| Breathitt Online News Archives 2-9-04 |
| Anti-Drug Initiative Begins In Eastern Kentucky London, KY 11-28-03 -- The nation's drug czar said Monday that an anti-drug initiative in eastern Kentucky could serve as a model for the rest of the nation. John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, made stops in London and Hazard to kick off an anti-drug imitative called Operation Unite. The program will create regional drug task forces to arrest black market dealers, beef up drug treatment programs and help expand drug education programs. "This is what we need more of," Walters said. "This is leadership working, this is people working on what is obviously a deadly problem." An $8 million appropriation in this year's federal budget will cover the cost of the counter-drug initiative. "For far too long our schools, communities and people have been held hostage by the devastating effects of substance abuse," said U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, who accompanied Walters. Eastern Kentucky is a region ravaged by addiction to prescription drugs like OxyContin, cocaine and methamphetamines. Walters said he is not aware of another initiative like Operation Unite anywhere else in the nation. Five Die on Roadways During Christmas Holiday 12-29-03 (FRANKFORT, Ky.) - Preliminary statistics* show that five people died in five separate crashes on Kentucky's roadways this Christmas holiday. The number of fatalities is up from the 2002 holiday period during which two people died in two crashes. Of the five fatal Christmas holiday crashes, preliminary data indicates alcohol was a suspected factor in three of the accidents. Four of the victims were not wearing a seat belt. Two of the crashes occurred in Barren county. The other crashes occurred in Allen, Hardin and Jefferson counties. The official Christmas holiday period ran from 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 24, 2003 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2003. All statistics are from that time period. The increase in fatalities over the holiday period is due in part to the longer holiday period as compared to 2002. Last year, the holiday period was only two days long. The Kentucky State Police will continue targeting occupant protection, including child safety seat violations, impaired drivers and speed violators, the three biggest contributors to highway fatalities, through the New Year holiday. Citizens can help save lives during the holidays by reporting suspected impaired drivers to KSP toll free at 1-800-222-5555. Caller identification is not required, but direction of travel, suspected vehicle description and license number is helpful. *These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas. Beaten Child Dies From Injuries 1-23-04 Jackson, Ky. A Booneville man and woman may now face murder charges in the apparent beating death of three-year-old Alexis Riley. Alexis Riley died Thursday night at the UK Children's Hospital. Authorities say Alexis's father, Michael Riley and his girlfriend, Dorothy Birch, caused the girl's injuries, which appear to have caused her death. Alexis' death has affected people throughout the community and has everyone asking, why? Commonwealth's attorney Tom Hall expects to upgrade the first degree criminal abuse charges to murder after meeting with detectives covering the case. An autopsy is being performed on the little girl and is expected to be completed today, after which prosecutors may then upgrade the charges. Sources say the little girl suffered severe injuries over her body and severe injuries to the child's skull. We will have more on this as information becomes available. 5-1-1 is the Number to Call for Road and Weather Conditions 1-26-04 Frankfort, Kentucky (January 26, 2004)-Kentucky's 511 traffic and travel information line got a real workout with the weekend's wintry weather. On Sunday, January 25th, 32,880 calls were received by the service operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The line, launched in November of 2002, is an interactive voice recognition service that provides callers with accurate, useful and timely traffic, travel and road weather information, 24/7. Callers can request specific information on 8,217 miles of major Kentucky roadways. Information on accidents, construction areas, weather conditions and road closures allows motorists to make more informed choices for reaching their destination. The call is free; however, roaming and airtime charges may apply on wireless calls. When traveling outside Kentucky, information on our highway system is available by calling 1-866-737-3767. The 5-1-1 line averages about 56,780 calls per month. The all-time high call volume to date was logged on February 16, 2003 with 34,931 calls on that day. The traffic and travel information is available by calling 5-1-1 or via the Web site at www.511.ky.gov. The Web site is updated every 15 minutes, while the phone data can change each minute. Superintendent salaries listed 1-30-04 Jackson, Ky. In a recent Kentucky Superintendent Salary Survey 2003-2004 released by the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, (KEDC), some interesting numbers are shown. Jackson City, Aand Breathitt Superintendents are listed 58th & 59 respectively out of 176 superintendents. JCS super makes $98,538 a year, an increase of $2,444 or 2.54%. According to this same survey, Breathitt's super makes $98,487 a year an increase of $14,001 or 16.57%. Breathitt's superintendent received the 5th highest raise in the state. The average state salary is $96,695. The average raise was $3,870 or 4.17% increase. JCS superintendent's salary increase was well below the state average while Breathitt's was one of the highest in the state. Regionally, only Pike, Perry & Lesie made more, while others likeWolfe, Clay, Letcher, & Harlan ranked from 122 - 134th.Owsley, Lee, Hazard Ind., & Jenkins Ind. all ranked in the bottom30 in salaries. When asked for comments on the salaries, Breathitt Superintendent Ron Eden stated that he wanted a refund from someone as he was not making that kind of money. Information for the KEDC report comes from each school board and provided by the KEDC. HCTC nursing students have 100% pass rate 11-25-03 Students graduated from Hazard Community and Technical College’s RN Nursing Program have achieved a 100 percent pass rate, a first since consolidation of the Hazard and Jackson programs in 1996. Students taking the national nursing exam between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003 all passed, noted Dr. R. Kathy Smoot, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “During the specified time frame, a total of 55 students took the test and all 55 of them passed,” noted Dr. Smoot. “I am extremely pleased with the work of our Associate Degree nursing faculty because their dedication, expertise, and classroom instruction are contributing to the provision of outstanding nursing care in our region.” Dr. Pat Herald, RN Program Coordinator, “Our faculty members are continually developing and implementing strategies designed to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. These members of the faculty also are administering a learning styles inventory to each student to help him/her determine how he/she best learns in order to achieve success.” Pre-admission conferences for students interested in applying for HCTCS’s RN Program beginning fall 2004 are currently underway. Please contact Dr. Herald at 800-246-7521, ext. 73556 or Debbie Hogg, ext. 73385, for additional information and/or a schedule of dates still available. Take Five Small Steps to Prevent Diabetes FRANKFORT, Ky. 11-19-03 -- Almost 16 million Americans are well on their way to developing diabetes-and most don't even know it. They have a condition called pre-diabetes, which means their blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services reports that the good news is there is now scientific proof that they can delay or prevent the disease and its devastating complications. The key to preventing diabetes is taking small steps toward living a healthier life, according to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. Everyone can benefit from the rewards of avoiding diabetes and its serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and losing a foot or leg. Since November is National Diabetes Month, this is an excellent time for raising awareness about diabetes prevention. In Kentucky, an estimated 237,700 adults between the ages of 40 and 74 have pre-diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program's Clinical Trial, a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, showed that people with pre-diabetes lowered their risk of developing diabetes by more than half by getting 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week and losing five to seven percent of their body weight. Risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes are: * Age: risk increases with age * Overweight: a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (23 or higher if Asian American, 26 or higher if Pacific Islander). (Body mass index is a way of looking at a person's body weight for height and is an overall indication of fitness and risk of obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.) There are 38.1% of Kentuckians who are overweight and 24.4% of Kentuckians who are obese. * Blood Pressure: 140/90 mm/Hg or higher * Cholesterol: HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dl for men and less than 50 mg/dl for women; triglyceride level 250 mg/dl or higher * Family history of diabetes: having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes * Race/Ethnicity: African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino heritage * History of Gestational diabetes: or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds * Inactive Lifestyle: exercises fewer than three times a week. Approximately 27% of Kentuckians reported no physical activity or exercise over the last month. If you are over 45 and over-weight, you are at increased risk for pre-diabetes. Everyone age 45 and older, even if they are not overweight, should consult with their health care provider about being tested. Those who are younger than 45, overweight, and who have one or more of the other risk factors could be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and should also consult their health care providers about testing. Here are five small steps you can take today to live a healthier life and prevent or delay diabetes: 1. Find out if you are at risk for diabetes or if you have pre-diabetes. Talk to your health care provider at your next visit. 2. Set realistic goals. Start by making small changes. For example, try to get 15 minutes of physical activity a day this week. Each week, add five minutes until you build up to the recommended 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. 3. Make better food choices. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables (five to nine servings a day), beans, and grains. Reduce the amount of fat in your diet. Choose grilled or baked foods instead of fried. 4. Record your progress. Write down everything you eat and drink. Keeping a food diary is one of the most effective ways to lose weight and keep it off. Review this diary with your health care provider. 5. Keep at it. Making even modest lifestyle changes can be tough in the beginning. Try adding one new healthy change a week. Always get back on track, even if you fall off a few times. The key is just to keep at it. If you have pre-diabetes, the NDEP has information to help you. To get a free copy of "Small Steps. Big Rewards. Your Game Plan for Preventing type 2 Diabetes," call 1-800-438-5383 or visit the NDEP website at www.ndep.nih.gov. 2123rd Transportation Company Announces Departure Ceremonies FRANKFORT, Ky.- Nov. 28, 2003 – The 2123rd Transportation Company (Heavy Equipment Transportation), Kentucky Army National Guard, will hold three departure ceremonies over the weekend: Detachment 1, 2123rd Transportation Company in Owensboro- November 29 at 3 p.m. CST at the Owensboro Armory- 1501 West Parrish Ave. 2123rd Transportation Company (-) in Richmond- November 30 at 8:30 a.m. EST at the Alumni Coliseum (on the EKU bypass, exit 87, off I-75) Detachment 2, 2123rd Transportation Company in Louisville- November 30 at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Fairgrounds Armory (2729 Crittenden Dr., next to Old Cardinal Stadium, off of I-65) These elements of the 2123rd Transportation Company will depart their respective armories after the ceremonies for the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., to conduct unit training prior to reporting to their mobilization station, Fort Campbell, Ky., in early December. The 2123rd Transportation Company has 299 personnel and is commanded by Capt. Roger Metz. The deployment of this unit is part of the ongoing nation-wide mobilization of Army and Air National Guard units to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism. City Police Officer John Hollan & Shawn Morris are 2 of 5 men from this area activated for this event. Support our troops as they are the reason we can live in the safety and comfort of our home. Make the Holidays A Positive Experience FRANKFORT, KY (Dec. 5, 2003) --- Happy Holidays! While the decorations, songs, and traditions of the holiday season bring images of smiling children, tasty food, and merry gatherings, often we must work at keeping ourselves positive. If we are not careful, peace on earth is sometimes forgotten in long shopping lines. Joy to the world can be lost in congested traffic. Decking the halls can create havoc. Keeping the true spirit of the holidays is the healthy thing to do, but how? Following are some tips for coping with holiday depression and grief. General Holiday Blues Many people seem to suffer from holiday blues as they struggle with the festive atmosphere surrounding them during the season. Many factors can contribute to feelings such as stress, financial limits, unrealistic expectations, fatigue, and absence of family and friends. There are many demands during this time such as shopping, parties, travel, and houseguests. It can also be a time of reflection, self-examination, and the unknown future of the New Year. Here are some suggestions to help keep a positive attitude during the holidays. * Plan ahead. Much of the stress associated with the season comes with last minute preparations. Take stock of priorities and pace yourself. * Get plenty of rest. This is a busy time for a lot of people. If you are rested, you will enjoy all the activities more. * Avoid excessive eating and drinking. Such behaviors will only increase the negative feelings, whether at the moment or the next day. * Set realistic expectations for yourself and others. The fantasy families we see in the media are not good measuring tools. Be honest about what you can and cannot do. Remember this is a season of holidays, not just one day. Spread activities out over time to decrease the stress and increase the enjoyment. * Reach out to friends you have not seen for a while. Spend time with people that are supportive and caring. Rekindle those positive relationships. * Do something different. Create a new tradition. Here is a list of possibilities: o Do something for someone else. Volunteer with a group that represents your beliefs and serve in some way. o Dreading the family gathering? Take interest in each of your relatives as you speak to them in a much deeper way than ever before. You may enjoy them for a change. o Play and be creative. Do something childlike. Better yet, play with a child. You will find it deeply satisfying. o Instead of making out a wish list help a child make out a "grateful" list. Encourage thinking of all the things for which the child is grateful and list them on paper. o Find free activities such as window-shopping, school recitals or community events. The good news is that while most holiday blues may be intense and unsetting, they are usually short-lived. They usually subside after the holiday season is over and daily routines are resumed. Remember, you may be having a normal response to a stress-filled time of the year, and you don't have to suffer unnecessarily. Find someone to talk with who can help you through this difficult time-- a family member, friend, member of the clergy, physician, or professional counselor. Holiday Depression and Grief But not all 'holiday blues' are as simple as a reaction to the fast pace of the season. Often intense sadness is felt when someone has recently suffered a significant loss, whether through the death of a person, the loss of a job, or a move that creates distance from friends. Emma Smith Releases New CD for Coal Miners 12-14-03 Bluegrass/gospel singer Emma Smith has released a new CD titled "Coal Dust Country" in conjunction with the COALition for a Coal Miners Commemorative Postage Stamp. The COALition is currently promoting a project to have a United States postage stamp made in honor of all the coal miners, (www.coalminerstamp.com). Since Emma's new song is about "coal dust country" and the hardships the miners face, this was the perfect opportunity for the two of them to work together. "I grew up in the hills of Eastern Kentucky near lots of coal mines", Emma said. "I know first hand what the miner's life is like and the hardships they face every day. I think a postage stamp with a miner's picture is a wonderful idea." The new CD "Coal Dust Country" will be the title cut for the new CD and was released on Old Homestead Records. Vehicle Accidents Starting to Pile Up 12-11-03 Breathitt County There have been 3 seperate accidents, since Friday December 5th, involving everything from possible drunk driver, to uninsured motorist. Sheldon Short was flown to UK Medical Center after he was involved in an accident on Hwy 15 near 5 mile. His vehicle collided with Joy Crabtree of Jackson. The accident is still under investigation by Trooper Woods, but alcohol appears to be a contributing factor with the Crabtree driver. In another accident, Joey Combs was on HWY 30 going towards Rousseau when his vehicle collided with Tammy Carpenter. The Carpenter vehicle lost control crossing in front of the Combs vehicle. Early reports are that, the Carpenter driver did not have valid insurance. The accident is still under investigation by Trooper Gay. In another accident yesterday morning, a vehicle driven by Rita Combs on HWY 541 collided with a tractor rig. Details of the accident are not yet available. Combs had to be flown to UK. 3 children in the Combs vehicle were not seriously hurt. Trooper Hurt is investigating the accident at this time. Kentucky's unemployment rate at 5.5 percent in November Breathitt Still in top 10 for worst rate FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 29, 2003) - Kentucky's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent in November from a revised 5.6 percent in October, according to the Department for Employment Services, a Cabinet for Workforce Development agency. The state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate for November 2002 was also 5.5 percent. The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate also declined in November to 5.9 percent from 6 percent in October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. "Even the national unemployment rate fell, Kentucky's 5.5 percent unemployment rate in November was still below the national rate. November marked the 20th consecutive month that our unemployment rate has been lower than the U.S. unemployment rate," said Carlos Cracraft, the department's chief labor market analyst. Metcalfe County's 2.2 percent jobless rate was the lowest in the commonwealth. Magoffin County recorded the state's highest unemployment rate - 12 percent. It was followed by Fulton County, 10.9 percent; Lewis County, 10.3 percent; Harlan and Russell counties, 9.6 percent each; Letcher County, 9.4 percent; Hickman County, 9 percent; Powell County, 8.9 percent; and Breathitt and Carlisle counties, 8.7 percent each. City Council discusses sewer rate increase 1-23-04 Jackson, Ky. During their regular scheduled meeting, Jackson City Council discussed increasing the sewer rate. According to the Mayor, Jackson has not increased sewer rates since around,1993. After receiving rates from counties surrounding Breathitt, Only Campton has higher sewer rates than Jackson. It has to be noted that Campton does not have the water resources Jackson has. Below is a city by city breakdown of water bills. **NOTE**Bill comparison are based on 5,000 gallon water consumption at residential property in each city district. These are totals presented by each water district listed. Beattyville Water - $23.00 Sewer - $23.45 Total - $46.45 Estimated 850 customers Bonneville Water - $25.75 Sewer - $23.18 Total - $48.93 Estimated 237 customers Hazard Water - $15.60 Sewer - $15.30 Total - $30.90 Estimated 2,200 customers Campton Water - $31.01 Sewer - $31.01 Total - $62.02 Estimated customers unknown Jackson Water - $21.40 Sewer - $26.00 Total - $47.40 Estimated 11,500 Customers, City & County Other than Beattyville, Jackson is the only municipality that charges more for it's sewer rates than it does it's water rate. Beattyville charges .45 cents more. Jackson, on a 5,000 gallon usage charges $4.60 more per bill on it's sewer, over it's water rate. The question has to be raised, what is so special about Jacksons sewer that it costs so much more to process. If the arguement is less people means higher rates, then we should not be higher than Beattyville or Booneville. If the arguement is more people creates higher costs, then how are we nearly twice the rate as Hazard? These are questions to be answered by the Jackson City Council for you the public. Why are our rates so high? Why are other cities able to run their sewer and water on the rates they charge, and we cannot. Would you bring your company here? 1-24-04 R. Hamblin Jackson, Ky. As a long time resident of Breathitt County and having my family living here, I have to take a long hard look at things in this county. The future of our county is in jobs and economic growth. After leaving here for a few years and then coming back, it is like I came through a time warp. I love this county and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I have been to many states and other countries, and there is no place like the hills of Breathitt County. The one glaring thing coming back to eastern KY 9 years ago after being gone for12 years, was that nothing seemed to have changed. 9 years later it is still the same old Breathitt County. Underneath it's beauty is some very disturbing problems. Imagine being a business looking to relocate to this area. What things would you look at. 1) Stable City & County Government. 2) Housing. 3) Utilities, water, sewer, etc.. 4) Education structure 5) Crime. 6) Trained workforce. 7) Poverty Level 8)City & County cleanliness. Now with the understanding, as a business, that these 8 items are just some of the things to look at, here is why, if I had a business, I would find it very hard to move here. 1) Stable City & County Government: No-one outside the "Click" trusts any of our elected officials to do what is best for the citizens of the city and county. Why? For far too long the only interest our public officials had, were to benefit themselves at the expense of their citizens. So, when you do get good elected officials, people are skeptical of them, so their job becomes so much harder. 2) Housing costs in this area do not support the climate. Basically people want far more for housing than it is worth in this area. Homes worth $30,000 or $40,000 are on the market for $90,000 & $100,000 each. Apartments that normally would rent for $150.00 - $200.00 are being rented for twice that amount. I have yet to find anyone who can justify to me our high cost of real estate in the area. 3) Locally our sewer rates are higher than anywhere around, with a couple exceptions. Water rates are not that bad, and our garbage situation is getting better. 4) Anyone moving here and listening to what has been going on between our two school systems, would run before they would involve their child in this mess. We do have school systems and colleges locally that are second to none, but that is about to be destoryed by some overbearing people who don't seem to have a clue about the best interest of all the children in this situation. I believe in school choice and it only makes all involved better in the end. 5) What more can be said about our drug situation, according to some we lead the state in drug overdoses, and are near the top in prescribed drug usage. We have people dying at an alarming rate due to the drug situation. People are afraid to walk from the store to their car. They are afraid of being robbed. The police force in this area do an amazing job with what little they have to work with. 6) I have been told by different people that the skills center will help train the workforce for future businesses. I say, that the majority of hard working people in this couty are already trained, they just have to leave the county to exhibit their talents. We have one of the hardest group of workers in the state. The problem is that other counties are benefitting when we should be. 7) Poverty level, drugs and unemployement all go hand in hand. We can solve alot of our problems by simply recruiting businesses in here and put our hard working people to work. Get them off the Welfare rolls and give them jobs. 8) The last thing I want to touch on is all the PRIDE money coming into this county for cleanups, but when you hit this county, our ditches and hillsides around the roads are so littered with garbage, it is disgusting. It is time all of us take some responsibility for our actions. We should expect more out of our elected officials, and we should pull our own weight as well. Have some PRIDE in yourself and your county, and let's all work together to make it a great county. Body found at Lower Twin 12-30-03 Lower Twin A partcially decomposed body was found, by a neighbor, Monday December 29th, 2003, in a bedroom, at a home in the Lower Twin area. The identity and cause of death, are not known at this time. Investigating the death are Breathitt County Coroner, Bobby Thorpe Jr., Deputy Coroner Mike Prater, and Detective Ken Duff of the Kentucky State Police. The death brings the total to around 20 for the month of December. LBJ Elementary Team Claims Academic Victory Sixth Grade Team Places First at Kentucky Colonel Showcase 12-11-03 On Saturday, December 6, LBJ's Sixth Grade Academic Team traveled to Floyd County to participate in the 2003 Kentucky Colonels' Sixth Grade Academic Showcase. Other competing schools included Jackson City School, Allen Central Middle School, Adams Middle School, and McDowell Elementary. The competition featured written assessment events in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Arts/Humanities, and a double elimination Quick Recall tournament. The event began in 1999 with 90 schools and has since doubled in size, with almost 200 schools participating in 2003. The Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels, the event sponsor, is made up of Kentucky Colonels from around the world, and is dedicated to perpetuating the good works of individual members on a collective basis. Since 1951, the Honorable Order has awarded nearly 5000 grants to charitable and educational agencies. They were proud to sponsor this academic showcase which highlighted the talents of Kentucky's youth. "A major goal of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is to enhance educational opportunities available to all Kentuckians. The Board of Trustees is pleased to help recognize the work done by the participants in the Sixth Grade Showcase," stated James H. Molloy, National Commanding General of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. According to KAAC Executive Director John Bennett, the Showcase was designed to fill a need in Kentucky schools. "As KAAC began to look for ways to reach more students, we realized that a significant number of students were graduating from fifth grade and finding it hard to compete on their school's middle grades Governor's Cup team. The Showcase gives those students another competitive opportunity and helps them remain interested and active in academic competition. The coach of the LBJ Academic team, Alonzo Fugate, was very proud at the end of a long, exciting day when the following students won medals for their events. Travis Johnson - First place in Language Arts and third place in Math Charles Bush - First place in Science Ainsley Turner - Second place in Social Studies Jeff Howard - Sixth place in Math Doyle Miller - Fifth place in Science Jackie Bush - Fourth place in Arts and Humanities The LBJ Quick Recall team consisted of starters Travis Johnson (captain), Charles Bush, Ainsley Turner, and Jeff Howard. Other members of the quick recall team included Nikkole Gault, Jessica Bush, Jackie Bush, and Doyle Miller. The quick recall team placed second. As the scores for the day were tallied and announced, it soon became clear that the LBJ Elementary Academic Team had accumulated enough points in order to gain the FIRST PLACE ranking and win the Kentucky Colonels' Sixth Grade Academic Showcase. With yells and shouts of joy and victory, the team claimed their hard won award for LBJ Elementary School and for the Breathitt County Public School System. Second place ranking went to Allen Central Middle School and third place ranking went to Adams Middle School. Mr. Alonzo Fugate, coach, would like to thank all of the parents, family members, and friends who attended the day's events. He would like to give a special thanks to Lisa Fugate, Sherry Turner, and Tonya Gross who helped out during the day. The entire team also would like to thank Bob Mullins, the skilled bus driver who got them there and back again safely. "This academic success would not have been possible without the help of the entire community. This includes parents, teachers, Principal Mary Lou Hamilton, Superintendent Ron Eden, and other community members who continually support academics in the Breathitt County School System. I applaud all of their efforts to make sure that these students are able to achieve success," stated Alonzo Fugate, coach of the team. Congratulations to the LBJ Elementary Sixth Grade Academic Team for their victory. Most Commonly Shows For Toddlers 1-29-04 Renee Snowden This was from an article from Babyzone. It said that these were the most commonly watched shows for toddlers between the ages of two and five. I thought for you who have kids would be interested. However, I must say don’t let your kids watch television all the time. They need to do other things too. Anyway, here they are: Dora The Explorer Blue’s Clues Maggie and the Ferocious Beast SpongeBob SquarePants Little Bill Bob The Builder Oswald Clifford Dragon Tales Arthur Barney and Friends Caillou Sesame Street More Kentucky Hospitals Following Heart Disease Prevention Program Guidelines FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 29, 2004) - The Get With The GuidelinesSM-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) program is reaching major metropolitan and rural areas throughout Kentucky. The program was launched last year as a statewide Kentucky initiative and to date, 26 hospitals have implemented the American Heart Association's secondary prevention guidelines. These hospitals agreed to treat eligible patients according to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology's secondary prevention guidelines for patients with coronary artery disease, as well as collect and report performance data using an internet-based patient management tool. The success of 14 Kentucky hospitals now recognized as CAD hospitals was celebrated at a Get With The Guidelines - Coronary Artery Disease Push Toward Perfection workshop on January 14 at the Marriott - Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington. The American Heart Association in collaboration with the Kentucky Department for Public Health's Cardiovascular Health Program, Kentucky Hospital Association, and Health Care Excel, Inc. honored these 14 hospitals for showing their commitment to increasing positive outcomes for their patients with coronary artery disease. The hospitals are: Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Flaget Memorial Hospital, Hardin Memorial Hospital, Harlan ARH, Hazard ARH, Lourdes, McDowell ARH, Middlesboro ARH, Morgan County ARH, Russell County Hospital, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, St. Elizabeth Medical Center, University of Louisville Hospital, and Williamson ARH. During the recent workshop, participating hospital teams were taught how to adopt culture change that embraces quality improvement, and how to implement systematic quality improvement methodology. In addition Mukul Chandra, MD, associate director of the Coronary Care Unit at the University of Louisville Hospital, was named the Champion for the Kentucky Initiative and gave a presentation on emerging concepts for acute coronary syndrome centers and evidence-based cardiology. The American Heart Association's National Director of Quality Improvement, Warren Skea, PhD, spoke about improving the foundation of quality hospital-based cardiovascular care. On April 13, 2004, the Kentucky Department for Public Health along with the American Heart Association, Kentucky Hospital Association, Health Care Excel, Inc. as well as the Kentucky Chapter of the American College of Cardiology will offer the GWTG-CAD Program for nonparticipating acute care hospitals at a daylong workshop at the Sheraton Four Points in Lexington. For more information about the Kentucky initiative call Michelle Mitchell, Health Program Development Specialist, Kentucky Cardiovascular Health Program at 502-564-7996. For questions regarding the GWTG-CAD program, visit <http://www.americanheart.org> or call Wende Miller, the American Heart Association's Regional Director of Quality Improvement Initiatives, at 216-791-7500. The Drug Problem By: Renee Snowden 1-24-04 I am really getting tired of the drugs in this county. I keep hearing how so and so was in the hospital or how my child got drugs from someone. Why does this seem to be such a problem? Well I think that we all know the answer to that. Personally I don’t’ feel that our county or police are doing enough to stop it. I realize that it is hard to catch every single drug dealer, but I also believe that if the police would actually get out there and pay attention that they could catch a lot of them. I really hope that the drug forum that is starting up will help. I think that we all need to do something to get this problem under control. For you who have children, you really need to pitch in and help us get this solved. We need to make this a better place for our children to live. I also don’t want to offend anyone, however, I feel that instead of using money on remodeling Jefferson Hotel and other things, which is not benefiting everyone in the county like it was supposed to, that they could use that money to create programs or something to keep people off drugs. Again, that’s only my opinion. Body found on Railroad St. as another body is Identified. 1-1-04 Jackson, Ky Early Thursday morning 1-1-04, the body of John Davidson, 30, was found at a Railroad St. residence. This is the first death for Breathitt county in the New Year. According to the Coroners office, Breathitt had 21 deaths in the month of December, of which, 9-10 are believed to be alcohol or drug related. Mr. Davidson was pronounced dead at 9:02 am. Cause of death pending per autopsy. In another recent death, the decomposed body found at a Lower Twin residence has been identified as James T. Clifford, 60.. The cause of death is still being investigated. KSP Targeting Impaired Drivers To Save Lives During Holiday Season 12-22-03 (FRANKFORT, KY) - Motorists travelling Kentucky's roadways this holiday season are going to be seeing a lot of gray. Gray police cruisers and gray uniforms of the Kentucky State Police, that is. The Kentucky State Police will be beefing up their presence on highways throughout the state in effort to save lives. Beginning at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and continuing through 11:59 P.M. on Sunday, Dec. 28, KSP will be out in force conducting four days of saturation patrols and traffic safety checkpoints at strategic, high-risk locations. Their mission: removing impaired drivers from the roads before they kill themselves and others. "Kentucky has a no tolerance stance when it comes to impaired driving," says KSP Commissioner Patrick N. Simpson. "There will be no warnings or second chances. Impairment begins with the first alcoholic drink. Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 can result in immediate arrest even for a first offense." During 2003, 900 people have died on Kentucky's roadways as a result of vehicle crashes. That's 12 more than last year at this time. Two people were killed in two separate crashes during last year's two-day Christmas holiday period. One of those crashes involved alcohol. With a four-day Christmas holiday period this year, the potential danger is doubled. Consequently, KSP's 950 troopers, in conjunction with local police and sheriff's offices, will be using all possible resources in their enforcement efforts including video, radar, unmarked vehicles and passive alcohol sensors. As part of their enforcement efforts, KSP will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort), a nationwide program aimed at reducing crashes on interstate highways and parkways. To maximize their visibility, standard KSP vehicles will be using daytime running lights during the enforcement period. In addition to impaired drivers, troopers will be targeting seat belt violations, including child safety seat regulations, and speed violations. Citizens can help save lives during the holidays by reporting suspected impaired drivers to KSP toll free at 1-800-222-5555. Caller identification is not required, but direction of travel, suspected vehicle description and license number is helpful. "Citizens shouldn't be shy about reporting erratic drivers to law enforcement," explains Sgt. Phil Crumpton, of KSP's Community Relations Branch. "It often just results in a courtesy stop of a tired or drowsy driver and directions on where they can get a cup of coffee or pull over to rest. However, it could save the life of a friend or loved one. It's an act that just might make a real difference." Simpson sums up the matter in simple terms. "Impaired driving is against the law, period," he says. "It's a violent act that has criminal repercussions including fines, loss of license and incarceration. Don't take the risk. It's not worth it." Drug Roundup 12-14-03 (FRANKFORT, KY) - Troopers from Kentucky State Police Post 7 in Richmond and officers of the Beattyville Police Dept. arrested 58 people in Lee and Owsley counties early this morning as a result of a six-month investigation of drug trafficking in eastern Kentucky. Initial charges include trafficking in marijuana and other controlled substances. At the present time, 24 additional arrest warrants are still outstanding. The arrests stem from an on-going investigation in which undercover officers purchased Oxycontin, Loratab, Xanax, cocaine and marijuana. Approximately 85 law enforcement officers participated in the round up including personnel from the Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area unit, Lee and Owsley County Sheriff's Departments, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "I want to commend all the officers involved in this operation," stated Stephen B. Pence, secretary of the Kentucky Justice Cabinet. "The cooperation among local, state and federal agencies is vitally important in pursuing and eradicating the scourge of illegal drug trafficking in Kentucky." A list of the arrested suspects will be released later today from KSP Post 7 in Richmond. Holidays Are a Time for Safe Celebrating FRANKFORT, KY 12-11-03 --- Holidays are a time for celebrations and a time for joy. Shoppers, travelers, and partygoers crowd the highways eager to join in the festive season. Sadly, the heavy traffic also brings a rise in accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Too often accidents are the result of drivers being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that traffic fatalities in alcohol-related crashes rose slightly by (0.1 percent) from 17,400 in 2001 to 17,419 in 2002. The 17,419 alcohol-related fatalities in 2002 account for 41 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year, representing a 5 percent reduction from the 18,290 alcohol-related fatalities reported in 1992 or 47 percent of the total. Below is some of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2002 data on traffic accidents involving alcohol. * An alcohol-related motor vehicle crash kills someone every 30 minutes, and non-fatally injures someone every two minutes. * After more than a decade of declining rates in alcohol-related fatal crashes, rates have begun to climb. Since 1999, rates have increased slightly by 4 percent to 10 percent for all age groups except those ages 16-17. * Alcohol was involved in 31 percent of fatal crashes and in 6 percent of all crashes in 2002. In addition, below are some more facts about impaired driving from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. * Alcohol-related car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in the U.S. * A driver of an automobile makes more decisions driving one mile than a pilot of a 747 flying coast to coast. * A person who drinks until they are ruled impaired will have alcohol in their blood for seven hours. * The withdrawal effects of a person who drinks heavy on weekends can last through Monday and Tuesday. Many organizations are working hard to prevent harm and provide safe, happy, healthy holidays. For instance, the Kentucky Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter is gearing up for safer holidays by promoting its "Tie One On" holiday campaign. MADD red ribbons are available at the Frankfort State Office for people to pick up and tie on their cars to promote safe, alcohol-free driving. Mike Riley, MADD state victims assistance coordinator, is proud of the December 6 Candlelight Vigil taking place at the Capitol. "It is an incredible opportunity for victims of drunk drivers to fellowship and grieve together," Riley says. It is a busy time of the year for MADD, which offers driving tips; alcohol-free celebrating tips; including recipes for "mocktails", non-alcoholic drinks; and prevention information for holidays year-round. With DVDs, board games, and video games there are activities that encourage adults and children to stay at home. Many parties feature non-alcoholic drinks and flavored coffee and teas. The holidays are becoming a time to create new traditions. "Unfortunately, there are still some people who think that a gathering isn't complete without alcohol. Most people are getting the message that alcohol doesn't have to be the mainstay of a celebration, especially with the change in the DUI law which says that a blood alcohol level of .08 indicates illegal intoxication, " according to Karyn Hascal, acting director of the Division of Substance Abuse in the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services. Following are some of the physical effects that alcohol consumption may have on a person according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: * Double vision, slurred speech, and impaired sense of distance, causing poor judgment calls when behind the wheel; * Narrowing of the field of vision and decreased peripheral vision may result in not seeing a child on the roadside or a car coming from a side road; and * Inability to concentrate on two activities simultaneously such as steering and braking which may occur even at very low alcohol blood alcohol concentrations. |
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