Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Ashland Daily Independent - 10.21.26

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Ashland Daily Independent - 10.21.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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  Speaker 1: We now turn to the Ashland Independent to bring you
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  Speaker 1: news from in and around Ashland and Boyd County. Your
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  Speaker 1: reader today is Jane. We begin with the edition dated
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  Speaker 1: October 20th, 2026. As a reminder, Radio Eye is a
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  Speaker 1: reading service intended for people who are blind or have
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  Speaker 1: other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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  Speaker 1: Our first article, Black History Museum's Jazz Night Benefits C.B.
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  Speaker 1: Knuckles by Tammy Hetzer Womack for the Daily Independent. Ragtime
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  Speaker 1: rang through Belfonte Country Club Saturday evening. A quartet of
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  Speaker 1: trombone and sax, snare and cymbal, strings, and a vocalist
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  Speaker 1: delivered favorites for the more than 100 attendees. An evening
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  Speaker 1: of jazz, sponsored by Dr. Charles and Dorothy Rhodes, benefited
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  Speaker 1: the C.B. Knuckles Community Center and Black History Museum. It
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  Speaker 1: featured the music of the Wesley McDowell Quartet, formed at
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  Speaker 1: Marshall University. What a beautiful night, said Daryl Smith, executive
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  Speaker 1: director of the museum. Look around at all of his support.
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  Speaker 1: It means everything to keep the doors open Doing All
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  Speaker 1: We Do. Marie Troxler Griffith sits alongside Johnson with Audra Thomas.
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  Speaker 1: Troxler Griffith streams the University of Kentucky football game on
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  Speaker 1: her phone, announcing the score to guests around her table,
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  Speaker 1: reveling in the music and gridiron simultaneously. We love supporting
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  Speaker 1: our Black History Museum, she said. Glancing back at her
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  Speaker 1: phone's live stream, there is much an important connection with
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  Speaker 1: jazz music and our black roots. We always need to
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  Speaker 1: learn more. On the eve of Jerry Johnson's death, Doris
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  Speaker 1: Johnson remembered her late husband. A talent artist, Johnson was
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  Speaker 1: known as the painter who brought Christmas to Ashland for
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  Speaker 1: his hand-painted murals on Winchester Avenue storefronts. as well as
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  Speaker 1: his colorful paintings, often featuring scenes of black leaders and Africa.
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  Speaker 1: The music brings me a peaceful feeling, she said. I
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  Speaker 1: know if he were here, Jerry would be right here
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  Speaker 1: beside me. He would not miss this for the world.
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  Speaker 1: I knew I could stay at home and be sad.
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  Speaker 1: Jerry would not want that. So I am here supporting
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  Speaker 1: the museum as Jerry would. Gregory Mitchell traveled all the
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  Speaker 1: way from Nashville. I'm so impressed with the setup of
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  Speaker 1: all this. Nice, top-notch, he said Mitchell. This is my
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  Speaker 1: chance to come out and socialize with Ashland people, and
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  Speaker 1: everyone here is so kind. Suzanne Barker Griffith sits with
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  Speaker 1: musician husband Rick, talking with the two groups of Boyd
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  Speaker 1: County Democrat Party-sponsored tables. who showed up to support Smith's
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  Speaker 1: endeavors alongside co-founder Bernice Henry. We love Bernice Henry, said Griffith.
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  Speaker 1: We are having a great night together while giving back
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  Speaker 1: to the museum. This is an amazing event spent with
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  Speaker 1: friends and museum patrons. A fun night with fellowship, friends,
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  Speaker 1: and family of our community, said Ashlyn Commissioner D.J. Reimer.
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  Speaker 1: This music and food were absolutely great, and we are
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  Speaker 1: so glad to come out and support Daryl Smith and
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  Speaker 1: the museum. If you have not visited, it is truly
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  Speaker 1: a gem we need to keep and support, added Commissioner
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  Speaker 1: Tim Renfro. Anything to support the Black History Museum is vital.
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  Speaker 1: It's so exciting to see the community come out tonight
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  Speaker 1: to support and continue its growth, said Mayor Chuck Charles.
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  Speaker 1: We would love to get it in a spot right downtown.
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  Speaker 1: Allison Christie sits down at Charles' table. She is introducing
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  Speaker 1: her love of jazz to her 32-year-old son, Austin, and
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  Speaker 1: his spouse. I love jazz, and it was brought to
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  Speaker 1: Ashland tonight. A new generation to enjoy the music, Christie said.
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  Speaker 1: I hope this continues regularly, such a super evening with friends.
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  Speaker 1: For more information, visit ashlandblackhistory.com. In other news, Ashland BZA
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  Speaker 1: public hearing on Tuesday. The Ashland Board of Zoning Adjustment
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  Speaker 1: will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday in the City
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  Speaker 1: Commission Chambers after an applicant has requested a conditional use
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  Speaker 1: permit for a data center facility at the former A.K.
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  Speaker 1: Steel Coke plant property. The city recently implemented zoning restrictions
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  Speaker 1: for potential data center operations within city limits. Restrictions include
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  Speaker 1: a 1,500-foot buffer from residential zones, a 55-decibel noise limit
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  Speaker 1: at the property line, a maximum of 50,000 square feet
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  Speaker 1: for floor area per building, and a 45-foot height limit.
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  Speaker 1: The property is at 4045 Winchester Avenue. The applicant is
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  Speaker 1: TADA ASHKY LLC, according to City Attorney Andrew Wheeler. The
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  Speaker 1: application identifies TADA Kentucky LLC as the property owner, which
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  Speaker 1: is a separate entity from the applicant. Both list the
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  Speaker 1: same California mailing address, 171 Main Street, No. 562, Los Altos, California.
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  Speaker 1: Per the Kentucky Secretary of State, both entities were organized
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  Speaker 1: on August 13, 2026. Both identify V-Corp Agent Services Incorporated
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  Speaker 1: in Frankfurt as their registered agent. Navneet Aron is listed
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  Speaker 1: as both companies' organizer, according to Wheeler. Aron is the
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  Speaker 1: founder and CEO of Livio Building Systems, according to Livio's
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  Speaker 1: public communications. The company markets itself as producing engineered panelized
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  Speaker 1: AI data center construction. According to GoLivio.com, it describes factory-built
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  Speaker 1: building power and cooling assemblies installed on site and claims
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  Speaker 1: its approach delivers facilities 75% faster and than traditional construction.
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  Speaker 1: According to Ashland's Code of Ordinances, a conditional use permit
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  Speaker 1: can only be issued by the BZA after a mandatory
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  Speaker 1: public hearing is conducted. Public comment will be permitted. Our
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  Speaker 1: next article, Chili Fest Benefits Community Kitchen by Aaron Snyder
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  Speaker 1: of the Daily Independent. A chilly morning gave way to
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  Speaker 1: a pleasant chili fest as the 20th annual Great Bowls
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  Speaker 1: event proved to be a fruitful fundraiser for the Ashland
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  Speaker 1: Community Kitchen. According to director T.J. Torgerson, the event brought
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  Speaker 1: in about $ 14, 000 for the Ashland Community Kitchen, helping the
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  Speaker 1: organization fulfill its mission of providing any hungry person with
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  Speaker 1: a hot, nutritious meal today. and to treat each person
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  Speaker 1: with dignity and respect. The Kitchen's vision is a community
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  Speaker 1: where no one goes hungry. Saturday's event at Camp Landing
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  Speaker 1: Entertainment District featured a car show, live music by Feller
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  Speaker 1: and Evergreen, the National Anthem by Chord Fitzpatrick, an opening
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  Speaker 1: prayer by Joey Kennedy, and more. Ashland Mayor Chuck Charles,
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  Speaker 1: his wife Jennifer, City Commissioner Marty Gould, and Mike Jones
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  Speaker 1: served as Chili Fest judges. Marathon took first place in
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  Speaker 1: the Judges' Choice Awards, King's Daughters was second, and City
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  Speaker 1: National placed third. Marathon also won the People's Choice Award,
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  Speaker 1: finishing ahead of Ashland Credit Union and King's Daughters. The
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  Speaker 1: Best of the Banks Award went to Ashland Credit Union.
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  Speaker 1: Kentucky Farmers Bank won Best Decorated Booth Marathon received top
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  Speaker 1: honors for Best Side Dish and Best First Responder Team.
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  Speaker 1: The Cruise Inn Car Show drew about 55 vehicles. According
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  Speaker 1: to Torgerson V8 Brotherhood Car Club, brought about 20. The
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  Speaker 1: Car Show Awards went to Heather Butcher and her 1971
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  Speaker 1: Volkswagen Beetle, People's Choice, and Mary Fryer and her 1959
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  Speaker 1: Chevrolet Short Bus, Kids' Choice. I'm super grateful for the
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  Speaker 1: hard work of the Ashland Community Kitchen Board, the support
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  Speaker 1: from Camp Landing, and all of our many sponsors, Torgerson said.
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  Speaker 1: The Ashland Community Kitchen, a nonprofit founded in 1982, provides breakfast, lunch,
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  Speaker 1: and dinner. It serves more than 2,000 meals each month
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  Speaker 1: and distributes around 100 food boxes monthly. The kitchen is
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  Speaker 1: at 2516. Carter Avenue. Our next article, 100 for One
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  Speaker 1: of a Kind, by Aaron Snyder of the Daily Independent.
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  Speaker 1: The Roaring Twenties produced economic prosperity, flamboyant fashion trends, swing jazz,
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  Speaker 1: and Wanda Goodman. Goodman stole the show Saturday night on
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  Speaker 1: the second floor of Odd Fellows in Portsmouth as family
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  Speaker 1: and friends gathered for her 1920s-themed birthday party. She turned
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  Speaker 1: 100 on Sunday, October 18. Born in Flat Hollow in
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  Speaker 1: South Portsmouth, Goodman lived her childhood teenage and early 20
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  Speaker 1: years in Greenup and Lewis Counties before settling into South
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  Speaker 1: Shore where she got married, started a family, and found
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  Speaker 1: a church home. With a life centered upon faith and fun,
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  Speaker 1: Goodman said she has been very blessed in her 100
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  Speaker 1: years on earth. I've lived through the Depression, a world war,
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  Speaker 1: and I've had my sad times, but through it all,
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  Speaker 1: I've been blessed, said Goodman, donning a stylish blue dress
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  Speaker 1: and a sash, declaring 100 and fabulous. A huge crowd
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  Speaker 1: of family members and friends partied for a few hours
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  Speaker 1: Saturday with food, laughs, and live swing jazz music by
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  Speaker 1: Tom and Ann Stevens. I think this is just wonderful,
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  Speaker 1: Goodman said. Oh, so many of my relation and all
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  Speaker 1: of my many friends are here. Although she hasn't driven
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  Speaker 1: in a couple decades, Goodman still lives alone and is
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  Speaker 1: fairly independent. A few caretakers stop in and help throughout
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  Speaker 1: the week. but she still cooks for herself often. Granddaughters Tammy,
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  Speaker 1: Van Bibber, and Tara Adkins took the lead in organizing
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  Speaker 1: her big bash. Van Bibber described her grandmother as loyal, dependable,
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  Speaker 1: and fun, fun, fun. I still like to play games,
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  Speaker 1: and I beat them sometimes, Goodman said with a hearty laugh,
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  Speaker 1: in Scrabble usually. She enjoys Scrabble, Rook, and Monopoly. Dorothy Austin,
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  Speaker 1: one of her three sisters who are still living, said
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  Speaker 1: Goodman has always been a wonderful with all of us,
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  Speaker 1: almost like our mother. Their mother lived to age 92.
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  Speaker 1: We all depended on her, Austin, 89, said of Goodman.
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  Speaker 1: She's just a nice person. Two of their sisters and
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  Speaker 1: their brother have passed away. Goodman is the oldest sibling.
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  Speaker 1: She always took care of us from the time she
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  Speaker 1: was 10 years old, Austin said. Goodman has experienced her
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  Speaker 1: share of tragic moments, including losing her son in a
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  Speaker 1: drowning accident in the Ohio River in the 1960s and
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  Speaker 1: her daughter to cancer in 2002. Her husband Floyd died
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  Speaker 1: about 20 years ago. Goodman leaned on God through good
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  Speaker 1: and bad times. I've been a Christian almost 70 years,
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  Speaker 1: she said. Goodman said she taught Sunday school for about
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  Speaker 1: 50 years until hip replacements forced her to relinquish those duties.
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  Speaker 1: She taught teenagers and then adults. She still attends South
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  Speaker 1: Shore Church of God faithfully three times a week, twice
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  Speaker 1: on Sunday and once Wednesday. That comes first, she said
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  Speaker 1: of church. Atkins said her grandma is a tough woman.
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  Speaker 1: She had COVID and two broken ribs and came out
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  Speaker 1: of it, Atkins said. My wife says I swear she
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  Speaker 1: could get hit by a train and the train would
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  Speaker 1: be crushed. Goodman has six grandchildren, five of whom are
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  Speaker 1: still living, five great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She loves to
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  Speaker 1: be on the go. My dad used to joke if
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  Speaker 1: somebody pulled up in the driveway and honked the horn,
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  Speaker 1: she'd come out with her purse and leave, Van Bibber said, laughing.
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  Speaker 1: She still loves to be wherever she can be. Next,
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  Speaker 1: Kentucky Power gets state permission to build a new cooling
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  Speaker 1: tower at coal-fired power plant by Liam Neimeyer of the
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  Speaker 1: Kentucky Lantern. Kentucky's utility regulator has granted permission to investor-owned
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  Speaker 1: utility Kentucky Power to build a replacement cooling tower and
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  Speaker 1: partially demolish an aging existing tower At a coal-fired power plant,
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  Speaker 1: the utility co-owns near Moundsville, West Virginia. In a Friday order,
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  Speaker 1: the Kentucky Public Service Commission wrote the Eastern Kentucky Electric
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  Speaker 1: Utility could move forward with the $ 191 million project contingent
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  Speaker 1: in part on the utility being able to use a
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  Speaker 1: $ 51 million federal grant it received to cover a portion
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  Speaker 1: of the project's costs. Kentucky Power could seek to recover
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  Speaker 1: the cost of the project from ratepayers in a future
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  Speaker 1: rate case or through another mechanism. The move comes as
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  Speaker 1: the utility is under scrutiny, including through an ongoing audit
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  Speaker 1: by the commission over longstanding criticism that the utility hasn't
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  Speaker 1: adequately planned how to serve ratepayers in a 20-county region
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  Speaker 1: of eastern Kentucky that That has among the state's poorest
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  Speaker 1: counties and among the highest monthly electricity bills. In other news,
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  Speaker 1: horse farm under investigation in Boyd. Owner claims potential foul
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  Speaker 1: play led to string of deaths. Others say poor conditions,
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  Speaker 1: neglect were main factors by Aaron Snyder of the Daily Independent.
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  Speaker 1: The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is investigating a local equine
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  Speaker 1: farm following a complaint accusing the owner of animal neglect.
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  Speaker 1: Disturbing videos depicting seemingly malnourished horses in poor health condition
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  Speaker 1: have circulated across social media platforms over the past three days.
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  Speaker 1: The videos and images were captured on Tuesday, according to
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  Speaker 1: Ohana Run Farms operator Marlo Mathineni. Matheny, who spoke to
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  Speaker 1: the Daily Independent outside of the stables amid a Thursday
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  Speaker 1: morning drizzle, said a family who formerly worked for her
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  Speaker 1: came onto her property and recorded footage while she was
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  Speaker 1: two hours away getting a necropsy report on a recently
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  Speaker 1: deceased horse. Matheny would not allow anyone she didn't know,
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  Speaker 1: including the newspaper, to enter Ohana Runs Barns on Thursday
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  Speaker 1: without getting the go-ahead from her attorney first. As of
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  Speaker 1: Thursday evening at 5, Boyd County Sheriff Jamie Reyes said
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  Speaker 1: sheriff's deputies were with Kentucky Department of Agriculture Officer Shane Mitchell,
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  Speaker 1: assisting him on a search warrant. As of Friday, a
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  Speaker 1: KDA spokesperson said the situation is still under investigation. According
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  Speaker 1: to Matheny, six or seven horses have died within the
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  Speaker 1: last month, all under mysterious circumstances. She suspects foul play.
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  Speaker 1: Matheny said she, with the help of veterinarians, concluded all
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  Speaker 1: of them had liver failure. Matheny said the viral videos
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  Speaker 1: and photos are being construed out of context, while some
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  Speaker 1: are calling Ohana Marlowe's house of horrors, loves to death.
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  Speaker 1: Another local horse trainer, who said she used to be
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  Speaker 1: friends with Matheny, told the newspaper Thursday afternoon nine horses
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  Speaker 1: at Ohana Run had died within the last three days.
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  Speaker 1: Brittany Robinette Christian, who has run an equine farm in
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  Speaker 1: Catlettsburg for the past two decades, first became aware of
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  Speaker 1: Matheny when Matheny had a farm in Ona, West Virginia.
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  Speaker 1: She had a PEMF machine, which is used for muscle
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  Speaker 1: therapy and stimulates healing. Matheny boards horses for retraining and rehabilitation.
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  Speaker 1: She said she works with horses since she was a
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  Speaker 1: young teenager. After a couple years, Christian began noticing a
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  Speaker 1: few red flags, including Matheny's controlling nature, she said. Christian
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  Speaker 1: said it seemed as if Matheny wanted to save every
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  Speaker 1: horse and she was the only one capable of doing so.
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  Speaker 1: Christian had a horse with Matheny on lease, Mando. She
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  Speaker 1: noticed his hooves were overgrown and he appeared severely underfed,
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  Speaker 1: having lost 200 pounds, Christian said. Christian said she and
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  Speaker 1: multiple others informed Matheny they wanted their horses back, but
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  Speaker 1: she refused to return them. Matheny contends she purchased Mando.
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  Speaker 1: Christian said she received no help from the sheriff's office.
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  Speaker 1: and animal control at the time, so she retained a
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  Speaker 1: lawyer and took it to court. Recent obituaries Brian Scott Clearidge,
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  Speaker 1: 50 Nancy Pennington Charles, 83, formerly of Flatwoods Todd Warren Riddlebarger, 56,
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  Speaker 1: formerly of Russell Nathan Willis, 19, of Olive Hill Russell Crawford, 55,
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  Speaker 1: of Ashland. Brenda Eileen. Next, County Selects Management for Sportsplex
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  Speaker 1: by Aaron Snyder of the Daily Independent. The sports facilities
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  Speaker 1: companies announced it has been selected to partner with Boyd County,
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  Speaker 1: to manage and operate the Boyd County Sportsplex, according to
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  Speaker 1: a news release. The indoor sports and events facility is
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  Speaker 1: being developed at the Camp Landing Entertainment District in Cannonsburg.
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  Speaker 1: The organization is named Jonathan Clemens, the facility's general manager.
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  Speaker 1: The sportsplex is planned as a 110,000-square-foot air-supported dome designed
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  Speaker 1: to expand access to indoor sports, training, and community programming
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  Speaker 1: according to the release. The facility will feature flexible turf
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  Speaker 1: for baseball and soccer, multi-use court space for basketball, volleyball,
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  Speaker 1: and pickleball, youth and adult sports, leagues, camps, clinics, tournaments,
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  Speaker 1: and community events. Plans also entail a competitive indoor archery center.
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  Speaker 1: Boyd County Judge Executive Eric Chaney called the Sportsplex an
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  Speaker 1: investment in our community's future. It will give our families
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  Speaker 1: a place to play, train, and gather, while also creating
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  Speaker 1: new opportunities to welcome tournaments, events, and visitors to the
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  Speaker 1: tri-state region. Partnering with SFC gives us the experience and
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  Speaker 1: operating support needed to build a facility to that serves
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  Speaker 1: Boyd County well from day one. The facility, if all
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  Speaker 1: goes to plan, will be utilized throughout the week for
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  Speaker 1: recreation and on weekends for larger experiences. Its purpose is
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  Speaker 1: to serve as a regional sports tourism destination. Clemens will
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  Speaker 1: lead the sportsplex through its pre-opening phase and into full
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  Speaker 1: operations according to the release. Clemens will oversee facility operations, staffing, programming, events, partnerships,
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  Speaker 1: revenue development strategies, guest experience, and community engagement. Clemens has
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  Speaker 1: been a Boyd County resident for nearly a decade. I've
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  Speaker 1: had the privilege of coaching archery all over the world
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  Speaker 1: at its highest level, Clemens said. My vision is to
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  Speaker 1: bring a piece of that Olympic Village experience home to
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  Speaker 1: Boyd County. That doesn't mean everyone who walks through our
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  Speaker 1: doors has to be an elite athlete, he added. It
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  Speaker 1: means we create an environment where every athlete, child, parent,
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  Speaker 1: and visitor feels like they are part of something special.
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  Speaker 1: I want people to feel the energy, excitement, hospitality, and
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  Speaker 1: standard of excellence that you experience at the world's biggest
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  Speaker 1: sporting events. Clemens said the facility will be beneficial for
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  Speaker 1: local folks as well as bring in new families into
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  Speaker 1: the community as they stay in the region's hotels, eat
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  Speaker 1: in local restaurants, and visit area business. Visit sportsfacilities.com for
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  Speaker 1: more information. In other news, man pleads guilty to sex
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  Speaker 1: charges in green-up by Aaron Snyder of the Daily Independent.
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  Speaker 1: A Henry County man pleaded guilty to sex-related charges in
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  Speaker 1: Greenup County Circuit Court Thursday. Melvin Gonzalez, 23, of Smithfield,
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  Speaker 1: admitted to having sex with a girl under the age
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  Speaker 1: of 16 when he was over 21 in September 2025.
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  Speaker 1: When asked by Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Flatt, asked Gonzalez
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  Speaker 1: if he possessed material involving those acts on his phone,
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  Speaker 1: Gonzalez confesses he did. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to third-degree rape
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  Speaker 1: and two counts of possessing matter of a sexual performance
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  Speaker 1: by a minor between ages 12 and 18. Represented by
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  Speaker 1: Brent Mangan, Gonzalez struggled to satisfy Judge Brian McLeod with
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  Speaker 1: his manner of responding in multiple failed attempts at answering
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  Speaker 1: simple questions, according to the judge. When going through the
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  Speaker 1: normal process of asking questions during a plea hearing, McLeod
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  Speaker 1: paused to urge Gonzalez to increase voice volume. If you
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  Speaker 1: don't speak up, the judge said, he was going to
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  Speaker 1: push this hearing out another six months. Gonzalez switched his
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  Speaker 1: one-word responses to two, adding sir to each one at
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  Speaker 1: a higher decibel. A few questions later, McLeod was irked
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  Speaker 1: again because Gonzalez would stand in silence, too frequently for
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  Speaker 1: the judge's liking. If I have to repeat one more question,
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  Speaker 1: McLeod said, repeating his previous warning, Gonzalez stayed on point
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  Speaker 1: and at a reasonable volume going forward. He will be
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  Speaker 1: formally sentenced on January 21st. Moving on, Hayride and Trick-or-Treat.
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  Speaker 1: The county trick-or-treat time is set for Saturday, October 31st
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  Speaker 1: from 6 to 8 p.m. Casey Abrams Community Development Director
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  Speaker 1: announced the annual hayride is scheduled for Sunday, November 1st
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  Speaker 1: from 1 to 5 at the old Boyd County High
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  Speaker 1: School football field. The event will include a hayride, free food,
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  Speaker 1: hot dogs and nachos, cone to ice, a petting zoo
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: and inflatables. It is free for the community. The event
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: will also include a food drive in which people can
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: bring canned food or a non-perishable item for donation to
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: River City's harvest. Animal shelter hours, new hours for the
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: Boyd County Animal Shelter are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. County Administrator
• 26:10
  Speaker 1: Justin Pruitt said changes were made based on a recommendation
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: from the shelter's volunteers. He said the biggest engagement from
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: the community is consistently on Saturday. Kudos to jailer. Commissioner
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: Jeremy Holbrook commended Boyd County Jailer Bill Hensley and Chief
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: Deputy Ryan Mitchell for their breakout session presentation at the
• 26:35
  Speaker 1: Kentucky Opioid Symposium in Owensboro recently. The conference is for
• 26:41
  Speaker 1: how to best use opioid settlement dollars and best support
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: people in need, Holbrook said. The Boyd County Detention Center
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: uses those opioid settlement abatement funds to support recovery and
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: treatment for inmates dealing with opioid use disorder. This concludes
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: excerpts from recent editions of the Ashland Daily Independent. Your
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: reader has been Jane. On behalf of everyone here at
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: Radio Eye, thank you for listening. Keep on listening and
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: have a good day.