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Hazard Herald - 4.5.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now he turned to the reading of the Hazard Herald
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for news of Hazard in Perry County m Ley Townshend.
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We begin with the online edition dated April first, twenty
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twenty six as a reminder Radioizer reading service intended for
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people who are blind or have other disabilities that make
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it difficult to read printed material. Murder case in ATV
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crash to be heard by Perry grand jury. The case
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against the Perry County man accused of giving alcohol to
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a teenager which resulted in a fatal ATV crash, will
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be heard by Perry County Grand Jury for possible indictment.
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Following a preliminary hearing on March thirty first, Perry District
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Judge Cody Gerring ordered that the murder case against Noah
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Bich twenty six, of Ico be sent to a grand
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jury and that be held on a two hundred thousand
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dollars cash or property bond. The murder charge is related
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to a February twenty eight crash on Oakwood Avenue at
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Bacco which killed Emmelyn Clark, sixteen, and which resulted in
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a DUI charge against another sixteen year old girl. During
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the March thirty first hear in Perry County Sheriff's Office
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Lieutenant Steve Everage testified he and other deputies arrived at
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the crash site at about nine pm on February twenty
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eight and found that Clark was under the ATV, which
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was in a creek bed submerged into four or five
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inches of water. The girl, who was charged with DUI
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after the crash, told deputies she'd been driving the vehicle.
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Noah was very calm. Average testified the alleged driver was
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very upset and hysterical. The alleged driver said she had
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been drinking all day and was the driver of the vehicle.
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Noah also said she was driving at the time of
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the accident. Everadge said the alleged driver told Deputyes she'd
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been drinking smeirnoff ice and beer, and that Beck had
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gotten the drinks for her. Average testified that the alleged
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driver's blood alcohol level, according to the Kentucky State Police
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Crime Lab, was found to B pointz five to two
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on the night of the crash. Perry County Sheriff Joe
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Ingell told The Hazard Herald in a previous interview that
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preliminary findings from the Perry County Corner's Office confirmed that
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Clark was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
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at the time of her death. Average testified that at
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the crash scene, alcohol bottles were scattered around the creek.
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When asked why Noah was with the teenage girls, he
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replied they were good friends. Average said Noah acted remorseful,
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saying he shouldn't have let her drive. Noah said he
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had been driving most of the day, but the alleged
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driver begged to drive and he let her. Average also
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testified that he spoke with the alleged driver's parents, who
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said they had tried to keep her away from Back,
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but that she had run away in the past to
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be with him. Average testified the video was obtained which
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showed Back purchasing alcohol, which was taken back to the
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ATV and placed in the alleged driver's lap, after which
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she took the alcoholic beverages in the back of the
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ATV and put them in a cooler. Ingle said previously
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that the murder charge was filed against Back due to
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his actions. On February twenty eighth, after conferring with Commonwealth's
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Attorney John Hanson, we've established that probable cause exists that
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the actions of Noah Back on February twenty eight exhibited
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extreme indifference to human life, which resulted in the death
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of sixteen year old Miss Emmelyn Clark said. Ingle Back
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was transported back to the Kentucky River Regional Jail following
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the preliminary hearing. Non financial conditions of the bond, Gearing
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said on March thirty first include that if released, bike
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is to have no further violations. He's not to drive,
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He's not to have alcohol or drugs, he must submit
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to random drug screenings. He must have no contact with
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victims or miners or any family members of the victims,
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and he must remain on house arrest. Leatherwood off Road
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Park gearing up for busy season with new trails, lodging,
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and new events. As off road enthusiasts prepare for the
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upcoming riding season, Leatherwood off Road Park continues to expand
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its offerings with new trails, lodging options, and the slate
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of events planned throughout the year aimed at drawing visitors
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from across the region and beyond. Matthew Roberts, co owner
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and son of owner Terry Roberts, said the park had
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been steadily growing and ongoing improvements were made. As it
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heads into the twenty twenty six season, the park is
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still growing, said Roberts. We've added more trails and clean
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up a bunch of old ones. We have improved trails
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and opened up miles of new trails. We also just
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opened up our first two cabins in our first five
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RV hookup spots, adding our lodging situation. We just got
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them ready and they will be ready to rent starting
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April first. Roberts said the park remains open year round
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and continues to see increasing visitation, including from out of
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state riders. We're still open three hundred and sixty five
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days a year, he said. We keep the trails opened.
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It slows down in the wintertime, but we see an
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uptick each year and it gets busier each year. We're
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still seeing a lot of out of state visitors to
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the park, a lot of folks from Indiana and Ohio.
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Last time I checked, we'd pull visitors from over thirty states.
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In addition to trail expansion and lodging, Roberts said, additional
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amenities are currently in development to enhance their visitor experience here. Shortly,
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we have a bath house we're working on by the
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general store, and then we'll have twelve more RV sites
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soon with electric and water hookups, and we'll also have
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a dump site for them. Roberts said. That will be
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the next project we start off. The park is also
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preparing for a full calendar of events, including several tied
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to major holidays, at a large scale racing event later
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this season. We do rides typically for all big holidays,
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he said, Memorial Day, the fourth of July, stuff like that.
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We have events and fireworks and we keep our event
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page updated. Our biggest event this year will be our
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Ultra four National event that's coming in October. Ultra four
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Racing are an offering of off track racing series and
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they all go over the country this year. They'll be
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here at Leatherwood this October. It will be our biggest
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event to date that The park's general store continues to
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serve visitors with supplies and food supporting writers throughout the day.
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Our general store is still supplied with a variety of merchandise.
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We do well with our T shirts and we sell
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a lot of food to help writers get through the day,
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said Roberts. I think this will be a great year
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and it will be a great year for the region
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and Appalachia. Three life sentences secured against Perry County child predator.
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Attorney General Russell Coleman announced in a statement on March
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twenty sixth that a Perry County man previously convicted of
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sexually assaulting multiple children was sentenced to three life sentences
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with no possibility of parole. According to the statement, Perry
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Circuit Judge Allison C. Wells handed down the sentence against
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Harrison Cress, fifty eight of Beehivehro Slimp, on two counts
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of first degree side of me for a child under
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twelve years old, one count of incests child under twelve
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years old, and three counts of first to be sexual
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abuse a child under twelve years old. According to the statement,
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a jury found Chress guilty in October and recommended three
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life sentences because of the heinous nature of the crimes. Chres,
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the statement said, grew multiple children, building trust so he
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could exploit and abuse them. After years of abuse, one
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of the children bravely reported the abuse to her grandmother,
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the statement said. The children's advocacy centers in Ashland and
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Hazard interviewed the victims providing information leading to the arrest.
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Five children provided victim statements for the sentencing. The statement said.
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One letter read, what you did to me was not right.
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I'm happy you're in jail. A young relative who suffered
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abuse at Chres' hands wrote, I couldn't understand why someone
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so close to me hurt me. Coleman said in a
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statement that the sentence sends a message when those who
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harm our children are held accountable. It takes every survivor
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their voice matters and the justice system can protect them.
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He said, I'm deeply grateful for the Children's Advocacy Center, professionals,
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law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocates who worked with these children
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to help them find their voice and the courage to
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put this monster behind bars. The statement said. The Kentucky
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State Police investigated the case with support from the Perry
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County Sheriff's Office. Assistant Attorneys General Barbara Waley and Tony
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Skens prosecuted the case on behalf of the prosecution. McCall
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allen with the Attorney General's Office of Victim's Advocacy provided
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services to the victims. HCTC launched his mobile training unit
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to expand workforce access. Hazard Community and Technical College officially
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launched a new mobile training unit on March twent aimed
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at expanding workforce education opportunities for individuals and recovery and
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those involved in the justice system. According to a statement
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from the college, the mobile unit, supported by EHCTC Workforce Solutions,
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is designed to deliver training directly to incarcerated populations and
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individuals recovering from substance use disorder, increasing access to education
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and employment pathways across the region. According to the statement,
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the unit will travel to local rehabilitation and detention centers,
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including Beacons of Hope Rehabilitation Center and the Kentucky River
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Regional Jail and Hazard, bringing hands on instruction and high
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demand fields such as computerized machining and manufacturing fiber optics services.
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According to the statement, funding for the initiative was provided
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through the Kentucky Opioid Debatement Advisory Commission, which is direct
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directing resources from national opioid settlements toward recovery, prevention, and
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treatment efforts in communities most affected by the opioid crisis.
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According to the statement, HCTC Workforce Solutions focuses on short
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term training, industry partnerships and rapid workforce deployment playing a
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central role in developing these opportunities. At HCTC, we believe
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talent exists everywhere and that opportunity should too, said doctor
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Keela Miller, h ctc's chief Workforce Officer, in the statement.
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The mobile Training Unit allows us to extend workforce education
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directly into our communities, empowering individuals in recovery and re
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entry to make meaningful steps toward employment, stability, and purpose.
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The statement said, Workforce Solutions is long work to meet
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community employment needs, with the mobile Unit representing an extension
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of that service. This Mobile Training Unit reflects a decade's
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long commitment to ad HCTC to meet our communities where
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they are, said doctor Jennifer Lindon, HCTC President and chief
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executive Officer. Today that means creating meaningful opportunities for individuals
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in recovery to gain skills, build confidence, and pursue sustainable careers.
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The launch event includes remarks from college leadership, community partners,
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and regional stakeholders, as well as hands on demonstration of
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the Mobile Training Unit. According to the statement, three indicted
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in connection with shooting death. Three people have been indicted
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in connection with the shooting death of a Perry County man.
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On March twenty seventh, the Perry County Grand Jury indicted
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Danny Harold Blue Asher forty two, of Whole School Bonnyman,
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Miranda Connor thirty seven of Little Lane Hazard, and Brian
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Smith forty nine of Locust Street Hazard, all charges related
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to the March third shooting death of twenty seven year
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old Jason Ryan Huff. According to a warrant written by
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Perry County Sheriff's Captain, Captain Paul Campbell, the department's lead detective.
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On March third, deputies responded to a SHOT's fired complaint
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at darb Fork Road in the parking lot of Bobby
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Coombe's apartments. Found Huff dead out of a gunshot wound.
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While conducting video recorded interviews, the warrant said, a witness
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advised that three people confronted Huff just prior to the shooting.
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The warrant said investigators learned that Asher and another individual
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who was not named in the warrant against Asher assaulted
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Huff just before one of the two shot Huff with
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the intent to cause his death. Another witness, the warrant said,
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told investigators that Asher had stated following the incident that
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he had just killed someone, referring to huff. Asher was
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indicted on a charge of complicity to commit first degree manslaughter.
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Connor was indicted on charges of complicity to murder, convicted
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felon in possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence,
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second degree escape, and being a persistent felon the offender.
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Smith was indicted on charges of murder, convicted felon in
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possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, first degree
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criminal mischief, and complicity to second escape. Asher and Connor
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remained lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail, while Smith
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remained held in the Leslie County Detention Center. Smith Senate
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honoor Baker's life and legacy. The Senate on March twenty
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seventh adopted Senate Resolution one seventy four, filed and sponsored
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by Senator Brandon Smith, a Republican of Hazard, honoring the
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life and legacy of State Senator Henry Nicholas Nick Baker
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and recognizing his lasting impact on communities across the Commonwealth.
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The resolution, according to the statement from the Senate Majority Caucus,
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highlights Baker's service in the Kentucky Senate from nineteen seventy
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to nineteen seventy eight, and his decades long legal career,
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as well as his deep commitment to family, faith, and
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public service. A native of Hazard who later made Louisville
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his home, Baker served his state both in uniform and
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in office. He joined the U. S Army in nineteen
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fifty nine and continued in the reserves until nineteen sixty
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five before building a fifty year career in law. During
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this time in the Senate, Baker introduced Senate Bill seventy three,
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legislation that required schools receiving state funds for men's basketball
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to establish programs for women. The measure restored girls basketball
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to Kentucky high schools after more than four decades and
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expanded access to education and opportunity for young women across
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the state. Senator Baker saw something that needed to change,
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and he did something about it, said Smith. Because of
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that one decision, girls across Kentucky got the chance to play,
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to compete, and to build a future they may not
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have otherwise had. That is a legacy that still shows
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up in gyms and communities all over this state. The
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resolution also recognizes Baker's lifelong faith, his service to Calvary
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Episcopal Church in Louisville, and his devotion to his family.
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He survived by his wife of fifty one years, Susan
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Henning Baker, their children, grandchildren, and extended family. Smith and
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the Senate adopted the resolution, formally expressing their sympathy and
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honoring a life that left a lasting mark on Kentucky.
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Campbell name m Kentucky Prosecutor of the Year. Perry County
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Attorney Derek George Campbell has been named Prosecutor of the
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Year by the Kentucky Chapter of the National Alliance on
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Mental Illness. According to a statement from the Perry County
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Attorney's office, the recognition was presented at NAMI Kentucky's annual
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awards reception in Frankfurt, which drew a soul out crowd
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and honored leaders across the state working at the intersection
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of mental health, public safety, and justice. According to the statement,
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Campbell received the award for his forward thinking and compassionate
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approach to prosecution, which prioritizes community safety and accountability while
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addressing mental health and substance use challenges. According to the statement,
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day in and day out, I know who I work for,
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but to the deliver for the men and women who
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work hard every day, follow the law and want a
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better life for their family. I have to recognize that
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there is life beyond the justice system for perpetrators. They
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have to find their place in our community too. We've
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developed solid approaches that require individuals to show us that
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they're serious about building a better life, to get that
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second chance that we've all asked for at some point,
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said Campbell from the opinion page Not Just a Theory
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by Russ Cassiday. Conspiracies most often break down under the
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weight of the lies it takes to sustain them. The
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central feature of a conspiracy is that it takes multiple people,
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and the more people who are involved in a particular situation,
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the more likely it is that one of them will
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reveal the secrets involved. I've always had this in mind
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when I remember the events surrounded Holy Week, an annual
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remembrance leading up to Easter. We're asked to remember the
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week of events that led to Jesus' crucifixion and to
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remember his death. We know about these events because of
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the words handed down to us by those around Jesus,
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chiefly the Apostles. I can only imagine what that week
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two thousand years ago was like for them from watching
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the man they had come to understand was the holder
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of truth. They saw entry into Jerusalem humbly but triumphantly
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to his betrayal at the hands of one of them,
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to him, allowing the authorities to arrest, torture, and kill
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him on the day we recognize as Good Friday. I
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can only imagine what these men and all their followers
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of Jesus felt when they watched or learned of his death.
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All was lost. All the teachings, all the work, all
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the dedication were now rendered meaningless, or so they likely thought. However,
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just a few short days later, death would be conquered,
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Jesus would be alive, and everything had changed. The reason
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I bring up conspiracies is that in the immediate aftermath
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of those events, and even to this day, many believe
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that it's all a fantasy, that the life, death, and
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resurrection of Jesus is just a fairy tale believed by
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the weak or used by the strong to control others. However,
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conspiracies always break down. It may take time, but there's
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always one person who starts the ball rolling the late
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Chuck Coulson knew a thing or two about conspiracies, having
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participated in and even spent time in prison for his
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participation in what we've come to know is the Watergate scandal.
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Colson and the others involved were true believers in the
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righteousness of their mission when they were breaking laws to
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support and protect President Richard Nixon. However, the Watergate conspiracy
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fell apart because, under duress and the threat of duress,
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members of the conspiracy broke down and revealed it. Colson
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later became a Christian minister and used his experience to
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illuminate the actions of the apostles after the events of
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Holy Week. Sometimes I hear the argument that Christianity has
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only spread because it can be used to gain wealth
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or power. However, the apostles never experienced that. Instead, they
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saw something occur that led them to even more strong
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litholow Jesus Christ and even sacrifice everything, including their lives,
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to spread the truth and live life as he told
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them to. They didn't get rich and powerful, they live
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lives that no one but a true believer in Jesus
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Christ would envy. As Colson said, for fifty years, Jesus's
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disciples were willing to be ostracized, beaten, persecuted, and all
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but one of them suffer a martyr's death without ever
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renouncing their conviction that they had seen that Jesus bodily resurrected.
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The fact is that people will give their lives for
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what they believe is true, but they will never give
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their lives for what they know is a lie. The
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Watergate cover up proves that twelve powerful men in modern
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America couldn't keep a lie, and the twelve powerless men
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two thousand years ago couldn't have been telling anything but
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the truth. As we wind through the events of Holy Week,
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we're asked to put ourselves in the shoes of those
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early followers of Christ, but also not given the benefit
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of directly experiencing what they experienced. However, it's exactly this
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leap of faith that is so important to truly believing
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that Jesus is who he says he is and did
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what it is he said he did. The remembrance of
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the events of Holy Week play a role in shoring
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up that faith. So even if you're planning to attend
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some kind of Easter service, takes some time this week
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to participate in other events, or at least prayerfully consider
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the apostles and their experiences, their words, and their actions.
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Holy Weeks shouldn't just be something we recognize. It should
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be something we live and breathe. Without it, we be
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lost because of what happened two thousand years ago. We
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are found and saved. I pray your faith is strengthened
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this Holy Week and the grace and mercy of Jesus
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Christ becomes more real to you than ever. Here are
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the obituaries. Michele Renee Franks Baker fifty eight died Wednesday,
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March twenty fifth. Lester Campbell fifty one died Saturday March
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twenty eight. Emma Grace McDaniel died Saturday March twenty eighth.
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John Joseph Combe sixty nine died Tuesday March twenty fourth.
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John Michael Carbide Collette seventy four of Hazard died Sunday,
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March twenty second, Hirst Gene Combs eighty three died Tuesday
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March twenty fourth, and Joyce Jones eighty three of Corbyn
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died Wednesday, March eleventh. From the sports page Commodores, Take
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two from Tigers Perry Central, posted back to back wins
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over Clay County during the second week of the twenty
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twenty sixth high school baseball season. The Commodores and Tigers
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are longtime board arrivals. First game Perry Central sixth Clay
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County five. Perry Central outlasted Clay County in Manchester on Monday,
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March twenty third. Devin Gayheart started on the mound for
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Central and earned the win. Kayheart pitched three and two
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thirds innings and recorded nine strikeouts. In the second game,
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Perry Central seven Clay County zero, Perry County shutout Clay County.
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Corbin Wooten pitched a three hitch shutout for Perry Central
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and earned the win on the mail. Wooton limited Clay
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County batters throughout the game and recorded eleven strikeouts. Lady
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Bulldogs take down Lady Panthers on the road. Hazard scored
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two runs in the top of the first inning to
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take the early lead. The Lady Bulldogs never looked back
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as Hazard was able to pull away from Pikeville the
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Lady Panthers for a ten to one road win at
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w C Hambley Athletic Conference this past Tuesday. Hazard wasted
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little time going on as Peyton Fields drew a lead
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off walk, then stole second and third base on the
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next that bat, Fields was driven in on a single
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by Rileigh Griffith to give Hazard the early lead and
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the top of the first inning. A few batters later,
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Hazard Sammy Noble drew a walk out to load the
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bases for the Lady Bulldogs. Cayden Stalin's grounded out, but
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one run scored to push Hazard's lead to oh Bikevielle
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was able to end the Lady Bulldogs scoring threat by
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striking out the next batter at the top of the
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first inning. The Bulldogs ended up leading two to nothing.
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The West Perry seventh Grade eighth grade team repeated as
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Perry County Elementary Boys volleyball champions in March. Commodore's outlast Wildcats.
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Perry Central outlasted eighth Region rival Buckhorn three to two
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in its opening match in the twenty twenty six boys'
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high school volleyball season on Thursday, March twenty sixth. The
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Commodores won twenty five, twenty two, twenty five, eighteen, fifteen,
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twenty five, nineteen, twenty five, fifteen eleven, Zachary Smith, Tyler
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Robinson Xavier Johnson, Jaden Hacker, Peyton Fugut, Ryan Day, and
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Jonah Taylor each contributed for the Commodores. Smith recorded eleven
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service ass while Haicker landed to kills. This concludes the
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reading of the Hazzard Herald. Please stay tuned for continued programming.
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Thank you for joining me and on behalf of everyone
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here at RADIOI. This is Lee Townshend, wishing you a
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good day.