5.3.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we turn to the reading of the Hazard Herald
News of Hazingden Prairie County, Emiley Townshend. We began with
the online edition dated May first, twenty twenty five as
a reminder Radio Eyes of Eating service intended for people
who are blind or have other disabilities that make it
difficult to read printed material. Governor Vasher Local Leader's lift

(00:23):
wall of flood Survivor's Future at Skyview by Justin Begley
Under gray skies and light rain. Governor Andy Vasher joined
local officials the Housing Development Alliance, along with multiple advocates
and construction crews the morning of April twenty fifth to
raise a wall on one of the first five model

(00:45):
homes in Skyview, a high ground housing development designed for
survivors of the twenty twenty two and twenty twenty five
Eastern Kentucky flood disasters. The event marked a ceremony milestone
in the region's long recovery, with the Sheer members of
the HDA lived in the wall into place. This part

(01:07):
of the larger effort to build more than one hundred
homes in the new neighborhood. It's probably fitting that it's
raining today because everyone who moves into one of these
homes will not go back into their mind of July
twenty twenty two. They will know that they're safe, that

(01:27):
their roof over their head will hold, and that their
kids can grow up in that forever home. No house
in Skyview will ever flood. In addition to the wall,
rays and several organizations received checks as part of ongoing
funding commitments for the rebuild. Among those present was Andrea Begley,

(01:48):
representing the office of Congressman Hal Rogers. It's no secret
that this community, especially Begley said, it's the heartbeat of
our Appalachian region, and we need not not only to preserve,
but to plan for a brighter future here in one
of the most beautiful parts of the country. That's why
Congressman Rogers was eager to earmark more than three million

(02:11):
dollars in funding for the HDA to build homes on
higher grounds for flood victims. The work we see today
is a part of that funding. The Skyview neighborhood has
emerged as a symbol of hope and resilience for nearly
three years after deadly flash floods took forty five lives
and displaced countless families across eastern Kentucky. Skyview is proof

(02:38):
of what happens when we turn hope and love into action,
said Basher. Almost three years ago, devastating flooding hit this
region and took the lives of forty five Kentuckians. This
region has faced a lot of flooding, but you don't
lose forty five Kentuckians without it being absolutely catastrophic. And

(02:58):
I know those families are still hurting today, and we
need to keep praying for them and being there for
them and carrying some of their grief when they'll let us.
Hazard Mayor Donald Happy Mobilini reflected on the importance of
the day. This is honestly the best day since twenty
twenty two, Mobilini said, from where we were to where

(03:19):
we are now, it couldn't have happened without everyone working together.
We'll never be able to repay the governor for what
he's done for our area. It's going to continue to
get better. Scott mccrenals, executive director of the HDA, emphasized
the collaborative efforts that have been made for Scotview. Governor,

(03:40):
you have an amazing team that we have got to
work with the DLG Team Kentucky, the various cabinets. It's
been amazing to work with them, and we just want
to publicly thank them for all of their hard work.
And as always, we want to thank you for your
vision for getting people out of harm's way and on

(04:01):
the higher ground and building the houses we need for
the future. So thank you for everything. The Sheheer praised
REASONAB and state leaders for their roles in supporting the
Skyview project. It's great to be back in Skyview today
for this special celebration, he said. I got to visit
in January, and it's amazing to see the progress that's

(04:23):
been made in just a few short months. Just wait
until this summer when construction really kicks in. I want
to thank Scott and Mindy and everybody at the HDA
for hosting us. I also got to thank Scott Alexander,
who's done a great job as county Judge and happy
in his role as mayor throughout all of their strife.

(04:44):
Their leadership has been nothing short of astounding. I also
want to thank Representative Fugutt as well as Senator Smith,
all our partners that have come together seamlessly to do
something that's truly so special. Standing up alongside volunteers and
local families this year, said raising the wall was deeply meaningful.

(05:06):
It feels amazing, he said, you feel God and what's
happening today. You see neighbors helping neighbors, but you also
see a solution building on high ground on what I
think is the most complicated rebuild the nation has seen.
It's going to be a success. Everybody who lives up
here will never have to worry about being flooded ever again.

(05:29):
Mc renolds added that Friday marked a long awaited moment
for the HDA and its partners. We're at Skyview today
celebrating the first five houses being built up here. Macrenalths said,
they're the model houses for the project, funded by Team
Kentucky dollars as well as funding Congressman Rogers helped to

(05:50):
secure for the HDA. We raised the wall with the
Governor and many other folks partners from the state who
helped make this possible. And it's just a great day
because after a whole lot of planning and working and waiting,
we're finally getting to build houses. And in a couple
of months these houses will be done and folks can

(06:10):
come back and everyone is going to see what it's
going to be like to live at Skyview. The governor
also recalled the early stages of planning and development. I
remember several years ago standing with mister Aisen at the
courthouse when he was generously donating land, and we had
a picture of what it could look like. This year said,

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then about a year and a half later, we're down
at the church where the road is being built and
the water and sewer we're going in, and today we
can actually see the homes. The homes come up the fastest.
It's all the infrastructure to get up here that takes
the longest. From here, we're going to see home after
home and whole neighborhoods, and we're going to see new

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partnerships help do it. It's thrilling as federal and state
dollars continue to fund build. The year noted that one
hundred thousand dollars in relief funds going into each home.
One hundred thousand dollars from the relief funds is going
to each one of these homes and so many more.
He said, what we're investing in is a better, safer

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life for our families, and everyone who invests is going
to be able to see these pictures and know they
were making a difference, and know that we took those
dollars and what we did, we did what we promised
we would do. We rebuilt lives. But not all of
the challenges are local. The Sheer warned the national policy

(07:36):
decisions regarding those involving tariffs could disrupt recovery efforts, and
his closing remarks, the Shear offered a message of hope
and gratitude to the people of eastern Kentucky. Together, the
folks here have embarked on what I think is one
of the most challenging rebuilds the United States has ever seen.

(07:56):
And look at us now. He said that the people
of eastern Canentucky to the counties that have been flooded,
have been incredibly patient, knowing that there was hope on
the way, that building some of the biggest neighborhoods in
eastern Kentucky was going to take time. The infrastructure was
going to have to come and we weren't going to
be able to see that progress come in day to day.

(08:18):
But boy, can they see it now. Ferry Fire Chief
treasurer charge was stealing from the fire department a Perry
County volunteer fire chief and his girlfriend have been indicted
on charges they stole funds from the department for personal use.
On April twenty fifth, a Perry County grand jury indicted
James Branch fire Chief James C. Ferris, thirty seven, and

(08:43):
department Treasurer Charlotte R. Stacey, thirty six, both of Kentucky
four seventy six Dewing, on charges of theft ten thousand
dollars to one million dollars and abuse of public trust.
The charges are both Class SEA felonies, which carry a
maximum prison sentence of ten years if they are convicted.

(09:05):
According to a statement from Kentucky State Police Post thirteen,
in early January, Post thirteen was contacted by the Kentucky
Fire Commission in reference to complaints of misconduct at the
Jackson Branch Fire Department. Detectives with KSP, the statement said,
launched an investigation into allegations that Ferris and Stacy, his girlfriend,

(09:27):
were involved in the misappropriation of department funding. Through the investigation,
the statement said, investigators discovered that Ferris used thousands of
dollars of department funds for personal use. Ferris and Stacy
were arrested on indictment warrants on April twenty eighth and
lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail. According to court documents,

(09:49):
they were set to be arraigned May first, and were
initially ordered held on twenty five thousand dollars cash bond,
with home incarceration required upon release. Wonderland of Hope program
offers lifeline for recovery at Kentucky River Regional Jail by
Justin Begley, a program housed inside the Kentucky River Regional

(10:12):
Jail is offering hope support and second chances to individuals
battling addiction. Wonderland of Hope is a program offered at
Kentucky River Regional Jail r RJ, through Perry County Schools
and Save the Children, said Wendy Hall, program coordinator for
Wonderland of Hope at khar RJ. As program coordinator, I

(10:35):
work closely with an incredible team to support individuals housed
in the recovery sales. Thanks to a strong partnership between
Wonderland of Hope Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky and
the administration of Kentucky River Regional Jail, we're able to
provide meaningful support and resources to those working towards recovery

(10:57):
while incarcerated. The program can participants the daily classes and
dedicated peer support specialists who lead recovery efforts inside the facility.
Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky provides the peer support
specialists who lead recovery and life still classes in the
recovery cells. Classes are offered Monday through Friday from nine

(11:21):
am to two pm under the direction of Addiction Services
Outpatient Director Standa Buscher. Ginger Cox Peer Support Specialists facilitates
the Women's Recovery Cell and Ricky Bates Peer Support Specialists
facilitates the Men's Recovery Cell. Both are truly a lifeline

(11:41):
for those they serve. I've seen firsthand the dedication, compassion,
and consistency they bring to their roles. They go above
and beyond each day, pouring into the lives of men
and women. They support their efforts of help and continue
to help many people move toward lasting recovery. So many

(12:02):
people are incarcerated because of addiction, not because they're bad people.
With compassion, connection, and consistent support, recovery is not only possible,
it's happening every day. Beyond recovery classes, the program offers
additional support services aimed at helping parents stay connected to
their children and fostering emotional healing. Through Wonderland of Hope.

(12:27):
Individuals and the recovery cells also have access to parenting education,
art therapy, and school readiness activities. Hall said. In addition,
we provide incarcerated parents the opportunity to end with their
children while they're in custody. These visits are granted on
a case by case basis, always keeping the child safety

(12:49):
and best interests at the forefront when appropriate. Maintaining the
parent child bond during incarceration can make a profound difference.
Our goal is to courage and support parents in preserving
that connection and continuing to nurture it after their release.
Maintaining that bond is vital not just for the parents recovery,

(13:11):
but for the children's emotional well being. Hall said the
success of the program is a direct result of strong
support from the jails leadership. These programs are only possible
because the administration at KRRJ is committed to offering resources
that make a lasting impact. She said. The administration is

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truly invested in helping individuals succeed. If an idea is
safe and has the potential to support recovery, they're willing
to try. Their goal is not simply to manage incarceration,
it's to help people return to life. They actively support
that mission through a wide range of innovative and effective programs.

(13:55):
For Hall, the greatest reward comes from witnessing the transformations
that occur beyond the walls. One of the most powerful
parts of my job is watching someone's story unfold, from
meeting them inside the jail to seeing them recover, hit release,
find jobs and housing, go back to their school, reunite

(14:15):
with their children, and live successful, sober lives, whatever that
may look like for them. She said. It's an honor
to walk beside people on that journey and offer supportive resources.
Creativity and hands on projects are also key components of
the recovery process at Kentucky River Regional Jail. We've also

(14:37):
seen amazing creativity within the walls of Kentucky River Regional Jail,
she said. Using materials provided by Primary Care Centers of
Eastern Kentucky and Wonderland of Hope, a group of incarcerated
individuals recently built a model of cabin entirely on their own.
It's more than just a project, that's a symbol of pride,

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progress and possibility. Projects like this teach coping steels, encourage
self care and provide a much needed creative release. The
Hazard Perry County Women's Club held its annual tea party
at Living Waters Church on April twenty sixth. During the event,

(15:18):
the group announced their Mother of the Year Award is
being given to Margaret Joe Alexander. To know hurries to
love her, said club president Paula Boggs. She's the heart
and backbone of her family, the definition of grit and grace.
She built her own businesses from the ground up, raised
four children, and has poured endless love and care into

(15:39):
eight grandchildren and now six great grandchildren. Her faith is unshakable,
her cooking brings everyone to the table, and her worth
work ethic is legendary. Racing to Prevent Child Abuse continues
outreach event for second year. The Kentucky River Children's Advocacy
Center continued its outreach campaign Racing to Prevent Child Abuse

(16:04):
with a second year event held April twenty sixth that
the Goalwie on Main Street in downtown Hazard. The initiative,
launched in twenty twenty four, uses the popularity of dirt
track racing to promote awareness of children being abused in
prevention and the services provided by the Care Cottage. I

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originally decided on this awareness campaign because I wanted to
reach an audience of everyday, average people and their children,
said Pam Carey, executive director of the Care Cottage. Carrie
said birt track racing was a natural fit for the
campaign due to its widespread popularity across the US, particularly

(16:44):
in eastern Kentucky. Birt track racing was obviously a choice
due to the fact that birk track racing remains a
very popular form of the sports, particularly in the United States,
with over seven hundred dirt tracks currently off rating. She
said it's the most common type of auto racing in
the US and draws millions of fans each year. Carrie

(17:08):
added that the sports appeal lies at its accessibility in
community based atmosphere. The sports popularity is attributed to factors
like camaraderie, variety in racing classes, and affordability. She said.
The region that we serve alone has several tracks. Having
your logo on a race car that travels around to

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these tracks reaches all regions and you get more exposure
than a billboard that sits in one place and that
many people don't even notice. The campaign also utilizes the
driver's platforms to amplify its message. You also have the
drivers talking about the mission of the Care Cottage and
what we do on their social media pages and at

(17:52):
the tracks they race at. Carrie said, I feel that
the event was a success and Hometown Sports Corner was
able to record interviews of our drivers while they're to
further enhance awareness in addition to coverage by the Hazard Herald.
Drivers participating in the event included Henry Sizemore number ten,

(18:14):
Jason Hall number seventeen and number nine eleven, and Dustin
Moseley number twenty two, who was the first a partner
with the campaign. I do it because I love it
and I have kids, said mostly, I can't imagine anyone
abusing a kid. It's unacceptable. We're happy to work with
Care Cottage and remind people that there's help out there

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and hopefully we can help make a difference. For those
seeking information, you can contact the Care Cottage at six
oh six four eight seven nine to one seven three
from the opinion page a call to responsibility by rest Testinay.
There are no guardrails on the Internet. Anyone can post

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anything they want, especially on social media, and real consequences
for doing so are rare. Coupled with the aspect of
social media, where likes and shares have become one of
the key currencies of the day, were left with an
addictively packaged source of information that requires no vetting, no verification,

(19:19):
and no brains. The information, especially bad information on social media,
has a tendency to move fast, almost a real life
illustration of the quote attributed to Mark Plain, A lie
can travel halfway around the world while the truth is
still putting on its shoes and people are getting hurt. Recently,

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Employed County police arrested an eighteen year old for allegedly
making threats against Floyd Central High School. It's a serious crime.
Whether the threat had any veracity or not. Its terrorism
plain and simple, and deserves some form of punishment if
it's determined he's guilty. King to authorities, the team who's

(20:01):
been charged had used another student's name to make the threats.
This student, according to a statement from Floyd County Schools District,
is innocent and is preparing to graduate and begin serving
his country in the United States Marine Corps. The name, however,
was seized upon by some in the community and blasted

(20:21):
across social media by those seeking a quick buzz from
the false affirmations provided by likes and shares. This young
man was victimized twice, first by the person who stole
his identity, and secondly by people in the community, especially adults,
who should have known better in each of these situations.

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Because there's been too many this year, the district has
given us in other media outlets the amount of information
they legally can about each threat, and the response local
police agencies and other officials have been best. We can tell,
open and honest about these situations. Why could people not

(21:03):
wait for official word before blasting what they think they
know and often find it to be inaccurate across social media.
It's a disease, a contagion. We know because we have
to fight it constantly daily. When news breaks, we have
to have conversations about ethics, sources, verification, and how to

(21:25):
present the information in an understandable format. It often means
we're not the first to report information, but we long
ago adopted a mantra in our newsroom that it's more
important to be right, not first. Thankfully, the young man
in Floyd County who is falsely accused will not face charges,

(21:46):
and we wish him well for his future and disservice.
But unfortunately, when the online lynch mob goes into effect,
that's not always what occurs. Lives are ruined, people are
hurt in our society becomes just a little less connected
and a little more unhinged. Some of you won't change

(22:06):
your habits. However, for some of you, I hope and
pray that this situation gives you pause about how you're
posting and whether it's worth potentially ruining someone's life to
beat the actual news reporting agencies to the Punch by
fifteen minutes. I guess column this week, speaking clearly is

(22:26):
about Tommy Drewa. When the United States entered World War II,
it quickly became clear that the winning wouldn't depend solely
on firepower. It would require something far more subtle secrecy.
Our military faced a critical vulnerability, not in troops or equipment,
but in language. The Axis powers had proven themselves adapted

(22:49):
intercepting communications and cracking codes. It is often said that
knowledge is power, But in warfare, information means surviving. Allied
encryption methods were too slow, codes were too fragile. What
we needed wasn't just security at a speed and secrecy
rolled into one. The War Department knew it had to

(23:11):
try something radically different. Fortunately, America had an asset our
allies did not, our indigenous people. In nineteen forty two,
the Marine Corps recruited twenty nine young Navajo men fluent
in their native tongue and asked them with creating a
unbreakable code based on their language. It worked. The Navajo

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code talkers transmitted thousands of vital messages across the Pacific theater.
No one has ever deciphered them. Other Native nations, including Comanche, Lakota,
and Creed, made similar contributions in Europe. There's a certain
poetic justice in that for generations, native languages had been suppressed, mocked,

(23:55):
or forcibly erased. But in this moment, that same culture,
so often overlooked, help save thousands of lives of Americans.
And when the war. It's a story I came back
too often because it reminds me of how powerful and
precious language can be. But I also know how language
can exclude just as easily as it can project. Words matter.

(24:19):
Language can divide or unite, conceal or reveal depending on
how and when it's used. A while back, I read
about a seminar offered to professional women designed to explain
sports metaphors commonly used in corporate America. These were women
with advanced degrees from top institutions, yet they were lost

(24:41):
in meetings, not because of the lack of ability, but
because of how things were being said. Phrases like full
court press or swing for the fences seemed innocuous if
you grew up lu the ESPN, but for others it
might as well be speaking Klingon. It's not about intelligence,
it's about access, international or not. Language can become a gatekeeper.

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And it's not just sports. Every profession, every subculture, every
group has its own dialect, education, law, medicine, it. They're
all full of acronyms in shorthand that can be turned
insiders into a tribe and relegate outsiders to being observers.
But where do I find this dynamic more troubling than

(25:30):
in matters of faith? As a Christian, more specifically a Baptist,
I grew up in a church become influent in the
vocabulary of my denomination, words like fellowship, salvation, and communion
feel second nature. But I sometimes wonder how those words
sound to someone who's never darkened the door of a sanctuary.

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Do they land with warmth and clarity? Or do they
confuse intimidate and distance. Religion and dominant denominations say what
they want to be welcoming, and I believe them to
be sincere in that cinement. Yet too often the language
of faith serves as a velvet rope, not because of

(26:13):
what we believe, but because of hell we say it.
If our words bill walls instead of ridges, then we've
forgotten what language is for in the first place. Tommy
drew In as a syndicated columnist who lives in Georgetown.
Here are the obituaries James Kenneth Campbell sixty eight Wednesday

(26:35):
April twenty third, Gladys Marie Colch eighty died Monday April
twenty first, Barbara Combs forty seven died Sunday April twentieth,
and Michael Trent thirty eight of IBRA died Monday April
twenty first. The Levitt Amp Whitsburg Music Series presented by

(26:58):
AARHS back at the Mountain Here Stage in downtown Whitesburg.
These family friendly, free outdoor concerts occur Thursdays from May
twenty ninth through July thirty first. The music starts at
six thirty pm, with headliners at seven thirty pm. The
farmers market and community meals start at four thirty pm.

(27:19):
This concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald. 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.