บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ 11.15.26

00:04:43.250 to continue ongoing projects and development initiatives throughout the county. 64 00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:47.889 Alexander expressed gratitude to Perry County voters for their continued 65 00:04:47.949 --> 00:04:52.110 confidence in his leadership, saying he looks forward to building 66 00:04:52.189 --> 00:04:56.540 on the progress made during his previous terms while placing 67 00:04:57.160 --> 00:05:03.209 an increased emphasis on economic development, tourism, and quality of 68 00:05:03.290 --> 00:05:09.250 life improvements. With several infrastructure projects underway and additional investments anticipated, 69 00:05:09.870 --> 00:05:13.569 Alexander says he believes the county's position for continued growth 70 00:05:14.050 --> 00:05:18.740 in the years ahead. Care cottage seeing increase in child abuse. 71 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:23.459 According to local officials with the Kentucky River Children's Advocacy Center, 72 00:05:23.899 --> 00:05:28.490 also known as Care Cottage, Perry County and other counties 73 00:05:28.569 --> 00:05:32.750 in the Kentucky River District have recently been experiencing an 74 00:05:32.810 --> 00:05:36.529 increase in varying forms of child abuse. It went up 75 00:05:36.589 --> 00:05:40.649 very much, said Care Cottage Executive Director Pamela Carey, who 76 00:05:40.709 --> 00:05:45.629 also serves as a forensic interviewer for the center. Currently, 77 00:05:45.689 --> 00:05:52.470 said Carey, The Care Cottage has 2,679 active cases within 78 00:05:52.589 --> 00:05:56.579 all eight counties they serve. The center, located in Hazard, 79 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:01.240 serves children and families throughout the Kentucky River region, providing 80 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:08.540 services to communities across Bethet, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, 81 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:13.240 and Wolf Counties. The Care Cottage provides support and services 82 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:17.199 to local children who have experienced abuse and or trauma. 83 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:22.839 The care cottage, Kerry said, uses a multidisciplinary team approach, 84 00:06:23.579 --> 00:06:30.019 bringing together professionals from law enforcement, school protective services, prosecution, 85 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:35.319 medical services, mental health providers, and victim advocacy to work 86 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:39.930 together on behalf of the children they serve. This, said 87 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:43.290 center officials, means that the professionals involved in the case 88 00:06:43.350 --> 00:06:48.699 work together in one location rather than each agency handling 89 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:52.740 the case separately, which helps reduce the number of times 90 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:58.060 children have to repeat what's happened. We just got our 91 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:02.500 most recent report in for fiscal year 2026 about a 92 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:07.189 month ago, said Jonah Gooch, Care Cottage Assistant Director and 93 00:07:07.230 --> 00:07:11.430 Case Review Specialist. This report, he said, covers July 1, 94 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:18.089 2025 through June 30, 2026, and shows a large change 95 00:07:18.149 --> 00:07:21.420 in the number of cases being served in the Kentucky 96 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:27.639 River Regional District. For fiscal year 2026, Gooch said, the 97 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:33.600 care cottage saw 349 new child victims over the course 98 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:36.620 of a year, with the primary age of those victims 99 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:41.389 being 13 through 17 years old. Gooch said the center 100 00:07:41.970 --> 00:07:47.889 saw 198 children between 13 and 17 years of age, 101 00:07:47.889 --> 00:07:52.329 99 between 6 and 12, and served 52 children between 102 00:07:52.329 --> 00:07:56.579 0 and 5 years of age. According to the report, 103 00:07:56.660 --> 00:08:00.600 Gooch said, the primary gender that the center served was female. 104 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:04.519 Last year, we had seen 212 female victims and 137 105 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:10.529 male victims, he said. A majority of the new cases 106 00:08:10.589 --> 00:08:14.470 being worked, said Gooch, related to sexual abuse. However, there 107 00:08:14.509 --> 00:08:18.670 is also cases related to other forms of abuse. The report, 108 00:08:18.709 --> 00:08:23.720 he said, included 117 cases of sexual abuse, 84 cases 109 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:29.079 of physical abuse, 77 of neglect and dependency, and 14 110 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:34.159 cases of human trafficking. Gooch said 85 cases were at 111 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:38.100 risk of harm from physical abuse, and 45 cases were 112 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:42.240 at risk of harm from sexual abuse. 61 cases, he said, 113 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:47.360 were classified as other, which includes emotional abuse and emotional neglect. 114 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:51.759 These numbers, said Gooch, are continuing to rise. The CARES 115 00:08:51.970 --> 00:08:56.169 cottage conducted 300 forensic interviews in the fiscal year 2026, 116 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:58.629 he said. However, just since New Year's Day of 2026, 117 00:08:58.629 --> 00:09:07.629 they've already had 280 forensic interviews. It's not unusual for 118 00:09:07.710 --> 00:09:11.029 us to average between 5 and 15 cases a week, 119 00:09:11.090 --> 00:09:14.769 said Gooch. We see about 10 to 12 percent increase 120 00:09:15.110 --> 00:09:18.409 per year, he said. In addition to the new cases 121 00:09:18.470 --> 00:09:23.169 of abuse, Gooch said, the report also included documenting the 122 00:09:23.250 --> 00:09:28.889 number of children experiencing custody issues related to reported abuse. 123 00:09:29.730 --> 00:09:33.929 Last year, our region had 73 new children enter into 124 00:09:33.950 --> 00:09:37.129 the custody of the state through the Cabinet for Health 125 00:09:37.210 --> 00:09:41.320 and Family Services, but we only had 54 new

adoptive 126 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:45.259 and foster cares last year. Those numbers kind of show 127 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:48.879 the big disparity of more of a statewide issue in 128 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.830 that the state is currently taking in more kids into 129 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:55.509 care than what they have foster homes or adoptive parents 130 00:09:55.570 --> 00:09:58.570 to put the children with. He said roughly 19 of 131 00:09:58.590 --> 00:10:03.799 those 73 children were taken into state custody in our 132 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:09.200 region and didn't have placement. Although the numbers of child 133 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:12.360 abuse cases in the region are rising at an alarming rate, 134 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.500 center staff said they continue to provide services as well 135 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.840 as promote resources and education. This endeavor, he said, is 136 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:24.809 an ongoing effort being made in partnership with local law 137 00:10:24.830 --> 00:10:30.009 enforcement agencies, schools, and other community partners. It's hard to 138 00:10:30.070 --> 00:10:33.769 portray to the public that there are multiple professionals out 139 00:10:33.809 --> 00:10:38.129 there that are working diligently at investigating these cases and 140 00:10:38.190 --> 00:10:42.139 helping these victims, but the public can't always see that 141 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:46.440 because of the confidentiality aspect, said Deutch. The work is 142 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:50.259 getting done. Carey agreed, adding that the care cottage has 143 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:54.480 a website and Facebook page for more information about their services, 144 00:10:54.940 --> 00:11:00.649 as well as outreach and awareness events. Perry Mann charged 145 00:11:00.710 --> 00:11:07.389 in Minnesota online sex investigation arrested in Clay County. A 146 00:11:07.429 --> 00:11:10.629 Perry County man and former teacher's aide who was charged 147 00:11:10.710 --> 00:11:14.669 in Minnesota after investigators said he communicated in a sexual 148 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:18.590 manner with a decoy account he believed belonged to a minor, 149 00:11:19.129 --> 00:11:23.980 has been arrested. Records show that Elmer Mitchell Fields, 57, 150 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:27.960 of Sexton Branch Road, previously was a teacher's aide at 151 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:32.620 Hazard Middle School. Fields was arrested by Manchester police on 152 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:37.990 November 3rd on a fugitive form justice warrant. Fields is 153 00:11:38.090 --> 00:11:42.570 facing a charge of engaging in electronic communication relating to 154 00:11:43.129 --> 00:11:47.950 or describing sexual conduct with a child in Washington County, Minnesota, 155 00:11:48.529 --> 00:11:53.269 related to an ongoing investigation there. According to the complaint, 156 00:11:53.409 --> 00:11:59.000 in July, human trafficking investigators created an undercover account on 157 00:11:59.029 --> 00:12:05.120 the Kik messaging application to depict a 15-year-old female. The 158 00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:09.500 Kik application, the complaint said, had been associated with various 159 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:14.820 safety concerns including its use in cyberbullying, grooming, and exploitation 160 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:19.259 of minors due to anonymity features. On the date the 161 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:23.679 account was created, the complaint said, the account received a 162 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:27.460 message from an account later linked to Fields stating, Hi there, 163 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:31.710 I'm 54, I'm a married high school teacher and dad here, 164 00:12:32.110 --> 00:12:36.139 home alone on break. The complaint said that despite the 165 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:40.980 investigators identifying as a 15-year-old, Fields proceeded to message the 166 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:45.279 account in a sexual manner and sent audio and video 167 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:50.279 files of himself engaged in sexual activity alone. The complaint 168 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:54.690 said investigators executed a search warrant on the KIK account, 169 00:12:55.289 --> 00:12:59.470 linked to Fields, and found the account had multiple conversations 170 00:12:59.509 --> 00:13:04.320 with other users who represented themselves as females between the 171 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:09.139 ages of 13 and 16. Many of the conversations, the 172 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:13.059 complaint said, were sexual in nature and feels talked in 173 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:17.220 them about his school schedule and specific dates when he's 174 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:22.379 on break from school. On October 28, the complaint said, 175 00:13:22.769 --> 00:13:27.450 Kentucky law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized multiple 176 00:13:27.549 --> 00:13:31.549 mobile devices and computers, along with items that were seen 177 00:13:31.629 --> 00:13:37.789 in the videos Fields sent. Hazard Independent Superintendent Sandra Combs 178 00:13:37.850 --> 00:13:41.110 said that Fields is no longer employed by the district. 179 00:13:41.990 --> 00:13:45.600 According to a statement from Engel, Fields said he was 180 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:49.320 employed as a teacher's aide and the Hazard Independent Schools 181 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:53.899 District has been cooperative in the investigation since being notified 182 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:58.330 on October 28th. Records show Fields was lodged in the 183 00:13:58.389 --> 00:14:02.789 Clay County Detention Center on November 3rd. According to court documents, 184 00:14:03.110 --> 00:14:08.759 Fields waived extradition to Minnesota on November 9th. White Wins 185 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:13.539 Perry County Sheriff Race by 14 votes outlines priorities for office. 186 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:19.090 Perry County will welcome new sheriff January 1 after Sean 187 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:22.529 White was elected, beating his opponent

Shannon Woods by a 188 00:14:22.590 --> 00:14:27.750 narrow 14-vote margin in the November 3rd general election. White, 189 00:14:27.830 --> 00:14:32.799 who will succeed retiring Sheriff Joe Engel, expressed gratitude to 190 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:35.940 Perry County voters for their support and said he looks 191 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.779 forward to building on the progress made by the sheriff's 192 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:44.039 office while expanding law enforcement's presence throughout the county. Before 193 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.620 this election, I told as many people as I could 194 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:50.019 get out and vote, he said. That's your American right, 195 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.759 and it's also a great way for people to settle 196 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.019 some of their differences to get out and vote. I'm 197 00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:59.360 very excited and feel very blessed to be the sheriff-elect. 198 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:04.009 White brings nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to 199 00:15:04.049 --> 00:15:07.450 his new position, having begun his career with the Hazard 200 00:15:07.490 --> 00:15:11.789 Police Department before transitioning to the Perry County Sheriff's Office 201 00:15:12.190 --> 00:15:16.330 where he served for nearly 20 years. Reflecting on his career, 202 00:15:16.389 --> 00:15:20.409 White credited a longtime mentor with encouraging him to pursue 203 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:24.500 law enforcement at a young age. It started in October 204 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:28.820 1998 at the Hazard City Police when my neighbor and mentor, 205 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:32.659 Rob Maggard, really encouraged me to get into law enforcement, 206 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:35.519 he said. I was given the opportunity when I was 207 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:39.240 19 to have a job dispatching. At that time, I 208 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:41.740 worked a couple of years and then I became an officer. 209 00:15:42.710 --> 00:15:46.250 White said his career eventually led him to the sheriff's office, 210 00:15:46.289 --> 00:15:49.110 where he was given an opportunity to continue serving the 211 00:15:49.149 --> 00:15:54.549 community under former Sheriff Les Burgett. I worked until around 2007, 212 00:15:54.549 --> 00:15:59.809 where I was blessed to meet Sheriff Les Burgett, who 213 00:15:59.870 --> 00:16:03.840 gave me an opportunity to be a deputy in his department. 214 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.240 And I've been with the sheriff's department ever since, White said. 215 00:16:09.009 --> 00:16:11.750 Throughout his career, White has also worked with local school 216 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:16.620 systems and experience he describes as particularly meaningful because of 217 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:21.259 the opportunity to protect and mentor young children. From the 218 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:27.029 opinion page, The Fat Lady Sang by Jeff Vanderbeck. As 219 00:16:27.309 --> 00:16:31.269 Master Pro said to Grace Grasshopper, or was it Stan Lee, 220 00:16:31.710 --> 00:16:36.500 with great power comes great responsibility. Tuesday, we witnessed the 221 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:40.039 acquisition of great power by people who will be accountable 222 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:44.120 to the public with great responsibility. Don't screw it up. 223 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:49.259 The election is finally over. The votes cast, the speeches delivered, 224 00:16:49.809 --> 00:16:52.950 and the political experts on social media have returned to 225 00:16:52.990 --> 00:16:57.169 their holes in the ground. Some candidates are celebrating. Others 226 00:16:57.230 --> 00:16:59.610 are wondering how they lost to someone who may not 227 00:16:59.669 --> 00:17:03.370 be the sharpest tool in the shed. Either way, the 228 00:17:03.409 --> 00:17:08.490 voters have spoken, and now comes reality, governing. But before 229 00:17:08.549 --> 00:17:11.990 we get into the actual wake-up call of the new businesses, 230 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:16.599 there is some unfinished business. The damn campaign signs that 231 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:20.779 have littered the roadside need to come down. Candidates were 232 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:23.099 quick to put them up. Hell, they were even social 233 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:27.359 media arguments about placement. Winners and losers need to show 234 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:31.220 the voters they are equally motivated to remove those eyesores. 235 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:35.380 The winners have been decided. Your name doesn't need to 236 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:38.079 be attached to a telephone pole until the return of 237 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:42.740 Jesus Christ. So let's shoot for the week before Thanksgiving 238 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:48.410 to have them all removed. To the winners, congratulations. Enjoy 239 00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:51.069 the victory, the handshakes and the pats on the back. 240 00:17:51.690 --> 00:17:54.690 Thank your supporters and perhaps cross the line and thank 241 00:17:54.730 --> 00:17:58.230 those who didn't vote for you. Also now would be 242 00:17:58.250 --> 00:18:02.369 a good time to think and thank the opposition who 243 00:18:02.430 --> 00:18:06.730 spent the last few months calling you incompetent. Then get 244 00:18:06.769 --> 00:18:13.490 to work. There were several major holidays before you take office. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, 245 00:18:13.549 --> 00:18:17.769 Boxing Day, Christmas, and New Year's Day. You have plenty 246 00:18:17.809 --> 00:18:20.950 of time to celebrate, eat turkey, open gifts, and pop 247 00:18:20.970 --> 00:18:24.690 the champagne before you figure out exactly what you've gotten 248 00:18:24.730 --> 00:18:30.170 yourself into. Come January, there's no room for excuses. blame, 249 00:18:30.410 --> 00:18:33.779 or criticizing the past. You need to have a plan 250 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:37.660 and you need to start implementing that plan now. Praying 251 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:40.640

that there will be hope and figuring it out as 252 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:44.460 you go are foolish ways to prepare to govern. You 253 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.680 can hope and pray all you want, but if you 254 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:50.180 don't have a comprehensive plan that's well thought out and 255 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:54.950 requires transparent, measurable results, you will fail and therefore you 256 00:18:54.990 --> 00:18:58.960 will fail the voters. During the campaign, all candidates had 257 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:02.779 some kind of plan. Some were fairly thought out. Some 258 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:05.400 were plans that will never come true and were talking 259 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:08.720 points to get votes, while others had plans that we 260 00:19:08.829 --> 00:19:12.710 all knew the candidate could never devise. So maybe a 261 00:19:12.750 --> 00:19:16.450 family member or AI created their plan, which will show 262 00:19:16.529 --> 00:19:20.150 its ignorance soon. Now is the time to turn those 263 00:19:20.190 --> 00:19:24.390 campaign promises into something more substantial than a postcard or 264 00:19:24.430 --> 00:19:28.599 social media post. By now, if you don't know the budget, 265 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:31.480 the inner workings of the position you want, where the 266 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:35.349 money comes from, and where it goes and why there 267 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:40.289 is never enough, you're starting in failure mode. Winners should 268 00:19:40.329 --> 00:19:43.950 meet with the employees in office in which they want. 269 00:19:44.509 --> 00:19:47.470 Ask questions of those employees as they know the inner 270 00:19:47.529 --> 00:19:50.869 workings and know where the bones are buried. so to speak. 271 00:19:51.950 --> 00:19:54.380 Talk to the people who didn't vote for you. They 272 00:19:54.410 --> 00:19:57.599 pay taxes too, and they may be able to understand 273 00:19:57.660 --> 00:20:00.480 a different perspective, and you will need them on your 274 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:04.980 side in your quest for success. Those returning to office, 275 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:08.690 remember winning does not make you smarter. It means you 276 00:20:08.730 --> 00:20:12.650 got more votes or voters pulled an all-party ticket not 277 00:20:12.710 --> 00:20:16.619 knowing what you stood for. And sometimes people vote for 278 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:22.299 the incumbent because they fear the alternatives. Winners, losers, and 279 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:25.640 voters on both sides need to leave the political grudges 280 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:28.680 at the door. Winning an election is not a hall 281 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:31.960 pass for a four-year revenge tour against your opponents and 282 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:35.740 their voters. We all had enough campaigning. We don't need 283 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:40.180 another four years of mudslinging disguised as public service. The 284 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:43.529 voters have done their job. Now it's your turn. Enjoy 285 00:20:43.569 --> 00:20:47.269 the holidays and somewhere between the turkey leg and the resolution, 286 00:20:47.750 --> 00:20:52.750 start a plan that involves more than getting reelected. A 287 00:20:52.789 --> 00:20:58.190 letter to the editor, pleased with election results. After a 288 00:20:58.230 --> 00:21:02.650 decade of bigotry and cruelty, an oligarchy sinking its teeth 289 00:21:02.710 --> 00:21:08.069 into American democracy, secret police terrorizing innocent citizens, and in 290 00:21:08.109 --> 00:21:11.869 some cases murdering them, a failed coup and an illegal 291 00:21:11.930 --> 00:21:15.829 war that sent inflation spiraling. We've just heard the death 292 00:21:15.910 --> 00:21:19.230 rattle of MAGA. This is the most exciting time in 293 00:21:19.269 --> 00:21:25.119 American politics in modern history. Abolish ICE, destroy the oligarchy, 294 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:30.660 pass Medicare for All, guarantee a livable wage for every job, 295 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:37.960 completely end aid to Israel, Free Palestine, by Jalen Adams 296 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:42.930 from Chavez, disagrees with the column. I recently read the 297 00:21:42.970 --> 00:21:47.690 Honorable Russ Cassaday article, State-Sanctioned Murder, in your opinion column. 298 00:21:48.470 --> 00:21:53.099 In particular, he referenced the botched court-ordered execution of Krista 299 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:57.319 Pike in Tennessee. I concur that was an atrocity that 300 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:01.740 should never have happened in modern-day America. However, I find Mr. 301 00:22:01.809 --> 00:22:06.009 Cassaday's thinking to be flawed in many respects. To wit, 302 00:22:06.150 --> 00:22:10.130 had the execution been successful at the outset, it would 303 00:22:10.170 --> 00:22:13.650 not have been justice. The state has decided Pike should 304 00:22:13.690 --> 00:22:17.470 die for her crime. I am the state. Murder committed 305 00:22:17.509 --> 00:22:22.049 by the state is committed by us. The aforementioned statements 306 00:22:22.109 --> 00:22:26.450 are sensational and without merit or foundation. To suggest that 307 00:22:26.490 --> 00:22:31.630 we collectively committed murder because we are the state is reckless. Tennessee, 308 00:22:31.690 --> 00:22:36.509 through their electorate, collectively voted for the death penalty. Pike 309 00:22:36.549 --> 00:22:40.680 received the death penalty for her crimes, not her crime. Mr. 310 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:45.579 Cassaday is one man with one opinion. He does not 311 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:48.460 represent any state or carry the weight to suggest a 312 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:52.319 murder was committed by the citizens of Tennessee. Perhaps Mr. 313 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:57.420 Cassaday already has been blinded by the liberal views minus 314 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:01.829 substantive facts. Death row has made a significant reduction in 315 00:23:01.890 --> 00:23:08.880

repeat offenders and persistent felony offenders. MLK Jr., injustice anywhere 316 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:13.980 is a threat to justice everywhere. Arthur Rogers, Navarre, Florida. 317 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:18.599 Life After Service, a guest column by Brandon Smith, state 318 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:22.660 senator for District 30. Trampas Miller lost a leg to 319 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:27.089 an improvised bomb in Iraq in 2008. His recovery at 320 00:23:27.150 --> 00:23:30.180 Walter Reed Medical Center took three and a half years 321 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:34.599 and more than 100 surgeries. Later, he attended a deer 322 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:39.259 hunt through Jason's Box, a Paris nonprofit that provides free 323 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:44.480 outdoor activities for severely injured veterans. Miller recalled just realizing 324 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:47.920 you're not alone during that first hunt. He stayed on 325 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:51.660 as a volunteer and now helps coordinate activities for other veterans. 326 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:55.539 Miller found something that mattered to him and chose to 327 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:59.559 help make it available to someone else. In Hazard, the 328 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:04.799 Paul E. Patton Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center, a 120-bed facility 329 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:09.460 set on 30 acres in the Perry County Mountains, provides long-term, 330 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:14.839 skilled health care and rehabilitation for Kentucky veterans close to home. 331 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:18.839 Named for the governor who made the building a priority, 332 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:23.960 the center opened in 2002. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 333 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:30.599 it's provided 24,674 days of care to the veterans who 334 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:35.079 live there. Veterans Day is a chance to know people 335 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:40.000 like Miller beyond their military service. After years of service 336 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:43.619 and work and friendships, they matter deeply to veterans and 337 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:50.400 the communities they call home. Here are the obituaries. David Mason, 36, 338 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:56.819 of Hazard, died Tuesday, November 3rd. Thomas T. Tom Patterson, 78, 339 00:24:56.819 --> 00:25:01.920 of Hazard, died Tuesday, November 3rd. Alice Combs, 71, of Hazard, 340 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:07.809 died Tuesday, November 3rd. Charles Ray Campbell, 79, died Monday, 341 00:25:07.890 --> 00:25:13.529 November 2nd. Carolyn Eldridge Cootes Hamlin, 82, of Hazard, died Tuesday, 342 00:25:13.589 --> 00:25:18.509 November 3rd. Jean Charles Rice, 85, of Hazard, died Monday, 343 00:25:18.589 --> 00:25:24.819 November 2nd. Jeffrey Scott Burden, 68 of Gaze Creek died Wednesday, 344 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:31.559 November 4th. Sharon Carlene Couch, 67 of Krypton, died Friday, 345 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:37.809 November 6th. Kevin Pollard, 72 of Iper, died Monday, November 2nd. 346 00:25:38.890 --> 00:25:45.089 Beulah Jean B.J. Rudy of Worcester, Ohio, died Wednesday, November 9th. 347 00:25:45.970 --> 00:25:50.099 And James Smith, 93 of Hazard, died Monday, November 9th. 348 00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:55.819 Hazard man killed in crash on Kentucky 80. A hazard 349 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.539 man was killed in a crash at Bulin on November 3, 350 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:03.789 according to a statement from Kentucky State Police. The statement 351 00:26:03.829 --> 00:26:09.029 said that at approximately 5.34 p.m. on November 3, KSP 352 00:26:09.089 --> 00:26:13.339 Post 13 received a call in reference to a two-vehicle 353 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:18.960 collision on Kentucky 80 at Bulin. Troopers, along with medical personnel, 354 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:23.160 responded to the scene, the statement said. According to the statement, 355 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:28.319 the preliminary investigation indicates that a 2023 Jeep Wrangler was 356 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:32.440 traveling eastbound on Kentucky 80 when it crossed the raised 357 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:37.259 median and into the westbound lane, striking a 2015 Ford 358 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:43.680 Mustang being operated by David Baysden, 36, of hazard. Baysden 359 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:46.180 was pronounced dead at the scene by the Perry County 360 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:50.099 Coroner's Office. The operator of the Jeep was transported by 361 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:54.269 Perry County EMS to Hazard ARH where he was treated 362 00:26:54.329 --> 00:26:59.230 for non-life-threatening injuries. An autopsy has been scheduled and toxicology 363 00:26:59.289 --> 00:27:02.430 is pending. Seatbelts were in use at the time of 364 00:27:02.450 --> 00:27:07.369 the collision, according to the statement. A Hazard woman is 365 00:27:07.410 --> 00:27:10.779 facing felony charges after police said she set fire to 366 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:14.480 a house she owned, but which was unoccupied in Hazard, 367 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:19.079 leading to damage by surrounding residences and injuries to an 368 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:24.160 occupant of one residence. Video footage, the warrant said, showed 369 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:28.200 Kelly Janelle Miller, 43, going to and from the house 370 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:32.640 she owned on 409th High Street multiple times prior to 371 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:36.210 the fire. This concludes the reading of the Hazard Herald. 372 00:27:36.269 --> 00:27:39.470 Stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining me, 373 00:27:39.569 --> 00:27:42.470 and on behalf of everyone here at Radio Eye, this 374 00:27:42.529 --> 00:27:44.549 is Lee Townsend wishing you a good day.