everyone
27:24
here at RADIOI. This is Lee Townshend, wishing you a
27:28
good day.