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Breathitt Advocate - 2.7.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the Brethet Advocate to read news
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from Jackson and Bretheitt County. Your reader today is Beth
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mc lean. We will begin with the edition dated February fourth,
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twenty twenty six, which is donated by the publisher as
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a reminder. Radio Wise Reading service intended for people who
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are blind are of other disabilities that make it difficult
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to read printed material. In today's headline article, three local
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men graduate from Kentucky State Police Academy, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline
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Coleman recently announced the graduation of thirty two cadets from
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Kentucky State Police k s P Training Academy, marking the
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start of their careers as state troopers serving communities across
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the commonwealth. Three of the troopers are from Brethett County,
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Hayden Mullins, Alexander Watkins, and Jace Fugett. Mullins will be
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assigned to the Richmond Post, while Fugut and Watkins will
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be assigned to the moor Head Post. These thirty two
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new troopers joined a storied seventy seven year history of
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excellence and service by the Kentucky State Police. Lieutenant Governor
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Coleman said all of Kentucky is thankful for the service
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of the over eighteen hundred employees who make up the agency,
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including more than eight hundred troopers and officers, and their
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dedication to protecting our people. I joined the entire Commonwealth
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in praying for your safety and success. Cadet Class one
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six reported to the KSP Academy on August tenth and
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completed twenty four weeks of intensive academic instruction and practical
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training designed to prepare them for the challenges of modern
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law enforcement. Cadets in the class underwent more than one
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thousand hours of classroom and field study in subjects such
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as constitutional law, juvenile and traffic law, use of force,
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weapons training, defensive tactics, first aid, high speed vehicle pursuit,
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criminal investigation, computer literacy, hostage negotiations, evidence collection, radio procedures,
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search and seizure, crash investigation, drug identification, traffic control, crowd control,
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armed robbery response, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence,
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bomb threats, and hazardous materials. During the graduation ceremony, KSP
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Commissioner Philip Burnett, Junior commended the graduates for their determination
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and resilience throughout the Academy. Completing this academy requires grit,
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focus and an unwavering commitment to public service. Commissioner Burnett said,
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these troopers have met high standards every step of the way,
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and our academy staff has worked tirelessly to ensure they
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are ready for the realities of this profession. I am
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confident they will carry out their duties with integrity, courage,
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and professionalism. KSP Academy Commander Captain Joey Vohorback emphasized that
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the academy experience extends beyond technical skills, with focus on
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leadership and character development. Over the past twenty four weeks,
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these cadets have been pushed to their limits mentally and physically.
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Captain Vorbeck said they met every expectation placed before them
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and have grown into confident, capable troopers. Cadet Class one
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six leaves the Academy prepared to serve Kentucky with professionalism
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and pride. Next, Jaden's Law filed in Kentucky Senate. Jaden's Law,
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a proposed child protection reform aimed at closing critical gaps
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in Kentucky law, has officially been filed in the Kentucky
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Senate as Senate bill won three eight. The bill, named
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in honor of ten year old Jaden Spicer, who was
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murdered by his mother and stepfather in twenty twenty five
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in Jackson, Kentucky, is sponsored by state Senators Brandon Smith
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and Scott Maiden, marking a major step forward in efforts
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to strengthen protections for children across the commonwealth. Jaden's Law
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was drafted in response to documented failures in existing statutes
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that treat children differently based on age, leaving miners between
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thirteen and eighteen with fewer protections and weaker penalties for
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the most severe forms of abuse. Under current Kentucky law,
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certain crimes, including rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse, receive the
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highest level of penalty enhancement only when the victim is
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under the age of twelve. Jaden's Law seeks to correct
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that disparity by ensuring equal protection for all children under
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the age of eighteen. A child does not become less
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deserving of protection on the thirteenth birthday, said Joe Clark,
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the advocate behind Jaden's Law. Jaden's Laws about closing long
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standing loopholes and making sure every child in Kentucky is
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protected equally under the law. In addition to addressing age
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based gaps, SB one three eight strengthens penalties for the
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most severe abuse cases and closes custody and visitation loopholes
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that currently allow some convicted abusers to petition for continued
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access to children. The filing of SB one three eight
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follows growing public support, media coverage, and advocacy efforts calling
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attention to child protection failures that have repeatedly surfaced in
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Kentucky courts. The bill will now move through the legislative
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process and is expected to be referred to as Senate
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Committee for consideration and public testimony next. Breathitt County Schools
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to hold grand opening ceremony for Lakeside Campus. Breathitt County
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Schools has announced that the Lakeside Campus officially received its
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certificate of occupancy on January twentieth, twenty twenty six. This
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new campus will serve as the permanent home for the
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Brethett County Area Technology Centre ATC, as well as the
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district's transportation, fust garage, maintenance, technology departments, and central storage.
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Staff are currently transitioning equipment and materials into the facility
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and working diligently to complete permanent moves from temporary locations
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following the historic twenty twenty two flood. Students began classes
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at the Breathitt County Area Technology Center on Friday, January
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twenty third, twenty twenty six. To celebrate this significant milestone
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for our district and community, a grand opening ceremony will
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be on Monday, February nine, twenty twenty six, at twelve
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thirty pm. The Brethett County Board of Education invites community members, partners,
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and stakeholders to attend and help celebrate this exciting step
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forward for Breathett County Schools. The facility is located at
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one one four zero Lakeside Drive, Jackson, Kentucky. Next, we
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have our weekly game of guests Who I Will read
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the prompt twice, once now and once at the end
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of this recording before giving the answer. Stay tuned until
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the end to see if you got it right. Here
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is the prompt. Guess who I am? An actress and
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model born in California on April third, nineteen ninety eight.
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I am the only daughter of a pop music icon,
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and he received custody of me and my brothers after
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my parents' divorce. My first public appearance was at age
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eleven next Driver Licensing Regional Office moves to library. The
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Jackson Driver Licensing Regional Office resumed in person services on
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My Day, February second, from a new temporary location while
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heating system repairs are made at the permanent office location.
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Kentuckians can schedule appointments at drive dot Ky dot gov
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or walk in for service. KSP is not currently administering
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driver testing at this location and working to establish an
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alternative testing location. For a list of driver testing locations,
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visit Kentucky State Police dot ky dot gov slash driver
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dash testing services will be offered at the Breathett County
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Public Library located at one zero two four College Avenue,
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that can be access to the left of the main
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library entrance. Due to space constraints, staff will operate at
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a reduced capacity from the new location. The permanent office
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has been closed since Tuesday due to heating. Given the
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dangerous cold, it was vital to temporarily pause service at
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our flagship location to ensure the safety of Kentuckians and
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staff while we secure repair plans and made arrangements for
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a nearby suitable location to operate from temporarily, said Kentucky
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Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. We continue to do all
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we can to return to full staffing capacity as soon
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as possible. Next breathat Man dies and Hazard accident. A
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Jackson family is mourning the loss of a husband, father,
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and grandfather after he lost his life in a Perry
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County accident. According to Perry County Sheriff's Office PCSO Deputy Jones,
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a call was received at approximately eleven forty six p m.
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On Tuesday, January twenty seventh that a male subject was
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walking on the roadway near the Perry County Ambulance Station
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on Kentucky Highway fifteen. It was later reported that the
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subject had been struck by a vehicle outside the Hazard
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city limits with the assistant of the Hazard Police Department.
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PCSO said, an investigation was conducted. During the course of
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the investigation, it was determined that a male subject identified
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as Virgil Johnson, age fifty seven, of Jackson, was walking
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in the roadway on Kentucky Highway fifteen across from the
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Arco Gas station. The operator of a vehicle, who wasn't
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identified by police and the press release, swerved to miss
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Johnson but struck him. An off duty police officer responded
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to the control of the scene, and while doing so,
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another vehicle traveling on Highway fifteen also struck Johnson. Officials
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with the Perry County Ambulance Service arrived on scene and
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requested the Perry County Coroner. Johnson was pronounced de ceased
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at the scene by the Coroner's office staff. Police say
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the instant is an ongoing investigation and no foul play
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is suspected. Johnson is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
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Funeral service was held on Tuesday, February three, twenty twenty six,
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at two p m. At the breath At Funeral Home.
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Complete obituary can be found in this week's Advocate and
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in our final story from the front page. Jackson Man
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recuperating from accidental shooting. Trey Man's a Breathitt County man
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was hospitalized after an accidental shooting over the weekend. Sometime
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during Saturday night and Sunday morning, January thirty first to
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February first, Trey Mans of the Frozen Creek area, along
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with two of his friends, were hunting coyotes. Mans allegedly
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fired a shot at one of the animals, and the
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bullet bricocheted off the ice and struck Mans in the
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chest area. According to his friends and family, he was
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transported to the Morgan County Hospital and then transferred to
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the UK Hospital. Mans was released from the hospital on
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Monday and is doing well. I will now read this
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week's obituary. I will only read the name, age and
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location if given. If listeners wish to hear the entire obituary,
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please feel free to call us at Radio I at
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eight five nine four two two six three nine zero.
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I will repeat this number at the end of this
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segment as well. Teresa Short age sixty three of Lost Creek, Kentucky.
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Lily fern Miller age eighty four of Jackson, Kentucky. Ov D.
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Clemens age sixty three of Jackson, Kentucky. Robert B. Thompson
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age ninety two of Morris For Kentucky, Virgil Lee Johnson
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age fifty seven of Jackson, Kentucky, Crystal Richie Smith age
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forty six of Jackson, Kentucky, Quentin Studebaker age twenty of
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Lee City, Kentucky. And Alvin Turner aged seventy nine of Jackson, Kentucky.
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These were the obituaries for the February fourth edition of
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The Breathed Advocate. If you wish to have an entire
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obituary read, please call us at eight five nine four
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two two six three nine zero. We would be happy
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to help. We now moved to The Advocate columnist and
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first up Life on the Old Dirt Road by Bobby Thorpe,
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the food Seller. While growing up, my cousins and I
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would do a lot of exploring. One of the things
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we discovered was a whole dugout under our grandparents' home.
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It had an old wooden door and a ladder to
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climb down into it. There were old rough lumber shelves
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built in the walls of the whole, and on those
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shelves was canned food that Grandma had canned over the years.
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She had beans, corn, beets, berries, and many other staples
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needed to feed the family. The jars that contained the food,
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like today, were reusable, so each year they could be recycled.
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The temperature in the cellar always stayed cool to help
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preserve the food. One time I was exploring the cellar
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and saw a large black snake. Needless to say, I
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never did visit the cellar again. The snake did, however,
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keep the area clear of rodents. I always remember my
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Grandma and ants canning kraut, tomatoes, pickles, beets, and many
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other garden vegetables. I have also can these during my life.
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In my adult years. So many people get ill, and
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we hear recently of Listeria E. Coli and salmonella and
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foods which cause recalls and people getting ill and some
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even dying. We also hear of so many preservatives and
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food that I believe cause illnesses and maybe even cancer.
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There is no healthier food than homegrown and raised and
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farm fresh vegetables and fruits. The old cellar brings back
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fond memories from life on the old dirt road next
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then and now, far different than breathet by Bob Deaton.
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As a young man during summer vacations while I was
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in school, I worked in a factory in Cincinnati, Ohio,
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and lived in an old apartment building for a country boy.
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This experience was a real culture shock from the carrying
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personal relationships and easy lifestyle that I had experienced in
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the friendly confines of Breathitt County. It was shocking, indeed,
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to discover the lackadaisical attitude toward personal relationships found in
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the big city compared to what I had experienced growing
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up on Canoe Creek. Here in Breathitt County, everything seemed
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so impersonal and self centered. You didn't know who lived
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in the next apartment. Efforts to get to know your
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next door neighbor were often met with a degree of suspicion.
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It was strange to me that hardly anyone even spoke
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to each other even at work. The doggy dog attitude
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of the big city life was clearly amplified by the
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two fifteen minute breaks we got each day. A bell
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signified the beginning of each break. This set off a
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stampede among the workers to see who could get to
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the concession room first. Old men, some in their fifties
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and sixties would be in a full run, competing against
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much younger workers to get their snacks before the fifteen
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minute break was up and they must return to work.
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It seems this attitude prevailed in almost every aspect of
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big city living. Even a small infraction in traffic was
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often met by nervous and short tempered drivers with blowing
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horns and an outburst of angry rhetoric that often slandered
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your mother's name and impugned your origin and culture. This
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young country boy made up his mind that he would
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return to good old Breathett County and live the remainder
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of his life. The recent flood and reaction of neighbours
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helping neighbors clearly reveals how different the doggy dog attitude
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of the big city is from our love and concern
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for each other, our neighbors, and our community. This writer
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is indeed proud to live in Breathett County. Bobby Deaton
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seventy five, Parson Drive, Jackson, Kentucky. Next Talking Pictures by
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Brian C. Combs. Castaway, directed by Robert Zemeckis two thousand.
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Director Robert Zemeckis and actor Tom Hanks both won Oscars
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for their first film collaboration with Forrest Gump. While Forrest
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Gump is a sprawling film following a character who meets
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thousands of people over many decades, their second collaboration is
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the exact opposite. Castaway is about Chuck Noland, a man
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who is the sole survivor of a plane crash marooned
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on a deserted island, all by himself. Over half the
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is Tom Hanks acting alone with his only companion being
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a volleyball he names Wilson. Not many actors are good
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enough to keep a viewer's attention by themselves for an hour,
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but Hanks is. He's so good in this film he
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actually succeeds in getting the viewers emotionally invested in a volleyball.
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Helen Hunt is also terrific as Kelly fears Chuck Nolan's girlfriend.
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They're scene together toward the end of the film after
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his rescue. Is absolutely fantastic and will likely move you
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to tears. Castaway is a film that will move you
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and make you care more for an inanimate object, more
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so than most films do for their human characters. Pour
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one out for Will's the volleyball. See you at the
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movies next. Building A Healthier Breathitt County One Step at
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a Time by James Elliott Turner, the second Breathitt County
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Circuit Clerk. About one point two million Americans have heart
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attacks every year, and more than four hundred thousand of
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these people will die before reaching a hospital. But for
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those that make it to the hospital, advances in treatments
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have helped lower the number of deaths from heart attacks. Today,
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those who recover from a heart attack are more likely
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to return to their past state of health than ever before.
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A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction MI
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or an acute myocardial infarction AMI. Many heart attacks are
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caused by a complete blockage of a vessel in your heart,
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called a coronary artery. A blocked coronary artery prevents oxygen
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rich blood and nutrients from reaching a section of the heart.
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By getting medical treatment quickly, you can reduce this damage,
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but once a section of the heart muscles die, it
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lasts forever. Many people live in fear of another heart attack,
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and with good reason. About ten percent of those who
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have a heart attack will have another one within a
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year of leaving the hospital. This risk drops to about
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three percent every year after that. Proper rehabilitation, which includes
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making changes to your lifestyle, can reduce these risks and
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increase your life expectancy. The first forty eight hours after
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a heart attack are critical. After this recovery begins, within
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a few days, the tissues of the heart begin to heat,
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and if there are no complications, you may be discharged
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from the hospital after five to seven days. As the
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weeks pass, the damaged muscle is replaced by scar tissue.
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This process takes six to twelve weeks, during which time
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you should be increasing your activity gradually. Many people are
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terrified of exercising after a heart attack for fear of
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triggering another, but exercise helps to speed recovery. Always follow
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expert advice regarding this gradual increase in exercise. Never overdo
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things excessively. Vigorous exercise, especially if it includes isometric exercise,
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can cause another heart attack. In most cases, you should
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be back to your norm routine after six to twelve weeks.
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Exactly when you return to work depends on your job
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and how serious the heart attack was. Take it stages,
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take it in stages, and rest when you feel tired.
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Some very physical jobs maybe beyond your ability at first.
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Avoid long journeys and stressful driving situations, such as in
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a city or rush hour. Many people worry that sexual
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activity may be too strenuous after a heart attack, but
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research shows these fears are generally unfounded. Like all exercise,
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take it slow at first. Changing your lifestyle is a
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must if you want a healthy recovery and a return
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to normal life. Also, a lifestyle change will help reduce
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your risk of further heart attacks. Give up smoking. This
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cuts your risk a half. Eat a healthy diet with
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more fruits and vegetables, Try to drink more water, less
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soft drinks, and of course, limit the amount of fried
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foods that you eat. Keep your weight under control. Have
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your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. Learn to
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deal with anger and stress, which can trigger an attack. Also,
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get plenty of rest, and know your body's limits. Depression
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effects one of four people after a heart attack. It's
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critical to address any depression. It won't just go away
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on its own, and it can make it harder for
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you to make any necessary lifestyle changes or follow your
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doctor's advice on particular treatments. Without specific help, those who
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become depressed don't recover as well as they might next.
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A legislative update from Senator Brandon Smith. Lawmakers wrapped up
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week three of the twenty twenty six regular session just
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ahead of the winter storm that swept across much of Kentucky.
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While many had the ability to stay safe indoors, countless
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others were outworking, keeping roads clear, restoring power, caring for patients,
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and making sure essential services didn't miss a beat. I
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want to offer a heartfelt thank you to every member
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of our road crewis linemen, EMS teams, hospital and nursing
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home staff, and National Guard units. Your dedication means more
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than words can say. Using my four wheel drive, I
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enjoyed going around town and visiting with these heroes while
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they stood ready to help any of us who needed it.
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As a result of the winter storm, Day fourteen of
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the twenty twenty six legislative session was postponed on Monday,
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January twenty sixth, with plans to resume at four pm
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on Tuesday, January twenty seventh. The following is legislative action
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taken during Week three in the Senate backing property tax
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relief for seniors. One of the most talked about bills
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this week was Senate Bill SB fifty one, a proposed
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constitutional amendment that would allow Kentuckians to vote on freezing
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property tax assessment increases for homeowners once they turned sixty five.
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I proudly co sponsored this bill and support its passage
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in the Senate. It's a common sense move to help
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seniors on fixed incomes stay in the their homes, and
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I'm glad to see it heading to the House. Supporting
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future teachers this week, the Senate also passed SB twenty two,
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which expands access to dual credit for students in approved
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teacher apprenticeship programs. I was proud to support this bill.
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This measure helps young people train for careers in education
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without taking on heavy debt, and it's a smart investment
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in our schools and our communities. I supported SB twenty eight,
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the Phone Down Kentucky Act, which aims to reduce distracted
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driving by requiring hands free use of phones while operating
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a vehicle. During discussions, I raised a concern I've heard
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from folks back home, the importance of due process. The
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bill requires officers to have a clear and unobstructed view
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of a violation, but what happens if a red light
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camera captures someone with a phone in the hand. I
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asked how that situation would be handled, especially if a
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ticket arrives without an officer making a stop. I believe
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the law should clearly state that an officer must personally
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observe the violation in real time. That's an important protection,
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and I hope we'll see that clarifies moving forward. Protecting
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community pharmacies, I also supported SB thirty eight, a bill
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to ensure local pharmacies pharmacists are fairly reimbursed under Medicaid
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and KCHIP. It's a smart way to keep pharmacy doors
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open and rule areas like ours, reduce r traffic, and
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maintain access to care where it's needed most. As always,
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I continue meeting with local leaders and community members to
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stay closely connected to the needs of our region. Whether
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it's discussing growth opportunities with mayors or addressing energy concerns
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through my committee work, I'm focused on advancing policies that
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benefit our part of the state. I'll keep raising your
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questions and standing up for people of Eastern Kentucky. Keep
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an eye out for more priority legislation in the days ahead,
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and I truly believe will be one of the most
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significant energy policy proposals we have seen in a long time.
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And finally, back to our game of guess who. Here
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is the prompt again, Guess who? I am an actress
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and model born in California on April third, nineteen ninety eight.
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I am the only daughter of a pop music icon,
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and he received custody of me and my brothers after
26:25
my parents' divorce. My first public appearance was at age eleven.
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Who am I? I'm Paris Jackson. Did you get it right?
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Let's play again next week. This concludes the reading of
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the Breathed Advocate for news from Jackson in Breathett County.
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Your reader has been Beth mac Lean. Now please stay
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tuned for continued programming on RADIOI on behalf of everyone
26:51
here at Radio I. Thank you for listening and we
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hope you have a good day.