Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Hazard Herald - 2.15.26

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Hazard Herald - 2.15.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turned to the reading of the Hazard Herald
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for news of Hazard and Perry County Umley Townsend. We
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bean at the online edition dated February eleventh, twenty twenty six.
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As a reminder, radiois a reading service intended for people
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who are blind to have other disabilities that make it
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difficult to read printed material. Utilities Commission discusses ongoing water outages.
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The Hazard City Utilities Commission discussed ongoing water outages during
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its February fifth regular meeting as officials provided updates on
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system impacts caused by the recent inclement weather across the area.
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Hazard City Manager Tony Eversol outlined the effected service areas,
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causes of the outages, and progress toward restoration. The airport
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went out on January twenty ninth due to low tank level,
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he said. Grapevine from the Dollar General at the Industrial
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Park to the Breathitt County Line also went out on
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the same day and was able to be restored on
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February third. As far as the airport, we are turning
1:09
a section of bit on today, so we'll be extremely
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happy about that, Everysol said. Additional outages occurred as freezing
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temperatures affected tanks and lines in several communities. On January
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thirty first, Stratton ran out, that's the right fork of
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Mace's Creek. He said, the tank froze on the intake
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and outgoing. We we restored it on February fourth. Skyline
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and Skyview, we hoped to pump them this evening or
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in the morning. We're not exactly sure what happened to Buckhorn.
1:45
They had a tank level of about eight feet and
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it dropped off in less than an hour, so we're
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assuming they have a leak, and that was on February second.
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He continued by detailing outages and additional service areas and
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the expanded timeline for restoration. Cole Harbor would serve Willard
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that went out on February third, and they were able
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to restore some of that on the same day, said Aftersoul.
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Campbell's Creek would serves Krypton that went out on February third,
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and we're happening to get some of that back on tomorrow.
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Bwin would serve Pine Valley and Los Creek that went
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out on February third, and hopefully by the weekend we
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will start pushing water down that way. The biggest thing
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is getting water to the airport. They went out first,
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and tomorrow would be a week for them. Hazard Mayor
2:39
and Donald Happy Mobileini acknowledged public frustration while praising utility
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crews for their response during the prolonged winter conditions. I
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know we've had a lot of complaints about water issues,
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said Mobolini, but we have an amazing team who's been
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working around the clock to get water restored to those
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places as quickly as possible. This has been a long
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stretch of bad weather, pretty much non stop. As of
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press time on February tenth, Eversoul said the water had
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been restored on the Belckhorn Meter and at the airport,
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Pine Valley, and elk Royd, with areas like Loss Creek
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and Pigeon Roosts still out. City officials said Cruise will
3:22
continue restoration efforts as conditions allow and will provide updates
3:27
as services return to the remaining areas. Hazard High School
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students Ally Caldwell and Terry Davidson presented results of their
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students success surveyed in Frankfort at the Kentucky Department of
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Educations Unitedly Stand Conference. Smith files bill aimed at converting
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abandoned homes into affordable housing by Justin Begley. State Senator
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Brandon Smith, a Republican from Hazard, has filed legislation named
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at addressing Kentucky's affordable housing shortage can vading long vacant
4:01
properties into stable, affordable homes. According to a statement from
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Smith's office, Senate Bill one two would establish the Abandoned
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Home Pool Fund, a program designed to partner with experienced
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nonprofit housing organizations to acquire and rehabilitate abandoned properties, particularly
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abandoned residential properties that have set vacant for years and
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contributed the neighborhood to Clyde. The legislation would require homes
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restored through the program to remain affordable for twenty years,
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with rent based on actual rehabilitation costs rather than market rates.
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The bill also creates a rent to own pathway, allowing
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tenants to make consistent on time payments to eventually purchase
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their homes. The statement said, by requiring twenty year deed
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restrictions and a rent to own structure, the bill provides stable,
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long term pathways to ownership for moderate income Kentuckians. This
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turns community liabilities into community assets while building wealth for
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working families. He continued. Under the bill, rent payments would
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flow back into the state fund minus limited operating expenses,
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creating what Smith describes as a self sustaining, revolving fund.
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According to the statement, the initial twenty five million dollar
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appropriation would be continually cycled back into future housing rehabilitation projects,
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rather than functioning as a one time expenditure. Because rent
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payments are required to be returned to the state fund,
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the program becomes a revolving, self renewing resources. Said legislators
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give long term impacts from a single investment with strong
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guard rails, nonprofit eligibility standards, and competitive applications to ensure
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accountabilitylationation targets properties that have been vacant for at least
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one year and are in dish repair, positioning the program
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both as a housing and bank reduction strategy. Smith said
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abandoned homes often depressed surrounding property values and require repeating
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code enforcement. According to the statement, the program would be
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administered through Kentucky based nonprofit organizations with at least five
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years of experience in housing or home repair. Owners would
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be required to earn no more than one hundred and
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twenty percent of the area median income and complete a
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home ownership counseling course before signing a lease. The bill
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also includes modest clerk fee editions to support the fund
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without raising taxes, while allowing local governments to retain the
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majority of the revenue. This bill is about giving people
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a fair shot, not feeling profits. With speculator Smith said,
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it's a smart, triggered solution that lives up neighborhoods and
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makes efficient Houston tax dollars. SB one two has been
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filed for consideration during the twenty twenty sixth legislative session.
7:13
Rural urban educators gathered to strengthen STEM pipeline across Kentucky. Educators, students,
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and STEM leaders from across Kentucky came together February sixth
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to bridge gaps between rural and urban communities and strengthen
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opportunities for students statewide during the Rural Urban Exchange STEM Summit.
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Today is the Rural Urban Exchange STEM Summit, said Sarah Griffiths,
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STEM education specialists with the Challenger Center. We have people
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here representing rural STEM centers like the Challenger Center of Kentucky,
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and then people from urban centers like the Center for
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Living Arts and Science in Lexington. Griffith said the goal
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of the summit is to connectanizations and communities that do
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not always have opportunities to collaborate. Essentially, we all come
8:06
together to build a science ecosystem that benefits students across Kentucky.
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She said. We're trying to establish different connections and collaborators
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with different schools and organizations, businesses, industries try to build
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a STEM ecosystem to strengthen the pipeline for students, she said,
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to some and also focuses on ensuring students from rural
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areas are included in these opportunities. We have students here
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from rural places like Olsley County who don't always have
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access to these kinds of things. They can come here,
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we can make trips to Lexington, So we're trying to
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build this ecosystem for the students, said Griffith. Griffith said
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the sum it featured several speakers and drew a great turnout.
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We've talked about different things like tips for finding funding,
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how to build STEM curricula, all sorts of actions and
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pathways that you don't always think about. She said. Something
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we try to introduce here is arts, environmental sciences, and
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things of that nature. We always have students here from
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local schools and robotics teams to represent their projects. Griffith said.
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The summit bills on similar efforts held in previous years
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and highlights the importance of collaboration between organizations. We had
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one of these last year, but it was in Lexington,
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so this year we stepped in the partner with Rule
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Up and Hosts. She said, We've had such a great
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turnout despite the weather forecast, and we've shared a lot
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of great ideas. Ag reiterates opposition to rate increase for
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Kentucky Power. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coma's office reiterated in
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the following February third it stants that Kentucky Power should
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not be granted a rate increase. Kentucky Power has ask
10:00
the Kentucky Public Service Commission to be allowed to institute
10:03
a rate increase that would like residential customers' rates by
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nearly fifteen percent. However, in the brief from Attorney General
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Cohman's office, though they said the rates proposed by the
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company do not meet the Commonwealth standard of being fair,
10:21
just and reasonable. Kentucky Power has some of the highest
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residential electric bills in the Commonwealth. The brief said, Kentucky
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Power takes issue with this characterization, but it is an
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accurate one. Kentucky Power's residential rate payers pay higher rates
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for kill a lot hour that almost all other Kentucky
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rate payers, even those that serve similar service areas, And
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on top of that, the average volume used by Kentucky
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Power's rate payers is considerably higher than almost all Kentucky
10:56
residential rate payers. The brief continued. Combination causes the total
11:02
bills of Kentucky Power's residential rate players to be out
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of step with those of other utilities. The AG's office
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also wrote in the brief that it takes issue with
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American Electric Powers and Kentucky Power's contention that they're not
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earning enough money, instead pointing out that Kentucky Power does
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not lose money on its service territory. Kentucky Power reliably
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turns a profit for its parent AEP each year, the
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brief said, and Kentucky Power is not the only one
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producing profits for AP. On July thirtieth, twenty twenty five,
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the day after a fouled it's notice to seek this
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increase in rates, AEP announce that it achieved record earnings
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in the second quarter of twenty twenty five. Over the
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last five years, AEP's stock prices have increased from around
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eighty dollars through one hundred and twenty four dollars, which
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is over a fifty percent increase. AEP, in its own words,
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expects continued growth. The brief continues, AEP and Kentucky Power
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are not hurting, but Kentucky powers rate payers are hurting.
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Kentucky Power, the brief said, plays an outsized role in
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the determining the future quality of life for residents in
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the counties that it serves. Without affordable electricity, there's a
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little economic growth and opportunity. The brief said. Without affordable electricity,
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people cannot meet their basic needs. If AEP wants to
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continue to operate in this service territory, it must share
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in the good and the band, the risk and the reward,
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and not solely burden rate payers with problems of the area.
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If the rate increase is not rejected, the age's office
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said in the brief, then the Commission should make all
12:56
available adjustments to minimize the increase. State unlikely to have
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to share funding of snap benefits. Changes to the federally
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funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program will cost the state more
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for administration, but not for benefits, legislators were told on
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February fourth, during a meeting of the Kentucky House Budget
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Reviews Subcommittee on Health and Family Services. Kentucky Department for
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Community Based Services Commissioned Lisa Dennis spoke to legislators about
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the anticipated impacts on the Commonwealth's budget for HR one,
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also called the One Big Beautiful Bill. Then, it said
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the state does not anticipate being required to spend more
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on the administration of SNAP than the program. Benefits would
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continue to be one hundred percent funded by the government.
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Then it said that one of the changes under HR
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one would require some states to share the costs of
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benefits for the first time. Hi R one requires states
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to contribute a percentage of the benefits earned if their
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payment error exceeds six percent. Avordinis said it's not currently
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expected that that will impact. Kentucky superintendent's voice support for
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Basheer pre K proposal. A total of ninety three superintendents
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signed their names in support of a proposal by Governor
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Andy Thesheer for the state defund b K for all
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four year olds in Kentucky. A statement February ninth this
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year announced the superintendent sent a letter on February fifth
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to the General Assembly, which is currently in the process
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of setting the state's two year spending plan, asking the
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legislators to fund the program. Local superintendent signing a letter
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included Flood County Superintendent Tomyall Williams, Hazard Independent School Superintendent
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Signdra Combes County School Superintendent Kent Clark, and Pike County
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School Superintendent Freddie Bowing. In the statement, Bahu thanked the
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superintendents for their support. U Pike voices support for Kentucky
15:14
College of Optometry and light of testing controversy, The University
15:19
of Pipe Law has said in a statement that despite
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recent controversy over testing and licensure by the Kentucky Board
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of Optometric Examiners, the Kentucky College of Optometry remains on
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mission after graduating more than three hundred optometrists. Questions regarding
15:38
the testing and licensing of altometry centers on waivers and
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alternative testing options that were offered by the Board of
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Geometric Examiners following the institution of COVID nineteen pandemic travel restriction.
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According to a statement from the Board issued February fifth,
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among those alternative testing options offered were tests that did
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not include all required parts of the National Board of
16:08
Examiners and Optometry Licensing Exam. On February fifth, the Board
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announced that it had previously voted to follow an emergency
16:18
administrative regulation that will require any Kentucky autometry's licensed under
16:24
the waivers of alternative testing methods to support passing examination
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scores prior to the license renewal. Further, beginning next year,
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the three part exam is given throughout the country, and
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it will be required for those seeking a license in Kentucky.
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From the opinion Page and Defeat from the Jaws of
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Victory by Russ Cassaday, One reason I've remained a registered
16:50
independent for so long is that I've been around long
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enough to watch political parties consistently snatch defeat from the
16:56
jaws of victory time and time again. The Democratic Party,
17:01
riding a high popularity after the Clinton administration, proceeded over
17:06
the ensuing decades to abandon the very people who brought
17:10
its success. That's not to mention the policies Clinton ursured
17:15
in that ultimately decimated the working class and succeeded in
17:19
nurturing the culture of government dependency that's dog dust ever since. However,
17:26
I'm not sure American politics has seen a public act
17:30
of self immolation quite as spectacular as that currently being
17:34
committed by the administration of President Land Trump. The democratic
17:39
failure post Clinton played a massive role in handing Trump
17:43
a big win in twenty twenty four. There's been a
17:47
lot of examination of why Trump one a second shot
17:50
at the presidency, and people had a lot of different reasons. However,
17:54
I remain convinced that a massive factor was the fact
17:58
that people did not see their lives improving during the
18:01
Biden administration, and candidate and VP Kamala Harris did a
18:06
horrible job of convincing the American people that she was
18:09
the better equipped to bring us into a better tomorrow.
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I would estimate far more Harris voters were voting against
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Trump than for her, But I digress. In the year
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since Trump took office a second time, we've seen misstep
18:25
after misstep foreign policy, domestic policy, and everything in between
18:31
by both the President and the party, and it's not
18:34
getting better. Just this past week, we saw the president's
18:39
social media account, whether he did it remains up for
18:42
debate post a video featuring a racist trope pointing at
18:46
former President Barack Obama. If the video was posted intentionally,
18:52
it was an example of unbelievable evil, reintroducing a concept
18:56
that should have died out generations ago. If it was
19:01
at Burton, it was an example of absolute stupidity of
19:05
the highest order. Couple that with another image this week
19:10
of Kentucky House speaker David Osborn yanking a microphone away
19:14
from sitting in us represented to Thomas Massey, who is
19:18
a frequent critic and now target of trought. I've seen
19:22
where it's claimed that Osborne's action was the result of
19:25
Massey speaking too long. However, as someone who spent a
19:29
large chunk of his life covering political events, I can't
19:34
say that. Outside the Hillbilly Day's slumb speaking, where candidates
19:37
are played down by a bluegrass band, it's a rare
19:40
occasion where a politician is limited in his or her speech.
19:46
The President's use of social media is a prime example
19:49
of why leaders shouldn't use the technology. Their words carry
19:53
too much weight to be ignored or brushed off, and
19:56
the reality is that the president's posts or not just annoying.
20:01
They could actually start a war. Watching Trump and the
20:04
Republican Party take this step after this step, while they
20:08
have failed to do anything to make America great again,
20:11
it is like watching a televised suicide. While some may
20:15
revel at it, it's incredibly sad and ultimately sickening history.
20:20
I'm afraid will not be kind to this error of
20:23
US politics and culture. However, I remain convinced that a
20:27
better day is coming. I stand where I do because
20:31
I have my doubts about whether a person or party
20:34
alone can make the changes we need. I'm afraid that's
20:38
all us folks. House Bill File forty and the Right
20:43
to worship without protest by Mike Harmon. When the right
20:47
of people to peaceably assemble and the right of freedom
20:50
of the press comes into conflict with the right of
20:53
free exercise and women's religious fate, which one wins, well,
20:58
I can point out that they all fall within the
21:00
First Amendment, and the freedom of religion comes in first
21:05
in the Amendment. But let's explore further. Of course, what
21:09
I'm referring to is when at anti ice riders including
21:13
former Cynn anchored by women, stormed into a Minnesota church
21:18
interrupting the service Sunday, January nineteenth. Thankfully, in addition to
21:24
the US Constitution, there's the federal law which provides additional protection,
21:29
or at least consequences for those who participate in such
21:32
an event. Now, I've heard some indication that members of
21:36
the church have forgiven the writers, and if they are
21:40
as they profess to be Christians, then I would assume
21:43
they would. But even with the forgiveness, should there be
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earthly consequences. When I was running for state representative the
21:50
first time in nineteen ninety eight, I was also working
21:53
as an assistant manager of manufacturing on the night shift
21:57
the Trim Masters Incorporated. When a night shift manager came
22:01
in wringing his hands, saying I can't get the blood off. Surprised,
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I asked him what was going on, and apparently someone
22:08
who'd been looking outside of the factory had shot a
22:12
police officer. A manager had tried to help save the officer.
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The officer who'd been shot was Officer Regina Nicholas Nichols.
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The shooter was John Paul Works, and he had been
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shot by another officer. Officer Nichols died that night, while
22:30
mister Works survived, while I was campaigning that year, I
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ran into Officer nicholls mother, and although I did not
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relay the entire discussion in this article, I will relate
22:40
that she had forgiven John paul Works for killing her
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daughter and did not want him to receive the death penalty,
22:46
but did want him to spend his life in prison
22:49
for his crimes. That made me Paul's I could become
22:53
a Christian and I would have the same conviction and
22:56
strength to give somebody who had taken one of my
22:59
daughters from me. I wasn't sure. The other thing that
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this event made me realize was that even though we
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may receive forgiveness, there are still everything consequences for our
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actions at times. The Guests columns by Brand and Smith,
23:15
Week five of the twenty twenty sixth Legislative Session. The
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fifth week of the twenty twenty sixth Legislative Session found
23:24
the Senate working steadily on behalf of families across the
23:27
Commonwealth as we passed the third one third mark of
23:32
this sixty day session. By weeks in committee hearings, four
23:36
debates and thoughtful deliberation continued in Frankfort. The Senate's priorities
23:41
are well in order. Lawmakers from all corners of the
23:45
state are focused on addressing issues Kentuckians care about most,
23:49
including housing, affordability for families, accountability for your coax dollars,
23:56
and more. Prairie County water challenges first and foremost. As
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we recouperate from this winter storm, I want to make
24:04
sure we don't forget those who still are without water
24:07
in eastern Kentucky. Sure you were not complacent about the issue.
24:13
Recognizing the hurdles of our landscape doesn't mean we'll stop
24:17
the race. We choose to live in the mountains, and
24:20
some of the beauty and sanctuary that give us are
24:23
the very causes of these hurdles. Infrastructure is constantly challenged,
24:28
but I promise it is also constantly addressed. In every budget,
24:33
We've invested real dollars in funding the maintenance and expansion
24:37
of the intricate water system in Perie County. Just this year,
24:41
ground broke on the Buckhorn expansion. That doesn't mean we're finished.
24:47
There are areas we need to address for future sessions.
24:50
I'm in constant contact with our local officials for status
24:54
reports and next steps. Addressing housing challenges before updating you
25:00
on bills, clearing the Senate. I want to remind you
25:02
of Senate Bill on that I filed last week and
25:07
that has garnered some attention this week, even by filing
25:10
of the new Priority Bill SB nine. This priority bill
25:14
was filed to make my proposal support housing growth across Kentucky.
25:21
SB nine would provide new tools for local governments and
25:24
developers to partner on infrastructure and redevelopment, thereby lowering housing
25:30
costs and accelerating construction. Additional bills delivered to the House.
25:37
Senate Bill twelve received much debate on the Senate floor
25:40
on Friday. This bill allows level four trauma centers to
25:44
provide twenty four to seven emergency room care using physician
25:49
assistance or nurse practitioners under physician supervision, aiming to address
25:54
rural staff and shortages and prevent hospital closures. I spoke
25:59
in support THISBE twelve because it reflects the reality facing
26:03
hospitals in eastern Kentucky. Rural facilities serve some of the
26:08
sickest people in the country, yet they struggle every day
26:11
to recruit and retain physicians willing to practice in remote areas.
26:17
We've tried every traditional approach, and the workforce gap remains.
26:22
This bill gives hospitals a practical option to keep emergency
26:26
rooms open by allowing experience to physician assistance and nurse
26:31
practitioners under physician supervision to provide care when doctors simply
26:36
are not available. I've supported legislation that meets the needs
26:40
of our urban centers, and this is one of those
26:42
moments where I'm asking our colleagues to extend that same
26:46
understanding to rural Kentucky. Life depends on it. Here are
26:51
the obituaries. Joyce Olinger Adams sixty two of Sasafras on Friday,
26:57
February sixth, Rachel Climans sixty sixth of Hazard, Sunday February first,
27:04
Andy Benjamin Haggins seventy six of Genwood, Indiana, the former
27:10
day of Defazard Saturday, January thirty first. Sean David Hudoo
27:16
Nobles sixty eight of Hazard died Wednesday, February fourth. Wade
27:22
Lewis w Kemboy before a Doctor, died Friday, February sixth.
27:28
This concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald. Please stay
27:32
tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining me and
27:35
on behalf of everyone here at Radio Live. This is
27:38
Lee Townsend, wishing you a good day, Thursday, January twenty ninth.
27:44
Jimmy Johnson, sixty seven of Hazard died Monday, February second.
27:49
Larry Nobles seventy four of Hazard died Friday, February sixth,
27:54
and Hetty Jane Stidham, seventy at Busy died Tuesday, February third.
28:01
Kentucky River Area Development District is wanting individuals in its
28:05
service area of scammers posing as representatives with FEMA. We
28:10
received numerous reports of scammers posing as FEMA representatives to
28:14
exploit presidents, particularly in areas still navigating post disaster recovery,
28:20
Grand said in a statement. FEMA is aware of the
28:24
fraudulent activities, the statement said, and has been attempting to
28:27
reach out directly to affected individuals. However, the prevalence of
28:32
the scams has created a significant hurdle. Many residents, now
28:36
rightfully worry, are refusing to engage with legitimate FEMA personnel.
28:41
The statement said. This breakdown in trust is delaying critical
28:45
home inspections in the distribution of essential disaster assistance. KRAADD
28:52
has distributed the best practices of this for verifying identity
28:56
and avoiding fraud demand and official photo lige. All female representatives,
29:02
including home inspectors, carry a laminated government photo badge ID.
29:07
A FEMA shirt or jacket or hat is not proof
29:11
of identity. FEMA never asks for money. Applying for federal
29:16
disaster assistance is free. If someone asks for a processing
29:21
fee or a deposit, or any form of payment to
29:23
speed up your claim, they're scammers. Guard your information. A
29:28
legitimate female inspector will already have your nine digit registration
29:33
number in their system. They should never ask you for
29:37
your full Social Security number or banking information in the field.
29:43
Know the contact process. FEMA typically only contacts residents who
29:48
have already applied for assistance. If a resident receives an
29:52
unsolicited call or visit and has not followed the claim,
29:55
it's likely to be a scale