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Ashland Daily Independent - 1.28.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to The Ashland Independent to bring you
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news from in and around Ashland and Boyd County. Your
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reader today is Jane. We begin with the edition dated
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January twenty sixth, twenty twenty six. As a reminder, Radioizer
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reading service intended for people who are blind to abilities
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that make it difficult to read printed material. Our first
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article TDI going to three print days by Aaron Snyder
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of the Daily Independent. The Daily Independent will soon reduce
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to three print days per week Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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This change will take effect beginning Tuesday February February third,
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meaning there will be no print edition Monday February second.
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Since twenty twenty, the newspaper has printed five days per
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week week Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Many newspapers
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all are altering business models as newsprint costs rise, print
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advertising revenue decreases and digital consumption increases. For example, the
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Lexington Herald Leader went to three print editions a week
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in August twenty twenty four. The Bowling Green Daily News
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made the same move in August twenty twenty five. The
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Daily Independent plans to continue producing daily online content at
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a similar pace. It will keep covering local government, education, crime, sports,
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human interest features, and more across Northeast Kentucky and beyond
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when relevant. The newspaper will also continue highlighting community voices,
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with those opportunities coming through story and opinion pieces like
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columns and letters. Print subscribers may also access all online
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content at Daily Independent dot com or by downloading the
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Daily Independent app on your smartphone or tablet. The Daily
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Independent will still produce the special sections such as Insight Progress,
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the high school football and basketball previews, University of Kentucky
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basketball preseason magazine for Ashland, Living Magazines, per Year, Reader's Choice,
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and much more, while the newspaper will continue printing comics, puzzles, games,
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deer Abbey columns, stock information and other staples. Such content
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is also accessible on the website. Click the three lines
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in the top left corner of the homepage to see
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what all is available. The Daily Independent appreciates the community's
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understanding and support during this time of transition. TDI thanks
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you for your reading. Call the newspaper circulation desk at
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area code six oh six three two six two six
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seven four with questions about how to further enhance your
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online experience. Our next article scams to be revealed at
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In the Know staff report. The Federal Credit Union and
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the Bridge Church of Vansburg will offer a community educational
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event aimed at preventing fraud and promoting financial safety. The event,
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in the Know spot the Scam Protect What Matters, will
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be from eleven a m. To one pm March third,
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at the Bridge Church, one oh nine Winterwood Lane. This
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free lunch and learned style event is designed to equip
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community members with the knowledge to recognize, avoid, and report
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common scams, especially those targeting older adults and vulnerable populations.
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In the Know events empower community members with the knowledge
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and tools they need to recognize, prevent, and report fraud
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before financial harm occurs. Jeff Lyons, president and CEO at
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DESCO Federal Credit Union, said, by working together with the
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Bridge Church and other local organizations, we can help build safer,
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more informed communities where individuals are better equipped to protect
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their assets and make sound financial decisions. Event goals include
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increase public awareness of common and emerging scams, Educate the
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community on deed fraud in other forms of financial exploitation,
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Promote financial safety literacy and fraud prevention best practices, strengthen
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local partnerships and community outreach efforts empower individuals with the
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knowledge needed to protect themselves and their assets. Desco FCU
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and the Bridge Church are seeking local organizations to participate.
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Partners will have the opportunity to engage directly with community
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members and collaborate alongside other local organizations committed to fraud
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prevention and financial education. In addition, disco FCU is assembling
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a question and answer panel as part of the event programming.
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Organizations or individuals interested in participating on the panel are
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encouraged to reach out for more information call Whitney Bill
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Low at area code eight hundred four eight eight zero
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seven four six Extension three five six zero. In other news,
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two made more than one million dollars lobbying the General
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Assembly last year by Tom Loftus's Kentucky Lantern. In twenty
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twenty five, for the first time a lobbyist was paid
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more than one million dollars to influence the actions of
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the Kentucky General Assembly. Actually, reports filed with the Kentucky
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Legislative Ethics Commission this month show that two lobbyists were
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paid more than one million dollars in twenty twenty five
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for their work with the state legislature. Stephen Huffman was
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paid one million, one hundred and fifty three thousand, five
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hundred dollars for representing twenty five different clients. M Patrick
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Jennings was paid one million, one hundred and twenty twenty
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three thousand, nine hundred and eighty eight dollars to represent
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eighty five clients. The reports show lobbyists are and have
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been for many years, the highest paid people who work
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in the state capitol. Reports filed with the Ethics Commission
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show that a dozen were paid more than a half
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million dollars in twenty twenty five to plead the cases
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of their clients with state legislators. By contrast, Governor Andy
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Basheer is paid one hundred and eighty four thousand, eight
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hundred and twenty six dollars per year to govern the state.
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According to the Kentucky Transparency website, Ethics Commission records show
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that thirty nine lobbyists made more than a shar in
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twenty twenty five. Kentucky Lantern has tracked the compensation of
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top lobbyists in recent years, and it wasn't until twenty
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twenty four that Inny came close to hitting one million dollars.
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That was Jennings, who was paid nine hundred and seventy
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five thousand, two hundred and thirty seven dollars that year,
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according to Ethics Commission records. But reports filed this month
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with a Commission by the nearly nine hundred corporations, trade
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associations and other groups that are registered to lobby the
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legislature show that the compensation of Huffman and Jennings sailed
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far beyond the one million dollar mark in twenty twenty five. Together,
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the nearly nine hundred groups reported paying more than twenty
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six point five million dollars in compensation to lobbyists in
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twenty twenty five. Seat at the table businesses and organizations
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understand it's important to have a strong presence through lobbying
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and campaign contributions so they have a chance to have
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a seat at the table, said John Schaeffe, a former
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General Council and Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, whether
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they want a contract, regulatory relief or a change in
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tax law. If a business is not on the playing field,
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they can't win the game. Skyrocketing to the top, Huffmann
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came to Frankfurt in late two thousand and three as
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the chief of staff to the then new Republican Lieutenant
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Governor Steve Pence. Ethics Commission records indicate he first registered
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as a lobbyist in two thousand and eight. In the
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past decade, he climbed to the top tier of highest
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paid lobbyists. Four Ethics Commission records show Huffman ranked third
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with compensation of seven hundred and seventy three thousand, eight
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hundred dollars. Last year, he's skyrocketed to the top of
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the list. His clients include large and small groups. Many
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clients are from the overlapping worlds of gambling and horse racing,
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Revolutionary Racing, the Red Mile, Keenland Association, Jockey's Guild, Kentucky
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Equine Education Alliance, and bright Star Global Solutions. Other clients
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are from energy, financial services, healthcare, construction, tobacco, healthcare, communications,
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and local government. He represents a children's home, a medical
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cannabis dispensary, a nonprofit charity, and a trade association that
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lobbies for freedom of speech on the Internet. From one
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time aid to lobbyist, a former legislative aid to US
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Senator Mitch McConnell, Jennings is finance chairman for the Republican
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Party of Kentucky. He became chief lobbyist for the Kentucky
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Farm Bureau in late nineteen ninety nine. In two thousand
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and four, he began as a contract lobbyist, and in
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two thousand and eight started the firm Commonwealth Alliances. His
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roster of eighty five clients includes AT and T, Kentucky
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Hospital Association, Philip Morris International, American Wagering, Caesar's Digital Ed Choice,
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Kentucky TikTok Incorporated, Parents for School Options, Vapor Technology Association,
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Coinbase Care, Why Health, the Jockey Club, CSX Corporation, and
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the Kentucky Independent Pharmacy Alliance. Moving on cats create own
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flurry versus Lions. Ashland's late search holds off Boyd County
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for win by William Adams of The Daily Independent. As
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the weekend's winter storm approached, plenty of meteorologists were making predictions,
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analyzing data, and adjusting said predictions. For the folks who
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went to Roger Zorn's Gymnasium for Friday's matchup between Ashland
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and Boyd County, a similar seesaw of predictions could have
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been made based on the fluctuation of gameplay, the Tomcats
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rushed out to an early nine zero lead that looked
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to the tone for a possible runaway. The Lions then
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felt back to tie it up at the start of
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the second quarter, but by halftime Ashland led by thirteen.
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Two minutes in change. Into the final frame, Boyd County
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held a three point advantage, but in the final five
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minutes of play, the game's forecast shifted one last time.
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The tom Katz refused to let victory fall from their
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grasp as of fourteen to six surge lifted Ashland back
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out front, where remained en route to a ninety three
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eighty six victory. It's that bend but don't break mentality.
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In other news, I have to forgive you and I will.
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Grieving family fondly remembers young men killed an accident as
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I as man sentenced for manslaughter by Aaron Snyder of
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The Daily Independent. A grieving mother who lost her son
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in a car accident last January said in a statement
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she will forgive the man who was behind the wheel
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in the other vehicle. Henry Birchfield, sixty, of Ainez pleaded
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guilty to second degree manslaughter Friday in Boyd County Circuit Court.
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He appeared in front of Judge George Davis via video
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conference from the Boyd County Detention Center. The court sentenced
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Birchfield to five years. Birchfield was originally charged with vehicular
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homicide when under the influence of drugs substances. The charge
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was amended and agreed upon by the Commonwealth Attorney's Office
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and the family of the deceased. Birchfield was driving a
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twenty twenty one Jeep Gladiator when he disregarded a traffic
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control device and struck a twenty seventeen Hyundai Sonata, killing
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twenty three year old Jordan Huff on January tenth, twenty
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twenty five. According to Kentucky State Police, Huff was a
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Huntington residence and Boyd County native. The wreck occurred at
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the traffic light near a Marathon gas station in waffle
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House in Catlitsburg. According to coroner Mark Hammond, Huff's mother
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and grandparent penned victim impact statements, which a representative of
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the County Commonwealth Attorney's Office read Friday. They decided not
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to attend sentencing. Huff's mother described him as intelligent and loving.
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He had a bright future, she said, as he was
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working at the Huntington Tri State Airport with aspirations of
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attending aviation school. Jordan and I were best friends, his
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mother wrote. They had spent three hours in a car
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together two days prior to the accident. He texted her
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each day at four a m. Before he went into work.
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She said. He always said I love you before he
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left and had a laugh that would make anyone smile.
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She wrote, I have to forgive you, and I will,
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she wrote to Birchfield. The Boyd County inmate cried throughout
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the reading of both statements. WE know you are remorseful,
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Huff's grandparent wrote. Christmas was very hard, As Huff's family remembered,
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he would always patiently wait until last to open his presence.
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His birthday was January thirty first. The grandparents set Huff's
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deaths sent their spiritual journey into a tail spin. But
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I know God is sovereign. I'm working on forgiving you,
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they wrote, Birchfield. Moving on Chamber Shares twenty twenty five
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Highlights Looks Ahead by Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent.
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Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce representatives shared a recap of
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the past year and a glimpse into the future during
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Thursday City Commission meeting in Ashland. Scott Martin, President and CEO,
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said the chamber out of fifty two members in twenty
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twenty five, bringing the total of new members to one
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hundred and four over the last nineteen months. In all,
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the Chamber now has four hundred and sixteen active members.
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Martin said the chamber conducted one hundred and twenty five
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events in twenty twenty five. It also received a state
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award for its newsletter. The Forge Mayor Chuck Charles and
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I were about a recap and were always happy to
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do this, Martin said. Martin mentioned keeping an eye on
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Northeast Kentucky Chamber dot com for information, including about regular
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events such as business after hours and grounds for discussion.
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Cindy Pierce, COO, highlighted the chambers programs our biggest outreach
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into the community. She said the Community Leadership Development Program
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concluded in October. Pierce said it's the longest standing such
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chamber run program in the state. It's open to any
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emerging leader in the community, Pierce said. She said the
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application window will open in June. Youth Leadership of Boyd
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and Greenop Counties is a thirty year plus partnership program
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for high school juniors. We're expanding to make it make
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sense for the students, Pierce said. Current sophomores may begin
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applying for the program in March. The Young Professionals Association
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is a networking group for any professional under age forty five.
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It's where you can connect with like minded individuals who
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are in the same space in careers as we're growing,
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Pierce said. YPA meets about three times a month. She
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said vipa's two major projects are the Backpacks program, in
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which the chamber works with school Resource centers. YPA filled
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more than four hundred backpacks for students in twenty twenty five,
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and a scholarship at ACTC. It funds annually. The YPA
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Winter Classic, she said, is scheduled for March third. Our
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next article, Funds make Huge Difference at Hilcrest Bruce by
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Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent. The executive director of
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Hilcrest Bruce's Mission provided Ashland's City Commission with examples of
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how the city's assistance paves the way to impactful stories.
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Mike Maynard spoke during the public participation portion of Thursday's meeting.
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We receive a significant amount of funding from you all,
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from CDBG Community Development Block Grant to opioid debatement funds,
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and we want you to know how appreciative we are
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in the impact it makes, Maynard said. Maynard said those
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funds helped free up other donor money to accomplish outreach opportunities.
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He'll Crest Bruce's Christmas store drew one thy, five hundred
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and one shoppers over a three week period. A mission
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most sixteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty five were sold.
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The average shopper spent seven dollars on eleven items. Maynard
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said that makes a huge difference in folks that can
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say they bought Christmas for their kid. That was a blessing.
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Bruce helped twelve people find stable housing and twelve people
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passed their permit driver's license test in twenty twenty five.
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The mission also gifted two vehicles to people so this month.
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One recipient is a woman who had a paid internship
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with Hilcrest Bruce and she had just started college. Her
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vehicle broke down recently, so she borrowed her son's car.
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He got a job in Richmond, leaving her needing a
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vehicle to transport her child and to get to school.
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A couple in the community donated a vehicle to Philip's
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body shop. They fixed it and gave it to her.
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Maynard said the mission has partnership through United Way with
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Tri State Auto Connection. The King's Daughters and Fairview Baptists
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have also donated vehicles. Maynard said Hilcrest Bruce's dental program
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will expand shortly. Over the programme's eighteen months, they've completed
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more than two thousand appointments. It's the only dentist in
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the area taking Medicaid at this time. He said. The
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mission also supplies hundreds of food bucks to those in need.
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Maynard talked about the work placement program. It's focused around
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folks who want to get ahead and succeed, but just
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need help getting over barriers. Our goal is to make
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people self sufficient. Maynard supplied a few more statistics. The
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mission helped a thirty fourth person earn a ged fourteen
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more people started college this year eighty six total, eleven
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graduated from college. Thirty one total two hundred and three
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out of its program have landed a job twelfth person
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became a homeowner five this past year, moving on. Ironville
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man indicted on child born charges by Ern Snyder of
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The Daily Independent. A Boyd County grand jury indicted an
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Ironville man on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography,
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among others. Noah Geiger, twenty two, is in the Boyd
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County Detention Center on a five hundred thousand dollars full
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cash bond. Geiger has been indicted on ten counts of possession,
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viewing of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor
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under twelve, nine counts of distribution of such material, fourth
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degree assault, domestic violence, second degree unlawful imprisonment, and in
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resisting arrest. Geiger was arrested on Friday, January sixteenth. An
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indictment is not necessarily an indication of guilt. All individuals
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included in this roundup remain innocent until proven guilty. David L. Stevens,
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forty one, of Sandy Hook was indicted on charges of
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reckless driving, improper lane usage, vehicles keep right except to pass,
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failure to wear seatbelt, first degree wanton endangerment, three counts
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prescription controlled substance not an original container trafficking in a
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controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
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a controlled substance, and failure II or improper signal. Christopher
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Kay Jenkins thirty five of kits Hill, Ohio was indicted
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on a charge of receiving stolen property between one thousand
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and ten thousand dollars. Virgil J. Van Hu's forty eight
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of Ashland was indicted on charges of receiving stolen property
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between one thousand and ten thousand dollars, improper registration plate,
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inadequate silencer, and failure of owner to maintain required insurance
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security first offense. Jerino Johnson thirty four of Ashland was
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indicted on first degree possession of meth. Christopher Rhil thirty
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seven of South Point was indicted on charges of public intoxication,
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controlled stubstance excludes alcohol, and first degree meth possession. Moving
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On man gets three years for drug possession wanton endangerment
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by Aaron Snyder of The Daily Independent, an Ashland man
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will serve three years in jail for drug possession and
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wanton endangerment charges. Joshua D. Broughton, forty two, pleaded guilty
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Friday in Boyd County Circuit Court to possessing fentanyl and
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meth on June thirteenth, twenty twenty five. He also admitted
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to wanton endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, and
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operating on a revoked or suspended license. Judge George Davis
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said the court sentence brought in on three years each
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on the charges of fentanyl possession, meth possession and wanton endangerment,
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ninety days on operating on a revoke license, and a
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year on leaving the scene, but all sentences will run
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concurrently for a total of three years. Broughton has been
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in Boyd County Detention Center since June fourteenth, twenty twenty five.
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Local news MLK Legacy Awards moved. The MLK Legacy Awards reception,
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originally scheduled for Tuesday, January twenty seventh, has been postponed
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due to the impending winter storm. The event is rescheduled
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for Tuesday, February twenty fourth at five point thirty pm.
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The MLK Legacy Award recipients and Writing Contest student winners
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will be celebrated on this new date. Young Illustrators Event rescheduled.
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Winners of the Young Illustrators contest, presented by the Cable
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County Reading Council, will be recognized at the Honeyton Museum
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of Art at six pm February third. The event has
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been set for Tuesday, but was rescheduled because of inclement weather.
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This concludes excerpts from recent editions of the ascelon Daily Independent.
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Your reader has beand Jane on behalf of everyone here
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at radio. I thank you for listening, keep on listening
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and have a good day.