5.31.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, he turned to the reading of the Hazard Herald
for news of Hazard and Perry County Umny townshend. We
begin with the online editionated May twenty ninth, twenty twenty
five as a reminder Radio Eyes or Reading service intended
for people who are blind or have other disabilities that
make it difficult to read printed material. Local Food Control

(00:23):
and toad Storage Facility disgusted Chamber meeting by Justin Begley.
Increasing access to fresh, locally produced food was the focus
of the May twenty seventh Hazard Perry County Chamber of
Commerce meeting, where John Cain, Executive director of Warehouses for
good W four G, served as the guest speaker. Cain

(00:47):
shared plans for a multi purpose food cold storage and
distribution warehouse and Hazard developed through a partnership with the
God's Pantry Food Bank. The initiative, he said, as part
of a broader mission to boost food quality, community health,
and economic development throughout southeastern Kentucky. Warehouses for Goods is

(01:10):
a nonprofit I started about four years ago, said Kane.
We are working in a partnership with God's Pantry Food
Bank to develop a multi purpose storage facility for cold
storage and a distribution warehouse in hazard. To fund the project,
Caine said, W four G is preparing to launch a
capital campaign to raise the estimated ten million dollars needed

(01:35):
for construction and startup costs. The organization will target national
donors with an interest in agriculture and rural economic development.
To show national donors the depth of local support, we
intend to assemble a broad lineup of Southeast Kentucky community
leaders and organizations expressing interest in and support for the facility,

(01:57):
Caine said. Beyond funding, Caane out line the broader goals
of the initiative, from increasing local food supply to strengthening
the local economy. We want to improve the quality and
increase the volume of fresh food available locally, improving community
nutrition and health. He said. It would increase local control

(02:17):
over food sourcing, create economic opportunities for Southeast Kentucky producers
and processors to meet local demand, and displace food that's
imported from outside the region, keeping money in the local community.
Caine noted that giving farmers and ranchers more control over
food distribution lowers the risks associated with increased production. The

(02:42):
plan also involves securing a commercial distribution partner to manage
the facility with an eye toward benefiting the region, increasing
farm and ranch income of ripple effects throughout the region,
expanding markets for aggralated businesses, He said. Tree County School
District has already designated space for the facility at the

(03:04):
former ab Combs Elementary School, a development Came said demonstrates
local support and readiness. During the meeting, Came describe what
he called the Great Coal Storage Gap, a lack of
commercial coal storage facilities in a one hundred and fifty
thousand square mile area stretching from Pittsburgh to Nashville and

(03:28):
Louisville to Charlotte, with Hazard located near the center. According
to the Global Coal Chain Alliance, there are no merchant
coal storage facilities in that span, said Came. Considering that
seventy five percent of the food we eat is refrigerated
at some point in its journey to our homes, Southeast

(03:48):
Kentucky is paying other communities for coal storage services it uses.
In the absence of merchant coal storage services, Southeast Kentucky
relies on captive facilities operated by wholesalers, distributors, small chains, etc.
Although farmers' markets are common in the region, Cane said,

(04:09):
most fresh food in southeast Kentucky is delivered to grocery
stores from distribution centers sixty to two hundred eighty miles away.
These hubs often source products from California and Mexico, Texas,
and South America. Kane said by reducing shipping costs, locally
produced goods would become more competitive in price while improving

(04:32):
profit margins for Kentucky producers. Community volunteers and residents help
unload a trailer of generators and other emergency supplies after
Roscoe's Daughter partnered with HCTC that supplied the trailer through
their CDL program. Delivered twenty thousand dollars worth of aid
the day after neighborhoods were impacted by the deadly tornado.

(04:57):
Roscoe's Daughter delivers twenty thousand dollar dollars and emergency supplies
the tornado hit London. As recovery efforts continue in the
wake of the deadly tornado that tour through London, Roscoe's
Daughter Incorporated is stepping up to deliver critical aid to survivors.
The nonprofit, founded by Kate Clemens, specializes in disaster recovery

(05:20):
and food service distribution. Over the weekend, Clemens and her
team delivered more than twenty thousand dollars in emergency supplies
to one of the hardest hit areas in Laurel County.
Every supply delivered is a step toward recovery, Clemens said.
We bought tarps to secure open roofs, chainsaws to cleared

(05:41):
dangerous debris, and generators to bring light and safety to
families who lost everything. According to Clemens, sixteen generators were
distributed through the group's Community Generator program, which was originally
created during the February flood to help neighbors share power
during out agen. The program allows residents to borrow, use,

(06:03):
and return equipment for future crises. We heard stories of
incredible heartbreak, Clement said, a young boy who gave his
life shielding his mother, an elderly couple found holding each
other in the rubble, a husband who barely made it
to the closet with his wife and dog before the
walls collapsed. Clemens said. Neighbors quickly came first responders, using

(06:27):
basements as treised sites. In the storm's aftermath, survivors described
the tornado as sounding like a train and repeated the
same phrase over and over. We're just thankful to be alive.
Clement said Tornado recovery is unlike other disasters. Most homes
aren't just damaged, they're completely gone. For many families, there's

(06:49):
nothing left to repair, only debris to clear. Clemens emphasized
the need for trained teams, heavy equipment, and most urgently
critical supple. The most needed items now include generators, tarts, chainsaws,
contractor bags, gas jugs, pet supplies, especially catletter and gift cards.

(07:11):
Clements said donations go directly toward purchasing these items online
for pickup at Low's in London, or used to buy
specific requests for direct delivery. Rosco's Daughters is coordinating efforts
with community partners including Hazard Community and Technical College, which

(07:31):
provided transportation, Well Care of Kentucky and e k Y
Mutual Aid, which funded chainsaw purchases. Lows assisted with gas
jug supplies. Were grateful to London's mayor and police chief
for taking the time to share the community's needs and
support coordinated recovery. Clemens said, we owe so much to

(07:53):
Brother Mike and Alice Though, whose leadership and love have
guided us through both this and past disasters. Clemens encouraged
the public to continue showing up for their neighbors, five disasters,
three years, one commitment. She said. We don't move on,
we move forward together. HCTC PCCEEK established new healthcare scholarship.

(08:19):
Hazard Community and Technical College and Primary Care Centers of
East Kentucky announced their new Britney Kelly Moore Memorial Scholarship
during an event on May twenty second. An endowment provided
by PCCEEK funds the scholarship, which will be awarded to
students who demonstrate the potential for achieving academic excellence and

(08:42):
have unmet needs. PCCEEK Chief Executive Officer Barry Martin, who
supported the college for many years, currently serves as chair
of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of
Regents and a member of the Hazard Independent College Fund Board,
according to a statement from HCTC, According to Martin, the

(09:05):
scholarship is an opportunity to honor Moore's life and keep
her spirit alive. We're honing a coworker, Britney Kelly Moore,
who left us way too soon, by establishing a nursing
scholarship in memory of her commitment and dedication to the
PCCEEK family and community, he said. HCTC and PCEC E

(09:28):
K are combining our efforts to establish the Britney Kelly
Moore Memorial Scholarship. We believe the scholarship will help keep
her spirit alive and be a source of inspiration for
students looking at the nursing profession. The scholarship will be
awarded to students admitted into HCTC Licensed Practical Nursing or

(09:50):
Registered nursing programs. Preference will be given to LPN students
who reside in not Leslie, Letcher or Perry County's Each
scholarship will be awarded annually and distributed on a semester basis,
with renewal for a total of four semesters provided a
recipient maintains a two point five or better grade point

(10:12):
average across completed coursework. Doctor Jennifer Lindon, h CTC President
and CEO, expressed appreciation for the endowment to the college.
At eight CTC, we know that community support is the
backbone of student success and regional progress. More demonstrated a

(10:33):
deep care for our community, and we know this scholarship
will make a lasting impact on future generations of healthcare professionals.
Doctor Lindon said, by supporting students in our nursing programs.
This endowment strengthens the local workforce in one of our
most vital sectors and expands access to high quality healthcare

(10:56):
for people across our region. Then of Advancement Carlo Seal's
echo Doctor Lyndon's statements. Every scholarship that comes through our
office represents hope, opportunity, and the belief that our students'
streams are worth investing in. Seal said, the Brittany Kelly
Moore Memorial Scholarship will provide meaningful assistance for our nursing students.

(11:20):
It will lift students up, ease their burdens, and inspire
them to give back with the same compassion that Moore
showed in her life and work. Hazard veteran joins the
Honor Flight to d C for Day of Recognition. Richard V. Creech,
a seventy two year old Vietnam Army veteran from Hazard,
was among fifty nine Kentucky veterans who took part in

(11:43):
the May tenth Honor Flight Kentucky to Washington, d C.
According to his wife, Donna Creach, Honor Flight Kentucky's mission
is to fly the World War II Korean and Vietnam
veterans to the nation's capital for a one day, all
expenses paid visit to the national memorials that honored their service.

(12:06):
The programs aimed to reach as many veterans as possible
from central, Eastern, and southern Kentucky. This is the tenth
year of these honor flights in Kentucky, intended to honor
servicemen from World War II to the present time. Donna
said Richard's name was submitted five years ago by a
young classmate from Hazard Vocational School. She said the journey

(12:29):
began with a five am send off breakfast at Bluegrass
Airport in Lexington before veterans boarded a chartered flight to
Reagan International Airport. Each veteran had an assigned trip guardian,
Kelly or. Donna said. On arrival, they boarded buses and
toured many places, starting at the Vietnam Wall, Korea Memorial,

(12:51):
and Lincoln Memorial. While visiting Arlington National Cemetery, the group
paid their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
and observed the changing of the guard. The visit included
a reclaying ceremony at the tomb organized by Honor Flight Kentucky.
Donna said the itinerary continued with stops at the Military

(13:14):
Women's Memorial, World War II Memorial, Ewajima Memorial, and the
Air Force Memorial. According to Donna, Lunch was served at
the Women's Memorial and dinner at Reagan International Airport before
the group returned to Kentucky. According to Donna, the evening
concluded with an emotional homecoming celebration. Hundreds of people gathered

(13:38):
for the welcome home celebration that night at Bluegrass Airport,
she said, waiting WKYT Lexington newscasters, a bagpipe led procession
through the flagline, cheering people young and old as they
arrived at eight pm. This was a most touching, humbling
site for the many veterans who had never been honored

(13:59):
for their US and were truly inspired. Perry woman pleads
guilty in oxycodon conspiracy. A Perry County woman has entered
a guilty plea in federal court the charges she was
involved in a conspiracy that resulted in hundreds of oxyco
codon pills being distributed in the area, according to court documents.

(14:22):
On May twenty second, Ang Combs, fifty, of Bondyman, pleaded
guilty before US Magistrate Judge Hanley a Ingram to a
charge of conspiracy to distribute oxycodon. According to court documents,
between Jane twenty third and January twenty fourth in Perry County,
Combs conspired with others to distribute oxycodon pills. A flee

(14:47):
agreement in the case said that during that time frame,
Combs in her longtime romantic partner George Mellins, obtained thirty
milligram oxycodon pills from an unidentified source and sold the
pills to bid and lower level traffickers and end drug
users in southeastern Kentucky. The charge, according to the agreement,

(15:08):
carries a maximum prison sens of twenty years with three
years of supervised release to follow. The Kentucky State Police,
in partnership with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety and
the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, launched a clicket or Ticket campaign
on Thursday, May twenty second. The Kentucky Office of Highway

(15:29):
Safety joined local law enforcement and community partners in Perry
County to promote seat belt safety. The day began at
KSP Post thirteen, where Buckhorn High School was recognized for
having the highest increase in seat belt usage among three
participating schools. Later, safety information was distributed at McDonald's, where

(15:51):
drivers wearing seat belts received a free ice cream coupon.
A free car seat checkup event was also held at Walmart,
with ARS staff on site providing additional safety resources. To
celebrate National Pet Month, Save a Lot donated over twenty
seven thousand, seven hundred dollars worth of high quality, private

(16:13):
brand pet food, Oliver, and Scout to assist local shelters
and charities in caring for animals in need. In total,
stores donated more than twenty tons of food for homeless pets.
A Save a Lot store and Hazard donated to their
local shelter. We're committed to supporting the communities we live

(16:33):
and do business in, which includes helping our furry friends,
said Paul Hoskins, category manager of pet food at Save
a Lot. National Pet Month created a great opportunity for
our stores to build connections with local shelters and highlight
our private label offering. This is a cause that's important

(16:54):
to many of us at Save a Lot, and we're
proud to support the amazing work local shelters are doing
to care for animals in need. Duo arrested on meth
trafficking charges after pulling into the wrong driveway. A man
and moment are facing felony methamphetamine trafficking charges after they
allegedly pulled into a Kentucky State Police trooper's driveway by mistake.

(17:17):
According to an arrest citation written by a trooper assigned
to the Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations
Branch East, on May twentieth, he was outside his residence
in Perry County when a two thousand and one Jeep
Grand Cherokee pulled into his driveway. The trooper of the
citation said made contact with the driver, Justin Kennedy thirty

(17:40):
nine of Nice Lane, Lost Creek, and passenger Margaret Adams
thirty two, address unavailable. The duo of the citation said,
advised the trooper they were looking for another individual and
thought he lived there. The trooper wrote that he saw
in plane view in the center console of the vehicle
a surring containing a clear liquid and found that Adams

(18:03):
had an active warrant for her arrest. A subsequent search
of the vehicle, the citation said, resulted in the seizure
of meth amphetamine, marijuana, digital scales, and baggies. The citation
said Kennedy and Adams both denied ownership of the drugs,
but both were booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail

(18:24):
on charges of first degree trafficking and a control of substance,
first defense, and possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
KCTCS scholars present represent the bright future of the state's workforce.
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has announced the

(18:46):
twenty twenty five KCTCS Scholars, a standout group of graduating
students recognized for their strong academics, leadership skills, campus involvement,
and commitment to serving their commun unities. According to a
statement from KCTCS, scholars will receive an honorary certificate and

(19:07):
be eligible to receive up to a five hundred dollars
stipend to help them take their next step, whether that's
starting a career or continuing their education at a four
year university. The stipends are funded by local college foundations
with support from kc TCS recipients and their programs. The
study include from Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Daisa Thomas,

(19:32):
Associate of Science, Lala McFarlane, Nursing Hazard, Community and Technical College,
James Hall Electrical Technology, and Brianna Imhoff Nursing, Southeast Kentucky
Community and Technical College, Jeremiah Johnson, Associate of Applied Science,
and Jessica Gray, Nursing. From the opinion page Never Again

(19:56):
by Russ Cassiday. In the Book of First Samuel in
the Bible, we read about a situation in which God's
people run into fears about their future. It's a time
at which it appears to people's leader, the priest Samuel,
is about the handoff leadership of the burgeoning nation to
his sons, who like his morals. In the absence of

(20:18):
strong leadership for the future, the people begin to demand
a king to rule over them directly in opposition to
the system God preferred of priests and prophets being in charge.
Samuel prays to the Lord, who answers him with the
words of warning for those people demanding a change. He said,

(20:39):
this is what the king who will reign over you
will claim as his rights. He will take your sons
and make them serve with chariots and horses, and they
will run in front of his chariots. Right from the jomp,
God warns the people that their sons will become tools
of war for a king. War and fighting would have

(20:59):
been a the king's future regardless. But with the king,
the young men would not only be forced to fight,
but to be cannon fodder running before the king's chariots,
less valuable than the horses behind them. Further, they would
be subject to the king's whims, being sent to war
to satisfy his ego. In many cases, I think of

(21:22):
this often, especially around vents like Memorial Day, which is
a time set aside to honor those who gave all
in service to our nation. The question I've asked myself
in the past regarding Memorial Day is connected to its purpose.
In other words, why do we feel the need to
recognize this day? For many, no real recognition occurs. It's

(21:45):
simply an extra day off on the weekend, pools open
and we officially launch into summer. But for those of
us who do take time on that day to remember,
it's a valid question. The reason why is simply one
of those things that's good to do. Is it just
right and proper to recognize the sacrifice of these men

(22:07):
and women along with their loved ones, or is there
something deeper in Memorial Day that calls to us. Each
and every person to whom Memorial Day applies was first
and foremost a person, a brother, sister, father, mother, child, husband, wife.
Their passage for most of us was simply another entry

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in the roles of the honored dead for those who
loved them, and this includes God. However, there were much more.
These men and women who died in the service of
their nation were not simply canon fadder, but often found
themselves treated as such. We should always be grateful to
and four those who step up to defend our nation,

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but we must never see them as expendable. They signed
up to defend us knowing that their death could potentially
be the result. Well, but it would only be so
in the most extreme cases. What I believe God was
trying to get across to his people through Samuel is
that being a tool of will of a fallen, sinful

(23:12):
human being, as opposed to Him who is love, would
result in unnecessary death and suffering. I believe we'd be
less hasty to go to war if we thought his
perspective over our own, if we'd tried to value others
the way he does. Ideas like just war. Notwithstanding priests

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and prophets throughout the ages have echoed the message that
war is not what God wants for people. That is
a symptom of the sins that separate us from holiness.
On this Memorial Day, I prayed the words that I
believe echo through the ages as what I believe the
fallen would walk, never again, not one more death, and

(23:55):
I continue to pray it. Here are the obituaries. Timothy
tim Sexton sixty three died Friday May twenty third. Iva
Vivian Young, eighty one of Happy died Wednesday, May twenty first.
Brandon Moore, forty eight died Monday May twenty sixth. The

(24:17):
Center for Rural Development announces one hundred eighty five students
have been selected to attend Rogers Explorers. One hundred and
eighty five students incoming high school freshmen from southern and
eastern Kentucky have been selected to participate in the twenty
twenty five Rogers Explorers program. Rogers Explorers is an intensive,

(24:40):
three day, two night summer leadership program presented by the
Center for Real Development in partnership with the University of
Pippel Union, Commonwealth University, Moorhead State University, University of the Cumberlands,
Lindsey Wilson College, and Eastern Kentucky University. The program is
open to eighth grade students and the center's forty five

(25:02):
county primary service area who have a strong interest in
developing their skills in leadership, team building, community service, and science, technology,
engineering and math fields of study. According to a statement
from the Rural Development those selected from Perry County were Addison,

(25:24):
Addie Combs, Austin Messer, Jackson Collins, Judson Crewe Miller, and
Rocky Landon Welch. They'll be joined by Sean Coleman and
Zane Collins. Trump administration refuses to restore ten point six
million dollars in aid to Kentucky schools. The US Department

(25:47):
of Education denied a ten point six million dollar requests
to extend COVID relief funding submitted by the Kentucky Department
of Education on behalf of school districts from nine projects. However,
the federal department did extend COVID relief funding for two
Boon County projects, amounting to about forty four thousand dollars.

(26:11):
That includes twenty six thousand dollars for an interactive online
learning program and another project to fund a year of
DOLLI Parton's Imagination Library. School districts and states previously had
until March of twenty twenty six to spend COVID nineteen
relief funds that had been approved. However, in a March

(26:35):
twenty eighth letter, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told
state education departments that the federal government was immediately halting
nearly three billion dollars in relief fund reimbursements. McMahon wrote
in her letter that the US Education Department would consider
extending the pandemic relief money on a case by case basis. Altogether,

(27:01):
Kentucky was hoping to preserve thirty eight million dollars in
expected federal funding for projects and services in local districts
and eighteen million dollars for the Kentucky Department of Education.
The state has not yet received a federal decision on
the rest of the projects it's submitted for consideration. A
KDE spokesman said this concludes the reading of the hazard hera.

(27:26):
Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining
me and on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI. This
is Lee Townsend, wishing you a good day.