EKB News

The East Kentucky Miners were officially introduced into the Continental Basketball Association, Thursday evening during a press conference held at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center.

The Miners are owned by the Trinity Sports and Entertainment Group. The Company was founded by former NFL quarterback Jay Fiedler and South Florida businessman Demetrius Ford.

The regions growth and the passion for the game of basketball, were the key reasons for Pikeville landing the franchise, according to Ford. Ford says that the organization has made two key goals, to bring a championship to Pikeville and to develop a relationship with the community. Ford added that the franchise will be an economic boost to the area by creating jobs and attracting fans into the region. Fiedler says that he wants fans from Lexington to come into Pikeville to watch basketball not the other way around. The former NFL star says that the players that they assemble won’t just bring an exciting brand of basketball to the area, but they will be model citizens .

The Miners will be coached by Floyd County native Kevin Keathley. The 29 year old says that they are scouting players from all around the world. He hopes to announce a player signing within the next two weeks. Keathley says that fans will be treated to the most exciting brand of basketball across Kentucky by vowing to play an up tempo style of basketball.

General Manager, Rob Blackwell , says that fans can come out to a Tuesday night game and see one of their players and then on Friday that same player could be playing for the Lakers. Players in the CBA earn anywhere from $500-$1000 per week.

The regular season tips off Nov 16th. Season tickets are currently on sale at the Expo Center.

The Miners will play a 48 game regular schedule, 24 home, 24 away.

Operation Unite, sponsored a one day basketball camp, Thursday at East Ridge High School. The theme was " Shoot Hoops, Not Drugs." The camp was ran by former U.K. basketball standout Jeff Sheppard. Sheppard led 209 children from grades K-12 in different drills of fundamentals and competition events. Sheppard hopes that the children gets out of the one day camp is to learn about the game of life, be a better person and stay away from drugs.

The 2nd Annual July Jam is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday in Pikeville.

Festivities are scheduled to get underway, Friday, at the Pikeville City Park. Activities are scheduled to get underway at 7:30 pm. Come out and see the following bands Exodus, Pierced, VII Days Away, and Live Fish. Friday's event is free.

the fun will continue on Saturday at 7:00 pm, as the festival moves indoors to the Eastern kentucky Expo Center. Come see Kutless, KJ-52, Steller as well as, the local band, Second Street Revival. who won the Open at the Jam competition.

July Jam is an interdenominational faith based event dedicated to impacting the youth in our region with the positive message of the gospel.

Tickets for Saturday night are $10 each. Receive a group discount on ten or more tickets purchased. Purchase 10 tickets and get one free. Children nine and under get a free ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Pikeville College is giving away four $2500 scholarships for room and board and Georgetown College is giving away two four-year, $5000 per year scholarships.

For more info visit www.julyjam.com

At a recent Pike County Board of Education Meeting, board members voted to change the name of the new K-8 school from Pike Central Elementary to Mullins School. The facility will be located next to Pike Central High School. The current Mullins School will be turned into a alternative school. The new facility is expected to cost $16 million . The original estimated cost was $9.5 million. construction is scheduled to begin next month.

The Tug Valley American Cancer Society Relay for Life, is scheduled for this Friday at Lefty Hamilton Park, in West Williamson. The event will get underway at 6pm. The goal for this year is $50,000. Tus far, teams have bought in $45,500. That amount has already broken the previous record of $38,000 that was raised in 2004. Last year $28,000 was raised. 16 teams from Mingo and Pike County are participating this year. The event is highlighted by the opening lap that is walked by cancer survivors, and at dark the luminaria serrvice will be held. That is when the names of individuals that have lost their lives to the dreaded disease.

Convicted felon, Arthur Ray Adkins was sentenced to six and a half years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

The 36 year old, Pike County resident, pleaded guilty for possessing a machine gun as a felon. As part of a plea agreement, Adkins agreed to forfeit the gun.

Nicole McNamee has resigned from Williamson City Council. McNamee says that she wants to devote more time to her business and family. McNamee has served on city council since 1999. Council will appoint a replacement to serve the remaining two years left on her term. McNamee's resignation takes effect July 25th.

Naomi Judd will be the featured speaker at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet to be held Friday night at 7pm at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville.

Chamber President Brad Hall says that the advance sales for dinner tickets have almost sold out. Hall says that that they have sold just under 600 tickets. Organizers put up 72 tables and 68 of them have been sold. Anyone that would like to purchase a dinner ticket, the cost is $50 per ticket, or $400 a table.

Individuals that would like to sit in the upper arena to watch the performance of the Big Sandy Singers and the speech made by Judd can puchase a ticket for only $10.

The following awards will also be handed out:

*Service Organization of the Year
*Chamber Volunteer of the Year
*Community Service Award
*Citizens of the Year
*Business Person of the Year
*Business of the Year
*Outstanding Contributions for Community Service by an Organization or Business
*Ambassador Award
*Lon B. & Mary Evelyn Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award

Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber office or at the door of the Expo Center.

Scottie Stumbo, 24, of Hi Hat was killed when the vehicle he was driving was struck head on by another vehicle, driven by Joseph Bakay of Bypro, Kentucky. The accident occurred Wednesday night, on KY Route 122 near Bevinsville. Bakay was transported to McDowell Appalachian Regional hospital for his injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Kentucky State Police.

A Kentucky man was killed in a two vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon at the mouth of the Chatteroy exit, on US Route 119. Authorities identified the victim as 74 year-old John D. Chafins of Nolan. The incident happened at 3:45 p.m. The accident is still under investigation.

Mingo County 911 officials have confirmed that there has been a fatality in a two vehicle accident that has occurred at the mouth of the Chatteroy exit along US 119. The WVSP, Mingo County Sheriff's Department, Chatteroy Fire Department and the Williamson Fire Department on the scene. Motorists are urged to use caution. No other details are available. The accident occurred about 30 minutes ago.

About a thousand spectators, both young and old congregated in front of the Old Floyd County Courthouse, to listen and get a glimpse of a presidential candidate. Senator John Edwards one America bus tour visited Prestonsburg. Edwards is the first candidate to run for the White House, to visit Floyd County, since Bobby Kennedy came to the area in 1968.


Listen to the complete speech here. http://wpke.com/edwards.mp3
This is a LARGE file. About 17MB. Please allow time to download or right click and "save target as".

The Shriners Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky will soon receive a gigantic financial contribution thanks to bikers from eastern Kentucky. The Christmas in July event has raised over $100,000 for the Shriners Orthopedic Hospital in Lexington. Over 400 bikers participated in last Sunday's ride from Pikeville to Lexington. Organizers Randy Jones and Jimmy Kinney says that they don't have a number as of yet on the amount of toys that was collected. Jones and Kinney says that it is touching that some many people came out to support the event which is to help children.

Authorities have released the identity of a coal miner that was killed Monday afternoon. According to Mark York, spokesperson for the Kentucky Environmental and Public Safety Agency, the victim has been identified as 40 year-old Bobby L. Messer of David. The Floyd County resident was struck in the head by a large piece of rock following a detonation. The incident occurred at the CAM Mining Number One LLC. The surface mine is located near Ashcamp. The accident occurred at approximately 4:35 pm . York told us that the mine has been shut down while the investigation continues.

Democratic Presdential Candidate John Edwards will speak Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 pm at the Old Floyd County Courthouse in Prestonsburg. According to a press release issued by the Edwards campaign, the senator will deliver a major announcement.

Edwards is scheduled to visit the Wise County Fairgrounds in Wise, VA at 9am. Then Edwards is scheduled to be in Whitesburg at 11am. Edwards will hold a forum with area youth at the Appalshop.

Preliminary statistics indicate that 22 people died in 19 seperate crashes on Kentucky's roadways this past week. The numbers are released by the Kentucky State Police.

Seventeen of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and 11 of the victims were not wearing seat belts. Four of the victims were operatinfg motorcycles and two were not wearing helmets. Five of the fatalities were the result of crashes that involved the the suspected use of alcohol. None of the fatalities occured in our listening area.

Through July 15th, preliminary statistics indicate that 452 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways this year. This is 25 fewer than reported for this time period in 2006.

Karen Engle, President /CEO of Eastern Kentucky PRIDE announced Monday, that Pike County resident is one of three finalists for PRIDE’s Tony Turner Volunteer of the Year Award. The other finalists are Bond Pentecostal Holiness Church in Jackson County and Alisha and Shauna Turner of Breathitt County.

The award winner will be announced August 28th at PRIDES’s 10th Anniversary/Envi Awards ceremony at The Forum in Hazard.

The Tony Turner Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an individual or group that goes above and beyond the ordinary to improve the environment. The award is named in honor of the late Tony Turner, who was Vice President and Station Manager for WYMT-TV.

Kinder, a retired educator, has been involved in cleaning up Upper Chloe Creek since 1980. He was selected as the PRIDE volunteer of the month for December 2004. Kinder picks up litter during his daily walks and organizes community cleanups twice a year. Kinder donates 310 hours annually toward keeping his community clean.

Speaking at a ceremony held in London, Monday, to unveil the plate’s design . Rogers noted motorists now have an opportunity to proclaim the message: “ Keep Kids Drug-Free.”

Jessica Whitehouse, a 17 year-old senior at Muhlenburg North High School, created the winning design for the new specialty license plate, which features crayons and a paintbrush on a bright yellow background. Her design, was chosen from among 496 entries in a state wide contest to all K-12 students.
The contest was sponsored by Operation Unite, WestCare Kentucky and the Children’s Alliance as a way to raise awareness of substance abuse issues. If at least 900 plates are pre-ordered, Whitehouse’s artwork will appear on license plates across the commonwealth sometime in October.

Monday’s ceremony included a short video of youth speaking about their struggles to overcome drug addiction.

The cost of the plate is $38.00. For each sale $10.00 will go to the three agencies that sponsored the contest.

A Kentucky state highway department worker was arrested last Friday on charges he sold drugs while on the job.

Emitt Raymond Hall, 50, of Hi Hat, was picked up without incident at the highway garage located off KY 680 by Unite detectives and the Kentucky State Police. Hall was originally charged with second – degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts of trafficking marijuana less than 8 ounces. Following his arrest, police found one and one-half hydrocodone tablets on Hall. He was also charged with second degree possession of a controlled and prescription controlled substance not in a proper container.

The arrest followed a five week undercover investigation. by Operation Unite into reported drug activity at the Minnie Highway Garage. Hall is accused of selling drugs two undercover detectives on two separate occasions.

Hall worked on a crew that conducted road maintenance along state highways. Hall served as a truck driver.

The 2nd Annual Hillbilly Christmas in July was an overwhelming success this past weekend. Event organizers Randy Jones and Jimmy Kinney told us that over $70,000 were raised during the two day event. The money will go to the Shriners’ Hospital in Lexington, KY. The Lexington facility serves as an orthopedic unit. Over 400 bikers, from around the region participated in Sunday’s ride from Pikeville to Lexington. Festivities began Saturday in Pikeville, with games, a parade and a cook out. The winner of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle was Skip Wells of Pikeville. Jones and Kinney said that they would like to think the public for their generosity. Last years event raised $5,500.