Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Hazard Herald - 1.18.26

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Hazard Herald - 1.18.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Hazard Herald
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for who is of Hazard in Perry County, Hamley Townshend.
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We begin with the online edition dated January fourteenth, twenty
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twenty six. As a reminder, Radio Eyes of reading service
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intended for people who are blind or have other disabilities
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that make it difficult to read printed material. First baby
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of twenty twenty six born in Hazard IrH Regional Medical Center.
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Hazard Regional Medical Center welcomed its first baby of the
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new year on January first. According to a statement from IRIH,
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Tyler Don Deaton was born at two fifty nine PM.
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He weighed six pounds four ounces and was eighteen inches long.
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Tholmer's parents are Haley and Gulph and Deaton. The family
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resides in Hazard. Welcoming the first baby of the year
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is always a special moment for our team, said Angie Thomas,
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OB director at Hazard Regional Medical Center US Why we
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do what we do bringing new life into the world
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and supporting families during such an important time. Our OB
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department is honored to be part of this first chapter
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and looks forward to many more healthy beginnings than the
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year ahead. As the first baby born at Hazard RH
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in twenty twenty six, the hospital gave Tyler and his
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family a large baby tub full of items every baby needs,
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including a baby monitor. The statement said Hazard ARH is
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looking forward to welcoming many more babies in twenty twenty six.
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Officers get real world training through simulation by Justin Begley.
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The Hazard Police Department is staying current with law enforcement
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training standards through the use of cutting edge technology during
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its annual month long simulator training program. The department utilizes
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a high tech training simulator that places officers in thousands
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of real world scenarios, from traffic stops and domestic violence
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calls to active shooter situations. The system allows officers to
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train with realistic weapons that simulate weight and recoil through
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the use of CO two cartridges, all without firing live ammunition.
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Each year, the department is allotted the simulator for one month,
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during which officers are required to complete seven specific training scenarios.
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These scenarios are designed to emphasize de escalation and communications
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techniques and are updated annually. Having City Police Chief Side
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Millis said the availability of the simulator on site significantly
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benefits the department. We get access to this once a
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year four a month, and this is a great opportunity
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for us because we have got to get it here.
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We're not having to drive to Whitzberg or Piple the
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train on it, so our officers can run up here
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and train whenever they can. That makes a big difference.
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That allows us to log a lot of hours. And
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we have certain scenarios that are required to take a
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test on each year. This year there were seven required
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scenarios by which they were determined by the Kentucky League
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of Cities. Every year they release new scenarios with new outcomes.
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Most of the simulator's focus is centered on communication and
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de escalation, according to patrol men Tyler Pigman, one of
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the department's training officers on the simulator, A lot of
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it is de escalation tactics, said Pigman. There are different
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scenarios for different outcomes depending on how the officer is
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able to communicate with the suspect. That determines whether it
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becomes a shoot or no shoot situation. It really tries
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to get the officer to brush up and work on
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its communication and de escalation tactics. It's about improving what
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things could have been done better or how to do
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things the right way. The TI Simulator is training tool
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to help officers with decision making in real life situations.
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Each simulation is modeled after real world calls officers may
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encounter on duty, with multiple possible outcomes based on decisions
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made during the exercise. Sergeant Michael Ritchie, another training officer,
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emphasized that the simulator is not designed as a past
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fail test, but rather as an instructional tool. Each year
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it comes equipped with fresh upgrades, new styles of weapons,
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and everything we do here helps with the potential environment
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we could encounter in our day to day job, said Ritchie.
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It's very effective and it puts officers in situations they
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could potentially be in during a workday. We can simulate
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a day to day event such as a traffic stop
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and put him in the worst case scenario and let
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him work himself out of that. That's valuable training. Candidate
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follings for primary claes. The deadline for following for an
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office concluded January ninth to four pm. The following are
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registered candidates for offices in Hazard and Perry County County
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Clerk Wayne Napier, Republican County Attorney Derrick Campbell Republican, Gary
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Kilburn Democrat, County Judge Executive, Kenneth Hall, Republican, Joe Ingle Republican, withdrawn,
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Denny Ray Noble Republican, Scott Alexander Democrat, Harland Campbell Democrat,
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Ellis Hall Democrat, and Lemuel Brasher Republican. Corner Is Wayne E.
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Bowing Republican, Shaan Whyite A Democrat for Sheriff, Shannon Woods Republican,
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Jess Day Democrat, James Biggin Jewell Democrat, Kerry Brewer Republican,
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and Vanessa L. Combs Republican. All candidates for Sheriff PVA
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Ronnie Douglas Adams Republican, Whitney Field's Democrat for Jaylor Minor
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Allen Republican, DARRYL. Heugett Democrat, Magistrate District one, Jimmy Lew
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Spencer Democrat, Billy Ray Campbell Republican, Richard Stidham Junior Republican,
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Donald Don Miller Republican, and J. R. Rowland Republican. Magistrate
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District II, Glenn Bussall Nice Democrat, Rose Shields Democrat, Freeman
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Robertson Junior Republican, David B. Miller Democrat, Bill Begley Republican,
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Charles Lee Cowell Democrat, hib Harold Democrat, Anthony Asher, Democrat,
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Magistrate District Iie Clayton Church Democrat, Rocky Moore Democrat, Michael
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chub Lewis Republican, Mark Wiley Republicans, Then Kenney Cole Democrat,
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Gary Lizard Gore Republican, Billie Blair Republican for Constable and
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District one, Harold Dixon and David Baker as Republicans, Shaun
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descher As a Democrat for Constable District two, Shane Lee
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Stamper Republican and Democrats, Ronnie Dillon, Shelby A. W. Mize
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and Frank Smith Constable District three, Eugene buck Fields and
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Doris Deaton Democrats, Jamie Turner and Howard Young Junior Republicans
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for Mayor, Donald Happey, Mobuleini Christian, Alexander mcgoodon, Howard Sumner
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and James Logan Fields Hazard City Commissioner, Paul Ollinger, fitz Steele,
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Susan Martin Brotherton and Luke Glasser Mayor City of Buckhorn,
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Simmy Ray Bowen, Buckhorn City Commission, Kenneth Stamper, Monica Counch
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Sharon Cones and Amanda Bowling Challenger Center hosts robotics competition
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at eighth CTC. The Challenger Learning Center of Eastern Kentucky
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hosted a three day robotics competition from January eighth through
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January tenth on the Hazard Community and Technical College campus,
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bringing students from across the region together for hands on
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competitive stem learning. The event featured multiple robotics competitions spanning
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different age groups and skill levels, according to Charles Bush,
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assistant director at the Challenger Learning Center. New dental sedation
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suite opens at Little Flower Clinic. The Kentucky Mountain Health
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Allives little Flower Clinic celebrated the grand opening of its
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new dental Sedation Suite on January twelfth, expanding mental services
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for patents across the region and welcoming doctor Greg Baker,
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DMD to its dental team. Located on the second floor
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of the clinic, the new suite equips the dental team,
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including doctor Tamara Corellis and doctor Arnold Sloan, with updated technology,
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allowing the clinic to offer advanced sedation services to patients
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who may otherwise struggle to receive dental care. Perry County
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Judge Executive Scott Alexander praised the clinic's continued commitment to
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the community. We're very excited, said Alexander. You are a
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great community partner, and we're so blessed to have you here,
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and we appreciate everything that you do. Hazard Mayor Donald
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Happy Mobileini echoed ghost sentiments, noting the importance of expanded
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dental care for children and families. We're glad to have
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you here, Mobilini said, especially for the kids. We appreciate
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you all, and you really are a great community partner.
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Smith files resolution to honor Gene Richie. Senator Brandon Smith,
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Republican of Hazard, has filed Senate Joint Resolution eleven to
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honor Perry County native and folk music kon King Ritchie
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by naming a portion of Kentucky seven the Gene Richie
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Memorial Highway. The resolution, if adopted, designates mile points one
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through seven in Perry County in her honor. It directs
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the Transportation Cabinet to erect signage within thirty days of
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the resolution's affected date. The statement said Gene Ritchie was
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known around the world, but to us in Perry County,
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she was a neighbor and a cultural treasurer, said Smith.
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Her music preserved the soul of Appalachia and brought Kentucky's
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voice to an international audience. Distribute is long overdue, the
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statement said. Richie Born and Viper was a pioneer of
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Appalachian folk music, a respected author, and a recipient of
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the National Here it is his fellowship. Her legacy, the statement said,
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continues to aspire musicians and music lovers worldwide. Governor Vasheer
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calls for keeping American Dream alive as GOP largely skips
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annual speech. Democratic Governor Andy Dasher gave his annual State
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of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening of Republican lawmakers largely
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worked there to hear it. In his seventh annual address
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and final budget proposal, Basher urged Kentuckians and Americans to
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keep the faith in the American Dream, even as he
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said Republican President Donald Trump's policies make it seem unattainable today.
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Too many American families feel this dream is just an hallucination.
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The costs of groceries and healthcare are too high. The
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family vacation they took as kids just doesn't fit in
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the budget. Pasher said that first home for a young
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couple was simply unaffordable may be unattainable. As leaders, we
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have a responsibility to reignite and refuel the American dream
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for the sake of future generations that must burn bright
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in the minds of our people. The Governor's Address is
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typically given to a joint session of the General Assembly
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in the House chambers, but the capital is closed amid
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a multi year renovation. Lawmakers began meeting in temporary chambers
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with limited public access this week as they began a
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sixty day session which will decide the next two years
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state budget. The year is seen by some as a
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possible candidate for president in twenty twenty eight. Recall words
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by LaRue County born President Abraham Lincoln in his first
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inaugural address. We are not enemies, but friends. Though passion
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may have strained it, it must not break our bonds
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of affection. While the national media fixates on the race,
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we focus on results, while social media uplists the angry
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and judgmental. We must amplify kindness and acceptance and empathy.
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This polarized moment in our history won't last forever, Miser said,
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And like Lincoln all those years ago, Kentucky can lead
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the way out of the darkness and end of the light.
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It's our job, it's our duty, and we cannot leave
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a broken country to our children. Azard High School sophomore
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and local artist Kaylee Barrett recently earned first place in
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her age category and a statewide art contest sponsored by
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the Martin Luther King's State Commission. Back in October, Miss
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Susan Campbell sent me an email with an art contest,
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said Barrett's mother, Linda Baker. It was for the Martin
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Luther King's State Commission. She thought it would be perfect
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for Kaylor, so of course, Kaylee entered. On Christmas Eve.
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I received an email else stating she was a nominee
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and was invited to attend the awards ceremony tonight. We
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went to the Kentucky Historical Society today in Frankfurt. Cally
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placed first in her age category for the state of Kentucky.
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She was presented with a plaque by Kentucky Supreme Court
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Justice Pamela Goodwin and Commissioner Kevin Russell were beyond proud
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of her. Hazard Man charged with immigration violation, a hazard
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Man who's currently jailed in connection with fellow in the
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unlawful imprisonment charge has been charged with an immigration violation,
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according to court documents. On January two, Patricio Hernandez Dominez,
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thirty five, whose last listed address was Main Street and Hazard,
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was charged in the U. S District Court in London
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with illegal re entry of a previously removed alien. According
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to an affidavit filed by the deportation offic officer with
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Hernandez is a citizen and native
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of Mexico who was first encountered by officers from the
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Casta Grande Border Patrol Station in two thy sixteen. The
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affidavid said Hernandez was removed to Mexico at that time,
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but was encountered by ICE officers in twenty twenty one
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at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville after
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his arrest on a dui charge in Lawrence County. The
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affidavid said Hernandez was again removed to Mexico at that time.
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On January first of this year, the affidavid said ICE
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again assumed custody of Hernandez, this time at the Kentucky
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River Regional Jail, pursued to an immigration detainer that was
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issued in twenty twenty three. Hernandez was serving a five
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year sentence on a charge of first degree on lawful
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imprisonment related to a paid County case, the Affidavid said,
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and was granted parole on December thirty first. After being
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taken into custody on January first, the Affidavid said, Hernandez
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was transported to the Laurel County Correction Center in London.
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The Ice deportation officer wrote in the affidavit that Hernandez's
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file showed no application for permission to re enter the
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United States after his removal in twenty twenty one. An
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initial appearance was set in the new case for January seventh.
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South Carolina man on battery powered scooter shoplifted, hit store
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employee with scooter. A South Carolina man is facing several
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charges after he was caught attempting to shoplift at Lalmart
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and hit a store employee with a scooter he was
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operating while he was attempting to leave, according to the
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Hazard Police Department. According to an arrest citation written by
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Hazard Police Officer Michael Ritchie, on January second, the department
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received a call from Walmart reporting there was a man
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operating a battery powered scooter who was attempting to shoplift.
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The citation said Walmart asset protection personnel could not get
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the man, identified as Manual Cornett, seventy seven, of Wardak
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Court Career, South Carolina, to come into their office, and
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he was attempting to leave the store and pass all
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points of sale. Upon arrival, Richie wrote, Cornett had gone
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into the asset protection office and it was determined the
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items he was attempting to shoplift were valued at a
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total of nine hundred and eighty six dollars. Cordette, the
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citation said, told Richie he was a police officer from
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South Carolina. Ritchie wrote that he viewed video footage and
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interviewed employees, learning that Cornette had been causing a disturbance
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and had struck an employee with the front of the
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battery powered scooter while attempting to leave the store. Upon
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searching Cornette, Richie wrote he found two marijuana cigarettes. Ritchie
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wrote that he arrested Cornett, and while transporting him to
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the Kentucky River Regional Jail, Cornette told the officer he
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had plenty of guns in a menacing tone. Cornette was
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lodged in the jail on charges of fifth public intoxication,
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second degree disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, third degree terroristics threatening,
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and fourth degree assault with no visible injury. Here are
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the obituaries. Charlene Asher eighty five of Hazard died Monday,
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January fifth. Charles Banks sixty seven of DeFi had died Wednesday,
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December thirty first. Eva Gene Fraley eighty three of Hazard
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died Thursday January eight. Francis McIntyre of Baber died Tuesday
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January sixth. Cleo tak and Miller seventy three of Him
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measured by Wednesday, January seventh. Freddy Sandlin seventy three of
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Day's Creek God's Saturday January tenth. Lois Jean Goosey seventy
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seven of Richmond died Thursday January eight, Billy Jeane McPherson
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seventy five of Comb's died Saturday, January tenth, and Jans
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Stephen Perkins seventy one of Halle died Tuesday January sixth.
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From the opinion page, Just get It Done by Russ Cassaday.
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The twenty twenty six general assemblies underway. It's going to
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be a tough one with a two year budget being
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approved in a less than ideal environment with partisan rankers
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spankled on top. It's unfortunate that a lot of important
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issues are in danger of being lost in the shuffle.
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Governor Andy Basheer is a lamed up with obvious eyes
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on a higher office. The legislature is made up of
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Republicans supers majority that can essentially do whatever it wants
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since it can override any detail, but Sheer can throw
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its way, and unfortunately it seems that they're either unwilling
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or unable to work together. Sometimes I wonder if the
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issue is that neither party wants the other to get
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the credit for the good but instead just get stuck
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with the bill for the ban. But Shear's refusal to
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cooperate in many ways, including refusing before the session and
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apparently in previous budget cycles as well, to share budgetary information.
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But honestly, a bike and forth will benefit no one.
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I don't really need to say what's at stake. We
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all know things that are really messed up right now.
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Perhaps that's a precursor to better times, at least I
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hope it is, But we need all of those responsible
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to help us or in that more positive future, We
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may not agree on how to get but it's vital
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that we put actions to words about how we can
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pull together as a people when things get tough. That
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shouldn't just happen in the midst of tragedy. That must
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become our national standard operating procedure if we ever hope
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to progress in the right direction. And that means that
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people are going to have to swallow their pride and
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quit spending so much time taking cheap shots at each
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other for social media attention. The blame game only works
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when one person isn't to blame. When everyone's to blame
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for the mess we're in, it's time to acknowledge that
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and move forward. We need to deal with looming issues
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in healthcare, education, overall government funding, and infrastructure. You owning
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the Libs or Conservatives on TikTok doesn't make a hill
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of beans difference to a person who can't drink water
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that comes out of their tap, or to the family
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that has multiple jobs and still isn't making it. The
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business that needs does a little bit of help to
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keep the lights on, or the family picking up the
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pieces due to a failure of the court system doesn't
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need clicks or likes, they need action, real action. We
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also need to address the elephant in the room, something
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I hadn't thought about until recently, when I heard Senator
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Philip Wheeler and lobbyist Colin Johnson discussing how the real
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division in Frankret these days isn't so much Republican versus
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Democrat as it is urban versus rural. I believe there's
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more likely some truth in that, and if that's the case,
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the partisan rancor being displayed is little more than of
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the near covering up the real discussion we need to have.
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It's really easy to stir up boats and support when
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you're just throwing red meat to the chief seats as
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opposed to getting down to where the really painful nerves lie. Also,
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if that's the case, it's in coming upon our local
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legislators to stay above the fray as much as possible
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and spend more time fighting for their constituents as if
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our quality of life depended on it. Because it does.
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But Sheer undoubtedly is striving toward a greater office, which
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is his right, and the Republican supermajority is trying to
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ensure that it retains its position and gets as much
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of its agenda through while it can. But regardless, the
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people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky are watching and hoping
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that they occupy a place at the table and aren't
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pushed aside by pettiness. Get it done. The guest column
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Week one of the twenty twenty sixth Legislative Session is
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by Brandon Smith's state Senator the thirtieth district. If I
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find you here with a newspaper in your hand, know
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that I like you. I to enjoy a good old
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fashioned ink copying of the news. If you are reading
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this on a screen, no judgment, I do that too.
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I want to thank all of our local newspapers, which
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residents in our counties have trusted for decades to deliver
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the news that matters to them. The first week of
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the twenty twenty six Legislative Session is now complete, officially
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beginning the constitutionally required sixty day budget session for the
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Kentucky General Assembly. While much of the opening week was procedural,
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it's set the stage for the important policy debates and
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decisions that lie ahead. As a member of the Senate
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Majority Caucus, I can assure you that our focus remains
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on you. The Kentucky tax payer. We continue to advance
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physically responsible, pro growth, conservative policies that have helped strengthen
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Kentucky over the past decade. You will notice in your
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upcoming paycheck that more of your hard earned dollars are
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staying with you. Through pragmatic, thoughtful individual income tax reductions.
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The rate has been lowered from six percent to three
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and a half percent, with the latest half percent reduction
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taking effect on January one. Each half percent reduction keeps
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approximately seven hundred million dollars in Kentucky family's pockets, providing
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greater financial flexibility. Throughout this session, lawmakers will focus on
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the issues most important to Kentuckians, including affordability, economic growth, education, housing,
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job creation, energy policy, public safety, and more. As a
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budget session, the coming months will be critical and demanding,
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as the legislature's primary responsibility is to adopt a new
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two year state budget and road plan. Under Kentucky's constitution,
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the process begins in the House of Representatives, which drafts
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and passes the initial budget before sending it to the Senate.
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Once received, the Senate can propose changes, advocate for district priorities,
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and negotiate final spending decisions with House counterparts. In addition
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to the budget, the General Assembly is considering individual policy bills.
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Any bill may be filed in either chamber and must
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move through committee review for debate and votes in both chambers.
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Bills may be amended by committee substitutes or for amendments,
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and identical versions. Must pass both the House and the
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Senate before being sent to the governor. During Week one,
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several notable Senate bills were filed, including measures on public safety, education,
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and economic policy. One issue I'm particularly focused on in
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this session is Kentucky's energy policy. Right now, we do
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not have a clear, serious plan for energy affordability and reliability,
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even though these two things affect every community, household, and
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employer in the state. This concludes the reading of the
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Hazard Herald. Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you
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for joining me and on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI.
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This is Lee Townshend, wishing you a good day.