Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Pike Co. News - 9.21.26

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Pike Co. News - 9.21.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Now, we turn to the reading of the Appalachian News
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: Express for news in Pikeville and Pike County. As a reminder,
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Radio Eye is a reading service intended for people who
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  Speaker 1: are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
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  Speaker 1: to read printed material. The Appalachian News Express is donated
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: to Radio Eye by the publisher. Your reader today is 9.
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  Speaker 1: We will begin. with the edition dated September 18-21, 2026.
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  Speaker 1: Our first article is entitled, GOP Dedicates Courthouse Display Case,
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: by Terry L. May, News Editor. Calling it a, quote, long-awaited,
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  Speaker 1: end quote, day, members of the Republican Party gathered on
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  Speaker 1: the courthouse square on September 16 to dedicate a case
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  Speaker 1: filled with memorabilia representing the party's history. The case is
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  Speaker 1: located inside the courthouse's east entrance, flanking the doorway to
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  Speaker 1: the Pike County Clerk's Office Election Division. The display was
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  Speaker 1: unveiled by Republican Party of Pike County Chairwoman Terry Wolters
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  Speaker 1: and Pike County Clerk Daryl Pugh following a rally on
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  Speaker 1: the plaza. Quote, This is a very special occasion that
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  Speaker 1: many of us, such as myself, have dedicated ourselves to
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  Speaker 1: for most of our adult lives. and some of us
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  Speaker 1: even before we were officially able to vote, end quote,
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  Speaker 1: said Senator Philip Wheeler, R. Pikeville, who emceed the dedication ceremony, quote,
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  Speaker 1: the dedication of this display case, a memorial, a testimony,
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  Speaker 1: to the achievements of both current Republicans and past Republicans
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  Speaker 1: who have brought us to where we are together today
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  Speaker 1: in Pike County, end quote. The case was dedicated in
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  Speaker 1: honor of longstanding Pike County Republican leader and elections worker
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  Speaker 1: and officer, Marie Childers. Quote, It is a really good
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  Speaker 1: day to be a Republican in Pike County. Sandy Runyon,
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  Speaker 1: committee co-chairwoman, said, Those of us who have walked these
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  Speaker 1: halls for so many years on election nights have always
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  Speaker 1: wanted to have something that represents our party. It takes
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  Speaker 1: everyday commitment to keep the party alive. I'm one of
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  Speaker 1: those who thought something like this would never happen, she continued.
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  Speaker 1: We always kind of sneaked in the courthouse when votes
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  Speaker 1: were counted. Now we stride. That is because of people
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  Speaker 1: like you and your family, end quote. Runyon encouraged her
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  Speaker 1: fellow Republicans to continue the effort that has been made
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  Speaker 1: in the party, to continue to register new voters, educate
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  Speaker 1: others about the party, and encourage people to vote. She
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  Speaker 1: said the worst thing that could happen would be for
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  Speaker 1: members to become complacent and rest on the party's current
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  Speaker 1: status as the leading political party in the county. According
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: to Pew, the number of registered Republican voters in Pike
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  Speaker 1: County leads the Democratic voters by 349. My favorite song
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: is Billy Joel's Keeping the Faith, Walter said. I think
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  Speaker 1: we have all been keeping the faith. and the day
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  Speaker 1: has finally come that we have our cabinet in the courthouse.
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  Speaker 1: It has been a great year. We turned red. We
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  Speaker 1: have the cabinet, but there is a lot of work
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  Speaker 1: yet to be done. In addition to the memorial display,
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  Speaker 1: Wolters also announced... that the local party executive committee voted
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  Speaker 1: to give every Republican candidate on their ballot who has
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: opposition for the general election a donation to help them
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  Speaker 1: with their campaign expenses. Our next article is entitled 5K
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  Speaker 1: Tell to Promote Awareness of Veterans' Suicide Rate by Terry L. May,
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  Speaker 1: news editor. In an effort to increase public knowledge of
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  Speaker 1: the problem with post-service military personnel, the VFW, or Veterans
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  Speaker 1: of Foreign Wars, hosts 3769 in Pikeville, hosts a veteran
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  Speaker 1: suicide awareness 5-day each year. Pikeville VFW 3769's post commander,
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  Speaker 1: Charles Atkinson, said the local post has a mission and
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  Speaker 1: a commitment to assist fellow veterans in every way possible.
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  Speaker 1: It's our new handheld photo studio. and the 5K held
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  Speaker 1: this year on September 12th. It's one of its methods
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  Speaker 1: to bring light to an issue most people would prefer
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  Speaker 1: not to acknowledge. Quote, this is our annual Veterans Mental
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  Speaker 1: Health and Suicide Awareness 5K, he said. We just want
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  Speaker 1: to make people aware that there are 22 veterans on
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  Speaker 1: average who commit suicide, and that is 22 too many,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. It says studies have shown the highest rates
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  Speaker 1: of veteran suicide within the first year of being discharged
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  Speaker 1: from service. Quote, it is that very first year that
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  Speaker 1: a service member gets out of the military and transitioning
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  Speaker 1: to civilian life that is the most risky time, Atkinson said.
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  Speaker 1: They are disconnected from what they have known. They don't
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  Speaker 1: have a connection to what they need to be involved in.
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  Speaker 1: They may not have any friendships that they've developed. He
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  Speaker 1: said there are many contributing factors to veteran suicide, including
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  Speaker 1: lack of camaraderie, not having a job with stable income, isolation,
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  Speaker 1: and inadequate housing. There is an interesting study that came
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  Speaker 1: out in the 2017 American Journal of Medicine that said
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  Speaker 1: there is a 50% reduction in suicide rates among veterans
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  Speaker 1: who have a high school diploma, and veterans who have
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  Speaker 1: a college degree, end quote, he said. So, if we
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  Speaker 1: can push education, our hope is that it will also
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  Speaker 1: impact the 22 a day and lower numbers. Atkinson said
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  Speaker 1: one method of helping with the transition is for veterans
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  Speaker 1: to become connected with other veterans in various ways, including
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  Speaker 1: local VFW posts. He said the Pikeville Post is located
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  Speaker 1: downtown near the Pikeville City Hall, and the group meets
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  Speaker 1: every Tuesday evening. All veterans are welcome, and all they
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  Speaker 1: have to do is walk in. He said that veterans
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  Speaker 1: who are thinking about suicide can also call the Suicide
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  Speaker 1: Prevention Hotline, 988, for counseling and advice. Our next article
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  Speaker 1: is entitled, WestCare Highlights Plight of Pike's Unhoused Population, by
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  Speaker 1: Terry L. May, editor. Homelessness in Pike County is a
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  Speaker 1: more widespread and complicated issue than most people realize, according
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  Speaker 1: to a guest speaker at the Pikeville Rotary Club on
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  Speaker 1: September 16th. Judith Casalino, co-chairwoman of the Westcure Kentucky Advocacy Committee,
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  Speaker 1: said the needs of the unhoused affect not only those
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  Speaker 1: individuals without permanent housing, but also local businesses, service providers,
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  Speaker 1: and community as a whole. Quote, most people, not in
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  Speaker 1: our own community, but in most areas, refuse to admit
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  Speaker 1: that it's an issue or even choose to ignore it
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  Speaker 1: and hope it will just go away, Casalino said. Casalino
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  Speaker 1: said WestCare is an international nonprofit organization providing services that
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  Speaker 1: include addiction recovery, mental health and wellness programs, emergency assistance, housing, education,
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  Speaker 1: criminal justice programs, domestic violence assistance, and veteran services. Although
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  Speaker 1: WestCare operates programs in numerous states and countries, Castellanos said
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  Speaker 1: the organization depends upon partnerships with communities, churches, local governments,
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  Speaker 1: and individuals. WestCare established operations in Kentucky after Gary Johnson
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  Speaker 1: and then Pike County District Judge Kelsey Friend Jr. approached
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  Speaker 1: WestCare founder Richard Steinberg about the need for additional services
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  Speaker 1: in the county, Casalino said. While Steinberg had lived in
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  Speaker 1: Las Vegas, he and his wife, Sharon Yates, a Pikeville native,
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  Speaker 1: wanted to move closer to the area where she grew up.
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  Speaker 1: They moved to the eastern portion of Tennessee and incorporated
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  Speaker 1: WestCare in Kentucky in 2004, according to Casolino. Two years later,
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  Speaker 1: in 2006, WestCare Kentucky, in partnership with the city of Pikeville,
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  Speaker 1: assumed the management of the Perry Klein Emergency Shelter. The
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  Speaker 1: organization also operates a men's addiction recovery facility in Ash
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  Speaker 1: Camp and a female facility in Lookout. Casolino said WestCare
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  Speaker 1: has expanded its service services to assist pregnant women struggling
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  Speaker 1: with substance use, including women who are homeless and need
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  Speaker 1: a safe, supervised environment during pregnancy. During 2026, WestCare Kentucky
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  Speaker 1: has provided approximately 4,000 nights of emergency shelter, served more
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  Speaker 1: than 600 meals, and helped 25 residents obtain permanent housing,
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  Speaker 1: Castellanos said. Each of these members who have been helped
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  Speaker 1: represents a person who was given help and support and
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  Speaker 1: an opportunity for a better future, unquote, Casalino said. The
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  Speaker 1: Pikeville shelter provides lodging, meals, individual and group counseling, substance
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  Speaker 1: use counseling, parenting and life skills instruction, money management assistance,
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  Speaker 1: employment preparation, literacy services, case management, and help transitioning into
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  Speaker 1: independent living, Catalina said. She stated that poverty, unemployment, addiction,
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  Speaker 1: and domestic violence heavily influenced the situation. Children aging out
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  Speaker 1: of the foster system, released jail inmates, and even college
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  Speaker 1: students and find themselves with stable housing, she added. Poverty,
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  Speaker 1: Casalino said, Pike County's poverty and unemployment rates remain well
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  Speaker 1: above statewide averages, with a decline of the coal industry
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  Speaker 1: contributing to both problems. Casalino worked in coal sales for
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  Speaker 1: Brenham & Baker & Quaker Coal Company from 1980 to 1990,
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  Speaker 1: and has owned Blackburn Oil, Blackburn Natural Resources and Blackburn
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  Speaker 1: Exploration since 1990. Quote, we keep waiting on coal to
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  Speaker 1: come back, but frankly I don't think it ever will,
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  Speaker 1: end quote, Pasolena said. There's always going to be some
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  Speaker 1: coal to sell, but to the extent that we've used
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  Speaker 1: it here in these mountains, it will never be again,
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  Speaker 1: end quote. Many former coal workers possess specialized skills that
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  Speaker 1: do not transfer easily to the jobs currently available in
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  Speaker 1: the region, making workforce retraining For foster children, young people
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  Speaker 1: aging out of foster care are another particularly vulnerable population,
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  Speaker 1: Casalino said. Some reach their 18th birthday without family support,
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  Speaker 1: sufficient income, or a place to live. For inmates, inmates
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  Speaker 1: released from area jails often face similar circumstances, particularly when
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  Speaker 1: they were housed in Pike County, despite being from another
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  Speaker 1: part of Kentucky, Casalino said. Quote, they get out of
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  Speaker 1: jail with the clothes on their back, Casalino said. Where
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  Speaker 1: do they go? End quote. For college students, Casalino says
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  Speaker 1: homelessness among college students is another largely hidden problem. She
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  Speaker 1: says she has personally encountered six students attending the University
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  Speaker 1: of Pikeville or Big Sandy Community and Technical College who
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  Speaker 1: lack stable housing. Some slept in their vehicles or camped
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  Speaker 1: outdoors because they could afford tuition and books, but not
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  Speaker 1: food and housing, Gasolino said. Quote, there are a lot
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  Speaker 1: of homeless people who are out there that you would
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  Speaker 1: never recognize or think about as being homeless, end quote.
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  Speaker 1: Pikeville Shelter provides lodging, meals, individual and group counseling, substance
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  Speaker 1: use counseling, parenting and life skills instruction, money management assistance,
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: employment preparation, literacy services, case management, and help transitioning into
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  Speaker 1: independent living, Casalino said. She added that Pike County does
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: not have enough affordable housing to accommodate everyone currently unhoused.
• 12:52
  Speaker 1: Casalino said the shelter provides more than temporary protection from
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  Speaker 1: the weather. Its staff members help residents obtain identification, complete
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  Speaker 1: housing applications, address problems, substance use, and mental health needs,
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  Speaker 1: find employment, and prepare for independent living. Our next article
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  Speaker 1: is entitled, Gala Set to Benefit Emergency Shelter by Terry L. May, Editor.
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: WestCare Kentucky will be hosting its second gala to raise
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  Speaker 1: funds for the Perry Klein Emergency Shelter. Shelter Executive Director
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  Speaker 1: Karen Spears said the idea for the gala was first
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  Speaker 1: conceived last year and the shelter was renovating its kitchen
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  Speaker 1: and faced a financial shortfall on the project. Well, we
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  Speaker 1: had a masquerade-themed gala, she said. It was so successful
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  Speaker 1: that we were able to complete our kitchen renovation and
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  Speaker 1: even had money left over to do a couple of
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  Speaker 1: other projects. Everyone had a great time and kept asking
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  Speaker 1: if we were going to do it again this year,
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  Speaker 1: and Spears said having a second gala this year is
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  Speaker 1: a perfect way to celebrate because 2026 marks 20 years
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  Speaker 1: since West Care Kentucky took over the management of the
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  Speaker 1: shelter from the city of Pikeville. Quote, Since we have
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  Speaker 1: been here 20 years, we thought that this year's theme
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  Speaker 1: should be the Roaring Twenties, she said. We are hoping
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  Speaker 1: this will be as much fun as last year. Keeper
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  Speaker 1: can dress in Twenties flapper costumes if they want or
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: just dress regularly. Wicket will have fun either way. The
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  Speaker 1: theme will connect to our history. We will have a
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  Speaker 1: selfies station, appetizers and a full dinner, a silent auction,
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  Speaker 1: maybe even some dancing, Spears continued. We have some great
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: items that have been donated for the silent auction, including
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  Speaker 1: UK football tickets and a set of diamond earrings. The
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  Speaker 1: gala will be on the seventh floor of the University
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  Speaker 1: of Pikeville Health Professions Education Building. and tickets are available
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  Speaker 1: at westcare.events.kygala. Tickets are $ 35 each or $ 250 for a
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: table of eight. Spears said there are still opportunities available
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  Speaker 1: for businesses that would like to become a sponsor. There
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: are four levels of sponsorship at varying prices. Those interested
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: in becoming sponsors may call the Perry Klein Emergency Shelter
• 15:23
  Speaker 1: at 606-471-7000 or email her at karen.spears at westcare.com. In addition,
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: the shelter welcomes monetary donations, as well as donations of
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: time and supplies, Spears said. Our next article is entitled,
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: Ride for the Fallen Plant, by Gary Sloan, staff writer.
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: A local ministry has teamed up with the local fire
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: departments to host a ride to honor fallen firefighters. Iron
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: Sharpens Iron Ministry will host the ride, which will begin
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: and end at the Coal Run Volunteer Fire Department on
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: September 26. Quote, Registration will start at 10 a.m. and
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: will have kickstands up at 11 a.m., said Charlie Baker,
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  Speaker 1: guardian of the group. We want to honor the firefighters
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  Speaker 1: who have passed, either in the line or duty or not,
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  Speaker 1: and the proceeds of this ride will go to benefit
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: the Jason Todd Rowe Fallen Firefighter Memorial Scholar Championship. The
• 16:25
  Speaker 1: ministry has partnered with Pike County Firefighters Association and has
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: a booth at this year's annual PCFA Fire School. Quote,
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  Speaker 1: We are not a motorcycle group, although many of us
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  Speaker 1: enjoy riding motorcycles. We are a ministry that looks for
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  Speaker 1: ways to help our community, Baker said. This is just
• 16:46
  Speaker 1: one way we can give back to our firefighters who
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: serve the area. Baker said the ride is open not
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: only to motorcyclists, but to anyone who wants to participate. Quote,
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  Speaker 1: We had a firefighter flag at the fire school this year,
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: and it will be at the ride as well for
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: people who know of a fallen firefighter and sign with
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  Speaker 1: a firefighter's name, unit, or badge number and department, Baker said.
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: Before the ride begins, the flag will be attached to
• 17:14
  Speaker 1: a motorcycle and flown through the ride in remembrance of
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  Speaker 1: those fallen firefighters, end quote. For more information on either
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: the ride or the Iron Sharpens Iron Ministry, check out
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: its Facebook page, Iron Sharpens Iron Ministry, Pikeville KY, or
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: call 606-401-5052. Our next article is entitled, The APP Presenting Puffs.
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: by Olivia Morgan, staff writer. A comedic adventure is coming
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: to the Appalachian Center for the Arts with the main
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: production of Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: Certain School of Magic and Magic, the Young Wizard's Edition.
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: The play, which will be presented for two weekends, is
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: a fast-paced story that parodies the Harry Potter series from
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: the perspective of the Hufflepuffs. a group of underdog magic
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: school students. Decadive director Shannon Daniels said the play is
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: full of fun for all audiences. Quote, there's a lot
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: of satire and there's a lot of parody, she said.
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: There's tons of 90s references in there, and a lot
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: of the characters in the show, although they aren't directly listed,
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: you will see a great likeness to a lot of
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: the other characters, end quote. Daniels said that after auditions,
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: 29 people were chosen to perform in Puffs. Additionally, there
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: are costume, lighting, and sound designers, stage management, and backstage
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: crew members to help bring the play to life. Quote,
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: We've got 29 community members that are in the show,
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: and they're playing over 50 roles. End quote, she said.
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: Daniel said the crew is enthusiastic to put on the show,
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: especially after all of their hard work. Quote, We are very,
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: very excited. She said, it has been a blast to
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: work on, end quote. Puffs will be presented October 2nd
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: through October 11th, with showtimes at 7.30pm on Fridays and
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: Saturdays and at 3pm on Sundays. There will also be
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: a 3pm showing on October 3rd. Quote, if you like
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: satire and farce and kind of sketch comedy type things,
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: then you will like this show, end quote, Janus said.
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: Our next article is entitled Mark Cuban Foundation, its source,
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: hosting AI Bootcamp in Pikeville, special to the Appalachian newspapers.
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: The Mark Cuban Foundation, in partnership with BitSource, will host
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: a free artificial intelligence boot camp for high school students
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: in Pikeville this fall, according to a statement. The program
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: is open to students in grades 9-12, and it runs
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: over three Saturdays, October 31st, November 7th, and November 14th. Meals,
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: transportation assistance, and technology are provided at no cost, the
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: statement said. Students, the statement said, get hands-on experience with
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: AI tools, including generative AI, and we see how the
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: technology shows up in fields such as healthcare, arts, business,
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: computer science, sports science, and career readiness. Each student, the
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: statement said, finishes the program with a capstone project built
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: under the guidance of industry mentors. The boot camp is
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: hosted and staffed by BitSource, a technology and software company. Quote,
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: as AI continues to become an undeniable force in all
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: of our lives, it's crucial that we open the door
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: to this knowledge, especially to young people who want to
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: explore it. End quote, said Mark Cuban, founder. While technology
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: expands and becomes more advanced, it becomes more critical that
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: we ensure our students are prepared when they apply for
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: schools or jobs in the future. Thanks to our work
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: with BitSource, the boot camp will offer an avenue to
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: explore this fascinating field of technology to any student, no
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: matter their needs. BitSource is one of more than 35
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: post companies selected to run boot camps across the U.S.
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: this fall. Fly at markcubani.org slash students. Our next article
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: is entitled, U-Pipe Professor Awarded NIH Grant, a special to
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: the News Express. A University of Pikeville professor has been
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: awarded a National Institute of Health, or NIH, grant to
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: develop a method for producing a potentially life-saving medication used
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: in the emergency treatment of certain severe heart attacks. Professor
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: of Molecular Biology Kevin Wang, Ph.D., will use the $ 351, 311
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: grant for a 33-month project titled, quote, Rapid Production of
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: Non-Glycolosylated Retiplase for Affordable Thrombolysis Therapy, end quote, according to
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: a statement from UPike. The research is supported by the
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, an institute within the NIH,
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: through an RI5 award. The statement said this award marks
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: the first NIH grant awarded to a faculty member in
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: UPike's undergraduate division. Wang's research will investigate whether plants can
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: be used as a rapid and potentially more affordable means
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: to produce non-glycosylated retiplase, the statement said. Retiplase is a
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: thrombolytic medication, commonly known as a, quote, clot-busting, end quote, drug,
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: that helps dissolve blood clots blocking blood flow to the heart.
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: By restoring circulation, the medication can help reduce the risk
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: of death and heart failure, following certain severe heart attack.
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: The long-term goal is to advance more accessible production of
• 23:18
  Speaker 1: the medication and other biomedical therapies. Quote, I am honored
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: to be the first professor in UPike's undergraduate division to
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: receive this type of NIH grant. and I am grateful
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: for the support of my colleagues, students, and the university leadership,
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: Wang said. This award gives us an opportunity to explore
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: how plants can produce a potentially life-saving medicine while giving
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: our students a meaningful role in biomedical research. I hope
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: our work will advance more affordable treatments for heart attacks
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: and inspire students to see them as future scientists and
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: health professionals, end quote. The project will also provide extensive
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: hands-on research opportunities for UPike undergraduate students, according to the statement.
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: Approximately 25 to 30 students are expected to participate over
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: the course of the project through Wang's biotechnology courses and
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: mentored laboratory research. Students will gain experience growing plants, introducing
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: the retiplase gene into plant leaves, extracting and purifying the
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: protein and testing the abilities to dissolve blood clots, the
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: statement said. They will also analyze research data and have
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: opportunities to present their findings at scientific conferences and contribute
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: to research publications, better preparing them for graduate school, health professions,
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: and careers in biotechnology. Our next article is entitled Slow
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: Name National Merit Semifinalists. Pikeville High School student Ricky Sloan
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: was recently named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: According to a statement from the program, Sloan and the
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: other semifinalists have an opportunity to continue in the competition
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth a total of
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: approximately $ 24 million that will be offered in the spring.
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: Our final article is entitled, City Proclaims Constitution Week Sets
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: Halloween Date by Gary Sloan, staff writer. The Pikeville chapter
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: of the Daughters of the American Revolution accepted a proclamation
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: from the city in recognition of the Constitution Week during
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: the September 14th meeting of the Pikeville City Commission. Quote,
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: The Daughters of the American Revolution play a very important
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: role in preserving the history of the American Revolution in
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: the foundlings of the United States of America, and helping
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: to preserve the Constitution. Pikeville Mayor Jimmy Carter said, This
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: city hereby proclaims the week of September 17-23 as Constitution
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: Week in the city of Pikeville. This proclamation holds additional
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: relevance this year because of the observance of the 250th
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: anniversary of the writing of the Constitution and the ensuing
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: independence of the United States of America. In other action
• 26:19
  Speaker 1: taken by the Commission, the Commissioners voted to set the
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: date and time for Halloween Trick-or-Treat. The City of Pikeville
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: was first to set Trick-or-Treat this year. It will be
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 29th. As
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: of press time, Pike County, the City of Polerun, and
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: Elkhorn City had not officially set their date for Trick-or-Treat.
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Pikeville City Commissioned
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: will be at 6 p.m. on September 28th at the
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: Pikeville City Hall. This concludes today's reading of the Appalachian
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: News Express. Your reader today has been Nya. Thank you
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: for joining me. Now please, stay tuned for more programming
• 27:00
  Speaker 1: on Radio Eye.