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Licking Valley Courier - 10.30.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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  Speaker 1: We now turn to the Licking Valley Courier to bring
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  Speaker 1: you news from in and around West Liberty. Your reader
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  Speaker 1: today is Janice. We begin with the edition dated Thursday,
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  Speaker 1: October 29, 2026. As a reminder, Radio Eye is a
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  Speaker 1: reading service intended for people who are blind or have
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  Speaker 1: other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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  Speaker 1: Our first article is Christmas Craft Fair slated for November
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  Speaker 1: 6th and 7th at the Wellness Center. The annual hometown
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  Speaker 1: Christmas Craft Fair will be Friday and Saturday, November 6th
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  Speaker 1: and 7th at the Morgan County Wellness Center. Hours will
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  Speaker 1: be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 6th,
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  Speaker 1: and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. November 7th,
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  Speaker 1: admission is free. The fair will include handmade gifts, holiday decor, crafts,
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  Speaker 1: homemade candies, baked sweets, and other unique Christmas treasures. Everyone
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  Speaker 1: is invited to bring family and friends to this festive
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  Speaker 1: community event. Our next article is Senior Commodities Giveaway is
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  Speaker 1: November 4th. Commodities for Seniors from God's Pantry will be
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  Speaker 1: given out on Wednesday, November 4th from 11 a.m. to
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  Speaker 1: 3 p.m. at Index Community Center. Please bring a tote
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  Speaker 1: or basket to put your items in. For additional information,
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  Speaker 1: call 606-522-3988 or 606-495-5631. See you all then. Trick or
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  Speaker 1: Treat slated Saturday, October 31st. Trick or Treat will be Saturday,
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  Speaker 1: October 31st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The City
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  Speaker 1: of West Liberty will again host the annual event at
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  Speaker 1: Old Mill Park during this time. Have a safe and
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  Speaker 1: happy Halloween. City receives clean audit opinion at October 26
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  Speaker 1: regular council meeting. Council awards surplus bids announces new gas
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  Speaker 1: department superintendent by Miranda M. Cantrell. The West Liberty City Council,
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  Speaker 1: during a regular October 26 meeting, heard the results of
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  Speaker 1: the municipality's latest audit. Auditor Jim Bryant of Wells & Company, PSC,
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  Speaker 1: in Paintsville, told the council that the report he presented
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  Speaker 1: was a preliminary draft, but that he did not anticipate
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  Speaker 1: any changes. This is as of June 30, 2026, Bryant said. Again,
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  Speaker 1: No issues this year with the city. It was a
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  Speaker 1: clean report. You're in pretty good financial condition. Your cash
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  Speaker 1: flow is good. Everything looks good. Bryant also noted that
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  Speaker 1: last year's water and sewer rate increases had significantly boosted
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  Speaker 1: the water and sewer fund. Additionally, Bryant indicated that the
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  Speaker 1: federal component of the audit has been delayed as a
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  Speaker 1: result of the changes in the Office of Management and
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  Speaker 1: Budget in Washington, D.C. Bryant noted that the federal portion
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  Speaker 1: of the audit is required for cities that spend more
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  Speaker 1: than $ 1 million in federal funds. City Clerk Amy Cox
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  Speaker 1: noted that the city's recent 1.2 sewer project prompted the
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  Speaker 1: federal examination. Upon concluding his presentation, Bryant told the council
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  Speaker 1: that he expected the full audit Official report to be
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  Speaker 1: complete in November. In other news, Mayor Kyle Risner opened
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  Speaker 1: several bids for various surplus items, and the items were
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  Speaker 1: awarded to the following bidders. 2005 Utility Truck, John Beasley, $ 1, 050 accepted.
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  Speaker 1: Daniel Wright, $ 800 rejected. 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, John Beasley,
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  Speaker 1: $ 200 accepted. XTI or XT1 riding mower, Preston Wright, $ 125 accepted.
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  Speaker 1: John Beasley, $ 101. 50 rejected. LTX riding mower, Preston Wright, $ 100 accepted.
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  Speaker 1: John Beasley, $ 50 rejected. Harsavana walk behind mower, John Beasley,
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  Speaker 1: $ 50 accepted. A bid from Beasley, $ 1, 000 on a 2018
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  Speaker 1: 3500 flatbed truck was rejected, as well as bids from
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  Speaker 1: Beasley and Preston Wright, both $ 50 on a Cub Cadet
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  Speaker 1: RZT zero-turn mower. In departmental reports, Clark Cox announced that
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  Speaker 1: city employees Tyler Cantrell will assume the position of gas
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  Speaker 1: department superintendent following the recent retirement of his predecessor, David Hinton.
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  Speaker 1: Clerk Cox and Mayor Risner expressed their gratitude to Hinton
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  Speaker 1: for his service to the City of West Liberty. Councilman
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  Speaker 1: Grant Sorrell thanked City employees for their efforts to make
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  Speaker 1: recent street improvements and their assistance with this year's Live
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  Speaker 1: on the Licking events, which concluded earlier this month. Before adjournment,
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  Speaker 1: Council Sorrell also expressed the Council's condolences to all those
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  Speaker 1: throughout the county who have lost loved ones in recent months.
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  Speaker 1: Our next article is, pardon me, General Election is Tuesday,
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  Speaker 1: November the 3rd. Local, state, and federal races on ballot.
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  Speaker 1: Early voting underway by Miranda M. Cantrell. Early, no-excuse voting
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  Speaker 1: is currently underway October 29th, 30th, and 31st ahead of
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  Speaker 1: the general election slated for Tuesday, November 3rd. County Clerk
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  Speaker 1: Randy Williams said registered voters can vote early through this
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  Speaker 1: Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gymnasium
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  Speaker 1: in the county government building located at 450 Prestonburg Street.
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  Speaker 1: The general election ballot includes races, several local, state, and
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  Speaker 1: federal offices. Local offices. Contested races for local offices include
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  Speaker 1: County Judge Executive Kenneth Kelly Bowman, Republican. Walker Crace, Democrat.
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  Speaker 1: Sheriff Kenneth Scarberry, Republican. And John Paul Turner, Democrat. Jailer
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  Speaker 1: Lowell Adkins, Democrat. And Norman Rowe, Independent. Sorry about that.
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  Speaker 1: And Magistrate District 2, Frederick Hutchinson, Republican. Derek Cantrell, Democrat. Magistrate,
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  Speaker 1: District 4, Frankie Spencer, Republican, and Brandon Evans, Democrat, incumbent. Magistrate,
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  Speaker 1: District 5, Joseph Lee Howard, Republican, Anthony Likens, Democrat, and
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  Speaker 1: Leroy Phipps, independent, incumbent. Mayor, City of West Liberty, Grant Sorrell,
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  Speaker 1: and Patty Hutchinson. This is a nonpartisan race. West Liberty
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  Speaker 1: City Council, Dwayne Nickel, Sarah Beth Legg, Tony Smith, Mark Walter, Russell,
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  Speaker 1: Rusty Linden, Kyle Risner. All candidates are incumbents except for
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  Speaker 1: Kyle Risner, who currently serves as the mayor. School board membership,
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  Speaker 1: District 1, Elizabeth, Liz, Potter, and Esther Kane, incumbent. This
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  Speaker 1: is a nonpartisan race. Unopposed candidates for local offices include
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  Speaker 1: the following incumbents. Property Valuation Administrator, Darby Franklin, Democrat. County Attorney,
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  Speaker 1: Miles Holbrook, Republican. County Clerk, Randy Williams, Democrat. Coroner, Sean
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  Speaker 1: Van Cleave, Democrat. County Surveyor, Joseph Curd, Democrat. Magistrate, Eric Pelfrey, Democrat,
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  Speaker 1: District 1. Constable, Chris Adams, Democrat, District 1. Constable Jared Murphy, Democrat,
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  Speaker 1: District 4. Constable Ricky Stamper, Democrat, District 5. School-born member
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  Speaker 1: Ricky Pennington, nonpartisan, District 5. And District Judge Rupert Wilholt,
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  Speaker 1: 37th Judicial District. Other unopposed candidates include Ray Atkins, Republican, Magistrate,
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  Speaker 1: District 3. And Brian Scaff, Democrat, Constable, District 2. No
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  Speaker 1: candidates have filed for District 3 Constable, a position County
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  Speaker 1: Clerk Randy Williams said would remain vacant until appointment is
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  Speaker 1: made by the judge executive. State Offices Contested races for
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  Speaker 1: state offices include the following. State Representative, 99th District, Richard
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  Speaker 1: Lee White, Republican incumbent, and Iva Markovic, Daily Democrat. Also
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  Speaker 1: on the ballot is the incumbent State Senator Brandon Smith, Republican,
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  Speaker 1: 30th District, who is unopposed in the general election. Federal Offices,
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  Speaker 1: United States Senator Andy Barr, Republican, Charles Booker, Democrat, and
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  Speaker 1: Christopher Campbell, Kentucky Party. United States Representative in Congress, 5th District,
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  Speaker 1: Hal Rogers, Republican, incumbent, Ned Pillersdorf, Democrat, Mikkel Wayne, Independent,
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  Speaker 1: and Gerondo Serrano, Independent. State constitutional amendment. The following Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: constitutional amendment question is also on the ballot. Are you
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  Speaker 1: in favor of limiting a governor's ability to grant pardons
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  Speaker 1: or commute sentences by prohibiting him or her from granting
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  Speaker 1: pardons or commuting sentences during the time period beginning 60
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  Speaker 1: days prior to the general election at which the governor
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  Speaker 1: is elected and ending when the governor is sworn in
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  Speaker 1: for that term by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as
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  Speaker 1: stated below. It is proposed that Section 77 of the
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  Speaker 1: Constitution of Kentucky be amended to read as follows. 1.
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  Speaker 1: The governor shall have the power to a. remit fines
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  Speaker 1: and fines forfeitures, and B, commute sentences and grant reprieves
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  Speaker 1: and pardons except, number one, in case of impeachment or,
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  Speaker 1: number two, for the period beginning 60 days prior to
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  Speaker 1: the date of the gubernatorial election and ending the fifth
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  Speaker 1: Tuesday succeeding the election. Number two, the governor shall file
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  Speaker 1: with each application therefore a statement of the reasons for
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  Speaker 1: his or her decisions thereon, which application and statement shall
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  Speaker 1: always be open to the public inspection. 3. In cases
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  Speaker 1: of treason, the governor shall have power to grant reprieves
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  Speaker 1: until the end of the next session of the General Assembly,
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  Speaker 1: in which the power of pardoning shall be vested, but
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  Speaker 1: he or she, shall have no power to remit the
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  Speaker 1: fees of the clerk, sheriff, or Commonwealth's attorney in penal
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  Speaker 1: or criminal cases. Voters will select yes or no to
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  Speaker 1: answer this question. Voter ID requirements. County Clerk Randy Williams
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  Speaker 1: noted that the voters are required to show photo ID
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  Speaker 1: at polling places as per state law. We don't have
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  Speaker 1: to scan your ID, but we have to see it,
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  Speaker 1: Williams said. Acceptable forms of ID include the following. Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: driver's license, Kentucky state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, college
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  Speaker 1: ID from a Kentucky institution, government-issued photo ID, social security cards,
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  Speaker 1: and SNAP EBT food assistance card will not be accepted. However,
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  Speaker 1: polls will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3,
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  Speaker 1: from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Persons with questions regarding
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  Speaker 1: voting procedures, polling places, and other election-related issues should contact
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  Speaker 1: County Clerk Randy Williams at 743-3949 or visit his office
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  Speaker 1: in the County Government Building at 450 Prestonburg Street. Our
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  Speaker 1: next article is Jimmy Puckett named 2026 Citizen of the Year.
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  Speaker 1: West Liberty Kiwanis Club holds ceremony after July 4th cancellation.
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  Speaker 1: Editors note, West Liberty Kiwanis Club members recently announced the
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  Speaker 1: recipient of the 2026 Citizen of the Year Award. The
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  Speaker 1: award is traditionally given on the 4th of July during
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  Speaker 1: the Main Street festivities, but the Citizen of the Year
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  Speaker 1: ceremony and street games were canceled due to the extreme
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  Speaker 1: heat impacting the area at that time. The following is
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  Speaker 1: a press release from the Kiwanis Club outlining the contributions
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  Speaker 1: of this year's recipients. Jimmy Puckett of West Liberty. Congratulations
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  Speaker 1: to Mr. Puckett on this well-deserved award. And there is
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  Speaker 1: a picture of him receiving a plaque, and there's a
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  Speaker 1: lady presenting it. And underneath it, it says, Kawanan Brenda
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  Speaker 1: Morgan presented the 2026 Citizen of the Year Award to
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  Speaker 1: Jimmy Puckett. And here's the article. The West Liberty Kiwanis
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  Speaker 1: Club is proud to recognize Jimmy Puckett as our 2026
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  Speaker 1: Citizen of the Year. Through his dedication to his church,
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  Speaker 1: local children, and families in need, Jimmy exemplifies the spirit
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  Speaker 1: of service this honor celebrates. After retiring from General Motors
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  Speaker 1: in 1992, Jimmy and his wife, Shirley, moved to Morgan
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  Speaker 1: County and made it their home. Since then, they have
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  Speaker 1: given generously of their time and talents, serving others without
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  Speaker 1: expecting recognition or anything in return. One of Jimmy's most
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  Speaker 1: lasting contributions has been his work with Christ Pantry following
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  Speaker 1: the devastating tornado in 2012. He helped establish the pantry
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  Speaker 1: and took an active role in organizing and developing its operations. Today,
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  Speaker 1: he continues to oversee its work alongside the many volunteers
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  Speaker 1: who make that service possible. His steady leadership and ongoing
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  Speaker 1: commitment to the pantry are central to our decision to
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  Speaker 1: honor him. Many Morgan County families also know Jimmy from
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  Speaker 1: his years as a school bus driver. He cared about
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  Speaker 1: the children on his route and built relationships that made
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  Speaker 1: him more than simply the person behind the wheel. Jimmy
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  Speaker 1: and Shirley are longtime members of West Liberty Christian Church,
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  Speaker 1: where they have faithfully served as deacon and deaconess. Their
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  Speaker 1: involvement in church committees and projects reflect the same willingness
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  Speaker 1: to serve that has guided their work throughout the community.
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  Speaker 1: As we recognize Jimmy, we also want to acknowledge Shirley,
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  Speaker 1: who has worked faithfully by his side. Their shared devotion
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  Speaker 1: to helping others has made a lasting difference in Morgan County.
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  Speaker 1: On behalf of the West Liberty Kiwanis Club, we extend
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  Speaker 1: our congratulations and sincere thanks to Jimmy Puckett, our 2026
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  Speaker 1: Citizen of the Year. We are grateful for this year's
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  Speaker 1: service for his example. He and Shirley sit through their
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  Speaker 1: care for others. Our next article is Community Action Board
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  Speaker 1: Meeting Set. The Gateway Community Action Bi-Monthly Board of Directors
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  Speaker 1: Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 12th at the
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  Speaker 1: Clark Energy Building located at 28 Bible Camp, Frenchburg, Kentucky.
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  Speaker 1: Menifee County, the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. The
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  Speaker 1: public is invited to attend. The bi-monthly board agenda may
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  Speaker 1: be viewed at the Gateway Community Action website. Another article
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  Speaker 1: is Medicare Open's enrollment runs through December 7th. Medicare Open
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  Speaker 1: enrollment is here. Starting on October 15th, 2025, people on
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  Speaker 1: Medicare are able to compare their prescription drug plans and
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  Speaker 1: or Medicare Advantage plans to ensure that they are getting
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  Speaker 1: the best, most affordable coverage available in 2026. Most people
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  Speaker 1: that compare their plans during Medicare Open Enrollment have significant money,
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  Speaker 1: but do not delay, for Medicare Open Enrollment closes December 7th.
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  Speaker 1: Medicare SHIP program, a nonprofit organization, provides comparison assistance and
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  Speaker 1: no charge to you. Medicare SHIP does not sell or
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  Speaker 1: endorse any insurance company. We are here to help you
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  Speaker 1: make informed decisions with regards to your Medicare needs. Additionally,
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  Speaker 1: our program can screen you for money-saving benefits and help
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  Speaker 1: you to apply for help to lower your medication and
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  Speaker 1: Medicare premiums cost each month. Call the Medicare SHIP, program
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  Speaker 1: at 1-866-516-3051 or visit lablaw.org slash medicare to find out
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  Speaker 1: more and get more information. Our next article is KDE
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  Speaker 1: releases 2025-26 school assessment and accountability data. Superintendent of Schools
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  Speaker 1: gives overview of results for Morgan County School District. The
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  Speaker 1: Kentucky Department of Education, the KDE, publicly released assessment and
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  Speaker 1: accountability data for the 2025-26 school year on October 15.
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  Speaker 1: As required by state statute and the federal Every Student
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  Speaker 1: Success Act, Kentucky's results show progress in key areas alongside
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  Speaker 1: a continued need for improvement. The results in reading climbed
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  Speaker 1: again to recent highs across all grade levels, while post-secondary
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  Speaker 1: readiness and graduation rates improved across nearly every demographic group.
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  Speaker 1: Results in other subjects were mixed. However, in fewer schools
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  Speaker 1: earned highest ratings overall, accountability ratings. The 2025-26 Assessment and
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  Speaker 1: Accountability Data can be found on the Kentucky School Report
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  Speaker 1: card dashboard and data files can be found on KDE's
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  Speaker 1: open house webpage. During the 25-26 school year, Kentucky public
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  Speaker 1: school students in grades 3-8, 10, and 11 took assessments
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  Speaker 1: called Kentucky Summative Assessments and Alternative Kentucky Summative Assessment in reading, mathematics,
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  Speaker 1: social studies, science, editing, mechanics, and on-demand writing. Students taking
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  Speaker 1: reading and mathematics assessments annually in grades 3 through 8
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  Speaker 1: and in grade 10. Social studies, editing and mechanics, and
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  Speaker 1: on-demand writing were assessed in grades 5, 8, and 11.
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  Speaker 1: Science was assessed in grades 4, 7, and 11. The
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  Speaker 1: 2025-26 administration's was final year, administration was the final year
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  Speaker 1: for the editing and mechanics and on-demand writing assessments. Results
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  Speaker 1: are shared through color-coded dashboard with five colors in order
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  Speaker 1: from highest to lowest ranking. Blue is the highest, green, yellow, orange,
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  Speaker 1: and with red being the lowest. Fewer schools received green
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  Speaker 1: and blue overall accountability ratings. mainly due to much lower
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  Speaker 1: change scores, while status scores were similar. This reflects less
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  Speaker 1: improvement from previous year, so although current performance remained relatively
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  Speaker 1: similar to the previous year, overall ratings were lower. Results
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  Speaker 1: for the Morgan County School District, Superintendent Dr. Ralph Hamilton
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  Speaker 1: provided an overview of the 2026 Kentucky Summative Assessment, the KSA.
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  Speaker 1: resulted in the following press release. Morgan County Schools' Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: Summative Assessment results place elementary schools number 18 in the
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  Speaker 1: state and shows consistent performance at middle and high school.
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  Speaker 1: Morgan County Schools is celebrating accomplishments in its 2026 Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: Summative Assessment KSA results. The KSA is the annual summative
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  Speaker 1: assessment's given to students in grade 3 through 8, 10,
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  Speaker 1: and 11, enrolled in Kentucky public schools. The 2025-26 KSA,
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  Speaker 1: consistent of content area assessments, including reading and mathematics at
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  Speaker 1: all grades except grades 11, and science, social studies, writing,
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  Speaker 1: and editing mechanics, once per grade, banned, for example, elementary, middle,
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  Speaker 1: and high schools Morgan County Schools, four elementary schools, earned green,
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  Speaker 1: which is high, overall performance rating. Collectively, the elementary schools
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  Speaker 1: ranked number 18 out of 172 districts per the performance
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  Speaker 1: indicator on the KSA. East Valley Elementary earned blue ratings
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  Speaker 1: across all three individual indicators with significant improvement in science,
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  Speaker 1: social studies, and combined writings. Azale and Wrigley Elementary School
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  Speaker 1: achieved significant gains in reading and mathematics. Morgan County Elementary
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  Speaker 1: also improved reading and mathematics and demonstrated significant growth in
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  Speaker 1: school quality of climate and safety survey. Morgan County Middle
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  Speaker 1: and Morgan County High both earned yellow, which is medium,
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  Speaker 1: overall performance ratings, maintaining student performance in reading and mathematics.
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  Speaker 1: Both schools achieved quality of climate and survey ratings earned
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  Speaker 1: green high status. The high school also earned green ratings
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  Speaker 1: in graduation rates and post-secondary readiness, with graduation performance increasing.
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  Speaker 1: District and school leaders have begun analyzing the assessment data
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  Speaker 1: to make systematic changes to enhance student achievement. These achievements
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  Speaker 1: reflect the hard work of students the dedication of educators
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  Speaker 1: and the support of families and the community. Dr. Hamilton said,
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  Speaker 1: Morgan County Schools look forward to building on this progress
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  Speaker 1: and helping every student succeed. For additional information regarding summative
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  Speaker 1: assessment results for Morgan County Schools, please contact Morgan County
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  Speaker 1: School Board at the Education Central Office at 743-8002. Our
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  Speaker 1: next article is, Former Wolf County Animal Shelter Treasurer Accused
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  Speaker 1: of Taking Money from Shelter. October 21st, the Wolf Circuit
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  Speaker 1: Court grand jury has indicted a local woman in connection
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  Speaker 1: with funds allegedly taken from the Wolf County Animal Shelter.
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  Speaker 1: Pam Pilgrim of Campton was indicted on one count of
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  Speaker 1: theft by unlawful taking more than $ 10, 000 and less than $ 1, 000.
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  Speaker 1: The indictment, which was returned on October 13th, details the
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  Speaker 1: allegation against Pilgrim, former animal shelter treasurer and board of trustees.
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  Speaker 1: The defendant unlawfully took or exercised control over funds belonging
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  Speaker 1: to the Wolf County Animal Shelter with the intent to
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  Speaker 1: deprive the animal shelter thereof to wit $ 112, 000. The indictment
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  Speaker 1: further states that the alleged offense occurred from January 1,
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  Speaker 1: 2019 through July 1, 2024. Detective Dakota Stamper of Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: Department of Criminal Investigations appeared before the grand jury as
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  Speaker 1: a witness for the Commonwealth. Any additional updates will be
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  Speaker 1: noted as they become available. An indictment is not a
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  Speaker 1: proof of guilt, but an allegation that a crime has
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  Speaker 1: been acquitted, has been committed. Sorry about that. This concludes
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  Speaker 1: the excerpts from recent editions of The Licking Valley Courier.
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  Speaker 1: Your reader has been Janice. On behalf of everyone here
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  Speaker 1: at Radio Eye, thank you for listening. Keep on listening,
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  Speaker 1: and I hope you have a very good day.