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Pike Co. News - 1.19.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Apalachian News
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Express for news in Pikeville and Pike County. As a reminder,
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Radio I is a reading service intender for people who
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are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
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to read printed material. The Apalachian News Express is donated
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to Radio I by the publisher. Your reader today is
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Darcy mcgartl. We will begin with the edition dated January
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sixteenth through the nineteenth of twenty twenty six. Our first
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article from the front page is e c sees large
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reduction and water loss by Gary Sloan, staff writer. The
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Elkhorn City Council heard good news regarding their water loss
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percentage during its first meeting of twenty twenty six on
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January thirteenth. According to the data presented, the overall reduction
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of water loss percentage has dropped forty two point nine
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percent since last August. This is absolutely amazing news. Elkhorn
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City may Nathan Bryant said. This shows the dedication of
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our city water works department in finding links and repairing
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them quickly, and the hard work the employees are doing.
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The data shows that in August the water loss percentage
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was sixty six point eight percent. In September, the water
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loss percentage was sixty three point four percent. In October
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the water loss percentage was fifty seven point nine percent.
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In November the water loss percentage was sixty five point
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two percent, and in December the water loss percentage was
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down to thirty eight point one percent, with the overall
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reduction being forty two point nine percent. All members of
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the council joined with Bryant in recognizing the hard work
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of the water department employees and other business. Councilman Hank
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Salier made a motion to change the name of the
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Elkhorn City Ballpark to the Elkhorn City Ballpark and Fairgrounds,
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which was passed unanimously. Well, since we will have a
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fair ground now, I will move that we explore putting
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a pickleball court there. Salier said. Pickleball is fast becoming
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a sport that really just about anybody can play, and
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this could bring in some league play. Bryant agreed with Sallier.
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I've looked at the cost of putting a pickle ball
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court in and it will run around eight thousand to
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maybe ten thousand. Bryant said, I think we should request
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the Tourism Commission to place this item on their agenda
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as a high priority. Bryant referred to other cities around
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the area having pickleball courts and they stay fully full
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nearly all the time with players in league play. This
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could bring in tourism dollars in regard to people coming
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to play and then visiting our restaurants and other establishments
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in town. Bryan said, perhaps after we get one court,
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we may see we need a second court, so this
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could be an ongoing project. Bryan also informed the council
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that he may have some good news soon regarding the
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issue of delinquent audits and financial statements that have long
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plagued the city and essentially caught off all state and
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federal funding to the city. I can't say much tonight,
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but hopefully in the counting days, I'll be able to
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report some positive news, Bryant said. It's been a long tunnel,
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but there's light at the end of it. The next
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regular scheduled meeting of the council is set for seven
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pm on February tenth, Elkorn City Hall. Our next article
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from the front page is Millard atc on schedule despite
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weather setback by Terry L. May News editor the construction
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of the Millard Area Technical Center is still expected to
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be completed on scheduled despite a recent setback caused by
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a wind damaged wall. Barry Birchfield, who among other duties,
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serves as the district's construction manager, told members of the
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Pie Counting Board of Education during its Stanuary thirteenth meeting
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that he and Codell Construction have been working on the
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situation since it happened, and because the project had been
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some ahead of schedule, the time delays should be able
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to be absorbed without extending the construction timeline. I shouldn't
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have bragged so much about our ability to get the
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mason on the job site so early, he said. On
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the nineteenth of December before we went on Christmas break,
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the night we had a sixty mile an hour wind,
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one of the existing walls we were going to use
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from the mezzanine level and above blew over. Representatives of
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both the school district and Codel accompanied insurance adjusters and
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structural engineers during an inspection of the building to assess
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the extent of the damage. To be honest, we got
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as good of news as we could, Birchfield said. We
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are still going to be able to use the existing walls.
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We already have a remediation plan for the walls, how
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we want to brace those and how we can strengthen them,
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he said. The Millard ATC, like all construction projects in
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the county school district, is covered by builder's risk insurance.
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It could have been a lot worse, Birchfield said, nobody
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was hurt. We have coverage. We are very fortunate. We
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will like always keep plugging along. We are at the
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point where we have walls going up. He continued. We
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have gotten all the foundations poured, most of the subgrade plumbing,
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all the conduit and that kind of underground stuff run.
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We are out of the ground already, and that is
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usually where you have all of the delays. Birchville said
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it will probably take a year to complete the construction.
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During the meeting, Pike County Schools Superintendent Freddie Bowling recognized
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members of the BOE in recognition of National School Board
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Appreciation Month. I want to just take a minute to
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brag on my board, Bowling said, we have an amazing board.
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I have never worked with a finer bunch. They are dedicated.
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They put in countless hours behind the scenes. This is
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not a paid physition, and their hearts are in the
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right place. They do good things for the kids every day,
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every week on behalf of the county. The staff, and
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especially the students, thank you for your steady leadership and
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your dedication, he continued. Our next article from the front
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page is an Appalachian newspaper's staff report. Wheeler legislation could
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formalize local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Senator Philip Wheeler,
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Republican Pikeville, announced in a statement January fourteenth that he
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has filed legislation that would formalize the cooperation of Kentucky
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law enforcement agencies with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According
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to the statement, if approved, the bill would require the
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Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies enter into
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formal agreements with ICE through the federal two eight seven
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G program. The agreements, the statement said, allow trained officers
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to assist with immigration and FORTS through jail based identification,
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task force coordination, and the service of administrative warrants. SB
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eighty six is about clarity, consistency, and public safety. Wheeler said,
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when individuals are already in custody for criminal activity, law
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enforcement agencies should have the tools in partnership needed to
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ensure the law is enforced appropriately and responsibility. The statements
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of the legislation establishes clear expectations for collaboration while relying
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on existing federal programs and training standards, reinforcing Kentucky's commitment
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to law enforcement, cooperation and lawful processes. SB eighty six
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has been introduced and as awaiting further action by the
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General Assembly. Our last article from the front page is
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Christmas with a First Responder Organizer recognized by Gary Sloan's
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staff writer. The organizer of the Christmas with a First
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Responder was recognized with a proclamation during the January twelfth
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Pikeville City Commission meeting. Pikeville Mayor Jimmy Carter read the
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proclamation recognizing Police Records Administrator Elizabeth Thompson, who coordinates the event,
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for her dedication to Christmas with a First Responder. Elizabeth
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has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and commitment by administering and
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coordinating the First Responder's Christmas Party, ensuring its success through
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careful planning. Carter said it's through her efforts the countless
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children have been provided with gifts, positive experiences, and meaningful
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interactions with first responders, strengthening trust and goodwill between public
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safety agencies and the community they serve. Pikeville Police Chief
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Philip Reid informed commissioners of the number of children and
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families helped by the event coordinated by Thompson in twenty eighteen,
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when Elizabeth came on at the police department as a clerk.
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This program for thirty nine students fifteen families total, Reid said,
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in twenty twenty five. This past year, we went from
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thirty nine students in fifteen families to one hundred and
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twelve kids and forty eight families that we served, and
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the amount we spent on the kids more than tripled.
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Reid continued. Money that was donated and raised last year
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was slightly over a fifty nine thousand, and between the police,
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fire and dispatched apartments, we gave back forty four thousand,
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seven hundred and seventy five to every school in this county,
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not just the city schools, but every school in this county.
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Thompson was surprised by the unexpected recognition. I do love
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doing this program, Thompson said, I have a big heart
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for children, and that's one of the reasons. I take
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a lot of pride in this program. I can see
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and everyone can see the impact this program has on
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the children. Thompson continued. We can work on a lot
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of projects and never see the results of it, but
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with all the hard work in the end, we can
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see the results in the faces of the children and families,
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and that makes it all worthwhile. Thompson said she had
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seventy shoppers this year, and not all were first responders.
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I had City Hall employees, other city employees, and even
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people who contributed financially who said they would stop shop
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for a child too, Thompson said. So what started out
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as first responders doing the shopping, it has become a
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community coming together to make this event so successful. Thompson
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said plans are already underway for this year's event, and
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if anyone wants to donate to the event, they can
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stop by the Paiko Police Department and talk with her.
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Our next article is BSCTC partners with Kentucky Power for
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new workforce training, special to Appalachian Newspapers. Development of a
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new workforce training program is underway at Big Sandy Community
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and Technical College following receipt of the Kentucky Power Economic
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Growth Grant BSCTC and nowans to end a statement February thirteenth,
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Kentucky Power is proud to support Big Sandy Community and
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Technical College's welding program through the Kentucky Power Economic Growth
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Grants and Amanda Clark, Economic and Business Development Manager of
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Kentucky Power. By investing in workforce training, we are helping
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develop a skilled workforce that supports local employers, strengthens the
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regional economy, and creates long term opportunities for our communities.
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B SCTC plans to use the funds to purchase Regulated
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Metal Disposition equipment, which will allow BSCTC Workforce Solutions to
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offer specialized training to operate the equipment and meet workforce
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needs for local employers such as Local two forty eight,
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an Infinite Infinity design and construction group. The partnership with
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Kentucky Power reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Eastern Kentucky's
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workforce and Doctor Samuel Todd Brand, President of Big Sandy
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Community and Technical College. By investing in advanced training, equipment
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and programs like Regulated Metal Disposition, we are ensuring our
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students gain the skills local employers need right now. These
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skills lead to quality jobs and longer term economic growth
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for our region. Elliott Tley, co owner of Infinity Design
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and Construction Group, brought the need to bsctc's attention after
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sharing an extensive list of projects the organization is currently
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working on, including fabrication distilleries, data centers, wastewater treatment plants,
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industrial plants, water towers, plumbing and HVAC and specification work,
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automative plants, and food and beverage facilities. The statement said,
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our MD training is a great opportunity for individuals in
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the Big Sandy region because of delivery specialized in demand
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skills that lead to high paying careers while meeting the
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need of local employers, said Joyce Wilcox, director of Workforce
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Solutions at PSCTC. Our next article is Virtual Ready and
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Resilient Legal Clinics slated special to Appleatchan newspapers. Apple Read
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Legal Aid will host a Ready and Resilient Legal Clinic,
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a free virtual legal clinic designed to help low income
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individuals and families prepare for disasters before they strike. The
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clinic will be held online via zoom from ten am
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to eleven am on January twenty first. According to a
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statement from Apple Run. Participants will begin with a brief
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information session featuring practical disaster preparedness tips from Whitney Bailey
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Disaster Response Team, project director at Apple Red Legal Aid.
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Following presentation, participants will be matched with pro dono attorneys
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and meet one on one in private breakout room to
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ask questions and receive legal advice. Voluntorneys. Volunteer attorneys can
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assist with protecting important documents, FEMA appeals and recruitment, home
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ownership and heirs, property issues, and power of attorney in
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estate planning. To register, call Apple Red Legal Aids Disaster
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Hotline at one eight four four four seven eight zero
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zero ninety nine. Participants will need a device with internet
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access to join the clinic via zoom. Before a storm
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we run out for toilet paper, batteries and can goods,
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said Angelie Dorsey, Executive director of Apple Red Legal Aid.
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Legal prevaporation deserves a place on that list as well.
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Disasters exposed legal vulnerabilities. Most families didn't even know they
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had this virtual clinic. We're working to make disaster legal
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preparedness as accessible and easy as a quick trip to
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the save a lot for a gallon of milkware can
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of green beans. When disaster strikes, being prepared can make
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all the difference. Having a clear property titled a simple
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will or a power of attorney can help families recover
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faster and avoid delays after blood or storm. Dailey Sudden.
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Our next article is special to applatched newspapers as well,
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and it is you. Pike names Massner Assistant Dean of
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College and Arts and Sciences. The University of Pikeville announced
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in the statement January thirteenth, that Chandra Massner, pH d
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has been named Assistant Dean of the U Pike College
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of Arts and Sciences, bringing more than thirty years of leadership, teaching,
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and service experience to the role. Massner, the statement said,
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has served You Pike in various academic and administrative leadership
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positions throughout her career. The statement said Master's appointment reflects
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a long standing commitment to students' success, faculty support, and
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academic excellence within the College of Arts and Sciences. I'm
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honored to step into this leadership role in the College
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of Arts and Sciences, the heart of the institution in
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which I have dedicated my career, said Massner. My focus
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will remain on fostering meaningful relationships, supporting our faculty, and
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empowering students to climb higher and pursuit of knowledge, purpose,
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and opportunity. In a time when preparing students for meaningful
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lives and rewarding careers is more important than ever, I'm
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excited to help lead efforts that integrate liberal arts and
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excellence into real world readiness, professional skills, and innovative academic experiences.
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Massner earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University,
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her master's degree in communication from the University of Kentucky,
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and her doctorate in communication from Liberty University. Her leadership
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experience at UPI concludes serving as chair of the Division
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of Social Science's Faculty Chair, coordinator of the Undergraduate Communication
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Program and the Strategic Communication Master's Program, and co director
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of the Honors Program. She has also served as chair
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of the Undergraduate and Graduate Curriculum Committees, as well as
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a member of the Executive Committee, Faculty Policy Committee, and
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General Education Committee. In addition to her leadership roles, Massner
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has authored program reviews, assessment reports, and Southern Association of
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College and School's Commission on College's Accreditation documents. Her scholarly
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work includes published research on relational leadership, digital media mentoring,
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higher education, and instructional technology. According to the statement, as
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an educator and advisor, Massner is known for a hell
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stick approach that supports students throughout their academic careers and
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well beyond graduation. She describes her leadership style as relational,
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emphasizing purposeful listening and leading with empathy to ensure students
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feel supported and inspire, the statement said. In her new role,
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the statement said, Master aims to lead the College of
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Arts and Sciences with a focus on innovation, inclusivity, and
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interdisciplinary excellence, preparing students for meaningful lives and rewarding careers.
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Our next article is bond hearing for man accused of
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sexual abuse deferred two weeks by Terry L. Main, News Editor.
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The bond of revocation hearing for a Pike full resident
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charge with a litany of offenses including sexual assault and
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assault has been reset. Terry Weston Rogers twenty nine, a
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College Street appeared before Pike District Judge Robbie Wright onn
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Januey the thirteenth, who deferred the hearing until January the
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twenty seventh, while the court awaits an assessment to see
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if Rogers is eligible for the Senate Bill ninety rehabilitation program.
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My client had rehab in North Carolina and relapsed, said
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Rogers attorney Michael D. Bourbon. He relapsed and did something stupid.
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He is now on bond for stupidity. D Bourbon said
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the problem his client has seemed to all center around alcohol,
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adding that he believes a local alcohol treatment program would
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serve his client bus and has been in contact with
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court agencies about the possibility of getting Rogers approved for
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the SB ninety program. SB ninety passed during the twenty
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twenty two General Assembly and established the Behavioral Health Conditional
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Dismissal Program, an initiative that offers an alternate to incarceration.
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Let us explore the possibility, right told Rogers, this is
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kind of an upstart piece of legislation, and I think
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is kind of earmarked for cases similar to your situation.
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Rogers was most recently arrested on charges of terroristic threatening,
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allegedly stemming from a telephone conversation with a woman who
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lives in Washington State while under a ten thousand dollars
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charity bond and home incarceration for charges in September of
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sexually abusing a woman in the Pikeville City parking garage,
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according to court records. According to an a recitation written
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by Kentucky State Police Trooper Braxton Whitmore, on December twenty ninth,
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the agency received a complaint from an officer with the
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Everson Police Department in Washington, advising an unknown male subject
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had called a deputy sheriff's wife the day before and
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made threats he was going to kill her family. While
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being arraigned on that charge, Wright imposed an additional ten
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thousand charity bond and slated the channel. We're a thirteenth
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bond revocation hearing for the other charges. During the hearing,
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Right reminded rogers that the bonds on all charges remain
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in effect. We had a pretty stern discussion about this before.
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Wright said, you cannot have any violations. You are on
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board for three or four cases. Now I can't do
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much anymore. I am about at the limit. Weston is
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on bond for the following cases. Third degree terroristic threatening
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twenty twenty five ten thousand dollars surety, Third degree sexual
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abuse twenty twenty five ten thousand dollars surety, with home
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incarceration fourth degree assaults dating violence minor injury in twenty
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twenty five one thousand secured with ten percent of the amount,
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and fourth degree assault dating violence minor injury twenty twenty four,
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released on a personal recognissance bond. The discussion right referred
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to came during the arraignment on the terroristic threatening charge.
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Mister Rogers, hear me out. You are on bond and
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now in a couple of cases, Wright said during the hearing.
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One of the conditions of those is that you do
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not have any new violations of state and federal law.
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You are presumed innocent in every way by the constitution,
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but you are on thin ice, very thin ice. On
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January thirteen, things are going to be determined whether you
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follow those bonds or whether you will be reincarcerated. He continued,
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I am going to caution you there is not much
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room for error moving forward. The next time there won't
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be much talking, there will be action. I am at
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the point we are going to have to do something.
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Don't test those waters. In September, in the September sexual
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abuse case, Rogers was charged after Pikefool police announced they
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are investigating two incidents in which a man reportedly approached
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a female from behind and slapped herund the robotox with
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his hand before fleeing on foot. Court record show Rogers
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was already facing dating violence charges and Pike District Court
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at that time. Record show Rogers was also charged with
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third degree criminal abuse in May twenty twenty four. However,
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records show a grand jury issued a no true bill
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in that case in November, which resulted in the case
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being sent back to the district court. All of the
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previous cases are currently set to be heard in a
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pre trial hearing and Pike District Court on May the thirteenth.
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Our next article is another special to Appalachian Newspapers. McCool
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honored by Disabled American Veterans. House Veterans, Military Affairs and
23:46
Public Protection Chairman Bobby McCool, Republican Van Lear, was recently
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honored by the Disabled American Veterans for his commitment to
23:54
making Kentucky a more veteran friendly state and to spreading
23:58
awareness of what's a for the organization provides. According to
24:02
a statement from the Kentucky House Majority Caucus, I am
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truly grateful to be honored by the Disabled American Veterans.
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McCool said, this recognition reflects my commitment to service members
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and veterans. As a Marie myself, I advocate for policies
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that strength in Kentucky and make it a more military
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friendly state. Veterans, active duty military members, reservists, and the
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National Guard are a few of our Commonwealth's most vital resources.
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According to the DAV, each year, they provide two hundred
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and fifty thousand rides to assist veterans to their medical appointments.
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Having volunteers makes attending healthcare appointments more accessible to veterans.
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The statement said. The DAV gives veterans of voice in
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Frankfort and around the nation. McCool said the organization provides
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caregiving support, employment, distance help with veterans benefits, medical tre
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transportation and transition services. Volunteering for the Wonderful Cause can
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help make a positive change in the life of our heroes.
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Our final article is another News Express staff report and
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its Governmental offices closed for m l K Day. All
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federal and state governmental offices will be closed on Monday,
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January nineteenth, an observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day.
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In keeping with state closure guidelines. The administrative offices in
25:31
the Pike County Courthouse and its say In Axis will
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be closed on Monday, January nineteenth, along with the country.
25:39
The administrative offices for the cities of Coal Run, Elkhorn City,
25:44
Pikeville will be closed for the holiday. This also includes
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the Pike County Judicial Center and the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
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All courts, District, Circuit, and Family, along with the representative
25:56
administrative offices. All emergency services include fire, police and ambulance
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will operate normally. Cases and administrative officers for the Pike
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County School District and the Pikeville Independent Schools will be canceled.
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The United States Postal Service will close its local post
26:15
office as and suspend deliveries on Monday. This schedule also
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applies to all banks located in Pike County and each
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of their respective branches. All libraries and banks in Pike
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County will be closed on January the nineteenth. Trash collections
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for Pike County solid waste customers will be one way,
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one day late throughout the week. Residents in the City
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of Pikeville using egham Ge will have trash collection on
26:44
regular schedules. This concludes today's reading of the Appalachian News Express.
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Your reader today has been Darcy mcgartl. Thank you for
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joining me, and please stay tuned for continued programming from
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RADIOI