6.15.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we turn to the reading of the Hazard Herald
for news of Hazzard and Perry County comany townshend. We
begin with the online edition dated June twelfth, twenty twenty five.
As a reminder, Radioizer reading service intended for people who
are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult
to read printed material. Community partners gathered for Stronger Together

(00:24):
Outreach event in Knot County on June sixth. The tendees
gathered at the Knot County Sports Blocks for Stronger Together,
a community outreach event, an initiative organized by Roscoe's Daughter
Incorporated in partnership with more than twenty five local organizations
to provide support, resources, and solidarity for Eastern Kentucky families

(00:48):
impacted by the recent tornado in London. Roscoe's Daughter Incorporated
founder and CEO Kate Clemens said the event was designed
to uplift youth in Perry Not and surrounding counties while
continuing to extend a hand to those still recovering. This
event is especially meaningful because it lets us support both

(01:11):
our local children and those in London. Clement said, I
tried to be intentional with every activity, something fun for
those attending, but also meaningful for those who are serving next.
The event included three interactive service stations created by Roscoe's daughter,
Notes of Hope, Friendship bracelets, and a cakewalk, all of

(01:35):
which encouraged local children to directly support their peers in
Laurel County. At the Notes of Hope station, children wrote
heartfelt messages and group pictures to be distributed to kids
currently staying at Levi Jackson Park. One card read storms
come and go, Life is hard and things may get scary,

(01:55):
but one thing remains true, and that is hope is strong.
I wouldn't have believed, the child wrote that if I
hadn't seen it myself. Clements said, our kids have endured
two devastating floods in three years. I expected smiley faces
and hearts. Instead I saw wisdom, grief and resilience. We

(02:17):
need to remember the emotional weight these children carry and
do more to support them. At the Friendship Bracelet station,
sponsored by Alice Lloyd College, children crafted bracelets for themselves
and for youth in London. Many included Bible verse beads
to offer faith and comfort, according to Clemens. Meanwhile, the
cakewalk sponsored by Hyman Methodist Church, allowed kids to donate

(02:43):
new toys in exchange for a chance to play. All
children participated for free, and the toys will be delivered
alongside the bracelets and notes later this week, Clements said.
Clemens also said the event is part of Roscoe's Daughters
Incorporated broader commitment to long term tornado recovery, which includes

(03:05):
ongoing collaboration with the City of London and London Police
Department to help stock ninety emergency campers. Items purchased through
the nonprofits Amazon wish List are sent directly to London
PD for immediate distribution to affected families. There are very
different phases of recovery, Clemens said. We were on the

(03:27):
ground the day after the tornado with generators and chainsaws. Now,
as powers are stored and debris is cleared, we're focusing
on the individuals. Events like this remind us how deeply
Eastern Kentuckians care for one another. That's the goal, to
make sure no one feels alone. Clemens encouraged the public

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to follow Roscoe's Order Incorporated on Facebook for updates on
relief efforts and opportunities to get involved. The event was
made possible through the support of community sponsors, and Parts partners,
which Clemens acknowledged with gratitude. Sponsors include Alice Lloyd College,
Himan Methodist Church, Food City, Perry Distributors Incorporated, ism IgA Dairy,

(04:14):
Queen Primary, Tear Centers of Eastern Kentucky, tim Short Superstore,
Kentucky River Community Care Incorporated, Not County Extension Office, not
County Physical Court, not County Sportsplex Restore, Hope, Himan, Beanshat
Coffee Shop, Beacons of Hope, qRT Miller and Sons, Celeres Store,

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A and H. Bounce House, Perry County Democratic Women's Group,
Ial and more. The Perry County Fiscal Court approved two
resolutions allowing the county to apply for two million dollars
in grants and support the development of East Perry Sports Park.

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The resolutions of proved June eleventh authorize the county to
apply for a one million dollar Land and Water Conservation
Fund grant and a one million dollar Government Resources Accelerating
Need Transformation Grant, which will serve as the required match
for the conservation grant. Perry Judge Executive Scott Alexander said

(05:21):
the move signals a new phase of development as the
county begins to turn its focus from infrastructure emergencies to
long term community investment. I want to reinenterate to the
public so they know what we're doing, Alexander said. As
we've handled the water and wastewater issues, I know we're
still going to have a winner or two ahead of us,

(05:43):
but these projects are funded. You're starting to see a
lot of work on those and going to continue to
see work on those. And we're fixing to see the
water plant to go out to bid, so that stuff
is happening. Alexander emphasized that wild water system concerns are
on going. The groundwork has been laid for real progress.

(06:04):
People will say that we still have a water issue,
and we do, he said, but those issues are funded now.
We can see the light at the end of the
tunnel now. So as these projects are coming online and starting,
we're gearing up our grant department for quality of life
issues that we wanted to address. But we knew we
had to get the water done right to begin with,

(06:26):
Alexander said. The East Perry Sports Park is one of
the several initiatives the county will begin pursuing in this
next phase of grant funding, so that's the reason you'll
start seeing the East Sports Park and our parks and
other quality of life issues we're going to start working
on after grants to go off. The East Perry Sports

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Park is a thirty million dollar project. We're just starting
and it may be two or three years before we
see breaking ground out there. Perry County man dies in
kanyaking accident near low head Dam. A thirty seven year
old Perry County man, Kevin Scott Sellers, died in a
kayaking accident on the North Fork River June seventh, after

(07:10):
officials said he and his daughter were swept into the
undertow while crossing a low head dam near the Woodland
Park Bridge. His daughter was rescued by first responders and
treated to Appalachia Regional Health Care. Local officials with the
Perry County Department of Outdoor Recreation are urging the public

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to learn about the dangers of low head dams following
the incident. We're deeply sadden to hear the news regarding
a kayaker losing their life to a low head dam,
said Deisi Gerald, director of Waterways with the Perry County
Department of Outdoor Recreation. We wanted to take this moment
to share some information regarding low head dams. Lowhead dams

(07:54):
are no match even against the strongest kayakers and swimmers.
Always scout your route and win encountering a low head dam.
Portage around. Jerl explained that while these dams may appear
harmless on the surface, they can be deceptively deadly. Low
head dams are very dangerous. The purpose they serve is
to raise water levels to raise water intake at the

(08:16):
water plant. Cherl said. They look like a little bump
that you can go over, but what people can't see
is the water goes over that spot with such force
it basically creates a cyclone beneath the water's surface that
you can't see underneath. Unlike other types of water hazards,
low head dams give swimmers few options for escape once

(08:38):
they're trapped in the hydraulic current. Unlike a riptide where
you can relax and let it take you out and
swim to the side, you don't do that with a
low head dam, said Jeryl. Jeryl urged paddlers to practice
portaging when approaching any dam or uncertain obstacle on the water.

(08:58):
Portaging is the of removing your boat float from the
river well up river from the dam, and walking around
the area on land to re enter downriver of the
low Head dam. Gerald said. Designated river access points in
Perry County include a put in and takeout spot beside
the city ball courts and a paved boat lamp at

(09:20):
Perry County Park. Perry Central. Seniors served through AmeriCorps earned
college support. Two seniors at Perry County High School are
finishing their final year with a head start on college
thanks to their participation in the AMERICRPS Partnership Corps PRI program.
Seniors Remy Brigham and Jasmine Bright have spent the school

(09:43):
year tutoring younger students in mathmittering underclass and leading service
projects such as holiday drives and nursing home outreach, all
while earning a living allowance and an education award to
help fund their post secondary education. This program is more
more than tutoring, said Samantha Carey, psyche coordinator for the

(10:03):
partner core PRI piris County Central. It's about personal growth, leadership,
and real world readiness. Each student receives a living allowance
of approximately six thousand dollars for their service and qualified
for the single AmeriCorps Education Award, valued at more than
one thousand, nine hundred and fifty six dollars to support

(10:25):
their college goals. Brigham said the program offered both financial
support and emotional growth during a pivotal time in his life.
Partner's Core pri helped me grow and gave me a
second family in the process, Brigham said, Bright, who managed
a second job in four college classes in addition to

(10:46):
her service, plans to attend nursing school after graduation. It's
more than volunteer service, she said, this gave me a
purpose and direction. Laurel Sheriff investigation leads to arrest of perryman.
A Perry County man has been arrested on several charges
after an investigation led by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office

(11:09):
led to a search warrant being served as a residents.
According to a statement shared by the Hazard Police Department,
which assisted in the case, Laurel County Sheriff John Root
said an undercover investigation led to a search warrant being
executed at the Typo Road Bondyman residence of Chester Glen
Couch sixty eight. During the service of the search warrant,

(11:31):
the statement said, officers found approximately two two hundred and
forty seven prescription pills, approximately one hundred twenty firearms, suspected
meth amphetamine, and a large amount of US currency. Couch
was lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail on charges
of first degree trafficking and a control substance, third degree

(11:52):
trafficking and a control substance, first degree possession of a
controlled substance. Assisting in the investigation for the Laurel County
Sheriff's Office where Laurel Sheriff Detective Byron Lawson, Detective Jake Miller,
Detective Tommy Houston, and Captain Richard Dalrymple all assisting on
the investigation or Hazard Police Department, Kentucky State Police Unite,

(12:19):
and the US Drug Enforcement Agency. The investigation is continuing
by Laurel County Sheriff John Jordan with an anticipated presentation
before a federal grand jury with this case being presented
for their consideration seeking an indictment. The statement said June
tenth Closures and schedules in Perry County in observance of

(12:43):
June tenth. On Thursday, June nineteenth, several businesses and government
offices in Perry County will be closed or have altered schedules.
Federal and state offices. All federal and state government offices
will be closed Perry County administrative offices in alignment with
the state closure guidelines. Administrative offices will be closed. The

(13:06):
courthouse will be closed. All banks will be closed in
observance of the holiday. The post offices will be closed,
resuming regular hours on Friday. Municipal offices will mostly be
closed in observation of the holiday. All closed offices and
businesses are expected to resume their regular hours on Friday.

(13:29):
Local officials take a Pie in the if or annual
fundraiser has red. Police Chief Zach Miller and Berry County
Commonwealth Attorney John Hanson were among the officials who took
a pile to the face during the Rebound Center's annual
Pie Your Local Official fundraiser on Friday, June sixth on
Main Street. The event offered refreshments, resources, and light hearted

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opportunity for the public to engage with officials. All proceeds
support individuals in need throughout the Center's out there services.
From the opinion page Big Beautiful, You Decide by Jeff Vanderback.
Congress is now pressed with voting on a bill that
could change the financial landscape of this country. Some say

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it's good, some say it's bad, and they're both correct.
It is clear that there needs to be a change
in federal spending and in who gets what. The entitlement
attitude needs to change and is long overdue. But this
bill is too much ambiguity, excessive Cox Code implications, and
rips the band aid off desperately needed federal spending that

(14:37):
supports local rural communities. I say start with welfare, SSI
and free healthcare. Every person who's on those programs needs
to be evaluated for true need. You can probably save
a trillion dollars there. And any lawyer who got benefits
for a person who's undeserving needs to be cell mates

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with crooked Eric Khan. According to the research, if the
eighteen page bill, which not too many Republicans self admitted
they don't even read, passes, there will be three point
four billion dollars in tax cuts, one point three trillion
dollars in reduction of federal spending, resulting in a two

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point four trillion dollar deficit according to the overall debt.
Most of these reductions in federal spending come from medicaid
and food assistance and since the government also wants is
done immediately. The cuts are spending immediate, not phased over
the next decade. If passed, some people may benefit while

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others will be a tremendous influx of homeless, starving Americans.
The bill passed the House and is now in front
of the Senate. Let's hope common sense prevails in some
amendments or compromises can be made. Economists are calling this
disastrous and say that if this bill passes, we're headed

(16:01):
into a steep, deep recession. Locally, we can expect to
see major cuts in many areas, adding to the poor
and the destitute not so great. See the associated charge
for the deficit increase and decrease based on the BBB.
This came from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Government.
I looked at this many times and can't see where

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assistance will be added to help veterans. The guest column secrecy,
emminent domain, and the erosion of public trust in Kentucky.
Jonathan SCHAFTSMA, Lieutenant Colonel U S. Marine Corps Retired. What
do a runaway data center and pickleball courts have in
common in Kentucky? The answer of secrecy in a troubling

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disregard for taxpayer voices. In Bourbon County, we recently witnessed
the unraveling of a controversial Bluegrass Station Airport proposal, a
three hundred plus million dollars project. They would have used
eminent domain to seize private citizen's land for the benefit
of private corporations. Worse, it was quietly slipped into the

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state budget without any public input. It was only thanks
to a vigilant citizen who uncovered the plan that the
project came to light, sparking a wave of public outrage. Eventually,
lawmakers removed it from the twenty twenty four budget, but
the damage was done. The proposal exposed a deep and

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growing problem in our government, a culture of secrecy around
how taxpayer dollars are spent and who actually benefits. One
might assume that this outcry surrounding this fiasco would serve
as a wake up call for lawmakers. Shortly after such
a backlash, they'd take public input more seriously and rethink

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how projects involving eminent domain and public funds are handled. Unfortunately,
they've done just the opposite. In the twenty twenty five
legislative session, lawmakers quietly expanded a lucrative tax credit for
data centers, facilities that typically create very few jobs while

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consuming enormous amounts of electricity and water. These resources, by
the way, are becoming more scarce and costly for Kentuckians
every day. The public didn't get a say. In fact,
they didn't even get a heads up. Case in Point
Oldham County's massive Project Lincoln, a six billion dollar data

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center project, the proposal was revealed only after the legislature
had adjourned, perfect timing to avoid legislation or public scrutiny.
Plan for farm land, the project would have required major
infrastructure investment and significant land use changes, including the likely
use of imminent domain. Local taxpayers would fit the bill

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in the form of infrastructure costs, while a providentity behind
the project reaped the rewards. Meanwhile, in Louisville, a beloved
public park became the target of yet another behind closed
doors public private partnership. Like the airport project, this deal
had been in the works for years before the public

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bound out, and, just like before, elected officials acted shocked,
insisting they knew nothing, even as the documents and timelines
suggested otherwise. These are not isolated incidents, they represent a
pattern troubling in trend towards secrecy, a fundamental erosion of

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public trust and backroom deals. In each case, the process
has been the same. A major project with significant public
impact is discussed and advanced in private, then revealed only
after key decisions had been made. Public input is treated
as an obstacle, a requirement. To be clear, no Kentuckian

(20:03):
should be against economic development or sound financial planning. Kentucky
should absolutely be investing in its future, and has already
spent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in recent years
developing industrial parks across the state more suited to these
types of projects. But the current model, where public money

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eminent domain, and local communities are leveraged to benefit private
corporate interests behind closed doors, isn't economic development. It's crony capitalism.
The rise of lobbying in Frankfort only reinforces this concern.
Lobbying expenditures are at a record high. As concerned citizens,

(20:44):
we were advised to hire our own lobbyists just to
make sure our voices could be heard in the halls
of government because our grassroot outreach wasn't enough. That's not
how democracy is supposed to work. Constituents voices should be
the priority, not an afterthought that must be competing with
corporate dollars. Transparency is an optional when taxpayer dollars are involved,

(21:09):
whether through public private partnerships, tax incentives, or infrastructure projects,
there must be a full disclosure in public engagement. This
is especially true when projects require emminent domain or result
in permanent changes to communities and landscapes. It's time for
Kentuckians to demand better. We must hold our elected officials accountable.

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We must insist on transparency, public participation, and responsible stewardship
of our resources. Whether the issue is a runway at
Bourbon County, a data center at Oldham County, or pickleball
courts in Louisville, the principle is the same. Public decisions
must involve the public, silence and secreency aroad trust. It's

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a time to restore it. Here are the obituaries. Hebrid
Calls seventy eight of Iko died Friday, June sixth. Joseph A.
Goebel eighty six of Hazard, died Tuesday June third. Kevin
Scott Sellers thirty seven died Sunday, June eighth, Pauletta Deaton

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seventy two died June third, Donald Judson Davis died May
twenty first. Beverly Edwards seventy three died Sunday, June seventh.
Willie Bill Pennington eighty one of Leatherwood died Thursday, June fifth,
Dewey Richard Gorman sixty seven of Hazard died Sunday, June first,

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Anita Morris eighty six of Busy died Tuesday, June third,
and Lily May White eighty three died June fourth. Lieutenant
Governor Coleman and Senior Adviser Rocky Haadkins make stops in
East Kentucky to pre to highlight pre K for All initiative.

(23:04):
Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman and Macky Atkins, Senior Advisor to
Governor Andy Bashir, join local officials, educators, business leaders, and
parents in Eastern Kentucky June fifth to rally support for
the pre K for All initiative, which aims to advance
the Commonwealth's public education system and job growth. According to

(23:26):
a statement from the Governor's office, Kentucky will never reach
its potential if our children ZIPKO determines their place in
the world by the first day of kindergarten, Lieutenant Governor
Coleman said, the time is now for pre K. It's
pastime we invested in our kids, set them up for success,
and ensure that they're ready on day one of kindergarten.

(23:49):
Said Atkins, this is an old brainer issue. This will
get more Kentuckians in the workforce, help our families with
health care and childcare, cut costs of parents, and bring
greater opportunity to every child here in Kentucky. We have
the money to do this, Kentuckians have a desire to

(24:10):
do this, and we owe it to our people in
our future to get this job done. Those joining the
Lieutenant Governor and Atkins that Eastern Kentucky said pre school
offers numerous benefits that extend beyond academic readiness, said Perry
County Judge Executive Scott Alexander. It saves money for families,

(24:31):
increases graduation rates, enhances social skills, and bridges the gaps
between socioeconomic groups. I applaud Governor Basher for leading the
fight for universal pre K in the Commonwealth as mayor
of Russell and the school bus driver with Russell Independent schools.

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I can attest that the positive impact pre K for
All would have in Eastern Kentucky, said Russell Mayor Samuel Simpson.
We will prepare more kids and families for success, giving
our schools and our workforce a boost. We're all in
for all pre K for All. As a mother of
two young children, I know firsthand the need for childcare

(25:13):
and universal pre K, said more Head Mayor Laura White Brown.
I had two children during the time of COVID nineteen
and there was no greater emphasis on childcare than at
that time. The realization of the demand for childcare for
the workforce, along with affordable childcare, made a substantial impact

(25:34):
not only in my community but across the region. I'm
the mother of a seven year old and ten year old.
I have made it a priority to create a community
that's welcoming and inclusive of a workforce that supports working parents,
while also focusing on affordable childcare. Implementation of pre K

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for All will help us reinvigorate education in Kentucky and
fuel job creation, said Larry Ferguson, President of Ashland Community
and Technical College. It also combats a major hurdle for
many college students and workers. Regarding childcare accessibility, this is
an opportunity we cannot miss. Providing preschool for all four

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year olds in Kentucky is vital as it significantly enhances
kindergarten readiness, leading to higher proficiency in reading and math,
improve social emotional development, and reduced grade retention, said Carrie Ballinger,
superintendent of Rockcastle County Schools. Access to preschool ensures all

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Kentucky four year olds, regardless of their background, have the
opportunity to thrive. Additionally, it would alleviate the cost of
childcare for families and support greater workforce participation, contributing to
the state's economic growth. From the sports pan h Kaylee
Dixon just wrapped up a wonderful softball season. Her Southeast

(27:04):
Louisiana Lines knocked off number ten ranked LSU in the
College World Series before their season came to an end
by Nebraska. Dixon played her first season with SC Louisiana
after transferring from Walters State. This concludes the reading of
the Hazard Herald. Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank

(27:25):
you for joining me and on behalf of everyone here
at RADIOI. This is Lee Townsend, wishing you a good day.