EKB News

The Pikeville City Commission passed the second ordinance declaring the intention to annex certain unincorporated territory lying adjacent to the present city limits. The proposed annexation would extend Pikeville down the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, running adjacent to Big Shoal and crossing the Mossy Bottom Bridge. City Manager Donovan Blackburn told us that no residential homes are involved. The purpose of the annexation allows the city to protect their assets that they have acquired. The city acquired the Mossy Bottom Sewer System and the Sandy Valley Water System.

The Pikeville City Commission passed the reading of the first ordinance that would increase the speed limit for motorists that travel Bob Amos Drive. City Manager Donovan Blackburn told us that within the next two weeks will see an increase in the speed limit. The proposed legislation would increase the speed limit from 25mph to 35mph. Blackburn says that the city can increase the speed limit now because pedestrians are safe since the city has constructed a new sidewalk three-fourths up the hill. Also motorists were complaining that it was impossible to maintain the current speed limit due traveling down hill due to the steep grade. Blackburn is hoping that the new speed limit will take effect July 24th.

Residents in the City of Paintsville will now have to call the city clerk’s office and pay a fee ahead of time before sanitation workers will haul off any extra trash. The high cost of gasoline and dump fees are cited to be the reason for the charges.

Household appliances such as refrigerators will cost $20 each, half truckloads of brush or similar materials $25, full truckloads $50, any limbs are to be cut in sections shorter than six feet in length. Couches or other large items of furniture are $30 each and grass clippings are $1 per bag.

The change will go into effect July 16th. Currently there is no charge for extra trash pick-up.

State Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary John Farris has announced that he his resigning effective July 31st. Farris has served as cabinet secretary since June of '06. Prior to his appointment as secretary, he served as deputy secretary of the cabinet.. Farris plans to take some personal time this summer to spend with his family before pursuing other career opportunities.

Deputy Secretary Mike Burnside of Lancaster will become secretary August 1st.

The Pikeville City Police Department will soon have a new 911 computer system. Paul Maynard, 911 Coordinator for the City of Pikeville says that within the next 90 days a new enhanced computerized system call Modular Communications will replace an outdated hardware system that was installed in 1995. Maynard says that the new system will be touch screen, meaning that dispatchers won’t have to press any buttons and also the computer will answer the longest ringing call. Also the enhanced computer system will allow officers to be in contact with other agencies from car to car. Maynard says that the City of Pikeville will become the first in Kentucky in using the California based company. Maynard says that this is the best system out their. The cost is $221,000. Maynard says 12 years ago the police department was answering 6,000 complaints now they answer 16,000 calls annually.

Hasting Wyman's Southern Political Report released a poll conducted by Insider Advantage Majority Opinion shows Democrat Steve Beshear with a slim 41 percent to 38 percent lead over Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher.

The poll of 693 registered voters, conducted July 8th and 9th, showed 21 percent of registered voters are still undecided.

On May 30th, a poll conducted by Rasmussen reported that Beshear had a 16 percent lead over the governor.

Operation unite is sponsoring the Shoot Hoops Not Drugs day camp featuring University of Kentucky basketball star Jeff Sheppard at East Ridge High School, July 19th, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Sheppard will teach school-age youth fundamental basketball skills while emphasizing the importance for them to stay drug free. The camp is free and includes soft drinks and hot dogs. Every participant will receive a specially designed event T-shirt and regulation basketball. In addition, all participants will be entered into a drawing for portable basketball goals to be given away at the conclusion of the camp. Pre-registration is not required.
Also Operation Unite is sponsoring a three day camp for children that have completed the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh grades. Camp Unite, a three day, action-packed outdoor camping adventure that includes a scavenger hunt, fishing , youth concert, campfires, games and other activities at the Breaks Interstate Park from August 5th though the 7th. Registration is limited to 150 participants. The deadline is July 23rd. Applications can be picked up at the Unite Pike office at 175 College Street, Pikeville or the Pike County Social Services office on the first floor of the Pike County Courthouse, 146 Main Street, Pikeville. For more information, contact (606) 432-9189.

Forrest Stewardson , Professor of Automotive Technology at Big Sandy Community and Technical College has been invited to participate in the Hybrid Technology Development Workshop August 6 – 10 in Dayton, Ohio. Forty college automotive faculty members are selected from a national and international pool of candidates to participate in the event conducted by General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Honda. The workshop is funded by the National Science Foundation

Motorists traveling throughout Pike County can no longer purchase unleaded gasoline for under $3.00 per gallon. Gas prices are ranging from $3.16 to $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded, which is a jump of 40 cents over the last two days. Gas prices in Johnson County are reported to be as high as $3.29 per gallon. The average price for regular unleaded in Kentucky is $3.01, an increase of 17 cents over the past week.

Here are some tips from AAA that can boost your gas mileage.
· Make sure that tires have proper tire pressure.
· Check your vehicle’s air filter
· Slow down your speed on the highways.

The mercury isn’t the only thing rising, as the heat and humidity continues to climb so is the price of gas at most gas stations throughout Pikeville. Motorists are paying attention where they fill up there gas tanks. Tuesday afternoon their was a whopping 30 cent price differential for unleaded gasoline. Most gas stations were selling unleaded gas anywhere from $3.16 - $3.19 per gallon, while some gas stations were selling unleaded gas for $2.89 per gallon. Gas prices have soared in the local area between 12 to 40 cents in the last two days. According to gasbuddy.com gas prices average $2.98 around the commonwealth that is a 15 cent jump in the last week. Here are some tips that AAA is passing on to motorists that will improve your gas mileage. Check your air pressure on your tires, make sure that you have a clean air filter and slow down on the highway.

The 3rd annual East Kentucky Fair will originate this year from the Thunder Ridge Racing and Entertainment Complex located on Route 3 in Prestonsburg. The dates are August 2nd through August 4th. Admission to the fair is $10.00 per person. That includes everything but food and retail purchases. The Big Sandy Area Development District along with officials from Pike, Magoffin, Martin , Johnson and Floyd puts on the event. Organizers are hoping to attract over 10,000 during the three day event, which costs roughly $100,000 to put on. Here is the fair schedule.

Thursday, Aug 2nd

11am – close Jules and Beck Carnival Rides and Games
11 am-close Honey Hill Farms Petting Zoo and Pony Rides
12:30- 2:30 Jenny Wiley Theatre “2007 Salute to Youth”
4:00- 5:30 WDHR sponsored Colgate Country Showdown Regional Finals
6:00 – 6:15 Opening Ceremony – Ms. Alison Lovely – Ms. Kentucky Outstanding Teen.
5:30 – 8:00 Scholarship Pageant.
8:30 – 10:30 Confederate Railroad Concert

Fri, Aug 3rd
11:00 am – close Jules and Beck Carnival
11:00am – close Honey Hills Petting Zoo and Pony Rides.
12:00 – 3:00 Assorted Local Talent
2:00 – 5:00 Paint Ball Competition.
5:30 -8:00 Up the Holler Bucking Bulls Bull Riding Competition.
6:30 -7:30 Southern Storm Concert
8:30 -10:30 Concert by Classic Rock Allstars.

Sat Aug 4th

11:00 – close Jules and Beck Carnival
11:00 – close Honey Hill Farms Petting Zoo
12:00 -12:30 4-H Dog Show
12:30 – 2:30 Jenny Wiley Theatre Salute to Youth
12:00 – 2:00 Local Bands
11:00 – 2:00 Performance by local gymnasts, cheerleaders and dance teams.
1:00 - 5:00 Kentucky Outlaws Truck Pull.
2:30 – 3:00 4-H Rabbit Show
3:00 – 5:00 BBW Wrestling
5:00 – 7:00 ATV Mud Bog Race
4:00 - 4:30 4 -H Goat Show
5:00 – 7:30 Colgate Showdown State Finals
8:00 – 8:30 Kentucky Opry Jr . Jamboree.
9:00 – close Music by Juice Newton

The hours each day is from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. Vendors will also be on hand. For more info go to www.eastkentucky fair.com.

The Pikeville City Commission was in session Monday evening. The commissioners took the following action.

· Approved new personnel policy for the GPS system.
· Approved a bid in the amount of $221,000 for a new 911 system for the police department. The bid was awarded to Modular Com based out of California.
· Adopted a resolution in support of applying for a grant to be used for the development of an information center which would be located at the base of Bob Amos Park. The city would have to match 20 percent.
· Approved a grant from VCOS IAFC Online Training . The grant is in the amount of $25,000 and will be used by the fire department. No matching funds are required.
· Appoint Jennifer Brown and Heather Ratcliff to the Tree Board.
· Reappointed Robbie Bevins to the Vacant Property Review Board.

The Pike County Fiscal Court held a special meeting Monday. The governing body took the following action.

*Approved a plan to pave the Black Gem Parking Lot. The money will come from the road fund of District Six.

· Acknowledged the Budget for the 2007- 2008 fiscal year for the Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department , Big Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Big Sandy Area Community Action Program and the Pike County Health Department.
· Named Bobby Mullins Recycling Center Supervisor effective July 10th
· Terminated the caretaker of the Grapevine Park due to numerous complaints about the facility.
· Reduced the speed limit to 25mph on a stretch of roadway at Robinson Creek.
· Took under advisement about a request from the Blackberry Fire Department for financial assistance. The 20 year building is in need of renovations
· Magistrate Chris Harris informed the Fiscal Court that negotiations are taking place with a mining company to construct a transfer waste station for District six. Harris is hoping that construction can begin in six months.

Last week David Bowling enter a not guilty plea . David Bowling is charged with dumping septic waste into the Big Sandy River. Bowling will go on trial August 21st. A federal grand jury indicted the Paintsville septic service owner last month. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

A former Floyd County deputy jailor is being incarcerated on federal drug charges. Damon Newsome is charged with drug possession with the intent to distribute. Floyd County jail officials say Newsome worked at the jail for about 10 years and left years ago. He's charged with dealing drugs since October of last year.

The Kentucky Departments of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife and Public Health have issued an advisory concerning the consumption of fish from two bodies of water in Pike County. An eight mile stretch of Knox Creek, and the 1100 acre Fishtrap Lake are under the advisories for a wide variety of fish. In most cases the consumption advisory suggests limiting the eatinf of fish from these bodies to about six meals per year. Knox Creek runs from the Virginia line to the Tug Fork River. The advisory warns about contaminants such as PCB and mercury that build up in the water.

Drivers in the Marrowbone area of Pike County are dealing with construction work on Kentucky route 195. CSX crews are replacing tracks on a 16 mile stretch of the railway, from Shelbiana to Elkhorn City. At this time, their are no coal trains running and motorists are seeking alternative routes. CSX officials say the railroad will be closed for another six days.