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Ashland Daily Independent - 4.22.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to The Ashland Independent to bring you
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news from in and around Ashland and Boyd County. Your
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reader today is Jane. We begin with the addition dated
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April twenty first, twenty twenty six, as a reminder radio
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as a reading service intended for people who are blind
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or have other disabilities that make it difficult to read
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printed material. Our first article Writer's Workshop includes new award
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by Lee Ward of the Daily Independent. More than seventy
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five attended this past weekends Jesse Stewart Writer's Workshop in Ashland,
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coming from far away as Louisville and Columbus, but some
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attendees might surprise you. Jim Gifford, CEO and Senior Editor
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of the Jesse Stewart Foundation, said the event was about
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more than writing. A lot of people can who had
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no hopes at all of being a writer. He said,
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it's just a stimulating environment people who are interested in
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cultural things and intellectual life in the community. They enjoyed
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being there. On the agenda of the event at the
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Delta Hotels, Ashland Downtown were topics such as memoile writing, poetry,
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biographies and novels, but those topics reached into bigger themes.
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In a broader sense, what we really want to do
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is to just use writing to promote literacy in America.
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Gifford said, literacy is on the decline in America and
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it's one of the cornerstones of democracy. The best way
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to preserve and promote literacy specifically is to help people
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develop their writing skills. During the event, the inaugural jack E.
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Ellis Award was presented to essays and poet John W. McCauley,
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whose first book, Kentucky Is My Home, A Journey into
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the Life of Jesse Hilton Stewart, was released in twenty
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twenty five and won an award from the Honorable Order
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of Kentucky Colonel's. McCauley was a contributing author to Hidden
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Heroes of Greenop County and his current book, Harvest of Life,
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was just released by the Jesse Stewart Foundation and features
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unpublished essays by Jesse Stewart. The award is named for
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Jackie Ellis, who was head librarian at Moorhead State University.
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Gifford said he published five of his books before he died.
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He also said the award will be presented each year
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in the workshop to recognize a New Writer Events. Speakers
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were Al Cross, Carol Bogus, Brenda Evans, John McCauley, Adam Vankirk,
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Lee Pennington, Gwynn him and Rubio, and Keith Capps. Gifford said,
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like most organizations that present annual events, the Foundation has
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begun discussing plans for next year. We do this as
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a part of our service to our community, he said.
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We hope more in the community will get involved. Brenda
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Evans speaks during the JSF Writers Workshop at The Delta
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in Ashland. Our next article. Tucson pleads guilty to double
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homicide By Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent, A man
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accused of killing two young women in Nashland in twenty
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twenty two pleaded guilty to two counts of murder Monday.
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John Towson, the fifth, thirty sixth of Rochford, Ohio, entered
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a guilty plea in Boyd County Circuit Court on the
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day his capital trial was set to begin with jury's selection.
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Dressed in a light blue long sleeve button up with
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navy slacks, Tucson made a rare in person appearance in
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front of Judge John Vincent Monday, alongside attorneys Sebastian Joy
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and Greg Griffith, with family members of the victims and
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members of the Ashland Police Department in the gallery. Tucson
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stood next to Joy as he pleaded guilty to two
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counts of murder, wanton endangerment, robbery, possession of a handgun
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by a convicted felon, and persistent felony offender. Tucson is
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looking at life in prison without the possibility of parole
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for a minimum of twenty five years. All sentences for
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the six charges will run concurrently. Final sentencing is set
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for Thursday, June twenty fifth, one pm. According to police reports,
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Tucson shot and killed sisters Selina Easter and Summer Algar Holly,
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aged twenty and eighteen, respectively, on June seventeenth, twenty twenty two,
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in an apartment on Montgomery Avenue. Reports indicated Tucson left
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a two month old child unharmed at the scene. According
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to APD, the child is the daughter of Algar Holly.
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Tucson later engaged in a six hour standoff with authorities
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in Toledo, Ohio, before he shot himself and was treated
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at the University of Michigan Hospital. Police said Tucson was
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Easter's boyfriend at the time. Police said Tucson was also
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charged with robbery because, according to police reports, he stole
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Easter's car after he shot the two victims with a pistol.
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Upon release from the medical center, Tucson was put into
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custoy at the Boyd County Detention Center, where he's been
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an inmate since judly twenty second. Over the years, Tuson's
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trial has been delayed on multiple separate occasions for various reasons.
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Just last week, the judge heard Joy's request to look
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at a phone that could have been pertinent to the case.
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He said the device was recently discovered by the family.
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Judge Vincent asked boy County commonwealths Attorney Ronda Copley if
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the family was satisfied with the plea deal. Copley assured
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they were, saying her office had spoken to the family
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at length. She said the case officer and captain also
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approved it. Vincent said a pre sentence investigation was a
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necessity in this case, and that it must be completed
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and presented prior to final sentencing. In other news, bond
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remains two hundred thousand for former youth soccer coach By
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Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent, a former youth sports
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coach and children's Menu street volunteer accused of inappropriate communication
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with miners, was in Boyd County Circuit Court via video
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conference for a review hearing. Michael Struther, thirty nine, has
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been in the Boyd County Detention Center on a two
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hundred thousand dollars cash bond since March fifth, on two
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counts of procuring or promoting the use of a miner
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by electronic means. Following a hearing last Thursday, Struther remains
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jailed on the same bond. He is also prohibited from
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any use of electronic devices and can have no contact
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with miners based on a decision by Judge John Vinson.
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Detective Clyde Porter of Ashland Police provided testimony regarding Struther's
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case Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kirson Rosen and Rebecca McCarty. Struther's
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attorney questioned Porter. According to court records, Struther is accused
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of committing the crimes against one victim between twenty twenty
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one and twenty twenty five. The victim was fourteen years
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old in twenty twenty one. Court records show alleged crimes
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against another victim occurred between December one, twenty twenty five,
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and January thirteen, twenty twenty six. Based on officer testimony,
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Struther served as a youth soccer coach in the Ashland
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Independent School District. According to school officials, Struther is no
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longer a coach. Online records indicate he was assisting Ashland
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Middle School's girls' soccer team. A phone call to the
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appropriate contact regarding the timeline of his stint in that
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position had not been returned as of Monday. Also based
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on officer testimony, Struther volunteered in children's ministry at Wildwood
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Church of God. The timeline of that service was not specified.
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Based on cell phone extraction, which the detective said the
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caseworker reviewed, Struther allegedly sent a picture of his private
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area with the text this is yours to an alleged victim.
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In twenty twenty one. The detective told Rosen he had
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seen the photograph in question, which depicted a mail in
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the shower from the neck down. When questioned by McCarthy,
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the detective said he had not personally seen that interaction,
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but he was testifying based on the caseworker's review. Porter
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said he personally did not have knowledge of when the
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alleged picture was taken. Porter said the victim informed church
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leadership at some point between twenty twenty one and twenty five,
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and that Struther was removed from children's ministry. A phone
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call from The Daily Independent to the church's lead pastor
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had not been returned as of Monday. According to the detective,
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the alleged victim was on the soccer team for which
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Struther was an assistant co coach. Text messages began with
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an invitation from the victim to Struther to attend her
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baptism and progressed from there. In November twenty twenty five,
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when the alleged victim was eighteen, more communication took place
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via Facebook messenger. McCarty emphasized throughout her questioning of the
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detective that she was of legal age during the time
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of this interaction. According to officer testimony, the alleged victim
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reported to her school on January thirteenth, twenty twenty six,
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that Struther had sent her inappropriate messages. The detective said
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they added each other on Instagram, and Struther allegedly eventually
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asked for photos. In one photo, the alleged victim covered
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her face and Struther said, you're too pretty to cover
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your face. He allegedly asked for more revealing photos, and
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the victim said to Struther, stop being weird. The detective
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said Struther blucked her at that point, Porter said, according
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to police, Struther, when interrogated, admitted to talking to the
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first victim, but he didn't believe there was anything of
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sexual nature. Later in the police interview, he acknowledged there
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was a guarantee that there had been communication of sexual nature.
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The second victim played soccer as well, according to police testimony.
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At that point, Struther was seen shaking his head on
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the television monitor. When McCarty asked the detective if her
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client was cooperative with police, Porter said he was. He
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volunteered to hand over his phone and agreed to an interview,
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which lasted around two hours. McCarty called Struther's mother to
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the witness stand. His mother said she was able to
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afford a small percentage of the cash bond, and that
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if the court permitted him to be released, he would
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be under constant supervision in her home. In a written decision,
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the judge denied bond adjustment. At this time, strutho remains
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innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Moving
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On woman gets nineteen years on possession of drugs gun
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by Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent. A Garrison woman
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was recently sentenced to nineteen years behind bars on drug
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possession and handgun possession charges. A jury found Schon de Cremens,
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forty four, not guilty on trafficking charges earlier this year,
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although she admitted in interviews with police and on the
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witness stand she delivered a significant quantity of meth, fentanyl,
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and cocaine throughout Ohio that she obtained in Dayton and
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transported drugs into Kentucky. One of the defense's arguments was
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there was not sufficient evidence to convict her of trafficking
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in Kentucky. I don't know nobody in Kentucky, Cremene said
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throughout the trial in January twenty twenty six. Last week,
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Greenough County Circuit Court Judge Brian McLeod sentenced Cremenes to
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possession of car fentanyl or fentanyl, meth and cocaine, three
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years on each count to run consecutively. Prior to the
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January trial, Cremenes had entered an open plea regarding possession
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of a handgun by a convicted felon, meaning the judge
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could sentence her on that charge. The court sentenced her
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to another ten years ten years on that count, making
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her total sentence nineteen years. The Commonwealth fight filed a
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motion to forfeit seized property, which the judge granted in
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the form of an order of forfeiture and destruction on Friday.
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Among the items forfeited are forty eight thousand, seven hundred
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two dollars in currency ruger three eighty semi auto, suspected
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cocaine twenty point five to two grams, suspected meth eight
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point zero six grams, suspected crack cocaine fourteen point three
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seven grams, suspected pressed fentanyl ten point seventy six grams,
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and suspected fentanyl twenty two point oh five grams. According
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to the order, the Greenop County Sheriff's Office shall remain
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eighty five percent forty one thousand, three hundred and ninety
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six dollars and seventy cents of the forfeited sum, while
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the remainder shall be paid into the Prosecutor's Advisory Council
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Asset Forfeiture account and applied to the Office of the
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Commonwealth Attorney for the twentieth Judicial Circuit. In other news,
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web helps secure funding for local projects, Senator Robah Grayson
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has helped secure investments across the eighteenth Senate District through
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a combination of state budget appropriations and leverage to federal funding.
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According to a news release, the budget includes the following projects.
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Four million dollars federal for the Ashland Armory Restoration. Four
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million dollars for the Boyd County Fiscal Court to support
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upgrades and improvements at Camp Landing, three million dollars for
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the City of Ashland to support repairs and renovations at
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the Paramount two point eight million for the City of
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Olive Hill to purchase leaked detection equipment and replace the
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Garvin Hill pump station. One million dollars for the Lewis
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County Fiscal Court to support upgrades at the Lewis County
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Recreational Park with a required local match. Six hundred thousand
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dollars for the green of County Fiscal Court to support
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water and sewer upgrades, four hundred thousand for the City
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of Grayson to buy a fire truck, three hundred thousand
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dollars for the Greenhow County Fiscal Court to support the
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development and expansion of the load Volunteer Fire Department with
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a required local match. Two hundred thousand dollars for Greenbow
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Lake State Resort Park to support expansion and land acquisition.
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The budget also includes an eighteen million dollar investment for
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a new water treatment plant in Maysville that will serve
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multiple counties. According to the news release, these are the
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kinds of projects folks back home talk to me about everyday,
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Web said, fixing water systems, supporting local jobs, and making
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sure our communities have the infrastructure they need to grow.
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Next Tri State charity cornhole tournament in May. Sandy's, a
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local nonprofit serving the area since May twenty twenty five,
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is hosting a Tri State charity cornhole tournament on Sunday,
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May seventeenth at Sandy's Racing and Gaming. Check In is
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at one pm. Bags will fly at one thirty pm. Pros,
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amateurs and newbies may play. All players and ticket holders
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must be twenty one years of age or older to enter.
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IDs must be provided upon entry. Costs is sixty five
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dollars per team or thirty five dollars for a single
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entry fee. A social ticket fee is ten dollars for
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those not playing. The ACA level competition is for a
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local cause. All proceeds will benefit Sandy's Cares, which became
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a five oh one C three in January. Cash prizes
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are available for first, second and third place. Visits sandcres
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dot com to enter. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Local
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news in brief. Aspire Art Exhibit will be Saturday. Aspire
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Conservatory Spring Art Exhibit will be from one thirty pm
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to two thirty pm Saturday at Highlands Doseum. Admission is free.
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The Musseum is at sixteen twenty Winchester Avenue. Bands Artisan
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Fair upcoming the Russell High School Marching Bands Artisan Fair
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will be at eight am May second at the high
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school Gymnasium. The fair will continue until four pm. The
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school is at seven oh nine Red Devil Lane. Festival
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Seeking vendors. Vendors are being sought for Old Central City
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Days set for June twelfth and thirteenth in Huntington. Those
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selling quality antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, fine art, traditional crafts,
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handmade crafts and food trucks are welcome, as our businesses
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and organizations who wish to promote their calls or service.
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To apply, fill out an application at Oldcentralcity dot org
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or chosen choose Central City Days under events. For more information,
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call Lauren Kemp at the area code six eight one
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two O four five seven six four. Daytime closure of
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Kentucky ten forty three State Highway Crews will close Kentucky
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ten forty three at mile point three point eight from
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eight am to three pm through Thursday, April twenty fourth.
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Daily work will take place point four miles past Glover
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Lane heading north Brown on Kentucky ten forty three. Crews
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will be using an excavator to repair a road slide
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and shoulder failure. Crews will also be installing channel lining
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to re establish and repair the failed road embankment, as
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well as making asphalt repairs. When complete. Traffic Candy tour
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by Kentucky ten forty three by using US twenty three
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Master Gardeners plan HERB Day. The Boyd County Master Gardeners
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will present Garden Shed RB Day twenty twenty six on
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May sixteenth at the Education Center at seventeen sixty Addington Road.
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Doors will open at nine a m. Admission is twenty
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dollars per person. Tickets must be purchased through the office
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by calling area code six o six seven three nine
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five one eight four or visiting in person inaugural auction
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day Saturday. The first auction day will be Saturday at
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Tulsa High School Agricultural Complex. Rain or shine drop off
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begins at eight am Friday and will continue until dark.
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Equipment sale will be ten am, with a livestock sale
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to follow. Concessions will be available. Proceeds will go to
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the school agriculture program. For more information, called wat Cyrus
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at area code three oh four six four eight five
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five six six, or email w Cyrus at K twelve
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dot WV dot us. An obituary from this week John
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Nemo Mirror, Junior ninety six of Ashland. In other news,
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Funday Just for Them Russell Special Olympics features thirty six athletes.
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By Air and Snyder of the Daily Independent. Student athletes
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flexed their muscles, showed their wheels, and displayed their flexibility
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on Friday morning as the Russell Special Olympics took to
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the track at Henry R. Evans Stadium. Natalie Bloom, first
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year Director of Special Education in the district, has been
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involved in the orchestration of the Memorable Day for four years.
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The Olympics feature team events, relay races, running and walking competitions,
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and limbo, which has become highly popular. We opened Limbo
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up to everybody who wanted to do it, she said
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of the event that capped off the slate. Overall, it
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lasted about two hours and included thirty six participants of
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all grades on a warm April day. We just do
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it at Russell Independence District and we just want to
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do something that makes all our kids feel included and
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give them a chance to compete with their own peers
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and give them a fun day just for them. Bloom said.
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Spectators included high school, middle school, and Russell Primary students,
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as well as families of the stars of the show.
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The student athletes. High school members of the Unified Club
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were paired up with athletes, so each of them had
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a buddy. Bloom said. The Unified students helped with handing
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out ribbons, clocking times, and measuring distances. It's very rewarding
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for them to get to work with those students, Bloom said.
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Teachers and instructional assistants helped to Bloom said while it
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can be a chaotic event. Seeing the students experience pure
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joy makes everything worth it. One of the highlights, she said,
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as observing the parents enjoyably watching their students perform. As
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an athlete, it's just nice to bring everybody together for this,
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Bloom said our next article, Local girl headed to prestigious
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theater camp this summer, by Lee Ward of The Daily Independent.
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At fourteen, Nava Reed of Ashland has no doubt about
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her future. She wants to be on Broadway. With that
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in mind, she auditioned for a prestigious summer program. She
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was chosen for it and will attend this summer. In
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early April, Read a student at Raceland Worthington High School,
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she learned she was admitted to the twenty twenty six
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Destination Broadway Musical Theater Training Intensive in Orlando, Florida. In July,
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I kept getting called dramatic, she said of her interest
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in theater. I liked plays, but wasn't in a position
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to do theater. She was living in Washington Court House,
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Ohio with her grandmother, so when she moved to the
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Ashland area with her grandfather, Randy Reid introduced her to
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some of the theater opportunities in the area. My grandfather
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put me in Aspire Conservatory and I enjoyed it, she said.
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There she met her choir teacher in vocal coach Bugs Reinhardt,
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who encouraged her to try out. He also helped her
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prepare to audition, which was an in person audition at
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Huntington High School for Amy Hayn Raddy of Destination Broadway.
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The audition was recorded and posted on Aspire Conservatory's website.
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For the audition, I sang the Ballad of Jane Doe
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from Ride the Cyclone, my favorite musical of all times.
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She said. The song is considered one of the most
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difficult songs sung by sopranos. The video also was seen
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by Tiffany Hasse, who reads said she was her favorite
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Glinda in the show Wicked. In fact, Reid will have
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the chance to meet has during her stay, and she's
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most looking forward to getting her input and learning from her,
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she said. She said Aretta Hinsley at Aspire also gave
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her some tips on the audition, advising her to incorporate
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her acting skills into the song and be over the
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top enough for those in the back row to see
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and understand the emotion portrayed. Locally, Reid has performed in
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The Lion, King Oz the Musical and Willie Wonka, as
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well as The Puffs and The Aristocrats. Of course, theater
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is the career path she'd like to follow. She said.
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She hopes to graduate from the Juilliard School, join an
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actors' union and began performing on Broadway. I've been thinking
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about my careers since i was eight, she said. This
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concludes excerpts from recent editions of the Ashland Daily Independent.
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Your reader has been Jane On behalf of everyone here
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at radio. I thank you for listening, Keep on listening
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and have a good day.