Transcript

2.6.25 · Springfield Sun

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Springfield Sun to bring you
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news from in and around Washington County. Your reader today
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is Amy Jones Timmedy. We begin with the addition dated Wednesday,
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February fifth, twenty twenty five. As a reminder, Lady Ali
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is a reading service intended for people who are blind
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or have other disabilities that make it difficult to read
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printed material. Our first story today hung jury in retrial
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of Marion County woman previously convicted of child abuse. By
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Jane Reid Kline February fifth, twenty twenty five. The jury
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in the retrial of Melissa Pittman could not reach a
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consensus as to Pittman's guilt or innocence of the charge
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of first degree criminal abuse. Originally convicted and sentenced in
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twenty seventeen, Pittman had only about thirteen months remaining on
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her sentence when, with the help of the Kentucky Innocence Project,
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her conviction was overturned. Pittman, of Bradsfordsville, was originally indicted
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in twenty thirteen for first degree criminal abuse after she
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allegedly physically abused her step grandson, Seth Martinez. Pittman pled
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not guilty to the charges. On March twenty ninth, twenty thirteen, Pittman,
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who had been appointed his guardian at the time, took
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Seth to Taylor Regional Hospital. According to medical records, he
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was unresponsive and was blown to University of Kentucky Hospital
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with a suspected brain bleed. His body was totally stiff,
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his eyes were dilated, and he was completely unresponsive, according
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to those records. Doctors also noted in his records that
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he had new and old bruises on his body. At
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one point, Seth was believed to be brain dead. He
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remained at UK Hospital until May of twenty thirteen, when
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he was transferred to the Home of the Innocent because
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his family was unable to provide the twenty four hour
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care that he needed to survive. At that time, Seth
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was diagnosed with pediatric abuse of health or head trauma,
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child physical abuse, and severe medical neglect as a result
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of his injuries. He is completely dependent on others for
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every aspect of his care. While Pittman maintained Set's injuries
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were the result of falls in a long term brain disorder,
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a joint investigation between the Department of Community Based Services
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and the Kentucky State police began shortly after Seth was
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initially taken to the hospital. Based upon the investigation, Amaran
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County brand jury indicted Pittman on August sixteenth, twenty thirteen,
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alleging first degree criminal abuse. The case continued to be
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investigated and went a trial in November of twenty sixteen.
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The jury convicted Pittman of first degree criminal abuse. Pittman
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filed an appeal, which was officially denied on Mark twenty second,
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twenty eighteen. On May thirty first, twenty twenty four, with
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thirteen months left to serve twenty seventeen, conviction was overturned
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through strong advocacy from the Kentucky Innocence Project and the
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Post conviction branch of the Kentucky Public Defender's Office. Quote.
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Melissa was convicted of first degree child abuse with a
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sentenceing enhancement in connection to her efforts to care for
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her two year old step grandchild. She took emergency custody
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of the child, who was already developmentally delayed and suffering
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from an untreated and worshening brain condition after his parents
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did not care for him. Despite her efforts, his condition worsened. Ultimately,
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a pediatrician who had not treated the boy, looked at
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his records and drew the conclusion that he had did
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a victim of abuse, including head trauma, that set the
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stage for her conviction. End of quote, the Kentucky Innocence
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Project said in a statement upon her release. At a
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post conviction hearing on May twenty eight, the court heard
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from two different positions with expertise in shaken baby syndrome
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and abuse of health trauma or head trauma, testified to
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the child's pre existing condition and several accidental falls that
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contributed to his health deterioration. The court agreed that that
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was enough to throw out the original conviction, leading to
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Pittman's release and setting the stage for the retrial. In
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the retrial that began on Monday, January twenty seventh, twenty
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twenty five, both sides presented new expert witnesses and contradictory conclusions.
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The jury heard much of the original testimony and evidence
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presented in Pittman's first trial. It seems that expert witnesses
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shed new light on the case. After three and a
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half hours of deliberation, the jury said they could not
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reach a consensus. The vote was tended to Judge Todd
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Falding asked them to continue deliberations in hopes of a verdict.
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After six more hours of deliberation, the jury was still
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tended to and concluded a verdict could not be reached.
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On Thursday, January thirtieth, shortly after nine pm, Judge Spalding
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declared a hung jury. A source inside the courthouse said
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the vote was ten innocent and two wanting to convict
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on a lesser misdemeanor charge. This has not been confirmed.
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It is unknown at this time if the Commonwealth Attorney's
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Office will retry the case yet again. The case is
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scheduled for a status conference on February twenty seconds. Washington
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County moves to second lowest jobless rate in the State
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Staff Report February sixth, twenty twenty five. Despite a mild increase,
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Washington County has moved up one notch to the second
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lowest unemployment rate in the Commonwealth. Washington and Marion Counties
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were tied for third place for November twenty twenty four
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with a rate of three point nine percent. December through
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Washington County's new rate of four percent in Marion County
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at four point one percent, Marion County is tied for
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sixth best rate. In December twenty twenty three, Washington County
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posted rate of two point nine percent, while Marion was
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at three point one percent. Washington and Marion Counties were
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not alone in the increase over last year. Unemployment rates
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rose in all one hundred twenty counties between December twenty
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twenty three and December twenty twenty four, according to the
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Kentucky Center for Statistics ky STATS, an agency within the
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Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet. Woodford County recorded the lowest
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jobless rate in the Commonwealth at three point eight percent.
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It was followed by Anderson, Sayett, Shelby, and Washington Counties
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four percent each, and Carroll, Marion, Oldham, and Scott Counties
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four point one percent each. Martin County recorded the state's
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highest unemployment rate at twelve point four percent. It was
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followed by Macgoffin County eleven percent, and Elliott and Lewis
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County's ten point four percent each. The comparable unadjusted unemployment
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rate for the state was five point one percent for
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December twenty twenty five, four and three point eight percent
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of the nation. Ky STATS knows unemployment statistics are based
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on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than
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actually count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non
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military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work.
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They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked
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for employment within the past four weeks. The day they
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should only be compared to the same month in previous years.
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Senator Higden appointed to Economic Development, Transportation and Cultural Affairs
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Committee of CSG South by J. R. Klin February sixth,
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twenty twenty five. Senator Jimmy Higden, a Republican from Lebanon,
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has been appointed by Senate President Robert Steibers, a Republican
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from Manchester, to serve on the Economic Development, Transportation and
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Cultural Affairs Committee of the Council of State Government Southern
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Office c SG South. As a committee member, Higgen will
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collaborate with policymakers across the fifteen member Southern States to
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advance legislative initiatives that strengthen the region's economics, development, transportations,
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and cultural affairs. This appointment, with support from Committee Chair
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Senator Becky Massey of Tennessee, offers him access to valuable research,
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legislative briefings, and expert resources provided by CSG South. Quote.
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It is an honor to be appointed to this committee
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and I look forward to working alongside fellow legislators to
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foster economic growth and improve transportation infrastructure in our region,
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said higgon CSG South is an awesome organization to be
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a part of, and as Senate Transportation Committee Chair, I'm
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excited to share some of the good work we're doing
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in Kentucky on the infrastructure front end of quotes. Founded
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in nineteen forty seven, CSG SEI is the largest of
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four regional offices under the Council of State Government dedicated
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to fostering intergovernmental cooperation among Southern states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,
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North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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The organization's Annuable Southern Legislative Conference SLC is a premier
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regional event where policymakers can vene to exchange ideas, discuss
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legislative initiatives, and explore e merging government solutions. As a
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committee member, Higden's responsibilities will include representing Kentucky and engaging
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with fellow legislators to enhance regional economic and transportation policy initiatives.
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Participating in committee sessions and business meetings at the Southern
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Legislative Conference, Contributing into legislative roundtables and policy discussion, voting
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on key policy positions and committee leadership roles, and engaging
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in CSG South Legislative Briefing, webinars and Leadership Development program.
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HIGDOOM will serve a two year term ending December thirty first,
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twenty twenty six. The twenty twenty five Southern Legislative Conference
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will be in Birmingham, Alabama, on July nineteenth through the
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twenty third. It will provide policy makers with a platform
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to engage in policy discussions, explore economic development strategies, and
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promote infrastructure and cultural affairs in the Southern region. Update
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from public meeting for East Lebanon Connector and Marion County
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by j. R. Kline, February fifth, twenty twenty five. Plans
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to extend the Lebanon Bypass or Kentucky twenty one fifty
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four from Kentucky fifty five to US sixty eight east
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of Lebanon are moving forward after public inputs. The Kentucky
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Transportation Cabinet would like to thank those who took the
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time to attend the public information meeting held at Center
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Square Gym on August twenty to twenty twenty four, or
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visited the project website to complete the questionnaire. Three alternatives
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for the new roadway were presented, as well as proposed
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safety improvements along Kentucky fifty five. With feedback from stakeholders
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and the public, the project team analyzed cost, benefits, and
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the impacts of each option. The following selections are chosen
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for final design by pass extension. The project team has
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determined a hybrid combination of the central South alternatives will
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reduce impacts and best to meet the needs and goals
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of the project. Kentucky fifty five Kentucky thirty one fifty
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five intersection improvements. The restricted crossing U turn are cut
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alternative was selected. This type of intersection simplifies decision making
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for drivers and minimizes potential for higher severity crashes. The
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R cut will restrict left turns coming out of five
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Star and neighboring businesses on that side of Highway fifty five.
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Drivers will exit going right to the roundabout at the
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bypass and circle back to travel towards Springfield. The project
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also includes plans for constructing roundabouts at Kentucky fifty five,
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the connector road to Corporate Drive, and at the intersection
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of US sixty eight. This alternative will realign and replace
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positions of Barber's Mill Road Kentucky fourteen oh four and
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will have a connection to Nice Way on the north
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side of the Marion County High School campus. To view
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the entire corridor and planned improvement, visit EA st LB
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dot com. This project will now move into the final
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design phase, which includes completion of the environment mental analysis.
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Depending on available fundings, the purchase of Rightaway could begin
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in late twenty twenty five. For educational information on roundabouts,
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r cuts, and other innovative highway designs, including fact sheets, diagrams,
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and video overviews, visit the KYTC Safer Road Solutions website
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at Transportation dot ky dot Good Flash Safe Road Solutions
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Brief by JR clin February fifth, twenty twenty five, Mid
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Kentucky Arts presents Dancing in the Street musical of the
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nineteen sixty from Beach Boys to Beetles to Motown Holk
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and more two weekends starting January thirty first to February
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ninth at the Springfield Opera House featuring Gary Adido and
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your favorite Mid Kentucky Chorus singers along with a live band.
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It's a show not to Me. Tickets available online at
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www dot md Kentucky Arts dot com or by calling
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eight five nine four eight one seven zero nine four.
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Show dates are Friday February seventh at seven thirty pm,
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Saturday February eighth at seven thirty pm, and Sunday, February
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ninth at three pm. Upcoming concerts at Loretto Motherhouse, Campbellsville
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University Piano Ensemble will give a concert at Loretto Motherhouse, Urnix,
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Kentucky on Thursday, February sixth at seven pm. All are welcome,
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Admission is free. Red Cross Blood Drive there will be
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a Redcross blood drive at Springfield Baptist Church in the
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Activity Center Z Lincoln Park Road on Monday, February tent
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from twelve pm to five pm. Download the Red Cross
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donor app at red Cross Blood search for the keyword
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Brainfield Baptist or call one eight hundred Red Cross to
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schedule your appointment. Walkins are welcome that you may have
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to wait for an opening. With your digital donor card,
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you can track your lifetime donation, view your blood pressure,
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and follow your donation on way to the hospital. This
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month's donor will receive a fifteen dollars Amazon gift card
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and a free T shirt while supplies last. Donors must
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have a valid email address on file to receive awards.
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Public Retirees Meeting the Lincoln Chapter of the Kentucky Public
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Retirees meeting eleven thirty am Monday, February tenth at the
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Golden Corrals, Bluffe and Krill, nineteen thirty five North Dixie Highway, Elizabethtown.
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Guest speaker will be told Bishop who will present information
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about TI T and demonstrate movements. Retirees and spouses receiving
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retirement benefits from k e R, s p e R
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S or s p R S are welcome to attend.
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Membership information will be available at the meeting or on
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the website Kentucky Public Retirees dot o RG. For more information,
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contact Sandy Allen at two seven O three oh seven
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six one. The two seven zero three zero seven zero
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zero six one Springfield Visitor Center Ribbon cutting a ribbon
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cutting ceremony will be held at the new Spramefield Visitor
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Center located in the Opera House on February thirteenth. At noon.
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Light refreshments will be served. Republican Women to host Richard
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Nelson Commonwealth Policy Center. The Republican Women's Club will meet Thursday,
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February thirteenth at the Farm Bureau Building at two eleven
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Progress Avenue in Springfield. Meeting time will be five point
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thirty instead of six pm. Please make note of the
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location and time changes. Speakers for the evening will be
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Richard Nelson with a Commonwealth Policy Center. Taken from their website.
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The CTC is dedicated to preserving the bedrock values of life,
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religious liberty, marriage, and fiscal responsibility. Retired Teachers Meetings. The
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Washington County Retired Teachers Association will have their next meeting Tuesday,
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February eighteenth at Loss Trace, Mexican Grill at six o'clock.
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Empty Bull Supper New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future invites
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community members across Nelson, Marion and Washington County to the
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annual Empty Bull Supper fundraiser on Friday, February twenty first,
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from six eight pm at Cornerstone Acres, three seventy nine,
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rud Lane in Spreamfield, Kentucky. Team Photo Contest Washington County
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Public Library announces the February Team Photo Contest. Categories include nature, people, are, pests,
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action or abstracts. Entrance may submit up to one photo
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in each category. Photos featuring people must be accompanied by
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written permission from the subject to enter. Email your name
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and age in your images two e V E l
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y N dot s P E n p e r
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at w c P l k y dot org. Deadline
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is February twenty eight. With Workout Classes three with Workout
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Classes will be held at the Washington County Public Library
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on the first and third Fridays of each month at
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ten am, in which workout we will learn about frame
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health and exercise our wits with fun games. Classes are
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taught by Tabrina Buckman. So you've called the Washington County
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Extension Office at eight five nine, three, three, six, seven
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seven four one with any question. You do not have
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to register. Join in when you can. Nice of Columbus Zingo.
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Nice of Columbo's Zingo is played every Wednesday at seven pm.
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Doors and concessions open at five pm. Features a Progressive Jackpot,
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starting at five hundred dollars and going up every week
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until one. Dingo tabs available on site. This is charitable
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gaming and all posts are donated back to charity. Call
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eight five nine three three six nine nine sixty seven
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for additional information. Survivor of Suicide Support Group. Survivors of
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Suicide Support Group meets every first Thursday of the month
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from six to seven pm at the Boyle County Library.
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This group is for adults who have had friends of
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family members die by suicide. The group serve Boyle and
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surrounding counties. Board of Elections. The Washington County Board of
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Elections will hold its monthly meeting the third Tuesday of
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each month at ten am at the County Clerk's Office.
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Democratic Women's Club. The Democratic Women's Club meets the third
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Saturday of every month at the Washington County Public Libraries
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from eleven am to twelve pm. All are welcome. Sprainsville Tourism.
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Sprainsville Tourism meetings are the fourth Monday of each month
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at five thirty at the Opera House. All regular meetings
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are open to the public. Van serving those who served
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the disabled American Veterans Transport Dan leaves eleven in Every
20:55
Monday and Thursday. The van leaves from the eleven and
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McDonald's at seven fifteen am, then proceeds to the Spremefield
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Hearties in Vard's Tom Burger Team writers need to set
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up medical appointments through the VA and notify the DAD
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Transport coordinator before they ride. Veterans who wish to ride
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on the eleven and Van Mondays or Thursday should call
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five zero two seven eight zero three two four seven.
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There is no charge for riding the van. Do you
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have an announce it? Announcements in the brief section are
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free email them two editor at the spreamefilled Sun dot
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com by five pm the Friday before you want it
21:43
to run. New Pioneers is accepting nominations for the annual
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Pioneer Award by day are Kline February fifth, twenty twenty five.
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Do you know someone who exemplifies sustainable living? What about
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a business that prioritizes greenpri This is submit your nominations
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for New Pioneers second annual Pioneer Awards and help recognize
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the Champion Environmental Educator, Sustainable Project of the Year, Green Business,
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and Member of the Year winners will be announced at
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the New Pioneer's Annual Empty Bull Suffer on Friday, February
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twenty first, from six to eight pm at Cornerstone Acres
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in Springfield. Learn more about the Empty Bull Suffer and
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submit your nomination at https colan slash slash, New Pioneers
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Dot org, Flash Event Slash, Empty Dash Bowl Dash Suffer
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Dash twenty twenty five Slash Senior Menu by JR. Klein
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February fifth, twenty twenty five. Wednesday February beef pot ROAs
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to mashed potatoes, peas, beef gravy, pineapple, and a whole
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grain roll. Thursday February sixth, Layered salads, turkey, teas, cheese,
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et cetera, crackers and peach cobblers. Friday February seventh, Barbecue pork, corn,
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cucumber salad, whole grain bun, fresh orange. Monday February tenth,
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hash brown casserole, lima beans, strawberries, whole grain roll. Tuesday
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February eleventh, Spaghetti with meat, sauce, tossed salads, garlic, bread,
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apple crest. Wednesday February twelfth, Heat and sour chickens, brown rice,
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egg roll, peas and pears. All seniors are welcome. Please
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just called one day ahead of eight five nine three
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three six zero nine zero nine For meals. All meals
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served with a calcium product. Diamond meals served eleven thirty
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to twelve. Drive through is from twelve to twelve thirty.
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Senior Moments by j. R. Klin, February fifth, twenty twenty five.
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Last week, we started the week off with Martin Luther
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King Day and some trivia and watching videos of doctor
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Martin Luther King's big speech. I had a dream. Residents
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didn't great with some of the trivia. We played checkers, Bible, Jingo, balloon, tennis,
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family food cards, yachte and of course dingo. We had
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a visit from the Bookmobile, which is always exciting. Every
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morning we have Movement and Grooven Exercise where residents get
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to show off their moves. Every Monday we have Manicure
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Monday where the ladies get their nails done and painted.
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They all love that. We celebrated National Hot Chocolate Day
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with some delicious hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup.
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How yummy. We are all looking forward to Valentine's Day
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and our annual party the residents are helping to plan
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it and love getting involved with the party planning. Everyone
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is having a great weep so far. Stay safe and
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God bless Texas. Pidfit by Jay R. Klein, February fifth,
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twenty twenty five. Famous bomb writer Stephen Foster knew this
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sun would always shine bright on his old Kentucky home.
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As we are all enjoying the brightness of sunshine bringing
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in February, Dear readers, take time to watch the sunrise
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each morning, and then watch again as the sun sits
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in the evening. A lovely lady celebrated her one hundredth
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birthday on January twenty seventh, twenty twenty five, with family
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and friends in Springfield. Happy one hundredth birthday to Elizabeth Quirky.
25:41
Healing your smile is always a gift for many. Congratulations
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to Kendall Yankee, a fourth grader at Washington County Elementary School,
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on making the honor roll list. Kendall is a son
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of brother Kyle and Ken Yankee of Short Lined Road. Texas.
25:58
Community sympathy goes out to Buck and sheilahre Agan a
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Short Line Road on the death of Sheila's the mother
26:04
of Alabama recently. The Senior Citizens Center in Spreenfield is
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a warm and clean place to gather for lunch, to
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visit with friends. Recent coordinator Nina and her staff Laura
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and Ella, have done wonders with clean up in Decor.
26:19
A request has been made for a stationary bike to
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be donated. Please call eight five nine five or I'm
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sorry three three six zero nine zero nine with any information.
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That's eight five nine three three six zero nine zero nine.
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Quote of the week. This is precisely the time when
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artists go to work. There is no time for this far,
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no place for self pity, no need for silence, no
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room for fear. He speaks, we write, they do language.
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That is how civilization heal. By Tony Morrison. Public Records
26:58
by J. R. Klein, February five, twenty twenty five. District Court,
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January twenty seventh, twenty twenty five. Franklin Fabar Catino possession
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of marijuana, no insurance, eleven hundred dollars fine plus courk
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cost Tefany Day Drago beating twenty five miles per hour
27:17
over the limit, one hundred dollars fine plus court costs.
27:21
Anti Juan Clull Glover, no insurance, five hundred dollars sign
27:25
plus court costs. Lucas Wwayne Harley eating twenty five miles
27:30
per hour over the limit, license not in possession one
27:33
hundred and fifty dollars fine plus court costs. Don Renee
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Laine no insurance one thousand dollars fine plus cork costs.
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Francis Eugene Massour beating twenty five miles per hour over
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the sea Slummer fifty dollars fine plus cork costs. Philly
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Lee Shamon license not in possession, no insurance. Failure to
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wear seatbelt five hundred and seventy five dollars fine plus
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quest a pause. This concludes excerpts from recent editions of
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The Springfield Sun. Your reader has been Amy Jims, timmedy
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On behalf of everyone here at radio. I thank you
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for listening, Keep on listening, and have a good day.