9.7.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we turn to the reading of the Hazard Herald
for news of Hazard and Perry County Hunley Townshend. We
begin with the online edition dated September third, twenty twenty five.
As a reminder, radioizes a reading service intended for people
who are blind or have other disabilities that make it
difficult to read printed material. Skyview celebrates first completed homes

(00:25):
with ribbon cutting. Local and state officials joined Community Partners
and the Housing Development Alliance on Tuesday, August twenty second
for a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the first five
completed homes on the Skyview Subdivision, a high ground living
space built for flood survivors. Lieutenant Governor Jaqueline Coleman said

(00:46):
the project reflects both resilience and community spirit. I come
from a small town, Coleman said, Hazard is five times
the small town I came from, so I know that
small towns are special places. These people hear. The work
that has been done is nothing short of remarkable. It's
the epitome of resilience. Resilience isn't about what happened to you.

(01:09):
It's how you respond to it that matters. The response
here has been second to none. So today is a
day families here begin to enjoy the fruits of all
the labor that took so many people to accomplish. Coleman
said the most rewarding part of the day was watching
families step into their new homes for the first time.

(01:31):
As much as we talk about the work that's being
done here, seeing the looks on the faces of these
families as they walk in and show their new house
to people, it's amazing, she said. I think the most
emotional thing you can see is when the kids run
in and they try to pick out their room. It's
little things you get to watch play out that are special,
and these families all deserve it. It's been a long

(01:54):
time coming, and I'm happy for them. Scott mcgrenold's executive
director of the House Housing Development Alliance, call the milestone
a product of widespread collaboration. We're here today celebrating the
first five homes completed at the Skyview Subdivision. Macriminald said
this is a local, state, regional, federal project. Everything from

(02:17):
folks who made five dollars donations to flood recovery to
the two hundred and ninety seventy million dollars from the
federal government. This is all about everyone doing whatever they
could to help flood survivors. He added that the houses
are built with both affordability and sustainability in mind. We
have five houses now that will be occupied in a

(02:39):
few weeks. He said. They are super energy efficient. They
all have solar energy, so they're going to be affordable.
We're really excited. It's really special to be a part
of this, and a huge thank you to the HDA
staff and all our partners who made this possible. State
Representative Chris Fuget, a Republican from javaid the project carried

(03:01):
a personal meaning for everyone involved. I'm thankful to be
on the team that tries to help people get back
to where they need to be. If you get said,
this is personal, and I think everyone who's been involved.
We never know whose life we're going to impact, but
I think it's important we continue to make decisions with
the people in mind that were going to help them

(03:23):
have a better life. Prairie County Judge Executive Scott Alexander
echoed the message of progress. This is a great day
and there are a lot of people who put a
lot of hard hours and effort into seeing things happening
in this community. Alexander said, results speak for themselves. We're
getting results here. It's a big team that does a

(03:44):
lot of hard work. As your Mayor, Donald Happy Mogolini said,
this Guynue project reflects promises kept. It's a team effort.
We work together, Mogolini said. The governor said they were
never going to leave us, and this right here is proof.
Lieutenant Governor Jacquelin Coleman joined Senior Advisor to Governor Basher

(04:06):
Rocky Atkins, and local officials Mayor Mobilini and Perry County
Judge Executive Scott Alexander, State Representative Chris Fugut, and other
officials in a ribbon cutting ceremony. Olly Iison seventy two
of Hazard is honored with a Duchess of Hazard certificate
by Mayor Donald Happy Mobilini for her daily care of

(04:28):
the city's flower pots along Main Street. Eisen, who was
met on Main Street by Mayor Mobilini, Perry County Judge
Executive Scott Alexander, and other local officials, was recognized for
her dedication to maintaining city flower pots along the section
of Main Street. Every day. She can be seen tending

(04:48):
the balloons removing dead flowers and caring for the plants.
Eisen said she was surprised by the acknowledgment, but that
means a lot to her. It's always nice to be
acknowledged for what you do, she said. I was born
and raised here. I moved to Lexington for twenty eight years,
but I moved back here in twenty fifteen because of

(05:10):
my bike. I've done flowers all my life. I love flowers.
I came here and take care of these. As long
as they're here, I will come out, try to get
out and walk every day. It's beautiful over here. Nowadays
you don't expect much out of people, so this is
a wonderful surprise. Eisen, who Han said her favorite flowers

(05:31):
or tulips and roses will have the certificate frame by
the city and County. Appalachian Arts Alliance to host shakespeare
Festival September sixth. The Appalachian Arts Alliance will bring the
Bard to downtown with the Shakespearean Festival on September sixth.
The festival will offer a day packed with performances that

(05:52):
celebrate the Classics in unexpected ways. Get ready for the
world's smallest Shakespeare Festival, said Tagan of the Appalachian Arts Alliance.
This will be a big day of performances in our
tiny celebration of the Guard. Whether you're a fan of fairies, fire,
funny reimaginings, we've got something for everyone. The lineup will

(06:15):
showcase professional performers, student actors, and local talent throughout the day.
Kentucky Shakespeare will open the festival with the magical A
Midsummer Night's Dream from ten to eleven am. From eleven
am to noon, and again from three to four pm,
the Flaming Film will take the stage with a high
flying show of aerials, acrobatics and pyrotechnics. According to Cox,

(06:40):
At two pm, Perry Central Drama will bring all audiences
a mix of Shakespeare's greatest hits, a selection of scenes
featuring comedy, tragedy, and everything in between. The Arts Station
Junior Players will close the festival with the Cussification of
Romeo and Juliet from five to six pm, them blending

(07:01):
the Bard with the whimsy of Doctor Seuss. Cox sent
tickets for ten dollars and she encourages the community to
take part in a day that highlights boat tradition and creativity.
It's all happening right here in the world's smallest Shakespearean festival,
where the talent is towering, even if the stage is timy.

(07:21):
Kentucky Power officially files for rate increase. Kentucky Power has
officially filed for a rate increase that could translate to
a nearly fifteen percent increase for residential customers. The company
officially filed its request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission
on August twenty nine. In the application, the Kentucky Power

(07:44):
laid out its plan for the rate increase, which would
translate to a nearly ninety six million dollar increase in
the company's annual revenue, bringing its annual total revenue to
just over seven hundred and forty nine million dollars. According
to the filing, the company contends its current rates are
not fair, just, and reasonable do not permit the company

(08:06):
to operate successfully, to maintain its financial integrity, to attract capital,
or to compensate its investors. It does not provide financial
resources required to permit Kentucky Power to continue to provide adequate, efficient,
and reasonable service throughout its service territory. In addition to

(08:27):
the fifteen percent proposed rate increase for the residential customers.
Kentucky Powers also asking the PSC to grant a thirteen
to fifteen percent increase for commercial and residential customers. There's
no doubt the cost of providing electricity to homes and
businesses has become more expensive across our nation, but especially

(08:49):
an eastern Kentucky, the company said, and an August twenty
sixth statement posted to its website. The loss of population
and industry here has created real challenges, costs ever higher.
When we make decisions about investments, we must balance those
investments with keeping costs as low as possible. Included in

(09:10):
the following our measures to the company to propose to
take offset customer rate impacts, including a capital structure that
reduces the company's equity layer, which in return reduces the
company's weighted average cost of capital. The ten percent returned
on equity proposed is the lowest recommended by the expert

(09:31):
used by the company. The company is not proposing to
adjust appreciation rates for the Mitchell plant, which would reduce
immediate bill impacts to customers and allow the company to
pursue securitization of the Mitell plant investments, and the company
is proposing to remove storm expense from base rates and

(09:53):
be authorized to automatically establish regulatory assets for all storm
costs incurred, which would have amus it bill impacks to
customers and allowed the company to pursue securitization for storm costs.
The Kentucky Power rate case is before the PSC under
case number two two five zero zero two five seven.

(10:18):
The PSC record shows that numerous public comments have been
submitted in the case, many before the application was officially fouled.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's office has been granted intervener
status in the case. Balloon release honors lives lost the overdoses.

(10:38):
Mountain After Hours Clinic marked Overdose Awareness Day on August
twenty ninth with a balloon release meant to honor those
who died and to call attention to ongoing efforts in
the fight against addiction. This is a time to remember
those we have lost to things like overdoses, said Becky Honchell,
LPCC at Mountain After Hours Clinic. But it's also a

(11:03):
time to act to make people more aware of addiction
and ways we can work together as a team and
a community to help people. AUNCH will emphasize the importance
of both hope and treatment. I think number one, people
should never give up, she said. Number two people need
to support treatment. That's why we're invited so many people

(11:24):
from the community, because we want people to see how
important treatment is. Things like nartan rehabilitation centers, outpatient facilities,
medication and more. Hanchell said the epidemic has touched nearly
every family in some way. Overdoses or addiction have impaired

(11:45):
and impacted most every family in Kentucky. We lost ten
people in twenty twenty four to overdoses. We reflect on
the memories we have of those we lost, tress that
the numbers represent real lives and families. We want this
to be a statement that those we've lost are not

(12:07):
forgotten and they are more than just a number. She said.
Last year we lost eighty thousand people to overdoses. Here
in Perry County, we lost twelve. That's a decrease, but
that's still twelve too many that someone's father, mother, husband
or wife, brother or sister, son or daughter. It matters.

(12:29):
It starts right here with people in front of us.
We advocate, we push for treatment, We educate people on addiction,
and we work together inmate charge with assaulting other inmate
at KRRJ. The same day, four men were charged with
felony assault against the fellow inmate. At the Kentucky River

(12:50):
Regional Jail, another man was charged with allegedly assaulting the
same victim. According to an arrest citation written by KRRJ
Lieutenant Jess Stidham, on August twenty fifth, she was watching
video visits for KRRJ inmate Nathan Bush twenty six of
Sam Campbell Bonnyman. The video showed that during a visit

(13:12):
on August twenty fourth, Bush told the person visiting him
to hold on. The citation said. At that point, the
citation said, Bush ran to a cell and began kicking
the same man who had allegedly been assaulted by four
other inmates. The video shows that Bush returned to the
visit and the visitor asked him why he did that,

(13:33):
to which Bush responded that the four inmates who had
allegedly assaulted the same inmate earlier have his bike, so
he has their bikes, the citation said. Stidham wrote that
the video then shows the visitor asking Bush why he
would involve himself in something he had no part of.
Bush was then placed in lockdown. The citation said Bush

(13:56):
was charged with a second degree assault. According to courtney documents,
on August twenty fourth, Buddy Amburgee thirty four of Jeff
Justin Lewis thirty two of Lewis Hollow Road Hazard, Michael
Jones thirty seven of Hillside Lane, Louisville, and Dalton Combe's
twenty four of Big Branch Road Hazard were charged with
second degree assault related to an alleged assault on the

(14:20):
same Innate u Pike obtains USDA funding for dental college.
Officials from the University of Pikeville announced that a large
part of the funding required for the construction of the
Tanner School of Dential Medicine has been secured. During a
special reception on August twenty nine, the university celebrated what

(14:42):
you Pike Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, doctor
Lory Wirth called a transformational partnership with the USDA. As
she introduced USDA university and local officials during the event,
this is a historic day for Eastern and tent Kentucky
and for the Commonwealth, said Travis Burton, Kentucky State Director

(15:04):
of USDA Rural Development. We the USDA are focused on
improving the quality of life in rural Kentucky. President Trump
and USDA Secretary Brook Rollins are committed to ushering in
a new era of prosperity for rural America. The way
we do that is through ideas and projects like we're

(15:27):
here to celebrate today, He continued. This is going to
have a lasting impact on our region, not just on
the health of our citizens, but on the creation of
jobs and the creation of opportunity here in Piteville and
throughout eastern Kentucky. He said that part of improving the
regional quality of life includes ensuring a healthy population. Access

(15:50):
to dental care can be a challenge. This institution, this
community is facing that head on. The work we put
into making today possible is going to go leaps and
bounds toward changing dad in rural Kentucky. Burton announced that
the University of Pipwell Tanner School of Dental Medicine will
be the recipient of fifty three point three million dollars

(16:13):
in USDA grants and three million dollars in guaranteed loans.
We're thrilled and we're able to work with you and
be a partner with you on this project, he said,
as he made the formal announcement. Burton dovetailed on a
statement made by Jill Keaton, dean of the TCDM, who
said the new dental school would officially begin accepting student

(16:35):
applications on September one. That is so exciting, Burton said,
September one, that's the first day of applications. What a
perfect day to celebrate this. And on the eve of
that day, also during the event, University of Pipewell President
Burton Webb announced the Kentucky Commission of Dental Accreditation has

(16:56):
fully accredited TCDM. We're very proud of that. You have
not seen a big announcement about that yet because KODA
posted their approval on their website and still has yet
to give us the official letter. Child and Adult Care
Food Program Eligibility Guidelines revised. The US Department of Agriculture

(17:19):
has set the income eligibility guidelines for students and adults
to participate in free reduced price meal programs through the
Child and Adult Care Food Program CCFP for twenty twenty
five twenty six. The CACFP is federally funded through the

(17:39):
USDA and administered by the Kentucky Department of Education, Division
of school and community nutrition, according to a statement from KDE,
The program, the statement said, provides for nutritious meals and
snacks for qualifying participants attending childcare center's daycare homes, head

(18:01):
start programs, adult cares, homeless shelters, and after school programs.
The program also works to establish positive eating habits at
the earliest stages of development and contributes to the wellness, growth,
and development of young children and adults. Income eligibility guidelines

(18:22):
for free and reduced meals are used to determine each
participant's eligibility. Children who are eligible for temporary assistance from
Needy Families Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs SNAP, or the Food
Distribution Program in Indian Reservations are automatically eligible to receive
free meal benefits. Adult participants who are members of SNAP, FDPI,

(18:48):
our households who receive Social Security income or are Medicaid
participants also are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefitsssipating
in the CAACFP agreed not to charge a separate fee
for meals above the cost of tuition. Independent institutions and

(19:09):
sponsoring organizations must enter into agreements with KDE to assume
responsibility for CACFP operations, k assists institutions and sponsors by
providing consultation, training, resources and materials to make the program successful.

(19:30):
PMC Specialty Pharmacy earns twenty twenty four Top Performance accreditation.
The Pappul Medical Center PMC Specialty Pharmacy has earned the
Top twenty Performer for twenty twenty four, granted by the
Utilization Review Accreditation Commission PMC announced in a statement in

(19:52):
August fourteenth. The statement said, UREC is the independent leader
in promoting healthcare quality by setting high standards for clinical practice,
consumer protections, performance measurement, operations, infrastructure, and risk management. By
achieving this status, the PMC Specialty Pharmacy has demonstrated its

(20:14):
commitment to quality care, enhanced processes, patient safety, and improved outcomes.
The statement said, being recognized as a URAC Top Performer
is both an honor and a powerful validation of our
commitment to developing and delivering exceptional patient care. Said Sarah Elswich,

(20:37):
pharmacy doctor who specialty as Pharmacy Manager, This recognition reflects
on the hard work, data driven innovation, and relentless dedication
of our team. From the opinion page, when care comes
to the Child by Darien Nicole Stone, dm D. Eastern
Kentucky's experience shows how bringing health care services into schools

(21:01):
can overcome rural barriers. Whinni the pood One said, you
can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for
others to come to you. You have to go to
them sometimes. That simple wisdom fits the story of children's
health in Eastern Kentucky. In two thousand and five, a
major health crisis was underway in Perry County. Seventy percent

(21:23):
of elementary school children had untreated tooth decay, and two
in ten had urgent needs such as abscesses or rampant decay.
These were the second highest tooth decay rates in the nation,
behind only isolated Alaska Native populations. Many children had never
been to a dentist, not because the families didn't care,

(21:44):
but because they faced barriers like unreliable transportation, missed work
tooth you dentists, taking medicaid, misconceptions about baby teeth, and
frequent moves. Some children didn't even have a toothbrush at home,
while so consumption in the fifth Congressional District was the
highest in the nation. Faced with these realities, the Ronald

(22:07):
McDonald Care Mobile Dental Outreach Program, a partnership between UK
College and Dentistry, Ronald McDonald House, Charities of the Bluegrass,
and more recently, the Kentucky Association of Health Plans began
traveling through eastern Kentucky to bring dental care straight to
children at schools and daycare. Access to pediatric special specialists

(22:31):
was rare. In the program's first year, nearly eighty head
Start children ages two to five needed urgent care. By
the year's end, only six had received it. The next year,
partnerships expanded care weekly at a hospital and hazard, and
more than sixty percent of those children completed treatment. Progress

(22:52):
took persistence. Staff spent half their time arranging transportation, talling families,
and explaining my back baby teeth must stay in place
until ages ten to twelve to guide permanent teeth. Untreated
cavities can set the stage for lifelong dental problems and
harm overall health, risking diabetes, heart disease, poor pregnancy outcomes

(23:18):
at Alzheimer's disease. Two decades later, the pictures changed due
to decay. Rates have dropped by twenty three percentage points
of elementary students and twenty seven percent. In preschoolers, Urgent
dental treatment needs fell from twenty two percent to eight percent.
Schools with the healthiest students now have the highest health scores,

(23:41):
clear evidence that healthy mouths help children learn. Our recent
partnership is taking things to the next level with funding
for a full time dental case manager, possibly the first
role of its kind in Kentucky and beyond. In her
first year, she case managed more than one two hundred children,

(24:02):
helped eighty three percent of the families get care, taught
more than six hundred children in classrooms, arrange bus transportation
for twenty five students, and reach nearly four thousand families
at school activities and events. By handling calls, transportation and education.
She freed clinical staff to focus on care. The next

(24:26):
doll is big but doable, cut decay rates by another
twenty percentage points within a decade, bringing children in Eastern
Kentucky in line with national averages and giving them a
better chance for a good start in school in life.
The model shows what's possible far beyond one region. Because

(24:46):
this poo reminds us sometimes you have to go to them.
And when the forest or the mountain stands in the
way you take the road to the child instead giving
them a chance at a healthier, brighter future. Cold Nicky Stone, DMD,
is director of Mobile Ministry at uk North Fork Valley
Community Health Center. A big win for Rural America. About

(25:10):
Jonathan Schell, Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner, It's time to
say something loud and clear, Rural America matters. For too long,
the voices of our farmers, small town entrepreneurs, and families
in fly Over Country have been muffled beneath the roar
of an urban eccentric population. That's why the inclusion of

(25:31):
rural Qualified Opportunity Zones and the One Big Beautiful Bill
is not just good policy, it's a game changer. Here
are the obituaries. While I need to corn At seventy
one of Hazard died Sunday August twenty fourth. Former WYMT
Chief forecaster and Harland County native Brandon Robinson died Sunday

(25:55):
August thirty first. Melissa Coots Holbrooks sixty one died Thursday
August twenty eighth. Rodney Herald Stidham, seventy five, of Hazard
died Sunday August twenty four, Perry County Sheriff for Sin's
retirement will serve out term. Perry County Sheriff Joe Ingle

(26:17):
announced Wednesday, August twenty seventh that he has rescinded his
planned retirement and will finish his full term in office.
Retirement for twenty twenty five rescinded. Ingle said in a statement,
I sent this letter today and advised the Judge Executive
that I will be rescinding my retirement to was scheduled
to begin January one, twenty twenty six. I will not

(26:41):
be running for re election for sheriff next year, but
will finish my full term out Ingland explained the decision
came after learning his recommendation for a successor would not
be honored. I had received word that my recommendation of
Jeff Ritchie was not going to be chosen to my term,
he said. I felt that someone that was going to

(27:03):
be put in place for reasons other than what was
in the best interests of the county had my staff,
was likely to happen. The sheriff emphasize that he holds
no resentment over the situation, but feels compelled to continue serving.
This concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald. Please stay
tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining me and

(27:24):
on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI. This is Lee Townshend,
wishing you a good day