Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Manchester Enterprise - 7.17.26

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Manchester Enterprise - 7.17.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the Manchester Enterprise to read news
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from and around Manchester. Your reader today is Jim Rice.
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We will begin with the addition dated July the fifteenth,
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twenty twenty six. As a reminder, RADIOI is a reading
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service intended for people who are blind or have other
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disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material. Article
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number one fatal crash kills one. Police say numerous complaints
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made on quote man jumping and road Quote Manchester. A
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fifty six year old Manchester man died Thursday afternoon after
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being struck by a utility terrain vehicle on Robinson Creek Road.
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According to Kentucky Key State Police. The collision occurred at
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approximately one pm Thursday, July the ninth, when Kentucky State
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Police Post eleven in London was notified by Clay County
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nine one one of a UTV versus pedestrian accident. According
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to preliminary investigation, Skuyler L. Robinson, thirty four of Manchester
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was operating a Polaris UTV eastbound on Robinson Creek Road
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while checking farmland in the area. Investigators said Robert L.
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Fisher Junior, fifty six, of Manchester, stepped from the shoulder
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of the road into the path of the oncoming UTV.
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Troopers said Robinson was unable to avoid striking Fisher. Fisher
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was transported by Clay County EMS to advent Health Manchester,
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where he later died from his injuries. The Clay County
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Coroner's Office pronounced him deceased. Records also indicate numerous calls
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have been made to Clay Dispatch the last several months,
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accusing Fisher of quote jumping in front of traffic. The
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investigation is being led by Kentucky State Police Detective Shane Bowling.
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According to KSP, neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to
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have been factors in the collision. However, routine toxicology testing
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is pending. Detective Bowler was assisted at the scene by
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other Kentucky State Police personnel the Clay County Coroner's Office
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in Clay County EMS the investigation remains ongoing. Next article
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Thinking outside the Blueprint, Clay Board finds smart solution to
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growing needs. Board approves KMI acquisition to expand athletics, maintenance
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storage while saving millions Manchester, while many school districts across
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Kentucky are spending millions of dollars constructing new athletic facilities.
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The Clay County Board of Education continues to focus on
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finding innovative ways to meet the needs of its students
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and employees while remaining fiscally responsible. That philosophy was on
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full display Friday evening during a special called meeting when
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the board approved the purchase of the former Kentucky Mountain
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Industries property off Muddy Gap Road for seven hundred and
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fifty thousand dollars. The acquisition will provide enough space to
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create a multi sport training facility, a new maintenance garage,
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and much needed district storage, all at a fraction of
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the cost of comparable new construction. The purchase comes as
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neighboring districts continue making significant investments in athletic facilities. The
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Laurel County Board of Education has invested eleven point five
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million into North Laurel High School's auxiliary gymnasium and eight
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point six million dollars into South Laurel High Schools auxiliary gymnasium.
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Both projects began in twenty twenty two, with North Laurels
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costing more because of foundation issues. More recently, the Corbin
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Independent School District approved construction of a new auxiliary gymnasium
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at a cost of three point two million dollars. Clay
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County is already investing between ten million and fifteen million
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to renovate Paces Creek Elementary School. The district is also
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working with Senator President Senate President Robert Steivers to secure
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future renovation funding for Big Creek Elementary should state law
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be a mended to allow bond money to be used
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for schools with enrollments below three hundred students. Superintendent William
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Sexton said every project undertaken by the district begins with
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one goal, meeting the needs of students and employees while
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being responsible with taxpayers dollars. We have to be good
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stewards of the resources our taxpayers provide. Sexton said, quote,
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every decision we make has to answer one question, does
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this best serve our students and employees. Purchasing this property
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allows us to address multiple needs with one investment. Instead
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of spending millions more on new construction, were able to
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repurpose us an existing facility that gives us room to
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grow while remaining financially responsible. The closing of Kentucky Mountain
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Industries presented what district leaders considered a rare opportunity. The
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property includes five buildings, totally approximately thirty nine two hundred
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and fifty four square feet at today's construction cost of
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roughly four hundred and twenty five dollars per square foot.
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District officials estimate building that amount of space would cost
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over sixteen million dollars. Rather than attempting to build multiple
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facilities over several years, the district plans to renovate the
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existing buildings to meet several long term needs. In addition
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to housing the district's maintenance department in providing expanded storage,
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one of the buildings will be converted into multi sport
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training facility for Clay County student athletes. Athletic Director Tommy
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Nicholson said the new facil facility will dramatically improve opportunities
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for every athletic program. Quote. Right now, our existing training
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facility is booked almost every hour every day, unquote, Nicholson said,
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quote Several of our teams only get access every other
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day because there's simply not enough space. This new facility
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will allow us to provide equal opportunities for every program,
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whether it's archery, baseball, softball, golf, tennis, or especially cheerleading.
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Every athlete deserves access to quality training space. In this
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investment moves us much closer to making that happen. Several
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Clay County coaches echoed Nicholson's comments, saying the expanded facility
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will benefit every student athlete. Tiger Baseball and Boys golf
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coach Jason Smith said every program stands to gain. Quote.
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Right now, we're all competing for the same space. Unquote.
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Smith said, when weather doesn't cooperate, it becomes even more challenging.
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Having another training facility means our athletes can spend more
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time developing instead of waiting for an opening. It doesn't
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just help baseball and golf, it helps every sport. At
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Clay County High School, Lady Tiger Golf coach Amy Janitolo said,
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consistent practice opportunities are essential. Quote this is a tremendous
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investment in our student athletes. Unquote. Jennaitolos said, quote golf
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is a sport that requires repetition and consistent practice. Having
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additional indoor space allows our athletes to continue improving regardless
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of the weather. It's exciting because it shows every program
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is important in deserving of the same opportunities. Unquote. Tiger
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softball coach Jason Rice said the investment will pay dividends
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for years to come. Quote. This gives us the ability
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to train when we otherwise couldn't. Unquote Rice said, quote
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instead of canceling workouts or trying to work around everyone
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else's schedule, our athletes will have another place to improve
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their skills. That's going to pay dividends not only for softball,
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but for every team that wears the Tiger uniform unquote.
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Clay County High School cheerleading coach Caitlin Gregory said the
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progress the project addresses one of the program's biggest challenges. Quote.
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Our athletes work just as hard as anyone else, but
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finding adequate practice space has always been a challenge. Unquote,
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Gregory said. Quote Having a dedicated area where we can
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find safely practiced stunts tumbling in our routines will make
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a tremendous difference. It gives our program an opportunity to
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continue growing while also showing that every sport at Clay
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County matters. Unquote. Nicholson said, hearing the same message from
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every coach demonstrates why the project is needed. Quote. When
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you hear every coach talking about the same issue, you
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know it's a district wide need unquote, Nicholson said, quote,
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this facility isn't about one sport. It's about creating opportunities
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for every student athlete who represents Clay County Schools unquote.
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The project also builds upon the athletic transformation that has
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taken place across Clay County School District during the past
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several years. The board has completed a full renovation of
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Bobby Keith Gymnasium, constructed new football, baseball and softball stadiums,
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renovated the football athletic complex, and added new tennis courts.
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When the training facility is Clay County will offer one
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of the premier athletic campuses, not only in southeastern Kentucky,
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but throughout the commonwealth. Board member Leewood Cornet said the
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purchase demonstrates the board's commitment to planning for the future
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while protecting taxpayer dollars. Quote. When an opportunity like this
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comes along, you have to look at the long term
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value unquote. Coronet said, quote this property allows us to
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solve several problems with one purchase. We're providing facilities our
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students and employees need while saving taxpayer millions of dollars
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compared to building new unquote. Board member Anthony love It agreed,
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quote this is about meeting needs in a smart, practical way. Unquote.
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Love It said, our students continue to benefit because we're
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investing wisely instead of simply choosing the most expensive option.
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This property gives us flexibility for years to come while
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allowing us to stay within our financial means unquote. The
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district has consistently pursued cost effective solutions to its facility needs.
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Two years ago, the board invested three point two million
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dollars in a warehouse in distribution center that now provides
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storage while housing good goods distributed throughout the community by
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the Christian Appellation Project. The Kentucky Mountain Industry's purchase is
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pending approval by the Kentucky depart Apartment of Education. Once approved,
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the district can take occupancy of the property and begin
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renovations to create the new training facility while preparing the
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remaining buildings for maintenance operations in district storage. District officials
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said the acquisition represents far more than an athletic project.
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With one seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars purchase, the
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board is addressing four major needs at once, creating a
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multi sport training facility, establishing a centralized maintenance garage, providing
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additional district storage, and securing space for future expansion, rather
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than spending an estimated sixteen million dollars constructing similar facilities
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from the ground up. The board believes the investment allows
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the district to stretch taxpayer dollars while continuing to improve
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opportunities for students and employees. Quote. Our responsibility is to
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leave this school district stronger than we found it. Unquote,
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Sexton said, When we can solve multiple needs with one
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investment and save taxpayers millions of dollars in the process,
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that's exactly the kind of decision we should be making.
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This property gives us opportunities that simply wouldn't be possible
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if we had to build everything from scratch, and ultimately
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it's our students, employees, and community who benefit. Friday Evening's
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motion to purchase the Kentucky Mountain Industry's property passed on
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a three to one vote. Board members Leewood Coordinate, Robin Comes,
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and Anthony Lovett voted in favor. Board member Roy Allen
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voted against the purchase, while chairman Mark Hoskins recused himself
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because of the appearance of potential conflict of interest. Next
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article More victims come forward. Second indictment returned on Samuel Bennett, Manchester,
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a former deputy jailer already facing child molestation charges, has
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been indicted a second time by a Clay County grand
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jury on additional allegations involving multiple juvenile victims spanning more
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than two decades. Samuel Bennett, forty three, of shib Branch,
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was named in a new indictment return July seventh, charging
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him with multiple felony offenses, including unlawful transaction with a minor,
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first degree sexual abuse, and first degree sodomy. According to
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the indictment, Bennett is accused of committing first degree unlawful
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transaction with the miner involving a victim younger than sixteen
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during April twenty twenty six. He is also charged with
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first degree sexual abuse, alleging he engaged in sexual contact
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with the same juvenile by forcible compulsion. The indictment further
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alleges Bennett committed another count of first degree on lawful
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transaction with the minor involving a different victim Under the
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age of sixteen between twenty seventeen and twenty and nineteen.
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In addition, Bennett was indicted on two counts of first
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degree sodomy, alleging he engaged in devi it sexual intercourse
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with another victim who was younger than twelve years old
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at the time of the alleged offenses in in about
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two thousand and one. The latest indictment follows a separate
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grand jury indictment returned in June twenty twenty six, in
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which Bennett was charged with first degree unlawful transaction with
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a minor involving an illegal sexual act and first degree
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sexual abuse. In that case, prosecutors alleged Bennett offered money
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to a juvenile younger than sixteen in exchange for illegal
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sexual contact and engaged in sexual contact with the miner.
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Following the June indictment, Bennett was released from custody after
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posting bond. Court records indicate Bennett was again lodged in
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the Knox County Detention Center following the late indictment. He
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was subsequently released after posting a one hundred and sixty
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thousand dollars bond requiring sixteen thousand dollars cash the investigation
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remains ongoing. An indictment is a formal accusation and is
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not evidence of guilt. Bennett is presumed innocent unless and
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until proven guilty in a court of law. Next article Indictments.
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Grand jury returns sex assault charges Manchester. A Clay County
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grand jury has returned a series of indictments involving allegations
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ranging from sexual abuse of a juvenile and attempted murder
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to drug trafficking, burglary, and felony theft. Among the most
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serious indictments, Brian Collins, forty six, of Hector was charged
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with six ounce of first degree sexual abuse. According to
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the indictment, Collins allegedly sexually abused the same male victim,
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who was younger than sixteen years old, on multiple occasions
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between January and March twenty twenty six. The case remains
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under investigation by Kentucky State Police trooper Judson Weaver. Tracy Smith,
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forty nine of Arrowhead Court was indicted on one count
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a first degree assault. The indictment alleges Smith intentionally shot G. H.
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Sizemore in the back of the head with a revolver.
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The investigation was conducted by Clay County Sheriff's Deputy Walter Marker,
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a Manchester man, was also indicted on drug trafficking charges.
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Israel Miller, fifty two of Manchester faces two counts of
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first degree trafficking and a controlled substance for allegedly selling
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methphetamine to a confidential informant. The investigation was conentucted by
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Kentucky State Police Trooper Ben Graves. In another case, Christopher Hubbard,
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thirty of Manchester was indicted following an incident on May thirteenth,
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twenty twenty six, in which he allegedly fled on foot
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through the woods while attempting to evade Kentucky State Police
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trooper Jacob Schwab. Hubbard was indicted on charges of second
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degree fleeing or evading police, third degree assault, and resisting arrest.
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Frankie Carpenter, forty five, was indicted on charges of theft
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by unlawful taking after allegedly stealing approximately ten thousand dollars
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worth of cable belonging to Kinetic. The investigation was conducted
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by Chief Deputy Clifton Jones. A grand jury also indicted
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Paul Hubbard, forty eight, of Bear Creek in Oscar Mills
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fifty three of Millpoun Howell on charges of receiving stolen property.
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Authorities alleged the pair knowingly possessed a stolen Honda four
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wheeler valued at three thousan five hundred dollars belonging to
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Ray Wilson. Andrew Couch thirty eight of Bear Branch was
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indicted on multiple charges, including first degree possession of controlled
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substance meth amphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a more
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motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, operating
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with an expired operator's license, and failure of a non
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owner operator to maintain required insurance. James Davidson thirty one
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of Manchester was indicted on charges of second degree burglary
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and fourth degree assault. The indictment alleges Davidson unlawfully entered
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the residence of Ashley Davidson on May fifteenth, twenty twenty six,
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and caused physical injury to a child during the incident.
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Deputy Walter Marker investigated the case. The grand jury also
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returned four indictments for flagrant nonsupport. Carlos Wagers thirty six
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of Rocky Branch Road alleged in a riarage of twenty
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eight thousand, six hundred and eighty one dollars and sixty
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eight cents. James Roberts forty seven of Ravenna allegedly a
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raarage of nine thousand, four hundred and fifty one dollars
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and sixty three cent. Jonathan Allen thirty four of North
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Highway eleven, Manchester, alleged a raarage of fifty two thousand,
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eight hundred and thirty nine dollars and seventy two cents.
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Jonathan Bowling forty nine of Manchester alleged a rearage of
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twenty seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty nine dollars and
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ninety six cents. An indictment is an accusation only. All
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defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in
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a court of law. Next article. Richmond Man arrested for
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allegedly robbery at Dollar General Manchester. A Richmond Man was
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arrested Friday morning for allegedly attempting to steal merchandise from
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the Dollar General at the Manchester Shopping Center while displaying
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what appeared to be a handgun to a store manager,
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Anthony Luster twenty eight of Richmond has been charged with
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first degree attempted robbery following the incident, which occurred at
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approximately eight forty am Friday. According to the arrest citation,
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officers responded to the Dollar General after the store manager
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reported confronting a man who was allegedly concealing merchandise inside
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the store. The manager told police he attempted to stop
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the suspect and asked him about the concealed items. At
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that point, the suspect allegedly displayed what appeared to be
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a handgun and said, quote, no, you just see my
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gun unquote. As the suspect left the store, he allegedly
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warned the manager, don't follow me outside. According to the
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rest citation, officers eventually found Luster hiding inside a portable
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toilet near the shopping center before taking him into custody
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without further incident. Luster was lodging the Clay County Detention
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Center on the charge of first degree attempted robbery. The
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case remains under investigation and arrest is an accusation only.
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The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
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in a court of law. This concludes the reading of
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the Manchester Enterprise. Your reader has been Jim Rice. Now
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please stay tuned for continued programming and on behalf of
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everyone here at RADIOI thank you for listening, and we
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hope you have a good day