EKB News

Mingo County is one of 10 counties that will share in an $18 million federal funding awarded to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) for a six-year program to help middle and high school students prepare for and pursue a college education.The GEAR Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant from the U.S. Department of Education will fund programs and services for low-income West Virginia students who have been identified as being at risk of not pursuing an education past high school.Approximately 13,000 students will participate in the project at schools in Boone, Clay, Lincoln, McDowell, Mingo, Roane, Summers, Webster, Wirt and Wyoming counties.West Virginia GEAR UP will provide specialized academic preparation programs as well as financial incentives for students to attend college. The project will include programs aimed at increasing parent/guardian involvement in the education and educational aspirations of students.
The funding also will be used for financial aid and career awareness programs for students, parents and schools to help remove the cultural barriers that keep students from furthering their educations.“The work of our staff in preparing the comprehensive grant proposal, and the support of Gov. Joe Manchin and First Lady Gayle Manchin, our state’s Congressional delegation and state superintendent of schools Dr. Steven Paine, have given us a valuable opportunity,” said Dr. Brian Nolan, HEPC chancellor.“GEAR UP’s emphasis on improving the academic preparation of our students, as well as its goal of increasing the awareness of students and their families about the importance of higher education, will make a real difference in the lives of West Virginians for generations to come,” said Nolan.The first lady, who agreed with the above statement, was responsible for professional development activities associated with a previous GEAR UP grant based at Fairmont State University. She added that she and Gov. Manchin will support and advocate for this outstanding initiative.U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said “If students in West Virginia are to forge ahead in today’s global economy, we must provide them with the tools they need to succeed in this ever-changing environment. I am living proof of the power of a first-rate education, and the opportunities for a better future it can provide. GEAR UP enables our students to have the skills and confidence that will pave their way to a post-secondary education – which is vital in today’s economy.”U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., commended GEAR UP for recognizing the potential within each student in rural West Virginia.“Our students are some of the hardest-working in the nation, and, with these needed resources, will be able to expand their knowledge and skills as they become our next generation of leaders.”U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., commented that “In today’s competitive economy, education is the key to opportunity and a successful future. Unfortunately, access to higher education in southern West Virginia is often barred by the rigors of rural, country life. By reaching out to students in underserved areas,, the GEAR UP program is paving the way for a brighter future for our state.”West Virginia GEAR UP was one of 24 funded nationally this year from among more than 280 applications. HEPC’s partners in the project include the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Education, the school systems in the 10 target counties; Concord University, Glenville State College, and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, which will each house a regional coordinator for the project, and a number of other agencies and organizations.

Courtesy : Williamson Daily News.

Two fishermen, boating on a South Carolina lake, found the body of Kimberly Adkins Wednesday afternoon. Kimberly’s husband Randy is still missing. The couple was last seen almost two weeks ago leaving a popular levee on there boat. The vessel drifted along the shoreline two hours later without the couple. Kimberly’s body was found 200 yards from where officials found the boat.

An autopsy revealed that the 44 year-old Lenore, WV native drowned in the lake. Foul play was not involved.

The couple has two children ages 19 and 21. Kimberly Adkins has family that reside in Mingo County.

Three eastern Kentucky men are in the Big Sandy Detention Center facing several charges. Johnson County Sheriff Bill Witten said his department responded to Silk Stocking Road at Thealka . Police say that two men were fighting outside with knives. The sheriff says that the fight was instigated because of a drug deal that went bad.

According to authorities Chistopher Helton 25, of Saylersville and Jack Crace, 44, of Saylersville gave Christopher Mollette $ 200 for drugs when Mollette failed to return , both Helton and Crace tried to locate Mollette. All three men were arrested.

A Pike County man was released from the Pike County Detention Center after posting a $ 15,000 surety bond. The Kentucky State Police formally pressed charges against 42 year-old Rodney Ray Moore. The Hardy resident is charged with eight counts of improper use of a pesticide and eight counts of animal cruelty ( all misdemeanors ).

Moore is accused of using a pesticide in order to poison and kill six dogs and two cats

The alleged crime took place between March 19 through July 1st of this year.

If convicted Moore faces up to one year in jail and a fine.

Two Pikeville men remain lodged in the Pike County Detention Center on various drug charges.

24 year –old Jeremy L. Parsons and 23 year –old Jon B. Pugh were charged with first offense possession and first degree possession of drug paraphernalia.

The arrest was made by Officer Conn of the Pikeville City Police Department after a routine traffic.

According to the citation both men were in possession of used needles, syringes and spoons the instruments had a residue on them.

Also according to the arrest citation Parsons and Pugh admitted to Officer Conn that they had been shooting up on oxycontin earlier in the day.

Both men will next appear in court on July 17th.

Bond was set at $ 5,000 or 10 percent.

Governor Steve Beshear signed into legislation a new child booster seat law that will go into effect July 15, 2008. Parents in Kentucky will be required to take new measures to protect their children in the car.
Starting next week, if your child is under seven years of age and is between forty and fifty inches tall, he or she will have to ride in a booster seat. The new requirements are part of KRS 189.125, which sets forth guidelines for child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts.
Captain Tim Lucas, Commander of the KSP Highway Safety Branch advised that the new law will be phased in over the next year.
“On July 15th, law enforcement will begin issuing courtesy warnings to those who do not have their children in booster seats. Courtesy warnings will be issued through June 30, 2009. After that date, violators will be required to pay a fine of $30,” said Lucas.
“Any person who has not been previously charged with a booster seat violation can have the charge dismissed by providing proof that they have acquired a booster seat for the child,” added Lucas.
Four senators sponsored the booster seat bill and they included Tom Buford, Walter Blevins, Jr., Jerry Rhoads and Dorsey Ridley. KSP strongly supported this bill as it passed through the legislative process.
“More children die from motor vehicle crashes than from any single disease. More children in the United States are killed or crippled in car crashes than from any other cause of injury,” said Lucas. “Our goal is to save lives – and this law will better protect the children of the Commonwealth."
Police will be able to judge whether you have the seats installed in your vehicle simply by looking at your car windows, and judging if your child is sitting high enough to see outside.
Sharon Rengers, R.N., works for the Children’s Hospital Foundation Office of Child Advocacy at Kosair Children’s Hospital and is also a Certified Passenger Safety (CPS) instructor. She has hundreds of KSP troopers and local law enforcement officers across the state in proper child seat installation and placement. More importantly, she has been a vocal advocate for improved child car seat legislation.
"The booster seat bill is a step in the right direction in making sure that children of all ages are protected while riding in vehicles," said Rengers. "We are happy that this legislation adds protective measures for older children not previously included in the child passenger safety
laws."
Rengers offered some booster seat safety tips for parents:
· Your child should use a car seat with a harness for as long as
possible, until at least age 4 following the weight/height limits of your seat.
· Use the back seat for children under age 13. It is safer with
or without airbags. The center of the back seat is safest; however a child in a booster MUST have a lap/shoulder belt. NEVER use just a lap belt.
· If your car has no shoulder belts in the back seat, a different
safety device can be used (vest or harnesses is available).
· Booster seats with shields are never recommended. Remove the
shield and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
· Always use your seat belt. Your child learns from what you do.
Make sure everyone (grandparents, friends, older children) in the car buckles up.
For more information on vehicle passenger safety or to inquire about free fact sheets on a variety of health and safety subjects, call (502) 629-KIDS or 1-800-852-1770.

As Congress returns from the Independence Day recess and gasoline prices climb to over $4.11 per gallon, Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to immediately bring legislation before the House of Representatives to encourage coal-to-liquid fuel development. Rogers joined like-minded Members of Congress seeking gas price relief and signed a discharge petition to bring up H.R. 2208, the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Act.
“This week the House of Representatives has named two post offices, protected sharks on the high seas, and commissioned the production of new dollar coins,” stated Rogers. “But Speaker Pelosi can’t seem to schedule legislation that is important to the American people – reducing prices at the pump. H.R. 2208 is a sound strategy for coal-to-liquids development and will help free us from foreign oil addiction, generate competition in our transportation fuel supply, and create good-paying energy sector jobs in southern and eastern Kentucky.”
Coal liquefaction is the process of converting coal into a transportation fuel and continues to hold great promise as a domestic alternative to foreign oil, particularly for diesel and jet fuel purposes. H.R. 2208, introduced by Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher (VA-09), would authorize the Secretary of Energy to enter into price guarantee agreements with up to six coal-to-liquids projects that produce innovative transportation fuel. Through these agreements, H.R. 2208 creates a level of certainty for private investment in domestic coal-to-liquids production.

With a simple majority of signatories, a discharge petition requires a legislative measure to be considered by the full House of Representatives under the rules. In recent weeks, Rogers has signed a number of petitions calling for Speaker Pelosi to bring federal legislation which reduces gas prices to the floor for debate. These measures include lifting the 28-year ban on new oil and gas leases along the outer continental shelf, opening up 2000 acres of the arctic region of Alaska to drilling, ending the ban on federal procurement of alternative fuels, and immediately permitting three new oil refineries.
Rogers will continue to press Speaker Pelosi to bring forward legislative measures to reduce the price of gasoline for the American public and urge the President to work with Congress to increase the production of American energy.

A routine traffic stop in Pikeville netted two arrests.

According to the Pikeville Police Department, Jeremy Parsons and John Pugh both of Pikeville are currently being held in the Pike County Detention Center. They are charged with first degree possession and possession of first degree drug paraphernalia. Officer Conn pulled behind the vehicle on Hambley Blvd the car pulled over onto Second Street. An undetermined amount of oxycontin was confiscated from the vehicle.

Both men will be arraigned Thursday.

Investigators continue to search for the cause of the fire that killed two people Tuesday night at the Justice Apartment Complex in Pikeville.

Authorities have now released the identities of the victims , 17 year-old Justin Alvis Albert Lockhart and his mother, 41 year-old Tammy Lockhart. The Lockharts lived in a first floor apartment.

Peggy Williamson a resident of the second floor told us that she knocked on every door telling folks to get out. One passerby Trevez Bartley went into the building kicked the door down in an attempt to rescue the mother and son , the teenager told us that he yelled there names but no one responded. Bartley says flames were shooting from out of the apartment.

Six people have now died in house fires this year in Pike County.

A spokesperson with the Pikeville Fire Department told us that two people have died as a fire swept through the Justice Apartment Building which is located at 105 Hibbard Strret just off Hambley Boulevard. The fire began at around 7:38p.m The deputy state fire marshal is on the scene. Two other adjacent buildings were also damaged.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the Kentucky State Police the agency unveiled 17 limited edition retro look cruisers.

Each post in the state will receive one. The Ford cruisers are solid black with gold striping and a distinctive state police seal.


The cruisers will be used for public affairs, exhibits, recruiting and other special assignments for one year, then they’ll be converted back to the standard color and markings and returned to general duty

A Floyd County man was ordered by a Floyd County Judge to clean up his property within 60 days and give up all of his animals.

Wayne Clark of Tram was charged with violating the county’s nuisance ordinance and animal cruelty.

Officials found Clark’s property littered with cars, tires, and car parts.

Officials also found horses living in poor conditions and a dog tied up on a short rope drinking from a mud hole.

Greg Barr who serves as General Manager of the WV Parkways Economic Development and Tourism Authority says that high gas prices and the economy are forcing more people to stay close to home.

Barr says that vehicular traffic on the WV Turnpike was down 5.6 percent.

Barr says that toll collections for the highway were down 6.1 percent in May and 5.5 percent in June.

Ten Floyd County students have been selected for this year’s Governor’s Scholars Program.

Sarah Elizabeth Conn, Betsy Layne High School

James Garland Henson III , Betsy Layne High School

Margo Allison Renae Hunt ,Betsy Layne High School

James Brandon Tackett , Betsy Layne High School

Jordan Gregory Tackett , Betsy Layne High School

Elizabeth Davis , Piarist

Taylor Moak , Piarist

Michelle Renee Ellis , Prestonsburg High School

Elizabeth Nicole Hughes , Allen Central High School

These students will take part in a five week program, during which they experience college life by living in dormitories at participating colleges and take part in classes on a variety of subjects.

Students are chosen based on academic achievement, student profile, essays and teacher recommendations.

William Duty and new board member Jackie Branch took the oath of office on the Mingo County Board of Education . The five member board re-elected Butch West as president and Branch was named vice president .

Mingo County Superintendent of Schools Dwight Dials expects a new principal for Williamson High School to be named within the next month.

The West Virginia Division of Natural resoureces announced that they want the legislature next year to lower the legal blood alcohol limit for boaters from .10 to .08.

A DNR spokesperson says that national statistics inicate that alcohol is a factor in twenty-one percent of all fatal boating accidents.

Current penalties for boating while drunk start at two days to a year in jail and a fine of $ 200 to $ 1,000.

More Kentuckians are struggling to pay there current utility bills.

Kentucky’s six major utility companies report that the number of people that are behind on their bills is up twenty-five percent from last year.

West Virginia DNR announced that they will close the Fox Fire Wildlife Management site at the end of the month. Fox Fire located in Boone County has offered hunting and fishing for 48 years. Officials say that mining operations will eliminate the only access road to the 7,000 acre site.

A study from the Office of the Ombudsman for Behavior found that a psychiatric hospital in Huntington is overcrowded and understaffed.

It was found that the Mildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital routinely has about 120 patients that is roughly 30 more than the hospital has room for. It was also stated in the report that sometimes they are up to three patients sharing a room, sometimes with no bathroom.

The ombudsman office wants the number of patients reduced to 90 within three months.

The WV Department of Health and Human Resources has twenty days to respond to the report.

The housing market in West Virginia continues to grow. The market increased by 2.5 percent during the first three months of the year.

According to the West Virginia Association of Realtors, the average sale price of a home is about $ 3,000 over last year to $ 120,320.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildfire commission has approved a bear hunting season for Pike, Letcher and Harlan counties.

Officials say that the two day season will take place in December of next year.

A study has shown that more and more black bears have re-located into the area from other states.


The two day hunt is for male black bears and there will be a limit of ten.

Preliminary statistics* indicate that six people died in six separate crashes on Kentucky roadways during the four-day July 4th Holiday period, Thursday July 3 (6:00 p.m.) through Sunday, July 6, 2008 (11:59 p.m.).

Three of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and one of those victims was not wearing a seat belt. Motor vehicle crashes occurred in Graves, Harlan and Union counties. One of the crashes involved the suspected use of alcohol.

Two ATV fatalities occurred and both involved the suspected use of alcohol. The crashes occurred in Hopkins and Pike counties. Neither victim was wearing a helmet. One motorcycle fatality occurred in Jefferson county.

Through July 6, preliminary statistics* indicate that 379 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2008. This is 56 fewer than reported for this time period in 2007. Of the 296 motor vehicle fatalities, 186 victims were not wearing seat belts. Of the 38 motorcycle fatalities, 21 were not wearing helmets. Thirteen people have been killed in ATV crashes and twelve of those victims were not wearing helmets. Thirty-one pedestrians have been killed. A total of 74 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

The primary material in asphalt is an oil-based product, making it more expensive to buy, so, the Kentucky Department of Transportation is looking for ways to pave roads without it.

Officials say they don't yet know what alternative they will use.

Mary Church, the widow of Ronnie Church, who was killed in January, has filed a lawsuit against Billy Reed of Varney, saying her husband was killed as a result of careless and negligent conduct.

She is asking for a trial by jury and damages, including medical and funeral expenses for her husband.

Reed was convicted in May on a charge of second degree manslaughter, and the jury recommended ten years in prison. Sentencing is set for July 23.

The Kentucky State Police report that Saturday night, 27-year old Johnathan Justice was killed while riding his four wheeler on Route 194 at Stopover.

Officials say he lost control and hit a guradrail, causing his ATV to flip over. He died on the scene. He was not wearing a helmet.