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Licking Valley Courier - 6.26.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Licking Valley Courier to bring
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you news from in and around West Liberty. Your reader
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today is Janie. We begin with the addition dated Thursday
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June twenty fifth, twenty twenty six. As a reminder, RADIOI
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is 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, we'll start with vacation notice.
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There will be no paper the week of Thursday, July
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the second, as the Courier staff will be on vacation
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beginning Monday June twenty ninth through Friday July the fourth.
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Staffers will return to the office on Monday, July the sixth.
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We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy
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Independence Day, the editor. The next article is celebrating America
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two fifty July the fourth, seventeen seventy six through July
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the fourth, twenty twenty six. Independence Day activities slated July
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the third and fourth. In West Liberty, Tourism Commission to
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host music and fireworks at Old Mill Park Friday July
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the third. Kawanas Club to hold Main Street celebration in
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Games July the fourth. The West Liberty Tourism Commission will
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host an evening of musical entertainment on Friday, July the
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third at Old Mill Park ahead of the annual Independence
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Day fireworks display. The event, which is part of the
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free admission Live on the Licking River Licking Concerts series,
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will begin at seven pm with the performance by opening
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group Legends. Legends Lost, a nineteen seventies and nineteen eighties
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hair metal cover band prior to the headlining band known
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as Three Legged Circus. Three Legged Circuits will perform hints
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from the nineteen eighties, nineteen nineties, and early two thousands.
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Following the concert, Three Legged Circus Concert, the annual Thunder
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Over the Licking fireworks display will begin at ten pm.
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Food trucks will be on the grounds for the concert
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and fireworks display. Festivities will continue on Saturday, July third
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with West Liberty Kawanas Club Annual Independence Days Celebration on
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Main Street at ten am. The program will include the
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dav Chapter one thirty two Color Guard, recognition of Veterans,
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patriotic readings, and presentation of the Citizens and Organization of
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Year awards. These ceremonies will precede the traditional street games
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scheduled for ten thirty am. Street games will include a race,
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sack race, bicycle and tricycle races, foot races, three legged race,
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egg toss and more with money prizes. Free watermelon and
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lemonade will be available during July the fourth Street Celebration,
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as well as miniature flags for the kids. Everyone is
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invited to calm out to these special events and commemorate
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the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the United States
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Declaration of Independence in downtown West Liberty. Our next article
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is a slippery Conditions contribute to June eighteenth multi car crash.
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Local first responders were dispatched to a multi vehicle collision
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on the afternoon of Thursday, June eighteenth on Highway five nineteen.
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Sergeant John Paul Turner of the Morgan County Sheriff's Office
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reports that the incident occurred at approximately four pm on
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Debbie Hill near the Rock Quarry entrance. Sergeant Turner stated
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that a juvenile mail was operating a nineteen ninety seven
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jeep Wrangler north on Highway on Highway nineteen when he
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lost control of the vehicle in a curve and crossed
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the center line. The jeep struck a twenty twenty five
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Chevrolet van operated by Hunter Perry twenty seven of West
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Liberty before colliding with the twenty twenty five Chevrolet tracks
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operated by Vicki Gillum forty seven of West Liberty. Slippery
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road conditions contributed to the crash, Sergeant Turner said. Morgan
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County EMS personnel took Gillum via ambulance to Saint Clair
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Regional Medical Center in Moorhead, where the juvenile driver was
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also transported via private vehicle. Both Gillim and the juvenile
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driver were treated and released from the hospital, while Perry
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was not entered in the crash. In addition to the
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Sheriff's Office in ambulance service, other responding agencies included Morgan
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County Rescue Squad, Highway five nineteen OUR Department, and the
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Kentucky State Police. The crash remains under investigation by Deputy
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Cody Ward of the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Our next
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article is City Council approves budget for year twenty twenty
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six twenty seven on the second reading. Council also approves
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budget amendments on second reading. Multiple visitors bring various issues
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to council members. On June twenty second meeting by Miranda M. Cantrell.
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The West Liberty City Council during the a regular June
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twenty second meeting, approved on the second reading a budget
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ordinance for the twenty twenty six twenty seven fiscal year.
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Councilman Mark Walter presided over the meeting in absence of
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Mayor Kyle Risner, who is out of town. The first
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reading of the budget, which totals eight million, sixty seven thousand,
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three hundred and fifty one dollars across all funds, was
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held during a special May twenty sixth meeting in which
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Mayor Risner presented a statement to the council outlining the
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financial plan. This year's budget comparable to last year's budget
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with a few changes. As you know, inflation is on
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the rise and at some of the highest levels we
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have seen in many years. We are getting letters from
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companies almost daily talking about the prices of our materials
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and supplies that are rising along with fuel cost. We
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have planned to purchase four vehicles, one for police, one
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for sewer, one for street, one for gas. The police
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department and administration departments have planned for some software changes
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that will help keep the city in compliance and help
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to keep things as efficient as possible. The only change
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in revenue expected at this time is a two point
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seven percent CPI increase for gas, which is based on
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the national inflation rate, and the second part of the
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water and sewer rate increase that was implemented last year
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that was the span of a three year term. We
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hope this will help offset some of the increases we
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are facing from our suppliers. As for general operations, no
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major changes are expected. On a motion made by Councilman
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Tony Smith and seconded by Councilman Dwayne Nickel, the Council
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unanimously approved the twenty twenty six twenty seven budget, which
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will take effect on July the first. The Council also
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held the second reading of the following budget amendments initially
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introduced during the May twenty sixth meeting. Budget Amendments. Second reading,
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the Council approved budget amendments for and unanticipated revenues totaling
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one hundred ninety seven thousand, nine hundred seventy seven dollars
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and two cents for Alcohol and Beverage Control funds. Capital
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Outlay Administration eighty nine thousand, eight hundred and ninety one
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dollars and sixty eight cents. Capital outlay, Police twenty one thousand,
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seven hundred sixty six dollars and sixty six cents. Capital
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outlay dispatched twenty one thousand, seven hundred sixty six dollars
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and sixty six cents. Telephone administration one thousand dollars, Animal
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control expenses three thousand dollars, Operation savings fifty thousand, five
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hundred fifty two dollars and two cents. The Council unanimously
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approved the above listed amendments. Multiple visitors were also in
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attendance to discuss various issues. Air EVAC representatives to representatives,
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Apartment of Air Evac presented a multi year medical helicopter
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at coverage plan for city employees. No action was taken
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on the matter, as Councilman Rusty Linden stated that he
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felt the council should discuss the plan in deeper detail
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with the Mayor. Present. Larry Wisman, resident of Larry Wisman
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discussed an agreement that the late mayor Bob Nicol reportedly
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entered into his into with his late father Stanley Whitman,
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regarding right of way for sewer lines in exchange for
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the waiver of sewer bills for Stanley Wissom and future
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residents of the home. City Attorney Daniel Frederick told Larry
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Wisman that the council could not honor an agreement and
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that was not recorded in writing. Discussed other possible legal issues.
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City Clerk Amy Williams indicated that she would attempt to
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search for any existing record of agreement, which was likely
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made in the nineteen nineties. Scott Wells Scott Welles of
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the Wales Group discussed issues related to Rumpke's recent takeover
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of garbage collection services in West Liberty. He stated that
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Rumkey representatives had asked him to sign a separate contract,
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including terms with which he did not agree. Clerk Williams
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told Welles that she was not aware of Rumpky's requiring
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separate contracts for any individuals or businesses. Attorney Frederick confirmed
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that city officials had never encountered such an issue and
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stated that he would review the contract and follow follow
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up with Rumpkey officials on the matter. The council heard
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departmental reports before council, and Walter offered the city's prayers
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and condolences to community members coping with illnesses and the
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loss of loved ones additional information. The West Liberty City
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Council meets at five pm the fourth Monday of each
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months each month in the upstairs Council Room of City Hall.
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Our next article is work on Peeburg Street scheduled to
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be completed on July third from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District ten.
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A project is scheduled to begin on June twenty second
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to replace the asphalt payment with the concrete service on
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US four sixty slash Kentucky seven Prestonburg Street in downtown
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West Liberty between MP seventeen point two, nine six, seventeen
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point three five one. One lane at a time will
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be closed for the project, and two lanes of traffic
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will be maintained at all times. Morgan Street and Broadway
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Street will be closed at Prestonburg Street while the project
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is underway. Traffic needing to access Prestenburg Street from those
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side streets will need to use the alternate routes. The
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work is scheduled to be completed by Friday, July the third.
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Our next article is Sheriff Motley gives update on twenty
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twenty five property tax collections County Clerk announces delinquent tax
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sell will be Wednesday, September sixteenth by Miranda M. Cantrell.
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Sheriff Greg Montley recently provided an update to the Creer
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regarding the collection of the twenty twenty five property tax bills.
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As first statistics from the Sheriff's office, seven thousand, four
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hundred and ninety two real estate property tax bills valued
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at a total of four million, five no, pardon me,
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four billion, five hundred eighty three No, let's go back
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to four million, five hundred eighty three thousand, two hundred
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seventy five dollars and fifty three cents. Sorry about that,
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were mailed out in October twenty twenty five, and that
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four million, four hundred two thousand, three hundred sixteen dollars
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and thirty three cents, or ninety two point fifty eight
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percent of that amount was collected by Sheriff Motley's office staff.
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Of those bills, only five hundred and fifty four were
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turned over to the County Clerk Randy Williams as delinquent,
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for a total of one hundred eighty thousand, nine hundred
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and fifty nine dollars and twenty cents In unpaid property taxes.
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The property collection process began early in twenty twenty five,
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as noted above, allowing taxpayers a one month period to
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pay at a discounted rate in October, as well as
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a two month period to pay at the face value
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rate in November and December. Prior to the October starting
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date for collection that began in the fall of twenty nineteen,
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taxpayers only had one month to pay at the face
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value rate in December before penalty fees were applied. In January.
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Sheriff Motley told The Courier that tax collections went very
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well again this year. The final deadline for twenty twenty
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five property tax was set for April fifteenth. County Clerk
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Randy Williams told the Courier that after April fifteenth, property
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owners or mortgage companies to which the delinquent bills are
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addressed can still pay them until the day of tax sel,
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but at its significantly higher rate. When the clerk takes
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possession of these bills from the sheriff, they go up
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by more than fifty percent, Williams said. But no one
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side from the property owner over the mortgage company listed
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on the bill can pay the tax until this sale
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is held. Williams noted that the tax cell is conducted
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by the clerk and generally occurs ninety to one hundred
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twenty days after the clerk receives the bills from the
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sheriff on the day of the cell tentethly slated for
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nine a m. Wednesday, September sixteenth, at the Clerk's office
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in the County Government Building located at four fifty Prestonburg Street.
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Interested persons can register to become third party buyers of
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the delinquent tax bills. Names of the delinquent tax bill
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holders will be advertised on August the thirteenth edition of
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the Courier and on the Morgan County Clerk website www
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dot MORGANWP dot clerk info dot net thirty days prior
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to the sale, as required by state statue. Additional information
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regarding county property tax collections contact Sheriff Greg Motley at
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seven four three thirty six thirteen or County Clerk Randy
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Williams at seven four three thirty nine forty nine. Our
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next article is Fire and Rescue Fundfest. Fundraiser event is
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slated for Saturday, June twenty seventh, will include food, raffles,
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children activities, live music, outdoor movie and more. Proceeds will
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benefit county fire departments and rescue squad. Morgan County Emergency
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Management will host a fire and Rescue fund squad on Saturday,
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June seventh, at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, located at four
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hundred New Fairground Road in West Liberty. The event, a
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family fun day to support our county's volunteer fire department
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and rescue departments, will run from four pm to ten pm.
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Admission will be five dollars per person or ten dollars
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per card load max. Six occupants. Kids four and under
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again in Free food and drinks will include hamburgers, hot
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dogs or barbecue with chips and drink for five dollars
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for the combo. Activities include rh Mobile Clinic, free screenings,
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A one C cholesterol stroke risk, mental health and substance
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use prevention, and sports physicals. A cornhole tournament starts at
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five pm. Ten dollars entry fee fifty to fifty split
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of the pot. Kids with power wheels, rays raffle entry
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with purchase of admission. Fireworks will begin at ten pm.
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An outdoor movie provided by the Morgan County Public Library.
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And free inflatables all night provided by Sandra Dye of
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the six on six LLC and many more kids activities.
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Morgan County Native Global Cantrel will be performing live from
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seven pm to nine pm. Raffle prizes will include the
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following case knife sixty dollars value from Ace Hardware of Morehead,
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call wash bucket from Advance Auto of Morehead, Care I
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Guess It's Car Care kit from Advance Auto of West Liberty.
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Day of fishing for two from Bishop's Pay Lakes located
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at Didney Ridge in West Liberty. Massage gift card from
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Bluegrass Bodyworks of Morehead Area, pocket not forty five dollar
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value from the Boot Branch of Morehead. Gift card for
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fifty dollars from Cattleman's Roadhouse of Morehead, twenty four hour
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sling shot rental from Cave Run Slingshot of Morehead, four
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view level or two terrace line tickets to the Cincinnati
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Reds baseball game from Cincinnati Reds. Four passes to the
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Cincinnati Zoo, one hundred and twenty eight dollars value from
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the Cincinnati Zoo. Random fishing tackle and from Crash Landing
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of Morehead. Two tickets to the Creation Museum. One hundred
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and twenty dollars value in Hebron, Kentucky. Monetary donation from
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the First Federal Savings and Loan of Morehead. Six three
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piece tender meal gift cards from Huey Magoos of Morehead.
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Four tickets to Kentucky Kingdom, a two hundred and twenty
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dollars value in Louisville. Two boxes of forty five cold
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am ninety dollars value from Kentucky Pond and Guns of
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more Head. Four passes to the Louisville Slugger Museum and
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Factory a one hundred and one dollar value in Louisville.
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One free pepperoni pizza from Millenni's of more Head. A
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twenty twenty five dollars gift certificate from Mister Gaddy's of
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more Head. A half inch ratchet socket set from O'Reilly
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Auto Parts of Morehead. One hundred and fifty dollars gift
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certificate from the Outlaw Beauty bar Cali Perkins of more Head,
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three gifts certificates from the West from the Pizza Palace
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of West Liberty. A twenty five dollars gift certificate from
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Pop's Barbecue of more Head, a twenty five dollars gift
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certificate from Reno's of more Head, one free night at
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Stay on the Edge of Salt Lick, a free facial
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on the Lake House sixty dollars value of Morehead. A
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thirty dollars gift certificate from Thoroughbred Express car Wash of Morehead.
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A fifty two piece socket set from Wholesale Autoparts of Morehead,
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game cards from Extreme Arcade of Elizabethtown. Eighteen holes of
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golf times two from Pleasant Valley Country Club of West Liberty,
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blue guitar squire bullet by a fender from Morgan Gun
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and Pond of West Liberty. One hundred dollars gift voucher
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from Cave Run Motorsports of Motorsports of Morehead, A two
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hundred dollars gift voucher from Cave Run Motorsports of Morehead.
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A load of number fifty seven gravel times two from
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Hinkle of West Liberty. A fifty five inch television from
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Walmart of Morehead. A gun cabinet from Tractor Supply of Grace.
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Proceeds from the event will benefit the Blackwater Caney Valley
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White Oak Highway one seventy two Highway five nineteen fire
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departments and the Morgan County Rescue Squad. Everyone is invited
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to join us for this special event. Bring your family.
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We can do it. We can't do it without you.
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Thank you for helping us to continue serving and protecting
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our community. For additional information, visit the Morgan County Emergen
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Emergency Management Facebook page. Our next article is Commodities give
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Away for Seniors July. The first commodities for senior citizens
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will be given out on Wednesday, July the first, at
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the Indexed Church Community Center at seventeen forty nine West
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Main Street, West Liberty. The event will run from eleven
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am to four pm. Please bring a toad or basket
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to put your items in. For more information call six
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O six five two two thirty nine eighty eight. Our
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next article is local student Allen Lawson receives a national
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honor Atlanta, Georgia. June tenth, twenty twenty six. The National
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Society of High School Scholars NSHSS today announced that high
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school student Allen G. Lawson from Hazel Green, Kentucky, has
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been selected to become a member of the Esteemed organization.
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The society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship,
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and community commitment. The announcement was made by the NSHSS
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co founder and President, James W. Lewis, on behalf of
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the ns HSS and our co founder, Clay's Noble, a
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member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes. I
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am honored to recognize as the hard work, passion, and
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commitment that Ellen has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level
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of academic excellence, said Lewis. Ellen is now a member
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of the unique community of scholars, a community that represents
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our very best hope for the future. We are proud
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to provide a lifetime membership to young scholars to support
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their growth in development State. At Lewis, we help students
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like Ellen build on their academic success by connecting them
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with learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for
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college and meaningful careers. In SHSS members automatically become lifetime
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memberships members at the time of their initial membership. Each
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step along the way from high school to college to career.
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In SHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they
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need to develop their s and pursue their passions. This
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concludes excerpts from recent editions of The Licking Valley Courier.
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Your reader has been janis On behalf of everyone here
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at radio. I thank you for listening, keep on listening,
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and I hope you have a very good day.