Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Hazard Herald - 6.14.26

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Hazard Herald - 6.14.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turned to the reading of the Hazard Herald
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and is of Hazard and Perry County Humbley townshend wovalent
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the on line addition dated June tenth, two thousand, twenty
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six as a reminder, radioized a reading service intended for
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people who are blind or have other disabilities that make
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it difficult to read printed material. Proposed federal funding to
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bring twenty four million dollars to Perry projects. Perry County
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could receive up to twenty four million dollars in federal
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funding for infrastructure and housing projects after the announcement from
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US Representative how Lodgers that the U S House Appropriations
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Committee approved nearly eighty five million dollars for projects across
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eastern Kentucky, advancing the funding packaged for consideration by the
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Full House of Representatives. Among the proposed allocations are twenty
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million dollars for the Hazzard Airport Runway project at Wendel
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age Ford Airport and an additional four million dollars for
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the Skyview Phase two housing development project, both of which
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local officials say would have long term impacts on the
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economic development and flood recovery efforts. Perry County Judge Executive
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Scott Alexander said county officials are optimistic as the funding
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package continues through the legislative process. We're in a good
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position right now currently waiting to see if this money
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can get moved forward, said Alexander. Phase one for the
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airport project will consist of extending the runway at the airport.
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We already have the new road that's going into the airport,
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which will be great for the community and the airport.
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To get the extension at that airport as a game
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changer for this community as we continue to recruit companies here.
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If approved, the airport funding could be used to extend
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the existing runway at Wyndow Export Airport, improving aviation safety
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while expanding opportunities for commercial and industrial development throughout the region.
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Alexander said the second proposal, which includes the second phase
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of the Skyview housing development, would be vital in helping
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those citizens who are still wanting to relocate to higher
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ground housing. The money for Skyview could continue to help
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us try to get those that wanted the possibility to
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move into a high ground community away from the waterways,
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he said. On the federal side, Congressman Rodgers has seen
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the need committed to long term growth here. We also
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have state help on the airport project from Senatorship and
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Senator Cybers. Once again, this is multiple agencies working together.
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It's all about the partnership, and through our partnership, Prairie
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County is continuing to grow and become a better place
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to live. The funding package announced by US Representative Hal
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Rogers includes investment throughout eastern Kentucky aimed at supporting flood
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resistant housing, transportation improvements, clean water initiatives, and infrastructure development.
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The proposed allocations must still receive approval from the full
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U S House of Representatives before becoming final. Hobby Lobby
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officially opened. Local officials, business leaders, and community members gathered
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on June eighth to celebrate the official opening of Hobby Lobby,
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marking another milestone in the continued development of Black Gold
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Plaza and the area's ongoing economic growth. The long anticipated
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retailer is one of several new businesses opening after shopping center,
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which local officials say as already generating jobs, attracting visitors,
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and expanding shopping opportunities throughout the region. Perry County Judge
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Executive Scott Alexander said the addition of hobby lobby, he
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represents your years of collaboration among local, state, and federal
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partners working toward economic development goals. This has a great
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economic impact on our community as well as our region,
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said Alexander. We're so excited for our locals to get
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to go shopping again here. We've proven when you work
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together what you can do our city, county, our economic
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development partners, our state partners, our federal partners. When you
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work together, these are the results you get. Alexander said
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the development is already making a noticeable difference in the
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community by bringing new energy and investment to the area.
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It brings a lot of life back to the community,
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he said. We're already seeing the impact and it's having
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a huge effect. We're doing well, and it takes all
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of us working together to grow to the point we're becoming.
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Alexander said that the new retail options are expected to
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draw shoppers from outside period county, creating additional economic activity
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for local businesses. It's huge when visitors from outside town
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come to to shop, said Alexander. The day that is
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there we go to places to shop now, people will
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come here to shop. Hazard mayor Happy Mobolini said. He
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credited the collaboration between city, county, and economic development partners
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from making the program and project possible, noting that significant
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infrastructure improvements were necessary before construction could move forward. The
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county and the city worked together a lot on this,
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said Moboleini. They worked together to get the infrastructure put
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back in the storm drains, the sewer, gas and water lines,
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because without that you can't open up a business. But
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the main player was in Economic Development Ziet Lawrence and
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then Drinker Development that owns the shopping center. Mobolini said,
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continued expansion of the Black Gold Plaza will have a
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lasting impact on the employment and future development opportunities throughout
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the community. These new stores will employ roughly two hundred
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to two hundred and twenty employees, mobiling and said, which
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is something to celebrate. We have more on the way.
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We have a lot of new businesses opening up downtown.
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Competition leads to new things. We're going to set up
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the trolley to bring people from downtown up here to
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the plaza. We're going to build a trolley stop for
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anyone who wants to ride it from downtown to here
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or from here to downtown. The details are still in
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the making Farmers Market kicks off new season. The Perry
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County Farmers Market officially opened its twenty twenty six season
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on June fourth and June sixth that Triangill Park often
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residents fresh produce, baked goods, hand crafted items, and a
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variety of programs designed to improve access to locally own foods.
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The market will continue operating twice weekly throughout the summer,
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bringing together farmers, bakers, and artisans from across the region
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while promoting healthy eating and supporting local add We will
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be here on Thursdays from four pm to seven pm
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throughout August and also have a Saturday market from nine
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am to one pm, said Jennifer Weeberg, Northfolk Local Food
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coordinator with the Farmers Market. We also have a variety
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of bakers and artisans from around the region who bring
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their homegrown food and handmade crafts to the market. We
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were said. The market not only provides access to fresh,
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locally produced food, but also offers several assistance programs that
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help to make healthy options more affordable for families throughout
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the community. It's a great way to eat locally, she said.
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It's a great way to support our local farmers around
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the region who offer a number of different systems to
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help everyone in the community to access their goods. For example,
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we have the double Dollars program so people can get
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more fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy for their buck.
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We also have senior rate programs and bonus bucks for
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those They have a cariccation program for kids, in addition
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to nutrition and Sindi programs. Of Market partners with local
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organizations to encourage healthier lifestyles and improve access to nutritious
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foods for residents managing chronic health conditions. We work with
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the Perry County Diabetes Coalition, said Weaber, so folks with
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diabetes can go see their provider and get prescribed diabetes
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dollars and come here to shop for fruits and vegetables
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and proteins and will help make them manage their diabetes.
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A lot of our vendors use credit or debit. We're
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very excited to be here and looking forward to another
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great season. Deadline passes for Perry County twenty twenty sixth
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general election non partisan fillers. The deadline for non partisan
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political races was June second. Those positions will be added
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to the ballot for the November general election. Those who
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file for non partisan races are as Falls Perry County
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School District Board Number four, Johnny Feltner, Dwayne Earl Combes,
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Perry County School District five, Burrell Hert Mayor, City of Hazard,
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Donald Happy, Moberleini, James Logan Fields, Hazard Independent School Board,
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Lisa Towns, Michael Simms, Madison Moberleini Patrick Hazard City Commissioner,
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Paul Owender, Luke Glasser, Susan Martin, Butherton Fitzsteele, Mayor, City
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of Buckhorn, Simmy Ray Bowing, Buckhorn City Commissioner, Sharon Combs,
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Monica Couch, Amanda Bowlin, Kenneth Stamper Soil Martyr Conservation Supervisor,
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Christopher Osborn, Caleb Noble, Peggy Conway. Purple Bibles shared in
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memory of Brian Dean Carroll. For more than two decades,
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purple Bibles had been given out in loving memory of
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Brian Dean Carroll, whose life was tragically cut short in
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a car accident in January nineteen ninety eight. Though Brian's
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time on Earth was far too brief, according to a
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statement from the family, his memory continues to touch lives
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through an act of kindness. Faith and remembrance that's become
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deeply meaningful to many throughout the community. Brian's mother, Ginger Carroll,
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began sharing the Purple Bibles as a way to honor
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her son's life and keep his spirit alive. Each Bible
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represents hope, comfort, and the reminder that even through loss,
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love continues. That statement said. Over the years, these Bibles
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have been placed in the hands of students, friends, family,
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and anyone who may need encouragement during difficult times. Members
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of the community gather at the Grand on Main Street
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on June three to celebrate the fourteenth Region champions a
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Hazard High School Softball team and Hazard High School Tennis
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team following their successful seasons. Escorted through downtown by the
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Hazard Fire Department, the student athletes were recognized by local
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officials during the a community luncheon and honored the ceremonial
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titles of Duke and Duchess of Hazard. From the opinion page,
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a guest colin Kentucky's Child Abuse Victims Need a robust
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nursing Workforce by Natalie Asquinenza and Ashley de Jarnet. Imagine
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a child who finally found the words to tell a
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trusted adult what happened to them. When a child finds
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the courage to speak, what happens in the hours that
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follow can shape how they heal, whether their abuser faces justice,
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and whether they even trust a human being an adult again.
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In Kentucky, what happens next depends almost entirely on where
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they live, and far too many of our children geography
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is destiny. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect
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Data System, Kentucky has been a steady rise in child
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sexual abuse cases over the last five years, from four
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point one percent of the national couple in twenty twenty
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to ten point one percent in twenty twenty four. This
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may reflect better awareness and prevention or improved screening by
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the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but whatever the
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case are caused, Kentucky's rate of child maltreatment is roughly
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the national average, and many areas of our state are
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not ready to receive children when they come forward. As
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of October twenty twenty five, one hundred of Kentucky's one
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hundred twenty counties had no sane ready hospital. Forty four
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don't even border a county that has one. What does
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this mean for Kentucky's children without a sexual assault nurse
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examiner available survivors are frequently seen by providers with little
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or no training or experience in the treatment of sexual assault.
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That gap leads to missed evidence critical for prosecution, inadequate treatment,
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and fragmented follow up care after children leave the emergency department.
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Community hospitals, especially those who are from Kentucky's only two
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children's hospitals, urgently need robust pediatric saying programs. Same nurses
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provide dedicated emergency care, including forensic evidence collection, injury documentation,
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preventive treatment, and survivor education. They also serve as critical
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bridges to children's advocacy centers, where children receive forensic interviews
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and specialize medical and mental health care and advocacy for
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the difficult road ahead. Saints programs and Children's advocacy centered
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work hand in hand to ensure children receive coordinated, evidence
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based care from the moment of first disclosure. While becoming
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a pediatric saying requires an registered nurse in forty hours
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of certification training, these nurses must sustain themselves through the
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weight of witnessing traumatic things every shift. Currently, only eighty
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six pediatric sayings or practicing across the state. Far too
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few to provide twenty four to seven coverage for the
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ninety nine acute and critical access hospitals across the state.
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Children's Advocacy Centers of Kentucky offers pediatric saying training twice
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a year, one of only two programs in the state
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dedicated to growing this workforce, but prospective sayings who complete
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online courses must still find in person clinical training with
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multiple disciplines, a barrier that further limits access to vital education.
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The infrastructure to protect these children is becoming a reality.
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Kentucky has the framework in place. The state line's same
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Coordinator role is in development with collaboration across the canbinet
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for Health and Human Family Services. The Kentucky Hospital Association,
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Kentucky Board of Nursing, and Sexual Assault Response Team Advisory
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Committee work towards all hospitals becoming sane ready and a
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sane registry to try at the practicing workforce. If your
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hospital isn't yet saying ready, the time to act is now.
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The framework exists in the momentumous building, and these children
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cannot wait. If you want to help, donate to your
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local Children's Advocacy center to fund the forensic interviewers advocates
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and medical professionals who walk alongside survivors. If you want
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to lead, share this story and keep the conversation going
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until every hospital in Kentucky is ready to answer the call.
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The courage in this story has always belonged to the children.
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What happens next belongs to us. This letter to the
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editor comes schamangela hat in the hazard. Very Physical Court
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not responsive by open records requests. Accessing public records from
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the Ferry County Physical Court should be a straightforward process. Instead,
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it's become a relentless struggle, seely designed to exhaust anyone
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asking questions. The tactics used to evade accountability are unacceptable.
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When citizens file open record requests, we get the run around.
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We're sent unrelated documents or directed down convoluted avenues to
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other agencies, only to be pointed right back to the
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fiscal court. Even when records like county vendor ledgers are
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finally a hand developer, they're clastered with heavy, obscrewing watermarks
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that make digitizing and analyzing the data merely impossible. This
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is not transparency, it's a barricade. This bureaucratic shell game
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is symptomatic of a local government operating out of self interest.
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While officials play games with public records, real community issues
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are ignored, silenced, ignored, and denied to be placed on
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the agenda at public meetings. We watch unauthorize the illegal
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dumpsite pile up on residential roads with no real action
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plan taken, while high ranking taxpayer rows along the funded
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positions are conveniently handed out the close family members and
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other personal interests. The people of Perry County deserve better.
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We deserve officials who prioritize the community's need for protecting
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their inner circle. True transparency is not a courtesy, it's
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the law. Here are the obituaries. Mary Sally Changey Benton
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passed away on June first, twenty twenty six. Nadine Hamilton
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seventy nine died Monday June first. Tiffany Tapio Talby thirty
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nine of Hazard died Sunday, May thirty first, Deboro K. Brewer,
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seventy of Upper died Saturday June sixth, Billy Hurley of
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Wellfare died Saturday June sixth, and Donald Wayne Lennon sixty
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four died Wednesday, June third, Hazard, man charged with fellon
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the assault a Hazard man is facing a felon in
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charge of second to the assault following the recent incident.
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According to a warrant written by Hazard police officer Christian Newberry,
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on June first period, County nine one one perceived the
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call reporting an assault on the East Main Street. Upon investigation,
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Newbury wrote, officers learned that the victim had arrived at
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the apartment complex on East Main Street and was met
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by three males, including Matthew Man Campbell, twenty, a resident
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of the complex. The victim, the warrant said, had pulled
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up his shirt to show he had a firearm, and
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Campbell and two other men attacked him. During the assault,
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the warrant said, one of the subjects struck the victim
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in the head with a handguy, causing it to go off.
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The warrant set officers learn at during the assault, one
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of the men pulled a gun and fired one round.
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Newberry wrote that officers obtained video footage of the assault,
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during which Campbell was identified as one of the attackers,
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while the other two males had not been positively identified. Campbell,
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the warren said, was shown on video as being on
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top of the victim repeatedly punching him in the face.
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Another man, the warren said, was kicking the victim in
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the face repeatedly, and the other was at the top
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of the victim's head punching him repeatedly. Based on the
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video footage, Newbury wrote he believes Campbell acted with the
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intent to cause serious physical injury to the victim as
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the victim was lying on his back while the men
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repeatedly struck him. According to the warrant, the victim suffered
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multiple facial fractures, his shoulder was out of socket, and
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he suffered a possible torn rotator cup. Campbell was lodged
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in the Kentucky River Regional Jail, on which the second
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degree assault Legislator's blessed the shaer over gas tax reduction actions,
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legislators are accusing government and to the Share of playing
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politics in his recent actions to temporarily reduced Kentucky's gas hacks.
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During the June second meeting on the Interim Joint Committee
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on Transportation, members expressed concern that Dasher is trying to
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win political points while harming Kentucky's ability to maintain and
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improved roadways. Deputy Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock told the legislators
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that Basher's two executive orders issued and made were a
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direct response to the gas price hikes that occurred during
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the United States War with Iran. The executive orders, according
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to Hancock, were done in response to the war in
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Iran and its impact on gas prices. The orders were
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an executive order that reduced the gas types by tensions
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per gallon and an emergency regulation that frows the gas
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types to stop a six tenth cent per gallon increase,
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set to go in place on July first. The emergency regulation,
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according to the Hancock, will stay in place until the
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war in Iran ends or when gas prices in Kentucky
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fall below three dollars a gallon. Regulations will decide if
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electric customers will pay for data center costs. An analysis
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of the Kentucky Energy Planning Inventory Commission has found that
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regulations will determine whether the consumer's electric bills will rise
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to pay for infrastructure and other costs associated with data centers.
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In a report summary issue June fourth, the Kentucky Energy
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Planning and Inventory Commission wrote the Kentucky's position in such
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a way that companies seeking to establish data center are
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attracted to the Commonwealth Kentucky offers several things. These companies
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need low electricity rates, available land water for cooling of
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growing fiber optic network, and state tax and centic program
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created by the General Assembly. In twenty twenty four, one
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Kentucky utility alone reported nearly thirty potential data center projects
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under consideration as of early twenty twenty six. According to
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the EPIC summary, data center should pay for the costs
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I pay the cause of utility to build something new.
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This protection comes through contracts required the developer to pay
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engineering fees, post financial guarantees, and commit to long term
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agreements before the utility begins building. These requirements also filtered
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out developers who are not serious. A company with no
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real intention of building will often law away once it
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must put up real money on the table. Data centers
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are neither automatically good nor automatically bad, EPIC said. The
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key is asking the right questions before your community makes
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any commitments. The Perry County Fairy will be June eighteenth
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through twentieth, those day through Saturday. Event highlights including Scott's Comedy,
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Magic Show Off, min Atsacs ex Stunt Show, Hazard, Perry Express,
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Tractless Train, and corny twists, ballounar and face painting. A
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Perry County woman has pleaded guilty to a charge related
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to an incident in which police said she shot at
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officers who were arresting her husband, according to court documents,
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on June one, Ashley Begley, thirty one, of Study Mountain
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Road Study, pleaded guilty to the charge of using, carrying,
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and discharging the firearm during and in relation to a
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crime of bowels. According to an Affidavid indicase. On September
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twenty fourth, law enforcement with the US Drug Enforcement Agency
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London Resident Office, accompanied by officers with the Prairie County
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Sheriff's Office, approached Ashley Begley's residence in an attempt to
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arrest her husband, Clint Begley, forty two, on a state
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arrest warrant. CORE document show Clint Begley was invited by
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a Perry County grand jury in June twenty twenty five
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on a charge of first degree possession of controlled substance.
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Centinel records showed that Chris Begley pleted guilty in the
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sentenced in March to serve three years probated for five
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years on the possession charge. A formal sentencing indicase has
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been set from October fourteenth, at which time Ashley Begley
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faces a possible sentence of between ten years in life
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in prison followed by a maximum of five years of
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supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, four counts
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of attempted murder of the law officer Ashley Begley faced
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will be dropped. Francis's Diner permanently closes after serving the
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Hazard community for more than thirty five years. Francis's Diner
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recently closed permanently after longtime owner Francis M. Napier died
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on November twenty first, at the age of eighty four.
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Napier's family, who took over the diner in her absence,
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announced the closure in a public social media statement on
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June fourth, bringing to an end a beloved local restaurant
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that served Perry County for decades. Representatives of Shoes Sensation
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who joined community members, local officials, and the Perry County
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Hazard Chamber of Commerce on June fourth for a re
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grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the store's recent remodel.
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On part of the event, show Sensation presented one thousand
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dollars donation to Care Cottage in support of its services
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to the community. This concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald.
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Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining
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me and on behalf of everyone here at Radio I.
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This is Lee Townsend, wishing you a good day.