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Licking Valley Courier - 3.27.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Licking Valley Courier to bring
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you news from in and around West Liberty. Your reader
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today is Janice. We begin with the addition dated Thursday
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in March twenty six, twenty twenty six. As a reminder,
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RADIOI is a reading service that is intended for people
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who are blind or have other disabilities that make it
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difficult to reprinted material. Our first article today is man
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arrested after pursuit ends with car crash and index. David Fortner,
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forty two, charged with offenses related to chase and collision,
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as well as a Wolf County warrant. Press release. On Friday,
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March twentieth, at approximately five twenty two pm, West Liberty
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Police Department Telecommunication Center received a complaint of a suspected
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intoxicated driver operating a maroon twenty thirteen Ford Fusion recklessly
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on Highways five nineteen. The West Liberty Police Department Officer,
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Jonathan Holbrook responded to the area and observed the vehicle
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and conducted a National Crime Information Center query regarding the
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vehicle's license plate. As a result of the querry, the
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officer learned that the registered owner of the vehicle had
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active felony warrants. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic
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stop on the vehicle on Main Street, but the car
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failed to yield. An automobile pursuit ensued and ended in
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the Highway four sixty West area of West Liberty. After fleeing,
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the car collided with a third party vehicle, resulting in
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a secondary collision of another third party vehicle. The operator
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of the fleeing vehicle was identified as David Fortner, aged
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forty two, of West Liberty, who fled the collision on foot.
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Chief Deputy Jeff Smith and Deputy B Bowman of the
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Morgan County Sheriff's Office apprehended a Fortner a short distance
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from the scene after Fortner crossed a waterway. A forty
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nine year old female passenger and Fortner's car, as well
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as a thirty two year old female and a pardoner,
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fifty five year old male, and the third party vehicles
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were transported by ambulance to Morgan County ARH after sustaining
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injuries during the collision. The two third party vehicles were
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both damaged as a result of the crash. Law enforcement
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officers transported Fortner to Morgan County ARH for medical clearance
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with the assistance of the West Liberty and Highway five
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nineteen Fire departments. Portions of Highway four sixty and Highway
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one ninety one intersection were closed for approximately three hours
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during the course of the collision investigation. Following his medical clearance,
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Fortner was transported to the Rowan County Detention Center, where
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he is incarcerated under the following charges. Wanting endangerment first degree,
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four counts, fleeing or evading police first degree, motor vehicle,
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fleeing or evading police first degree on foot, want an
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endangerment first degree, four counts, police officer, assault, first degree,
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speeding twenty six miles per hour over or greater, disregarding
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traffic control devices to counts traffic lights, reckless driving, failure
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to produce insurance card, possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia by
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or possess operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
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alcohol substances, aggravated circumstances. Fortner was separately charged for an
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active Wolf County bench warrant for probation violation related to
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the following charges Resisting arrest, assault third degree police officer
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or probation officer, escape, third degree wanton endangerment first degree
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Police officer. Officers executed multiple search warrants pertaining to the
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pursuit and collision investigation, illegal substances including methamphetamine and further
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drove Peferne, who were located subsequent to a search warrant
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conducted on Fortner's vehicle. Police expect to file additional charges
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in the future. Detective Michael Williams and Chief Wayne Lewis
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of West Liberty Police Department responded to the incident. The
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collision investigation and purs overview will be conducted by Detective Williams,
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while the criminal investigation as it relates to Fortner will
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be conducted by the West Liberty Police Department Officer Jonathan Holbrook.
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Our next article is Senior Commodities Giveaway slated April first.
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Commodities for senior citizens will be given out on Wednesday,
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April the first, from eleven am to four pm. For
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active and waiting lists, please bring a tote or basket.
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Location change index Church Community Center, seventeen forty nine West
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Main Street. Event is still drive through. For more information
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call six oh six five two two thirty nine eighty
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eight or six six four nine five fifty six thirty one.
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Our next article is City Council approves pay increases for Mayor,
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council and attorney by Miranda M. Cantrell. The West Liberty
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City Council during the regular March twenty third meeting, approved
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salary increases for the council members, mayor, and city attorney.
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Following extensive discussions, City Clerk Amy Cox told the council
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that the time had arrived in the term cycle to
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discuss the possibility of increase compensation. As per the clerk,
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the council can only address the matters of the mayor
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and council compensation once every four years prior to an election.
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If we are going to a vote in it, don't
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pardon me. If we are going to vote in a
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raise for the mayor and the council, this is the
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time to do that. Cox said, we haven't raised their
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pay in a while, and our compensation is the lowest
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around Frenchburg, Campton and some of those areas that are
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smaller than West Liberty are paying their people more than
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we are. Clerk Cox provided two possible options to the
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council members, noting that they could increase or decrease the
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following amounts. Option one mayor one thousand dollars per month,
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Council three hundred dollars per month would also include an
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additional fifty dollars for each special call meeting. Option two
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mayor one two hundred dollars per month Council four hundred
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dollars per month would also include an additional fifty dollars
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for each special call meeting. Clark Cox told the Courier
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that the mayor is currently paid five hundred dollars per month,
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while council members are paid fifty dollars per month, plus
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fifty dollars for each special call meeting. Councilman Mark Walter
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inquired about the city's total budget, which clark Cox stated
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was approximately six dollars six million dollars before addressing the matter.
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This has been a situation we all have danced around,
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Walter said, clarifying that his perspective is that of both
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a council member and a former mayor. We've had times
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in the past when the city was strapped for revenue
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and we were in a situation these other cities were not.
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We had to build ourselves up from the box. We
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had to build ourselves up from the bottom, and it
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was never an option to raise compensation. If you look
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around at our government entities in our county and even
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some of the subcommittees that are paid, we are dealing
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with a five point eight million dollar budget. The surrounding
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cities we're compared to don't have the number of departments
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we have. They don't have the budget we have. I
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think if the money is appropriated and the clerk says
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it's there, we do need to consider these proposals. Mayor
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Kyle Risner shared the following compensation rates from cities of
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Campton and Frenchburg. Campton mayor one thousand dollars per month,
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city commissioners four hundred dollars per month, Frenchburg mayor seven
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hundred and fifty dollars per month, city council members two
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hundred and fifty dollars a month. Clerk Cox indicated that
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per Kentucky League of City Rage Studies West Liberty is
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in the lower twenty five percent of the compensation rates
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for comp arable cities. Counselman and Grant Sorrels stated that
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he also had researched the matter and that he concurred
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with the clerk's statistics. Mayor Risner asked for opinions from
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the council, with Counselman Dwayne Nickel supporting increased compensation for
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the mayor. I think he mayor needs more than more
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for the hours that he puts in. Nichol says, I'm
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satisfied with what I get as a council member. Councilman
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Walter express concerns regarding the potential disingenuous intentions. The concern is,
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when you put that salary up to where it's enticing,
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you will have people who want these positions for the
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monetary benefits. Walter said, not out of care or concern
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for the City of West Liberty. I do have a
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problem with going from fifty dollars all the way to
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three hundred dollars for council members. Councilman Tony Smith concurred
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with Councilman Walter in a pint that he would prefer
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a lower amount, such as two hundred or two hundred
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and fifty dollars. Councilman Sarabeth Legg said that she had
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no preference on the matter. I'm not here for the money,
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leg said, so it doesn't matter to me. On a
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motion made by the councilman Walter and seconded by counsel
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Councilwoman Leg, The council unanimously approved on the first reading
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of the salaries one thousand dollars per month for the
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mayor and two hundred dollars per month for council members.
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Mayor Risner told the Courier that the new salaries will
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not take effect until January twenty twenty seven. However, council
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members also discussed the possibility of a salary increase for
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City Attorney Daniel Frederick, with clerk Cox noting that the
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position's compensation rate had not changed since twenty twenty. Clerk
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Cox and Mayor Risner stated that they speak with Attorney
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Frederick on daily basis about numerous legal issues impacting the
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city government. Attorney Frederick also cited an increasing his work
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for the city of late before stating that the proposed
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rays would be from one thy five hundred per month
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to two thousand dollars a month. On a motion made
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by a councilwoman Leg and seconded by a councilman Walter,
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the council unanimously approved the adjusted pay rate for Attorney Frederick.
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Clerk Cox said that the attorney that Attorney Frederick's news
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salary will take a fact on April the first. In
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other business, the council also approved a nine to one
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one grant resolution before hearing departmental reports prior to a
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German Councilman Walter offered prayers to families who have lost
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loved ones and to several people throughout the county dealing
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with medical issues. For additional information, the West Liberty Civic
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Council meets at five pm the fourth Monday of each
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month in the upstairs Council Room at City Hall. Our
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next article is Kawana's Easter egg Hunt and Pancake Flips
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slated for April the fourth. West Liberty Kawana's Club will
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be hosting annual Easter festivities on Saturday, April first and
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downtown West Liberty. The twenty twenty sixth West Liberty Kawana's
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Club Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, April fourth at
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Old Mill Park. Times are as follows one pm, Ages
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two through five, one fifteen, Ages six through ten. Bring
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your basket and enjoy family fund with lucky eggs and
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great prizes. Pancake Flip the annual Kawana Pancake Flip presented
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by Morgan County Little League, will be Saturday, April fourth
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in the West Liberty Christian chap Chase Basement. The event
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will be from seven am to twelve pm. Meal prices
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are seven dollars pre sale or ten dollars at the door.
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Pre sale tickets are available by contacting Mark Johnson at
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six oh six four nine five fifty three oh four.
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Come and join us for this special annual event. Our
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next article is Rotary Club set to host political form
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April ninth. Join us for the West Liberty Rotary Club's
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political form on Thursday, April ninth at the Morgan County
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Board of Education Building. Registration will be at five thirty
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pm and the event will begin at six pm. All
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candidates have been invited to attend. There's no charge for
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a mission. A cake or pie auction will be held
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during the event. Please take this opportunity to hear the
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platforms of your candidates. Contact Rotitarian Cheryl J McGraw at
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six oh six twenty seven nineteen for additional information. Our
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next article is Bible Reading Marathon slated March twenty seventh,
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twenty eighth, twenty ninth. The tenth annual Morgan County Bible
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Reading Marathon will take place this year on Friday, March
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twenty seventh through Sunday, March twenty ninth. Over the past
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several years, a growing number of churches have participated in
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Bible Reading Marathon sponsored by the Morgan County Ministerial Association.
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The VRM has become a staple in the cooperative church
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life of the county, taking place each year each year
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on the weekend prior to Holy Week. It begins on
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that Friday morning and finishes during the evening of Palm Sunday.
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The dates, of course, very slightly from year to year,
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depending on the observance of Easter. There are a total
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of fourteen three hour long watches. Churches or groups sign
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up to supply the readers necessary for the three hour
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time commitment. Each watch has a fifteen minute slots, so
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there is a need for some one hundred and sixty
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eight total readers over the three day period. Believe it
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or not, there is no preaching during the three day period.
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The New Testament will be read aloud two times. Reading
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takes place from six a m. To twelve midnight each day.
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The City Council Chambers, located on the second floor of
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the West Liberty City Hall on Main Street, is dubbed
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the Upper Room, the name taken from the Book of
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Acts in the Bible, chapter two, where the Holy Spirit
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fell upon the early believers in Christ a wonderful bonus.
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Each year has been broadcast the entire event on the
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MRTC local Access Channel fifty four. Feedback from the community
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has been gratifying, as a number of folks have expressed
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their gratitude and pleasure at being able to see friends
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and family read from the Holy Scriptures on TV. This
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will mark the tenth year that MRTC has broadcast the event.
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There are several examples from the Scriptures where the Word
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of the Lord was read over the nation of Israel
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to remind them of who they belonged to and of
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the covenant that existed between God Almighty and his people.
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It is our hope that God will use the Bible
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Reading Marathon as a one piece of his plan to
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bring about a godly revival for Morgan County. If your church,
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Sunday school, class, youth group, women's group, men's group, or
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any group or club from the community would like to
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take part, please contact Jamie Bronck at six O six
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four three eight sixty one thirty seven as soon as possible.
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Several churches have already signed up. Our next ar Farm
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Bureau Board Memorial Scholarship, Morgan County Farm Bureau Board of
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Directors are taking scholar applications for the Morgan County Farm
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Bureau Memorial Scholarship. Applications are available with Vocational Act teacher
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Chris Lindon and or the High School counselor. Each scholarship
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is worth two hundred and fifty dollars a semester for
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eight semesters. All applicants must be a member of the
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Morgan County Farm Bureau family and a graduate of Morgan
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County High School or have a ged by the end
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of twenty twenty six spring school semester. The deadline for
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submitting applications is Wednesday, April fifteenth. Also another small article
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is Morgan County School Based Decision Making Council Meetings Morgan
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County Central Elementary Schools SBMD meetings will be the third
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Monday of the month at four point thirty and thank you.
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Our next article is death of E. Kcc inmate is
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accidental Marvin Knuckles fell from a forty foot embankment while
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removing snow at facility in January. The death of an
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inmate who died while removing snow at the Eastern Kentucky
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Correctional Complex has been ruled accidental. Lee Circe of w
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l e X reported on March eighteenth that the television
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had obtained a copy of the autopsy report for Marvin Knuckles,
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forty eight, who was killed after falling from a forty
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foot embankment. The autopsy reports reveals that his death was
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ruled as accidental and that he died from a blunt
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force injuries of the head, torso, and extremities due to
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the fall. The autopsy report includes a summary from the
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prison incident report, which states that Knuckles was part of
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an inmate snow removal crew working to clear state parking lot.
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He went on the side of the building to retrieve
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a metal bar to push salt into a spreader when
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he slipped and fell. An officer on the site radioed
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for emergency medical assistance. Toxology results were negative for tested
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substance substances, according to the report. The March eighteenth story
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is one of several in recent weeks from wl EX,
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which has reported extensively on the ek CC inmate desk
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and the other issues pertaining to the facility. All WLX
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reports regarding EKCC can be found on the television station's
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web site. Our next article is middle school TSA students
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earned medals at state competition from Morgan County Middle School. Recently,
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Missus Brown and Missus Ferguson traveled to Louisville to compete
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in the Kentucky TSA State Conference along with more than
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one one thousand middle school students from across the state.
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Our team represented our school with excellence, not only showcasing
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strong academic skills, but also demonstrating outstanding professionalism, teamwork, and character.
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We are so proud of each and every student who participated.
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Many stepped outside their comfort zones and truly exceeded their
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own goals and that's what it's all about. Way to
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go team. Each team member came back with the medal. Overall,
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students participated in eleven events and meddled in seven of
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the following events. Audio Podcasting third place kenneth Omen, Macy
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Evans and Raylyn Phipps. Children's Stories the second place, Joshulyn
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Jones Andrew Cassie, Or case Casey and James Leamaster Pardon
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Construction Challenge first place, Logan Burton, Taylor Wells, Audrey Hutchinson
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third place, John Wells Promotional Marketing third place, James Lamaster
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Structural Engineering first place, Maddox, Phillips, Phipps, and John Wells
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Unmanned Ariel Vehicle Drones first place, Jackson Ferguson, Ryland Jenkins, Maddox, Phipps,
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and John Wells. Congratulations. Morgan County Middle School Principal amber
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Or Adams also recognized and congratulated the team via social media.
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So incredibly proud of our middle school TSA team. Watching
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our students represent Morgan County on a state stage with excellence, confidence,
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and character is what it's all about. They didn't just compete,
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They stepped outside their comfort zones, challenged themselves and showed
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what Cougar pride truly looks like. Huge thank you to
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missus Brown and missus Ferguson for leading, supporting and believing
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in our students every step of the way, and your
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dedication makes opportunities like this possible. Way to go Cougar's
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bringing home medals and memories. Our next article is sixteenth
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Region all A Baseball Tournament. Cougar's route West Carter and
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Menafee in the first two games by David Patrick. Morgan
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County put together two impressive performances to open the sixteenth
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Region A all A tournament with Mercy rule wins over
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West Carter fourteen to three and Menafee Counties seventeen to two.
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Monday's victory over West Carter featured three hits a piece
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from Grayson Hampton and Hunter cantrell As. The Cougars collected
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thirteen as a team. T Wayne Willis team like the
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bulk of its runs in the second and six innings,
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scoring five in each, with single runs in the third
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and fourth and two in the fifth. Meanwhile, starting pitcher
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Ryan LaGG held the comments in the check, throwing a
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complete game four header, allowing two earned runs and walking
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one while striking out twelve. The senior threw sixty two
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of his ninety seven pitches for strikes to the twenty
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four batters he faced. Seven Cougars had at least one hit,
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with eight players scoring runs. Alex Lee and Isaac Campbell
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had two hits apiece, with Parker Trustees scoring three runs
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in Game two on Tuesday, the Cougars put up seven
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runs in the second inning, three in the third, and
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five in the fourth to mercy rule Menifee County in
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four innings seventeen to two. Morgan made the most of
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ten bases on balls, with leg leading Morgan with on
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the mound freshman Ians Haven's pitch three one third innings
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of hit two run baseball, striking out eight and walking
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five another freshman saying to Wright face the final two batters,
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striking out both. With wins, the Cougars advance to Wednesday's
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championship game versus Raceland, which was past lvc's print deadline.
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The game story will appear in next week's edition. Our
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next article is Cougar's pick up first win of the
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season with root of Belfrey by David Patrick. The Morgan
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County served scored seven runs in the second inning on
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its way to a twelve to two win over Belfree
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last Saturday on three twenty one in West Liberty. The
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Cougars had dropped their first two games of the season
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versus Russell fourteen to one in Bath County six to four,
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but coach t Wayne Willis team took advantage of the
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ten bases on balls while banging out seven hits and
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scoring double figure runs. Alex Lee and Parker Trusty led
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the way with two hits and three runs a pearce
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with Connor Flemings scoring twice with the base hit. Morgan
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sent thirteen batters to the plate in the four dimensioned
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second frame, highlighted by hits from Lee, Hunter, Cantrell, and Trusty.
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Morgan scored lon runs in the first and third innings
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before adding two in the fifth and one in the sixth. Lee,
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Fleming and Trusty led the way with two total bases
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while each two base total bases each, while Trusty picked
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up four steals. Trusty got the start on the mound,
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allowing six hits and no earned runs while striking out
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seven over four innings. Colin Smith drew two of six
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I mean pardon me two of three of an inning,
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surrendering a hit, two walks and two earned run alongs
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with a strikeout. Haven's finished with two k's over the
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final inning and one of three, giving while giving up
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a hit and a wall pound pardoning. This concludes excerpts
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from recent edition of The Lecking Valley Courier. Your reader
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has been channels on behalf of everyone here at radiois
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thank you for listening, keep on listening, and I hope
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you have a very good day.