Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Licking Valley Courier - 9.4.26
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: We now turn to the Laking Valley Courier to bring
- 0:03Speaker 1: you news from and around West Liberty. Your reader today
- 0:07Speaker 1: is Janice, as we begin with the edition dated Thursday,
- 0:11Speaker 1: September 3, 2026. As a reminder, Radio Eye is a
- 0:16Speaker 1: reading service intended for people who are blind or have
- 0:19Speaker 1: other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
- 0:24Speaker 1: Our first article is Circus Slated This Friday and Saturday
- 0:29Speaker 1: at Fairgrounds. The circus is coming to town. Experience the
- 0:33Speaker 1: pure magic and wonderment of one of America's last big
- 0:37Speaker 1: top family circuses. Circus Grimaldi is bringing its spectacular high-flying
- 0:43Speaker 1: production to West Liberty for two days only. Events will
- 0:48Speaker 1: be at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. Dates and shows times
- 0:52Speaker 1: are as follows. Friday, September 4th, 7 p.m. Saturday, September 5th,
- 0:56Speaker 1: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Midway opens one hour
- 1:04Speaker 1: before each show time for family fun. See amazing attractions.
- 1:09Speaker 1: Witness incredible acts performing live under the historic Big Top
- 1:14Speaker 1: featuring breathtaking aerialists, mind-bending contortionists, daring acrobats, master jugglers, hilarious
- 1:25Speaker 1: and funny clowns. Ticket information. Bring the whole family out
- 1:31Speaker 1: for an unforgettable, affordable tradition. Kids go free. Children 12
- 1:38Speaker 1: years of age and younger get in free with a
- 1:41Speaker 1: paid adult. Limit two free kids per paid adult. Adult
- 1:47Speaker 1: tickets are $ 20 at the gate. Save money. Purchase your
- 1:51Speaker 1: tickets early online at CircusGramaldi.com to receive a special advanced discount.
- 1:59Speaker 1: Don't miss your chance to see the real circus history
- 2:03Speaker 1: and create memories that will last you a lifetime. Get
- 2:07Speaker 1: your advance tickets today. Our next article is Upcoming Events
- 2:13Speaker 1: at Morgan County Extension Office, Friday, September 4th, Farmers Market,
- 2:20Speaker 1: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Sellout. Monday, September 5th,
- 2:25Speaker 1: all Extension offices statewide are closed. Tuesday, September 8th, deadline
- 2:31Speaker 1: to sign up for the Hay Contest. Country Cousins Homemakers Meeting,
- 2:36Speaker 1: 7 p.m. Woodbens Homemaker Meeting, 6.30 p.m. at Woodbens Church.
- 2:43Speaker 1: Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, September 10th,
- 2:49Speaker 1: West Liberty Homemaker Meeting, 7 p.m. Friday, September 11th, Farmer's Market,
- 2:55Speaker 1: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sellout. Saturday, September 12th,
- 3:00Speaker 1: Hike and Learn, 9 a.m., 4-H State Shoot at Wilmore, Kentucky. Monday,
- 3:07Speaker 1: September 4th, Beekeepers Meeting, 6.30 p.m. CEC Meeting at noon,
- 3:14Speaker 1: Mahjong Monday, 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Extension, pardon me,
- 3:22Speaker 1: the Extension Office, Tuesday, September 15th, Farmers Market, 9 a.m.
- 3:28Speaker 1: to 2 p.m., Cooking Through the Calendar. 5 p.m., Beef
- 3:32Speaker 1: Cattle Workshop at RCARS in Jackson, Kentucky. 5 p.m. Wednesday,
- 3:40Speaker 1: September the 16th, Piece by Piece, 4-H Teen Club, 4 p.m. Thursday,
- 3:46Speaker 1: September 17th, Adult Country Ham Day Final Session. Friday, September 18th,
- 3:52Speaker 1: Farmer's Market, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Sellout. Laugh
- 3:57Speaker 1: and Learn, 10 a.m. at MC Public Library. Monday, September
- 4:03Speaker 1: 21st through the 23rd, Pumpkin Days at Our Cars, Jackson, Kentucky. Monday,
- 4:10Speaker 1: September 21st, Town and Country Homemaker Meeting, Solid Rock, a
- 4:14Speaker 1: Vizell Homemaker Meeting, 4 p.m. at Blackwater. Mahjong Monday, 10 a.m.
- 4:21Speaker 1: and 5.30 p.m. at the Morgan County Public Library. Tuesday,
- 4:26Speaker 1: September 22nd, Farmer's Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday,
- 4:33Speaker 1: September 23rd, 4-H Teen Club, 4 p.m. Friday, September 25th
- 4:40Speaker 1: through the 27th, Sargum Festival. 4-H Teen Club will be
- 4:46Speaker 1: set up selling snacks and 4-H Shooting Sports will be
- 4:50Speaker 1: selling parking spots. Farmer's Market, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday,
- 4:58Speaker 1: September 29th, Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday,
- 5:03Speaker 1: September 30th, Piece by Piece. Thursday, October the 18th, I mean,
- 5:08Speaker 1: pardon me, Thursday, October the 8th, Licking River Homemakers Annual Meeting,
- 5:13Speaker 1: 11 a.m. at Carlisle, Kentucky. Tuesday, October the 13th, Farmers
- 5:19Speaker 1: Appreciation Dinner, 7 p.m. and are at Woods Bend's weddings
- 5:26Speaker 1: and events. Our next article is DAV meeting scheduled for Friday,
- 5:33Speaker 1: September 4th. Morgan County DAV Chapter 132 will hold its
- 5:38Speaker 1: regular meeting on Friday, September 4th. We will meet in
- 5:43Speaker 1: the Morgan County Fiscal Courtroom at 7 p.m. We have
- 5:47Speaker 1: many fall activities to plan. All veterans are welcome. Hope
- 5:52Speaker 1: to see you there. Emily Elam, Adjunct, Chapter 132, District 7, Commander.
- 6:01Speaker 1: Our next article is Team Heart and Stroke 5K Run Walk,
- 6:06Speaker 1: set Saturday, September 12, at Old Mill Park. Team Heart
- 6:10Speaker 1: and Stroke will host its second annual 5K Run Walk
- 6:14Speaker 1: and Kids One Mile Run on Saturday, September 12, at
- 6:18Speaker 1: Old Mill Park. with proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House
- 6:26Speaker 1: in honor and memory of two very special heart heroes,
- 6:30Speaker 1: Piper and Hayes. Registration begins at 7.30 a.m., and the
- 6:35Speaker 1: race begins at 9 a.m. Runners, walkers, families, and children
- 6:40Speaker 1: of all ages are encouraged to participate. Now is the
- 6:45Speaker 1: time to grab a friend, lace up those walking or
- 6:48Speaker 1: running shoes, and join us. You do not have to
- 6:51Speaker 1: be a runner, walk, jog, bring the kids, or come
- 6:56Speaker 1: out to cheer. We just want you there. Piper and
- 7:00Speaker 1: Hayes were both born at 28 weeks with serious congenital
- 7:05Speaker 1: heart defects, beginning a journey that would keep their family
- 7:09Speaker 1: in Cincinnati for one year and 23 days. During that time,
- 7:14Speaker 1: Piper underwent one heart catheterization and one open-heart surgery. Today,
- 7:21Speaker 1: her heart is doing great, and she continues to grow, thrive,
- 7:25Speaker 1: and inspire those around her. Hayes underwent four heart catheterizations
- 7:31Speaker 1: and three open-heart surgeries during his courageous fight. Sadly, Hayes
- 7:37Speaker 1: lost his battle and gained his angel wings. His life, strength,
- 7:42Speaker 1: and memory continue to inspire Team Heart and Stroke and
- 7:46Speaker 1: everyone who has followed their family's journey. The annual race
- 7:51Speaker 1: is an opportunity for the community to come together to
- 7:54Speaker 1: celebrate Piper, remember Hayes, support other families facing difficult medical journeys,
- 8:02Speaker 1: and give back to the Ronald McDonald House, which provides
- 8:06Speaker 1: a home away from home for families while their children
- 8:10Speaker 1: receive medical care. This year's fundraising efforts are also connected
- 8:15Speaker 1: to the Chicago Marathon, where every mile will be run
- 8:20Speaker 1: with a purpose to raise support and awareness for the
- 8:24Speaker 1: Ronald McDonald House in honor of Piper and Hayes. For
- 8:28Speaker 1: team Heart and Stroke, this event is about much more
- 8:32Speaker 1: than crossing the finish line. Every step is filled with love, remembrance,
- 8:37Speaker 1: and hope. It is a chance to honor two incredible
- 8:40Speaker 1: little heart heroes while helping ensure other families have support
- 8:46Speaker 1: when they need it most. Run for Piper. Run for
- 8:49Speaker 1: Little Hayes. Run for every little heart hero. Sign-ups and
- 8:54Speaker 1: other information is today at https: / / www. webscore. com forward
- 9:01Speaker 1: slash register question mark race ID equal 442271. If you
- 9:16Speaker 1: would like to support our event in any way, please
- 9:19Speaker 1: reach out to Jen or Amber. We would love to
- 9:22Speaker 1: hear from you. Jennifer Turner is at Jennifer.Turner at ElliotKYSchools.us.
- 9:30Speaker 1: Amber Adams, Amber.Adams at Morgan.KYSchools.us. Let's fill that starting line.
- 9:41Speaker 1: Make a difference and show these families just how loved
- 9:44Speaker 1: they are. Run for Hayes, run for Piper, run for
- 9:48Speaker 1: every little heart. Our next article is minutes from August
- 9:53Speaker 1: 27th fiscal court meeting listed. The following is an unofficial
- 9:59Speaker 1: listing of articles. all items approved during the regular August
- 10:03Speaker 1: 27th meeting of the Morgan County Fiscal Court. Present members
- 10:07Speaker 1: include Magistrate Brandon Evans, Tommy Fannin, Tyler Keaton, Eric Pelfrey,
- 10:14Speaker 1: Leroy Phillips, and Judge Executive Jim Gacy. Motion passed. Approval
- 10:20Speaker 1: of the minutes of the July 30, 2026 meeting of
- 10:24Speaker 1: the Morgan County Fiscal Court. Passed with a motion by
- 10:27Speaker 1: Brandon Evans and a second by Tommy Fannin. Vote yes.
- 10:33Speaker 1: Brandon Evans, Tommy Fannin, Tyler Keaton, and Leroy Phipps. Abstain
- 10:38Speaker 1: Eric Pelfrey. Motion passed. Approval of the minutes of the
- 10:43Speaker 1: August 11, 2026 meeting of the Morgan County Fiscal Court.
- 10:48Speaker 1: Vote yes, Brandon Evans, Tommy Fannin, Tyler Keaton, Eric Pelfrey. Abstain,
- 10:54Speaker 1: Leroy Phipps. Motion passed. Approval of the financial statement ending
- 11:00Speaker 1: July 31st, 2026 as presented. Passed with a motion by
- 11:06Speaker 1: Brandon Evans and a second by Eric Pelfrey. Vote unanimous yes.
- 11:12Speaker 1: Motion passed. Approval of changes to the budgeted charge of
- 11:16Speaker 1: accounts as presented. Passed with a motion by Tommy Fannin
- 11:21Speaker 1: and a second by Brandon Evans. Vote unanimous, yes. Motion passed.
- 11:27Speaker 1: Approval and adoption of budget amendments number two, number three,
- 11:32Speaker 1: and number four as presented. Passed with a motion by
- 11:37Speaker 1: Eric Pelfrey and a second by Tommy Fannin. These were
- 11:41Speaker 1: the second readings of the budget amendments. Vote unanimous, yes.
- 11:47Speaker 1: Motion passed. Approval of budget transfers as presented. Passed with
- 11:52Speaker 1: a motion by Brandon Evans and a second by Tyler Keaton.
- 11:55Speaker 1: Vote unanimous yes. Motion passed. Acceptance of Morgan County Rescue
- 12:02Speaker 1: Squad Affiliation Agreement. Passed with a motion by Eric Pelfrey
- 12:07Speaker 1: and a second by Tyler Keaton. Vote unanimous yes. Motion passed.
- 12:12Speaker 1: Disbursement of $ 10, 000 Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services Funding
- 12:18Speaker 1: to the Ambulance Service. Passed with a motion by Tommy
- 12:22Speaker 1: Fannin and a second by Brandon Evans. Vote. Unanimous. Yes.
- 12:28Speaker 1: The motion passed. Setting of Brooke Na Call Lane as
- 12:33Speaker 1: road name off Highway 205. Passed with a motion by
- 12:38Speaker 1: Tyler Keaton and a second by Eric Pelfrey. Vote. Unanimous. Yes.
- 12:43Speaker 1: Motion passed. Approval to pay for approved projects as completed.
- 12:48Speaker 1: Passed with a motion, Eric Pelfrey, a second by Tommy Fanon.
- 12:52Speaker 1: Vote unanimous, yes. Motion passed, setting a vehicle and watercraft
- 12:58Speaker 1: tax at 8.6%, the same as last year. Passed with
- 13:03Speaker 1: a motion by Brandon Evans and a second by Tommy Fanon.
- 13:06Speaker 1: Vote unanimous, yes. Motion passed, approval to purchase presented equipment
- 13:13Speaker 1: with ABC alcohol funds for the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.
- 13:17Speaker 1: Passed with a motion by Eric Pelfrey and a second
- 13:20Speaker 1: by Brandon Evans. Note, Sheriff Greg Motley presented a quote
- 13:26Speaker 1: from the Intoximeters Incorporated for breath alcohol testing instruments. Vote,
- 13:32Speaker 1: unanimous yes. Motion passed, approval DLG exemption request as presented.
- 13:42Speaker 1: Passed with a motion by Brandon Evans and a second
- 13:45Speaker 1: by Eric Pelfrey. No, this is in regard to the
- 13:49Speaker 1: Kentucky Department of Local Government 65-35 regulations regarding spending caps
- 13:58Speaker 1: in the fourth year of the fiscal court term. Vote unanimous, yes.
- 14:05Speaker 1: Motion passed, ratification of paid vendor claims. Passed with a
- 14:09Speaker 1: motion by Brandon Evans and a second by Tommy Fallon.
- 14:13Speaker 1: Vote unanimous, yes. Motion passed, approval of unpaid vendor claim, A,
- 14:19Speaker 1: passed with a motion by Eric Pelfrey and a second
- 14:22Speaker 1: by Brandon Evans. Vote unanimous, yes. Motion passed, approval of
- 14:28Speaker 1: unpaid vendor claims, B, passed with a motion by Tommy
- 14:33Speaker 1: Fannin and a second by Tyler Keaton. Vote, yes, Brandon Evans,
- 14:39Speaker 1: Tommy Fannin, Tyler Keaton, and Leroy Phipps. Abstain, Eric Pelfrey.
- 14:45Speaker 1: Motion passed. Adjournment of the meeting passed with a motion
- 14:48Speaker 1: by Eric Pelfrey and a second by Tyler Keaton. Vote unanimous, yes.
- 14:54Speaker 1: For additional information regarding the Morgan County Fiscal Court activities,
- 14:58Speaker 1: contact Judge Executive Jim Gacy at 743-3897 or visit his
- 15:07Speaker 1: office in the Morgan County Wellness Center on Route 7.
- 15:13Speaker 1: Our next article, is fiscal court hears water district audit
- 15:18Speaker 1: report presentation. Clean audit opinion and significant financial improvements are noted.
- 15:26Speaker 1: Multiple visitors address the court during the August 27th meeting
- 15:31Speaker 1: by Miranda M. Cantrell. The Morgan Fiscal Court during the
- 15:36Speaker 1: regular August 27th meeting heard a presentation from a representative
- 15:40Speaker 1: of an independent accounting firm that recently audited Morgan County
- 15:45Speaker 1: Water District. Water audit report. The judge, Executive Jim Gacy,
- 15:50Speaker 1: introduced Hunter Short of the Lexington-based firm RFH CPAs and Consultants,
- 15:57Speaker 1: who appeared via video call to share the results of
- 16:02Speaker 1: the Morgan County Water District most recent audit. Short indicated
- 16:06Speaker 1: that he had assisted with the financial examination and told
- 16:11Speaker 1: the court that the Morgan County Water District had received
- 16:14Speaker 1: a clean opinion as per post-audit letter that was issued
- 16:19Speaker 1: by the firm. In our opinion, the financial statements refer
- 16:24Speaker 1: to the above present fairly in all material respects and
- 16:29Speaker 1: respectively financial position of the Morgan County Water District as
- 16:33Speaker 1: of December 31st, 2024 and 25, and the receptive changes
- 16:35Speaker 1: in the financial position Cash flows thereof for the years
- 16:46Speaker 1: then enrolled ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
- 16:53Speaker 1: in the United States of America. Short-noted, the audit yielded
- 16:58Speaker 1: two findings as outlined in the report. The 2025-001 Internal
- 17:06Speaker 1: Control Over Period in Financial Reporting calls the district failed
- 17:11Speaker 1: to provide proper oversight over a period in financial reporting,
- 17:17Speaker 1: which resulted in misstated accounting records prior to performance of
- 17:22Speaker 1: the audit. The effect, the district relied on auditor-prepared accounting
- 17:31Speaker 1: adjustments to ensure financial records were properly stated in accordance
- 17:37Speaker 1: with the general accepted accounting principles. The district reviewed Approved
- 17:44Speaker 1: and accepted responsibility for the accounting adjustments as the auditor
- 17:49Speaker 1: cannot be component of the district's internal controls. The Morgan
- 17:56Speaker 1: County Water District response. We have implemented processes to monitor
- 18:02Speaker 1: accounts payable and all debt. 2025-002. Underfunded debt reserves. Calls.
- 18:12Speaker 1: Management failed to establish and make the annual debt reserve
- 18:16Speaker 1: payment outlined in the district's debt agreement with the Kentucky
- 18:21Speaker 1: Infrastructure Authority. The effect the district repairs and maintenance account
- 18:27Speaker 1: reserve is underfunded by $ 16, 400 as of December 31, 2025.
- 18:33Speaker 1: The Morgan County Water District response. We have implemented the
- 18:39Speaker 1: procedures to make sure The debt reserve accounts are fully funded. Currently,
- 18:45Speaker 1: they are fully funded. Short also outlined the auditor's recommendation
- 18:51Speaker 1: to rectify the above findings before Judge Gacy asked him
- 18:56Speaker 1: to speak about the difference between the Water District's most
- 18:59Speaker 1: recent audit and the previous audits amid the utility's ongoing
- 19:04Speaker 1: efforts to rectify numerous financial issues. What happened to make
- 19:10Speaker 1: this big improvement, Gacy asked. I think the change in management,
- 19:15Speaker 1: Schwartz said in reference to the appointments of the new
- 19:18Speaker 1: board members and hiring of a new general manager since
- 19:22Speaker 1: the summer of 2024. I think there were some issues
- 19:26Speaker 1: in the past, if I remember hearing correctly. I think
- 19:30Speaker 1: everything just being more up to date and the change
- 19:34Speaker 1: in management and how everything is being handled currently is
- 19:38Speaker 1: just overall better from what I remember, even being out
- 19:44Speaker 1: there talking to some of the staff. The Water District
- 19:48Speaker 1: Board Chairman, Chris Adams, asked, asked Short to provide numerical comparisons.
- 19:55Speaker 1: You can look at the difference in the net operating.
- 19:58Speaker 1: Short said, last year, there was a net operating loss
- 20:02Speaker 1: of $ 324, 000. And this year, there is a gain of $ 306, 000.
- 20:09Speaker 1: So that's a pretty significant difference from year to year.
- 20:15Speaker 1: Net cash from 2024 to 2025 overall increased almost $ 140, 000.
- 20:23Speaker 1: That's definitely a big improvement. Chairman Adams also noted the
- 20:29Speaker 1: current Water District Board and management has paid debts and
- 20:34Speaker 1: incurred by the previous administration down from approximately $ 700, 000 to $ 300, 000
- 20:41Speaker 1: since 2024. Judge Gacy concluded the audit presentation by commending
- 20:49Speaker 1: Chairman Adams and board members, including Ellen Motley, who was
- 20:53Speaker 1: also in attendance, as well as the Water District management
- 20:58Speaker 1: and employees. You and the rest of the board and
- 21:02Speaker 1: your employees up there have done a good job of
- 21:05Speaker 1: tightening the screws down on this, Gacy said. I know
- 21:09Speaker 1: you guys are still trying to do even more. I
- 21:12Speaker 1: appreciate the hard work you've put in. The complete audit
- 21:16Speaker 1: report can be obtained by contracting the Water District's General Manager,
- 21:22Speaker 1: Andy Legg, at 743-1207, or visit the Water District's office
- 21:25Speaker 1: at 1009 Highway 172, and the former Rife Coal Building.
- 21:36Speaker 1: Other visitors. Multiple visitors also addressed the court during the
- 21:41Speaker 1: August 27th meeting. The following are brief synopsis of their remarks.
- 21:46Speaker 1: Judah Node, a native of Morgan County who currently resides
- 21:50Speaker 1: in Lexington, told the court she was seeking the name
- 21:54Speaker 1: for a road off Highway 205 where she plans to
- 21:57Speaker 1: erect low-income housing in the near future. She told the
- 22:02Speaker 1: court that she wished to name the road Brooke Na
- 22:06Speaker 1: Cole Gleam in memory of her late granddaughter for 911
- 22:11Speaker 1: and GPS purposes on a motion made by Magistrate Tyler
- 22:17Speaker 1: Keaton and seconded by Magistrate Eric Pelfrey. The court unanimously
- 22:22Speaker 1: granted no's request. Cindy Thornsberry and Lois Lumpkins, local resident
- 22:29Speaker 1: Cindy Thornsberry and and her mother, Lois Lumpkins, addressed the
- 22:34Speaker 1: court in regard to ongoing issues pertaining to a bridge
- 22:38Speaker 1: replacement request on Raymond Lupkins Road, which is off Chambler-Benton
- 22:46Speaker 1: Road in Cannell City area. Thornsberry distributed pictures of the
- 22:51Speaker 1: deteriorating bridge to the court, as well as copies of
- 22:55Speaker 1: the fiscal court agenda and minutes from September 20, 2021.
- 23:00Speaker 1: meeting that occurred during the administration of former Judge Executive
- 23:05Speaker 1: John Will Stacy. The agenda list, Raymond Lumpkins Road, bridge replacement,
- 23:11Speaker 1: name road, and adopt maintenance only. Action needed. While the
- 23:15Speaker 1: motion states the following, motion was made by Donnie Keaton
- 23:18Speaker 1: and seconded by Leroy Phipps to adopt Raymond Lumpkins Road
- 23:22Speaker 1: into the county road system. All magistrates at that time
- 23:27Speaker 1: and Judge Stacy voted yes. Judge Gacy stated that since
- 23:32Speaker 1: taking office in 2023, he has been speaking with State
- 23:36Speaker 1: Highway Department officials who he said classify the road only
- 23:40Speaker 1: as having one residence despite two addresses being located there.
- 23:46Speaker 1: He also noted that the original bridge estimates had come
- 23:50Speaker 1: to approximately $ 500, 000, but stated that he has continued to
- 23:55Speaker 1: speak with state officials regarding cheaper options such as prefab
- 24:00Speaker 1: and low-water bridges, though funding remains an issue. Becky Blevins,
- 24:09Speaker 1: a property owner in the Patoka area near Johnson County line,
- 24:15Speaker 1: spoke about the ongoing dispute with neighboring landowners. Extensive discussion
- 24:21Speaker 1: ensued regarding recent incidents that prompted the involvement of county
- 24:26Speaker 1: attorney Miles Holbrook, Sheriff Greg Motley and Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
- 24:33Speaker 1: Attorney Holbrook stated that he had reviewed Blevins' deed and
- 24:37Speaker 1: indicated that the issue is a private matter and should
- 24:41Speaker 1: be settled in Morgan County Circuit Court after additional discussion
- 24:45Speaker 1: with Blevins and the previous owner of Blevins' property who
- 24:49Speaker 1: was in attendance with Blevins and her husband. The following
- 24:53Speaker 1: is a complete listing of all items approved. during the
- 24:57Speaker 1: August 27th meeting can be found on page one of
- 25:02Speaker 1: this edition. Our next article is Bluegrass Gospel Sing at
- 25:07Speaker 1: Pine Grove Church, September the 12th. The Pine Grove Gospel
- 25:11Speaker 1: Sing 2026 will be Saturday, September the 12th at Pine
- 25:16Speaker 1: Grove Community Church at 4000 Highway 882 in Ezell. This
- 25:22Speaker 1: free event will run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- 25:26Speaker 1: and we'll include the following groups. 12 p.m., Peace of
- 25:30Speaker 1: the Bluegrass. 1 p.m., Meadow Green Trio. 2 p.m., Stephen's
- 25:35Speaker 1: Family Tradition. 3 p.m., Fenced In. 4 p.m., Jeff Clare Band.
- 25:41Speaker 1: 5 p.m., West Liberty Mountain Boys. The event will be
- 25:45Speaker 1: held under a tent shelter. Bring a lawn chair. In
- 25:49Speaker 1: case of rain, the event will be held in the
- 25:51Speaker 1: church sanctuary. A love offering will be accepted. Everybody is
- 25:56Speaker 1: invited to join us. For additional information, contact Rick at
- 26:01Speaker 1: 606-794-9665 or Naomi at 606-725-4739. Our next article is Morgan
- 26:14Speaker 1: County Harriers Race at Ashland Greenup Meats. On Wednesday, August
- 26:19Speaker 1: the 26th, the Morgan County Cross Country Team traveled to
- 26:23Speaker 1: Ashland to compete in a large meet at Central Park
- 26:26Speaker 1: in downtown Ashland. The race has become a favorite location
- 26:30Speaker 1: each year for Cougar XC runners as the course is
- 26:34Speaker 1: flat and fast, providing a great opportunity for a good time.
- 26:39Speaker 1: In all, 117 runners towed the starting line for the
- 26:43Speaker 1: Boys Varsity 5K 3.1 mile race. The Morgan men finished
- 26:49Speaker 1: 9th out of 12 full teams, with 260 points. Russell
- 26:54Speaker 1: flexed their running muscle, scoring a decisive team victory with
- 26:59Speaker 1: a low score of 51 points. They were followed by
- 27:02Speaker 1: Ignite Athletics, 74, Ashland Blazer, 86, Rowan County, 99, rounding
- 27:07Speaker 1: out the top four positions. Tavon Arnett led the way
- 27:21Speaker 1: in the boys' effort, finishing 35th overall in the time
- 27:25Speaker 1: of 20 minutes, 5 seconds. He was followed by A.J.
- 27:29Speaker 1: Geno Chase, who finished 60 seconds and 63rd, respectively. A.J.
- 27:35Speaker 1: clocked at 22 minutes and 13 seconds, with Geno finishing
- 27:39Speaker 1: 22 minutes and 17 seconds. Andrew Arnold was timed at
- 27:43Speaker 1: 26 minutes, 54 seconds, the 103rd. while Riley Smith rounding
- 27:50Speaker 1: out the team, scoring the 109th position at 28 minutes
- 27:55Speaker 1: and 3 seconds. Newcomer Sadie Sojak headlined the varsity girls
- 28:00Speaker 1: portion of the meet for the Lady Cougars with her
- 28:03Speaker 1: 19th place finish out of 87 runners. She was timed
- 28:07Speaker 1: at 24 minutes and 9 seconds. Alyssa McPherson followed Sadie
- 28:12Speaker 1: across the line in time of a 25 minutes, 16 seconds, 24th, J.
- 28:18Speaker 1: Lee Ferguson finished in 27 minutes, 18 seconds, 40 seconds,
- 28:23Speaker 1: while Ashley Engle clocked 30 minutes and 10 seconds at
- 28:28Speaker 1: 62nd place. This concludes excerpts from the recent edition of
- 28:33Speaker 1: the Licking Valley Courier. Your reader has been Janice. On
- 28:36Speaker 1: behalf of everyone here at Radio Eye, thank you for listening,
- 28:40Speaker 1: keep on listening, and I hope you have a very
- 28:42Speaker 1: good day.