Transcript

5.21.26 · Springfield Sun

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Springfield Sun to bring you
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news from in and around Washington County. Your reader today
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is Linda Rice. We begin with the edition dated Wednesday,
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May twentieth, twenty twenty six. As a reminder, Radio I
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is a reading service intended for people who are blind
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or have other disabilities that make it difficult to read
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printed material. The first article on the front page is
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entitled County has first reading of sixteen million dollar budget,
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written by Jenna George. Money constantly moves around the county,
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whether that be in purchases, contracts, or the annual budget reading,
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which has officially reached an over sixteen million dollar total.
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The most recent fiscal year budget had its first reading
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this month for the twenty twenty six twenty twenty seven
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year overall. As the budget was worked, the total for
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all departments ended up being sixteen million, two hundred and
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thirty five thousand, two hundred dollars and fifty nine cents.
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Included in this budget is an allowance for a safe
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baby box. This baby box would hold newborns which are
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being surrendered by mothers or parents. When by mothers or parents,
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when the box is installed, it will be covered by
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the eighteen thousand dollars that it is pre worked into
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the total. The baby box will be located at the
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Emergency Services building on Lincoln Drive and provide a safe
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place for parents to surrender young babies. Since the building
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is occupied twenty four hours daily, the baby will receive
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immediate attention by EMS. Alongside the budget, the Physical Court
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confirmed the purchase of the Emergency Medical Service's newest powerlift structure.
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The entire amount of two hundred and thirty one thousand
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is for the CPR or Cardiopulme Recessitation assist devices, the
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power lift stretcher, and the batteries for these items alone.
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The power lift stretcher will cost the department one hundred
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and seventy five thousand dollars and to the main instagrament
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will be an overall cost of sixty one thousand dollars.
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Salt is a heavy requirement for the county, especially in
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the wintertime, leading to the newest salt bid approval being
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instantly accepted. Compass Minerals out of Jeffersonville, Indiana offered a
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bid of which is good through April twentieth, twenty twenty seven,
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bringing the salt throughout the summer is what will end
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up making this so cheap compared to other potential sellers.
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For five hundred tons, Compass Minerals will only charge one
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hundred and seventeen dollars and seventy three cents per ton delivered.
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As for the new windows being installed in the County
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Clerk's office, the county received only one bid from Hawk's Construction.
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The bid was for seven nine hundred dollars for the
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installation of the new twenty four windows and removal of
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the old ones, but not the disposal. The next fiscal
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Court meeting is at nine am on May twenty second,
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twenty twenty sixth, with the Willisburg Memorial Day Festival being
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the following day on May twenty third. The next articles
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entitled Cutter performs free pop up show in Loretto, written
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by Jane reed Klein and Jenna George. Local country musical
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artist Mary Cutter said she had no idea how many
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people would turn up for the show. She had never
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done this type of thing before. She even told those
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traveling with her it could be only my parents there,
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But Cutter was pleased to see the Cozy Corner in
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Loretto at full capacity for her pop up show. On Thursday,
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May fourteenth. The pop up show by Cutter was enjoyed
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and well attended. Many of those in attendance were from
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Washington County who were happy to drive to Loretto for
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the free performance, and although this sound quality was not
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the best in parts of the restaurant bar, everyone seemed
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to fully enjoy the show. She said she had the
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idea for the small pop up performance while traveling for
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a full band concert. She put her plan into action
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and was notably pleased with the attendance and local support.
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She did not have the full band at Cozy Corner.
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The show highlighted her voice, accompanied by a lone guitar.
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She told the audience the Cozy Corner show was a
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nice break from working on album she hopes to release
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later this year. Cutter, a Washington County native who signed
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a record deal with BBR music group VMG Nashville earlier
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this year, released her first single under that label, Ben
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of Roses, in February. Cutter found her love for music
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at a young age. Music find me early, on, said Cutter.
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I grew up singing in church at Springfield Baptist and
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later with the praise team at River of Life and
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that was really where my love for singing started. In
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an interview with The Sun reporter Janat George in February,
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she went on to talk about some of the local
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teachers who helped shape her music along the way. When
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I first moved to Nashville, my bread and butter was
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writing songs for other people. That was the door that
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opened for me. Early on, said Cutter. I was writing
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anything and everything country pop and songs that ended up
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in TV shows, movies, and commercials. I was lucky enough
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to have songs recorded by artists like Bailey Zimmermann, Nate Smith,
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and Alexandra Kay, and over the years I had songs
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reached number one on iTunes, earned gold and platinum cerifications,
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and chart on Billboard. When I started writing songs for
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myself to sing, I realized I was most drawn to
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the stories I grew up around, the ones that felt
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honest and familiar, said Cutter, Stories like my great granddaddy
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who was a bootlegger and later built a church, which
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inspired Devil's Money. I wrote a song about the cornbread
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mafia called Smell the Smoke, and another about big pharma
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and its impact on small towns called the Devil War.
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Lab Coat Cutter performed all of those songs at the
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Cozy Color Show on Thursday evening. The next article on
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the front pages entitled City announces updated list of summer
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events by Jane Reid Klein. One highlight of the meeting
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of the City of Springfield City Council on Tuesday, May
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twelfth was an update on upcoming events plans for the community.
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Main Street Director Joe Reid presented the update schedule events.
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In recognition of America's two hundred and fiftieth May fifteenth
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through July third, Spirit of America decorating contest is being
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hosted by Springfield main Street on June fifth and sixth,
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celebrating America's two hudred and fiftieth Summer Afternoon Tea hosted
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by Maple Hill Manor and June the seventh and the
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twelfth of fourteenth the Crucible hosted by Central Kentucky Theater.
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June thirteenth reenactment of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks's wedding
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at Lincoln Homestead State Park. July third will be the
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Independence Celebration hosted by Springfield main Street, and on July fourth,
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the Freedom five K for First Responders of Veterans hosted
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by Springfield Tourism, will take place July thirty first is
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the African American Heritage Festival hosted by Springfield Main Street,
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and on August twenty ninth, Springfield Rotary celebrates America's two
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hundred and fiftieth at the Rotary Park and in November
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America two hundred and fifty Washington County's Unite Quilt display.
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The location is still yet to be determined. Red also
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reported on the recent Budweiser Clysdale's Full Hitch Parade. She
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said the Budweiser team estimated around three thousand in attendance
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for the event, which went off successfully as planned. Also
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at the meeting, Ronnie Huntsberger, owner of the Oil Pros,
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asked the city for a better location for the burnout
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during Sorghum Festival. He asked to use a section of
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Walnut Street that would be safer for everyone involved, including spectators.
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Council members again discussed requested amendments by Washington County Youth
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Sports to the contract for Youth Sports used of Idle
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Hour Park facilities. City County Lizzie Culter said she had
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reviewed the proposed amendments since the last meeting and made
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a few changes of her own for the council's consideration.
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Council members said many of the amendments proposed by Youth
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Sports were unnecessary and in some case insulting. They included
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provisions for park staff to perform duties they already perform
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and are their job. They were also uncomfortable with a
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provision giving exclusive use of the bad facilities to Washington
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County Youth Sports. The council was presented with the fiscal
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year twenty four to twenty five audit report by Jones
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and Associate's CPAs. The report studied no issues in other matters.
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Police Chief Suemud reported that officer recruit Jordan Mitchell is
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set to graduate Police Academy training on August twenty seventh,
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and Chris Allen has completed the online portion of the
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academy and would begin his in person training on May eighteenth.
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The next regular meeting of the Springfook City Council will
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be Tuesday, June ninth, at four thirty pm. And the
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last article on this front page is man hit by
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steamroller near mackvill written by Jane Reid Klein, a twenty
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four year old man was hit by a steamroller while
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paving the parking lot at a church on Harrisburg Road
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outside of Mackville on Tuesday, May twelve. According to Jordan Settles,
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who responded to the on one call with the Macville
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Rescue Squad, the young man was driving the steamroller when
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it began to slide down a hill. He jumped off
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the steamroller and was hit by the machine. He was
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purported to be pinned between the steamroller and a truck.
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He was freed from between the equipment before the rescue
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squad arrived and sitting at a picnic table. Settle said
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he was alert and able to talk to members of
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the rescue squad and ems who transported him to a
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local hospital. Although it is believed the young man was
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released from the hospital that day, no further information could
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be released due to hippo regulations. There are few obituaries
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on the next page that that following names will be given,
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but if you need more information, you're recommended to call
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the Radio Eye office than they can read you the
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full obituary. The first one is for Charles Walter Lewis,
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ninety one, of Port Time Community of Washington County. The
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next Gracie Birkhead Bird Marx eighty eight of Williamsburg, Kentucky,
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and last Lisa Fouth Richardson sixty five of Springfield. The
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next article is entitled Kentucky is the thirty fourth best
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state for working Mothers. This is written by Dennis House.
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Women make up nearly half of the workforce in the
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United States, and in twenty twenty five, about seventy four
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percent of moms with children under the age of eighteen
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were employed. Despite this strong presence in the labor market,
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women only earn about eighty two percent of what men
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make per hour, and just nine nine and forty five
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of the chief executives at S and P five hundred
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companies are women. These disparities raised not only financial concerns,
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but also broader social questions about whether women are still
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expected to choose between building are and raising a family.
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To highlight where working mothers have the best and worst opportunities,
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wallet hub compared states across seventeen key metrics to identify
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the best and worst states for working moms, and Kentucky
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came in ranked at thirty fourth. The US still has
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a lot of work to do when it comes to
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improving conditions for working moms, given the wage gap and
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the lack of representation women have in certain leadership positions,
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said chip Lupeau. While at HUB analysts, however, some states
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are significantly better than others. The best states for working
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moms provide equitable pay for women and a strong potential
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for career advancement, along with robust parential leaf policies and
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high quality childcare, health care, and schools. Kentucky's score in
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the report was thirty eight point seventy seven, compared to
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the best state, Cannecticut, which scored seventy point two eight.
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Kentucky ranks twenty eighth in childcare, forty fourth in professional opportunities,
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and thirty eighth in work life balance. Connecticut ranks is
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the best place for working moms, and it had some
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of the lowest unemployment rates for women last year at
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just two point seven percent. In addition, Connecticut has a
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smaller gender pay gap, with women earning over eighty nine
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percent of what men make, the fourth highest rate in
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the country, highlighting the state's commitment to pay equally and
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economic opportunities for women. Connecticut is when it comes to childcare,
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is great when it comes to childcare. It ranks among
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the top states when it comes to daycare quality and
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the share of childcare centers that are nationally accredited. Finally,
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Connecticut has very good parential leave policies and is among
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the best places in the country for working from home.
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According to the report, Blue States, those that vote Democrat
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are friendlier to working moms, with an average rank of
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fifteen point thirty compared to thirty two point ninety for
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Red states Republican leaning. According to Ancy Hodges, there are
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things that companies can do to help working parents balance
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their home and work life. Affordable childcare is key for
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working parents. At Hodges, the Professor of Law EMERRA and
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Program Chair Para Legal Studies at the University of Richmond,
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Companies that provide or support childcare are an enormous aid
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for working parents. Flexibility and work hours and remote work
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options at least on Sundays also assist working parents in
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dealing with childcare, medical appointments, and school events. Patty Couoh, PhD,
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another expert while at HUB, reached out to and offered
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her suggestions how companies can help working parents balance home
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and work options to work remotely at least on occasion
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said ko, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
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If companies have team building gatherings or social events, hold
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them during work hours instead of after work or on
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the weekends. Page sick leave that parents can use for
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caring for a sick child, options to bring children to
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work in case of school closures due to weather or
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on site tone care. To read the entire study, visit https, semicolon,
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forward Slash, Forward Slash, Wallets, Hub dot Com, Forward Slash, Edu,
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Forward Slash, Best Dash States, Dash for Dash, Working Dash Moms,
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Forward Slash three, five, six y five. The last article
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on the second page is entitled Kentucky Colleges and Universities
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Showing Progress towards Statewide Agenda for Higher Education from Frankfort.
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Compared to previous years, Kentucky students are more likely to
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graduate on time and pursue upper level credentials, and fewer
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are borrowing to pay for college, according to a new
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report and data dashboard from the Kentucky Council on post
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Secondary Education. The twenty twenty six Progress Reports Progress towards
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Kentucky's statewide Strategic Agenda Goals details higher education performance based
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on the most recent data available and show strong indicators
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of improvement. Total undergraduate enrollment increased by more than ten
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thousand students between the fall of twenty twenty four and
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the fall of twenty twenty five semesters. This represents a
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four point six percent increase among Kentucky's public institutions and
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the Association for Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities campuses. The
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first to second year retention rates remained study at both
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the public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College
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System schools, and graduation rates increased across the board, with
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a nearly four percentage point increase at kctcs between the
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twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four and the twenty
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twenty four to twenty twenty five academic years. Also on time,
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graduation four year rates at Kentucky's public university showed strong gains,
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increasing two point seven percent during the same time frame.
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The number of undergraduate degrees and credentials earned in twenty
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twenty four to twenty twenty five reflected a strong one
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year improvement, with a one point four percent increase in
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bachelor's degrees awarded by Kentucky's public and the AIKCU institutions,
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and a four point two percent increase in certificates, diplomas,
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and a social degrees awarded by kctcs. The number of
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graduate level degrees and credentials earned from Kentucky's public and
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AIKCU institutions serves by more than eighteen hundred, a nine
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point five percent increase. These let results show that when
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institutions focus strategically on student success, it works, said CPE
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President Aaron Thompson. Our public universities, kctcs and AIKCU campuses
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are making great strides in implementing innovative and holistic services
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that support both our students and state goals. That's exactly
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what the Strategic Agenda is designed to drive. In addition
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to student performance metrics, the Council also tracks affordability trends
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affecting Kentucky students and their families. According to the report,
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six out of ten undergraduates attending Kentucky's publicans UA tutions
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now graduate debt free, and among those graduating with debt,
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the average amount has decreased four point nine percent from
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twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five. However, amounts of
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unmet financial need the total costs of attendance minus all
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grants and scholarships could threaten Kentucky's progress in student debt reduction.
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The amounts of unmet financial need increased by more than
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one thousand, six hundred dollars, representing a twenty nine percent jump.
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This rise is driven primarily by increasing inflation rates affecting
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costs affecting costs. In addition to economic factors, higher education
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also experienced a three percent drop in net general fund
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appropriations per full time enrollment when comparing to the fiscal
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year twenty five to fiscal year twenty six. This growth
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and unmet need is concerning reflects that current economic pressures
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are outpacing our affordability efforts, despite Kentucky ranking near the
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top nationally in financial aid provision, said Thompson. CPE is
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committed to partnering with institutions, state policymakers, and our communities
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to expand affordability solutions that keep higher education accessible to
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all Kentucky students. Moving along to the third page, the
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first article is entitled Unique Pantry Launches in Springfield, written
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by Jane Reid Klein. When you hear the word pantry,
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you think food, But the new pantry at the Washington
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County Public Library meets needs of a different kind. In
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honor of Period Poverty Awareness Week May eleventh through seventeen,
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Period Y'all, in partnership with the Heart of Kentucky Pride,
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celebrated the launch of a new Period y'all pantry with
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a ribbon cutting on Saturday, May sixteenth at the Washington
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County Public Library. A Period Yall pantry provides free menstrual
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and hygiene supplies for those in need. Briar Clark with
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the Heart of Kentucky Pride said, the organization with Period
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y'all to ensure no woman has to do without these
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essential supplies due to a lack of financial resources. The
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pantry is a brightly painted metal cabinet located in the
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front of the library where those in need can pick
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up necessary supplies for that time of the month. This
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event encouraged community members to come together, recognize Period Poverty
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Awareness Week and celebrate the opening of the pantry. Attendees
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were encouraged to bring donations of period products and be
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part of a growing movement to ensure that no one
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goes without these essential products. Community members are encouraged to
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continue to donate products and support the ongoing fight to
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end period poverty. Founded in twenty twenty two, Period Y'all
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is a Kentucky based initiative working to end period poverty
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through direct service, community partnerships, education, and advocacy. The organization
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works to provide access to Freeman products and uplifting conversations
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around menstrual health. Heart of Kentucky Pride is an lgbt
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Q plus organization founded in twenty twenty five and based
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in Washington County. They strive to create community and safety
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in world Central Kentucky for LGBTQ plus folks of all stripes.
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The next article is entitled Water Steps Shoe Drive Getting
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under weigh Again, written by Jane Reid Klein. The Shoe
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Lady is gearing up for the eighth annual Watersteps Shoe
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Drive on Saturday, June twentieth, from nine am to two
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pm at the River of Life Church in Springfield. Jane Esper,
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organizer of the drive, set her goal for this shoe's
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drive is one thousand. In addition to the June twentieth
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shoe Drive, Esper has water Step shoe collection boxes scattered
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across Marion and Washington Counties. Where shoes can be dropped
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year round. Esper and volunteers, mostly members of Bethlehem Baptist Church,
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then process the shoes, which includes checking the shoes to
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be sure they are clean and usable, pairing them, and
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bagging the shoes for transport to water Step headquarters in Louisville.
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Throughout the year, shoes donated at the collection boxes are
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stored in a garage at Esper's home until picked up
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by water Step. Water Step then sells the shoes and
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uses the proceeds to build water purification purification systems. The
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systems are set around the world to provide clean drinking
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water in third world countries where clean water is not
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available and in the event of natural disasters. Waterstep purification
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systems have been used across the United States following earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.
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And in recent years in Kentucky following tornadoes and severe flooding.
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Esper explained that three hundred pairs of shoes she collects
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funds one water purification system. Esper and her team collected
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over six hundred pairs of shoes in twenty twenty five,
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enough to fund two much needed purification systems. Since becoming
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involved with water Step Esper says she's become more aware
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of the need for clean water and the effects of
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dirty water on the health of those forced to drink it.
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She often speaks about the diseases contracted by drinking contaminate
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water and how many children die in underdeveloped countries as
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a result of drinking unclean water. Esper encourages everyone to
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donate shoes they no longer wear. The shoes must be clean,
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used or new, in any size from baby to adult.
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The shoes must be free of mold, mildew, grease, or mud.
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She asked that she's being tied plastic bags. She is
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also accepting cash or check monetary donations for Waterstepp International.
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And now we'll go to section entitled Briefs outlining several
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community area events. The first one Parkinson's Support Group Wednesday,
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May twentieth, will be our next meeting. Meetings are at
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the Nelson County Public Library in Community Room one and
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start at one pm. Anyone touched by Parkinson's is welcome,
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including patient, caregiver, family and friends. Called Jane Schwartz at
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five two, three, five, zero, four, four five eight with questions.
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Community Baby Shower and Little Cutie is on the way
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as an event for parents guardians who are expecting or
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with babies up to one year old. The Community Baby
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Shower will be June ninth, twenty twenty six, from four
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three to six thirty pm at the Washington County Tel
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Center at five twenty Lincoln Park Road. Springfield. Dinner will
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be provided along with a nursery craft from the craft Box.
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There will be prizes as well. To register to attend
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or to be a vendor, please call the Washington County
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Health Center at eight five nine three three six three
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nine eight nine and Next Kentucky's agtag When you renew
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your vehicle license, don't forget to support four H and
26:23
FFA with an agtag. The ten dollars contributions from each
26:27
agtag benefit Kentucky Proud, Kentucky for H and Kentucky FFA
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help grow agricultural and local leaders and ensure a fruitful
26:37
future for all Kentuckians. And Next Extension On the radio.
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Every Tuesday morning around eight thirty am, you can tune
26:46
into one hundred point nine WLSK and get all the
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latest news and happenings from the Extension Office and last
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but not least, concerts at the Laredo Milhouse. A trio
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Carol Davis piano, Steve Rankin violin, and Nancy mc kearn
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cello will give a concert at the Loreno mother House
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on Saturday, May twenty third, at three p m. Everyone
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is welcome, no admission charge. This concludes excerpts from the
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recent editions of the Springfield Sun. Your reader has been
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Linda Rice on behalf of everyone here Radio. I thank
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you for listening, keep on listening and have a wonderful day.