Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Manchester Enterprise - 2.27.26

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Manchester Enterprise - 2.27.26 · 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 Tim Curry.
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We will begin with the addition dated February twenty fifth,
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twenty twenty six. As a reminder, radiois a reading service
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intended for people who are blind or have other disabilities
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that make it difficult to read printed material. Our first
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story being Hickory Golf course sold, new deal expected to
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be finalized April first look for improvements soon. The Manchester
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City Council voted Monday morning during a specially called meeting
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at City Hall to approve the sale of Big Hickory
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Golf Course to London businessman Cody Likens, marking a significant
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step toward the future of one of the community's most
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visible recreational assets. According to documents submitted to the cityly,
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Likens formerly offered to purchase the course for three hundred
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thousand dollars, with a transaction expected to be finalized by
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a April first ending standard due diligence and completion of
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a formal purchase agreement. Mayor Steve Collins said the decision
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followed careful consideration of the course's long term sustainability and
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the vision presented for its future. We believe this is
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a positive move for Manchester and for Big Hickory. Colin said,
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misterly Likens has presented a plan focused on improving the course,
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maintaining community partnerships, and ensuring the facility remains an asset
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for our citizens. Our goal has always been to see
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Big Hickory thrive and more confident. This agreement puts it
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on that path. In its submissionly Likens emphasized a commitment
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to continuity and community involvement, writing that the property is
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more than land. It is a community asset with history, relationships,
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and long standing partnerships that deserve to be respected and strengthened.
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Likens aid his approach will focus on law long term
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stewardship rather than short term goal gains. My goal is
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long term stewardship, not short term change. Like In stated,
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I want to protect what has been built while creating
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a stronger future for the course in the community it serves.
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Documents outline several commitments, including maintaining existing residential leases on
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the property, continuing the high school golf partnership, and preserving
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the arrangement that allows city jail work crews to assist
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with course maintenance. Li Likens also expressed appreciation for local support,
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noting guidance from community members with experience and relationships in Manchester.
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A multi year proposal included plans to stabilize operations, improve
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turf health, upgrade irrigation, enhance clubhouse amenities, and strengthen communication
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with members and the public. Longer term ideas outlined in
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the proposal include expanding programming, adding golf simulators, increasing events
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and tournaments, developing youth programs, and exploring infrastructure improvements such
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as upgrades to the driving range and additional amenities to
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boost usage. Like And said he views Big Hickory as
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a place that can serve a broader role in the community.
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Big Hickory has the opportunity to be more than just
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a golf course. It can serve as a gathering place
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for families, youth programs, schools, and local events. He wrote,
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My goal is not only to own the course, but
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to elevate it, preserve it, and grow its value responsibly
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for the long term. City officials noted that the sale
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is contingent on completion of standard inspections and financial review,
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with closing anticipated in early spring. The decision comes after
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ongoing discussions about the future of the municipally owned course
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and the need for investment to maintain an IMP facilities
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while keeping the course accessible to the public. Our next
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story new weather station in Clay County. The Mezzanet site,
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located at Peabody, Clay County, is now home to a new,
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state of the art weather monitoring station that officials say
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will help document local weather patterns, improve forecasting, and preserve
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climate records for future generations. The Kentucky Mezzinet, the Commonwealth's
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official weather and climate monitoring network, formerly christened its newest station,
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located about ten miles east of Manchester, during a ceremony
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held Thursday afternoon at the Clay County Courthouse. The Clay
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County Mezzanet site, which first went online in March of
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twenty twenty five, is the network's eighty first station and
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was made possible through a partnership involving the U S
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Forest Service, the US Department of Agriculture, and Western Kentucky
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University's Kentucky Climate Center, which oper operates Mezzanet. The project
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builds on years of research in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
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Six years ago. The partnering organizations began a multi year
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effort to measure soil moisture across the region, deploying more
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than thirty censors across several locations representing different terrain and
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environmental conditions. An existing tower at the Redbird Ranger District
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near the community of Peabody has now been upgraded into
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a fully automated metro mezzonet station. Technicians equipped the site
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with advanced instruments that collect real time data on air temperature, humidity,
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wind speed and direction, precipitation, and soil conditions. Solar panels
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power the system, while underground probes monitor soil moisture and temperature.
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Doctor Jerry Brotsky, director of Kentucky Mezzinet and the state Climatologist,
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said the station will plan an important role in documenting
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Clay County's weather history. Mizanet data will forever define our
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community history. Brotsky said this station will set records for
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heat and cold, wind, floods, and drought, preserving these records
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as part of the public record. Clay County Executive Judge
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Executive Tommy Harmon said the new station will provide valuable
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information for local emergency planning, agriculture and infrastructure decisions. This
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is a great resource for Clay County. Harmon said, having
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accurate real time weather data right here at home helps
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us better prepare storms, flooding, and other challenges, and it
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gives our farmers and emergency responders the information they need
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to make informed decisions. Officials noted that long term weather
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data helps communities better understand past events and prepare for
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future challenges. Records allow us to compare the present with
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the past, helping us learn from previous generations and become
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more resilient. Protsky added, Beyond historical value, officials said, the
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Mezzinet system supports improved forecasts, earlier severe weather warnings, more
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efficient farming practices, safer travel, and better energy planning. The ceremony,
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hosted by Harmon, drew local leaders and representatives from state
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and federal agencies, including Dustin Jordan, acting Meteorologists in charge
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at the National Weather Service Office in Jackson, and Donald McClure,
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field representative for US Senator Mitch McConnell. Since twenty twenty two,
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the Kentucky General Assembly has allocated one point seventy five
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million annually to support the Mezzanet system, helping maintain and
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expand one of the nation's most comprehensive statewide weather networks.
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The long term goal is to establish at least one
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station in each of Kentucky's one hundred and twenty counties.
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For Clay County residents, the new station represents more than
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just technology. It provides a local tool for understanding weather
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trends that affect farming, emergency planning, and daily life across
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the community. Neck Next City Council receives clean audit opinion
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for twenty twenty four. The Manchester City Council covered a
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full agenda Tuesday night, highlighted by a clean audit report,
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infrastructure updates, student achievements, and discussion of recent water system issues.
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Robert Abner of abderen Cox PLLC presented the city's physical
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Year twenty twenty four audit, reporting that Manchester received a
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clean opinion, indicating the city's financial statements are fairly presented
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and in compliance with applicable standards. Council members also heard
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from Brian Jackson and with One Clay County regarding plans
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to bore utility lines beneath the river as part of
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the ongoing Jockey Street project. The bid was awarded to
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Clay Pipeline, with the work to be funded through state
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dollars aimed at supporting infrastructure improvements tied to downtown revitalization.
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Chelsea Wolf provided an update on behalf of the Thompson
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Scholars Lego Lions, sharing that the team has advanced to
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state competition and is preparing to host a STEM fare
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in April at Eastern Kentucky University. In support of the
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student's efforts, the council approved a one thousand dollars sponsorship.
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Water Plant Supervisor Josh Murphy addressed recent concerns over water
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leaks across the system. Murphy explained that the majority of
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issues stemmed from leaks on customer lines rather than failures
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within the city's infrastructure. He noted that two significant leaks
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on Bill's Fork alone drained the Elkhill water tower below
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normal operating levels. Murphy told council that crews conducted a
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system wide effort to check meters, shutting off service where
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leaks were identified. Once repairs were made, water service was
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restored within about twenty four hours. In other business reflected
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on the agenda, council reviewed items including approval of a
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bore bid, consideration of a resolution authorizing completion and filing
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of a twenty twenty four grant program totaling one hundred
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thirty five thousand, five hundred and fifty six dollars for
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a water meter replacement project, and a second reading of
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an ordinance declaring certain real property surplus and authorizing its
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sale by sealed bids. The council also received routine updates
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from the Water Department. The meeting underscored ongoing efforts to
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maintain city infrastructure, support local students, and ensure financial accountability
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as Manchester continues to pursue development projects and address operational needs. Next,
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Mid South CEO Jerry Weaver Dies. Jerry Weaver, chief executive
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officer of Mid South Electrics and a longtime manufacturing leader
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with deep ties to Clay County, passed away over the weekend,
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leaving behind a legacy of entrepreneurship, job creation, and quiet generosity.
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A native of Sexton's Creek, Weaver developed an early interest
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in mechanical work while attending high school at Annville Institute,
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where he learned basic machinist skills using surplus equipment donated
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to the school. Those early experiences helped shape a career
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that would span decades and impact communities across Kentucky and beyond.
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In the early nineteen fifties, Weaver, along with his brother
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John and cousins Jack Glenn and Jimmy H. Chestnut, moved
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to Dayton, Ohio, where they learned of the tulandye trade
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skills that would later form the foundation of several successful
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manufacturing ventures. By the mid nineteen sixties, the Weaver brothers
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relocated to Alabama and launched multiple manufacturing companies, building a
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reputation for innovation and hard work, but their vision always
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included bringing opportunity back home. In the early nineteen seventies,
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the family returned to Clay County to establish a business locally.
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The Ottawa Manufacturing Plant, named after Ottowa County, Alabama, where
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they had lived, was constructed on Sexton's Creek. The facility
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introduced the first assembly line in Clay County, producing appliances
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for Hamilton Beach. The plant provided more than jobs, had
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created career pathways. Many local employees completed apprenticeships in tuland
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die building and received specialized training, helping to train in
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the region's workforce. After fire in the nineteen eighties destroyed
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part of the Sexton's Creek facility, the Weavers rebuilt with
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a modern assembly plant in Annville, focusing on electrical assemblies
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for the appliance industry and continuing their commitment to local employment.
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Weaver's work gained national attention in July nineteen ninety nine
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when then President Bill Clinton visited the Annville plant as
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part of an initiative promoting industry and economic development in
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rural underserved areas. Known for always having a next project
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in mind, Weaver later purchased the former Westinghouse manufacturing plant
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in London, where Highlands Diversified Services was established, furthering further
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expanding job opportunities in the region. Beyond business, Weaver and
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his wife, Irene, also a native of Sexton's Creek, were
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known for their strong connection to their hometown. The couple
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quietly supported numerous local causes, often sending donations without seeking recognition.
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The Weaver family also contributed to the construction of the
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new Robert Clark Masonic Lodge, dedicating it in honor of
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their parents, Joe, Bob and Jackie Weaver. Jerry Weaver is
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remembered not only as a successful businessman, but as someone
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who believed in investing in people and bringing opportunity back
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to the mountains he called home. Next, no true bill
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returned in Jackson case. The Clay County Grand Jury returned
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a no true bill in the case where a Clay
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County man was accused of allegedly forcing his estranged wife
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to return home. Terry Jackson, fifty three, of Bear Creek Road,
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was charged in the alleged crime. Evidence from the case
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was presented to a grand jury last month. After review,
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the grand jury felt there was not enough evidence to
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pursue the charges, according to court records. Next, in sports,
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Wagers leads Clay to blowout sixty four to thirty eight
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win over Jackson County. The scoreboard may have read Tigers
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versus Generals, but anyone inside the gym Monday night knew
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the spotlight belonged to Aiden Bear Wagers as Clay County
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ruled to a sixty four to thirty eight victory over
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Jackson County in the opening round of the forty ninth
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District tournament. With the win, the Tigers punched their ticket
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to next week's thirteenth Region tournament in Corbin and now
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will return their attention to a familiar foe, North Laurel
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in Friday Nights District Championship showdown. It marked the third
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meeting this season between Clay County and Jackson County, and
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once again, Wagers delivered a performance worthy of the nickname
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the Senior stand Out. Poured in twenty nine points and
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pulled down ten rebounds, controlling the game on both ends
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of the floor while setting the tone early. Despite the
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big night, Wagers was quick to shift the focus to
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the team and the road ahead. I love what we're
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doing right now, Wagers said, We've got another big game
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coming Friday night, and we need our fans to show
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up and show out like they always do. Clay wasted
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little time asserting itself, opening the game with Wagers scoring
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eight of the Tigers' first ten points while the defense
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kept Jackson County off the board. Clay stretched the lead
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to sixteen to five before the Generals rallied late in
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the quarter to trim the margin into eighteen to thirteen.
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Wagers scored eleven points in the opening period and opened
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the second quarter with a three pointer to push the
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lead to twenty one to fifteen. The momentum sparked the
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Tigers would build upon Maxton Gray followed with a bucket,
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and Jacob Rogers knocked down a big three to extend
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the advantage to twenty six seven. As Clay's defense tightened,
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the Tigers held Jackson County to just four points in
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the second quarter, taking a thirty to nineteen lead into halftime.
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Both teams struggled to find rhythm early in the third
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quarter until a hustle play ignited the crowd laid in
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the period. After a loose ball near mid court with
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under eight seconds remaining, Brody Hooker dove to secure possession
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and quickly found Rogers, who buried a three pointer at
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the buzzer to give Clay a commanding forty six to
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thirty lead heading into the fourth. The Tigers continued to
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pour it on from beyond the arc in the final period,
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as Rogers, Wagers, and Gray each connected on three pointers.
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Clay's defense was equally impressive, holding Jackson County scoreless for
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nearly eight minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters, a
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stretch that put the game out of reach. Coach Michael
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Jones credited credited his team's defense of intensity and effort
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down the stretch. Fantastic defensive effort. When we switched to
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man to man. Jones said, we played with heart and
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desire and that's exactly what you want to see. At
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tournament time. Rogers finished with twelve points, while Gray added eight.
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Aiden Grubb contributed five points and nine rebounds, and Skylar
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Seismore scored five Next more Sports News faults paces Lady
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Tigers to sixty seven to thirty one Victor. Clay County
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took a big step toward reclaiming district supremacy Monday night,
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cruising past Jackson County sixty seven to thirty one in
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the opening round of the forty ninth District tournament and
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punching its ticket to the championship game. With the win,
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the Lady Tigers will be seeking their first district title
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since twenty seventeen and secured their first trip to the
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thirteenth Region tournament since twenty twenty one, a significant milestone
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for a program that has steadily worked its way back
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into contention. Playing in front of a new capacity crowd
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on their home floor, Clay County delivered a dominant performance
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from start to finish, despite being without leading scorer Macy White,
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who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Lady Tigers
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wasted little time sitting the tone, racing out to an
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eleven zero lead behind a three pointer from Lawren Sizemore
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and four points each from Harper Rice and Carly Fults.
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Jackson County responded with a brief surge, trimming the deficit
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to twelve ten lead in the opening quarter, prompting Clay
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coach Jemma Parks to call a timeout as she challenged
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her team to regain focus. Fualts added a late basket
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to give Clay a fourteen to ten lead after one quarter.
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Clay seased control in the second period as Anna Samples
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provided a spark off the bench on both ends of
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the floor. The Lady Tigers unleashed a twelve zero runw
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fueled by Fults. Inside Sample's energy plays in a barrage
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of three pointers from Sizemore that broke the game open.
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Kensey Grubb capped the half with a jumper, sending Clay
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into the locker room with a commanding forty one to
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eighteen advantage. The momentum carried into the third quarter as
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Falts dominated the paint, scoring eleven points in the period.
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Rice buried a three pointer at the buzzer to extend
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the lead to fifty nine twenty one and trigger the
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running clock a heading into the final quarter. Junior Carley
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Fults said the opportunity to return to the regional stage
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means a great deal to the team. It's an honor
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to be able to send our seniors off in the
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region tournament, so Falt said, it was a great win
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and I'm excited for my team. Coach Jima Parks praised
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her team's response and focus, especially with the added challenge
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of playing without White. I was proud of how our
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girls responded after that early stretch. Park said. We challenged
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them to lock in defensively and play with energy, and
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they did just that. Everyone stepped up, shared the ball
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and played for each other. Getting back to the region
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is a big accomplishment, though we know there's still work
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to do. Clay County was led by Faults, who posted
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a dominant double double with twenty six points and twelve rebounds.
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Sizemore added fifteen points on five three pointers, while Rice
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contributed fourteen Samples finished with eight points. In Madison Penland
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and greg Ckenzie Grubb added two points each. The Lady
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Tigers now turned their attention to the District championship, whether
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they will look to capture the programme's first forty ninth
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district crown in eight years and carry momentum into regional play.
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Turning out to obituaries, Alonzo Jackson, aged sixty, passed away
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on Tuesday, February tenth, twenty twenty six, in Manchester, Kentucky.
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He was born on July eighteenth, nineteen sixty five in Redbird, Kentucky,
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the son of the late Perry and Sally May Smith Jackson.
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Services were held Wednesday, February eighteenth, twenty twenty six at
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Hampton Celebration of Life Funeral Chapel with burial and the
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Smith Cemetery in Manchester, Kentucky. Next, Helen Bowling, aged seventy six,
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of London, Kentucky, passed away on February sixteenth, twenty twenty six,
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at Baptist Health in Lexington. Born on November twelfth, nineteen
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forty nine in Manchester, Helen was the beloved wife of
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Dennis Bowling of London, Kentucky. Funeral services were held Saturday,
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February twenty first, twenty twenty six at Britain Funeral Home.
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Burial was at the Smith Cemetery in London, Kentucky. Next,
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Laura Elizabeth and Gafford Metcalf was born November nineteenth, nineteen
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fifty four, in Guadalajara, Mexico, and departed this life Thursday
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February nineteenth, twenty twenty six, at her residence in Tier,
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at the age of seventy one. She was the daughter
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of the late doctor Alfonso Gafford and Irene Cruz Gaffert.
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Funeral services were held Saturday, February twenty first, twenty twenty six,
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at the Mount Olivet Church of Christ. Burial followed in
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the Mount Olivet Cemetery. Next, Charlene Bird Collins, age eighty eight,
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passed away on Thursday February nineteenth, twenty twenty six at
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her home. She was born Monday September twenty seventh, nineteen
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thirty seven, in Manchester, to Charlie and Eunice Sawyer's Bird.
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Funeral services for Charlene Collins were conducted on Tuesday, February
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twenty fourth, twenty twenty six, at two pm at the
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Rominger Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Collins Cemetery
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in the Collins Fork community. Next, Judy Abner, age sixty two,
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passed away on Monday, February sixteenth, twenty twenty six, in London, Kentucky.
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She was born January twenty ninth, nineteen sixty four, at
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Manchester to Eula Davidson Abner. She was a homemaker and
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a member of his Amazing Grace Holiness Church. Funeral services
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for Judy Abner were conducted on Friday February twentieth, twenty
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twenty six, at one pm at the Roman jur Funeral
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Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Hensley Cemetery, Indoneida Community
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next Ada. Ma spy V Age seventy, passed away peacefully
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surrounded by her family at her home on February nineteenth,
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twenty twenty six. She was born in Clay County, Kentucky,
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on July tenth, nineteen fifty five, to the late Otto
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and Jeanette neely Rice. She survived by her children, Harold
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Lee Markham of Richmond, Indiana, Patricia Pearson of Broadhead, David
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Markham of View Bank, and Jeff Markham of Buria, Sir.
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Funeral services were held Monday February twenty third, twenty twenty six,
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with brother Jeff Markham and brother Craig Thomas officiating. Burial
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followed in the Hurley Cemetery. Next. Phyllis Campbell, sixty six
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of Manchester, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February twenty first.
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Phyllis was born to the late Bige and Lucy Eversoll.
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She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved
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husband James Campbell, her siblings Erslea Eversoll, Beverly Paul Eversoll,
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Geraldine Henson, Betty Anne, Marion, Bonnie Smith, Melvin Eversoll and
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Robert ever Eversol. Funeral services will be held at two
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pm on Thursday, February twenty sixth twenty twenty six at
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Britain Funeral Home. Visitation will take place at twelve noon
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prior to the service, also at the Briton Funeral Home.
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Phyllis will be laid to rest at the Smith Cemetery
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Number two on chop Bottom Road. The service will be
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officiated by James Hodge. This concludes the reading of the
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Manchester Enterprise for February twenty fifth, twenty twenty six. Your
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reader has been Tim Curry. Now please stay tuned for
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continued programming and on behalf of everyone here at Radio.
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I thank you for listening, and we hope you have
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a good day.