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Flu B closes Middlesboro Independent Schools
According to Director of Pupil Personnel and Transportation Waylon Allen, Middlesboro Independent Schools will be closed on Friday. The decision was made late this morning after reports confirmed continued low attendance numbers of both students and teachers. The low attendance numbers are believed to be a result of Flu B. There will be a day added to the end of the school year to make up for the sick day.
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USW to vote on contract proposal
Staff Report The United Steelworkers (USW) are scheduled to decide at the ballot box today and Friday on whether to accept a negotiated contract by union officials and Appalachian Regional Healthcare. According to Roger McGinnis, a member of the USW staff, “We have a tentative agreement and plan to explain and vote this Thursday and Friday.” Julius Pearson, ARH system director of employee and labor relations, said, “This tentative agree...
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Bell High sophomores participate in state initiative
Anthony Cloud Staff Writer Bell County High School sophomores participated in “Operation Preparation” on Wednesday inside the library. The event was held in conjunction with the Gear Up program and the Bell Family Youth Resource Center. Community members worked with all the sophomores on their individual learning plan to prepare them for college. The program is held to make sure kids are on target for college or their future careers. ...
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County health ratings released
Staff Report Recent numbers released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at the University of Wisconsin shows Bell County ranked in the bottom quarter of the state in county health ratings. Out of 120 counties in Kentucky, Bell County ranked 109 overall. The rankings are based 30 percent on health behaviors, 20 percent on clinical care, 40 percent on socioeconomic factors and 10 percent on physical environment. Bell County ranked 11...
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Sheriff’s department receives in-car computers
Staff Report The Bell County Sheriff’s Department has received two new in-car computers known as mobile data terminals (MDTs), thanks to Attorney General Jack Conway. Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett said the new computers will assist his agency tremendously, adding they will be put to good use. The MDTs will allow officers to enter information during a traffic stop or after responding to a scene. Officers will be able to quickly deter...
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Tourism submits genealogy grant proposal
Bell County Tourism Director Judy Barton has placed a proposal for the Efroymson grant. The proposal was completed in conjunction with the Bell County Historical Society. The grant is for $25,000 to be placed toward a genealogy center. The center would be located in the tourism office or the historical society office. “It’s not a lot of money, but it will give us a start,” said Barton. Barton said her pitch for the proposal was based ar...
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Health overhaul to raise claims cost
WASHINGTON (AP) — Insurance companies will have to pay out an average of 32 percent more for medical claims on individual health policies under President Barack Obama’s overhaul, the nation’s leading group of financial risk analysts has estimated. That’s likely to increase premiums for at least some Americans buying individual plans. The report by the Society of Actuaries could turn into a big headache for the Obama administration at a ti...
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Negotiations continue to avoid strike
Appalachian Regional Healthcare and the United Steelworkers are continuing to negotiate in hopes of preventing a strike by employees at the company’s facilities across eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. After giving a 10-day strike notice on March 21, the USW reported to its membership late Monday that it continues to “negotiate in good faith” in an effort to avoid a strike at 12:01 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Meanwhile, Julius Pears...
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Estep works to find jobs for miners despite setback
“Times are hard for coal mining.” That is the message Eddie Estep, president of Professional Contracting in Norton, Va., shared recently, speaking of the difficulty involved in getting miners back to work. A small group of trainees and helpers busied themselves at the Norton offices for Professional Contracting. One helper was Nathan Whistenhutt. “You won’t find too many people that care as much as that man,” said Whistenhutt, a laid ...
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Oliver
Detroit man jailed in kidnapping case
A Detroit, Mich. man has been arrested by Lt. Tom Busic of the Middlesboro Police Department on a bench warrant involving a kidnapping case. Jerry Lee Oliver, 46, was arrested on Monday night. The indictment warrant stems from an incident where Oliver allegedly was involved in the kidnapping of a juvenile several months ago. Oliver, along with Linda S. Graster, 38, of Middlesboro, allegedly entered a residence near Airport Road and forc...
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April declared ‘Child Abuse Prevention Month’
Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock signed a proclamation on Tuesday, declaring the month of April “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Bell County. “Every child in our great Commonwealth is a precious gift, full of promise and potential,” said Brock in the proclamation. The proclamation also stated child abuse and neglect is a catastrophic crisis in public health in Kentucky and across the nation. Contributing factors include issues a...
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Bell County JROTC wins drill meet
Bell County High School (BCHS) Air Force JROTC hosted their 14th annual drill meet at the Bell High gym on Saturday. The school placed first by winning 10 trophies in first-year and advance team categories. The participating schools were Scott County, North Laurel, South Laurel and Unicoi County, Tenn. The BCHS first-year team won first place over the other schools by finishing first in inspection, second in Color Guard and second in indi...
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Annual Easter at Karlan celebration set
Colorful Eggs on the Karlan Mansion lawn will lead children to Wilderness Road State Park’s fifth annual Easter at Karlan celebration at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Children ages 1 though 10 are invited to join the Easter Bunny for a candy-filled Easter egg hunt that highlights an afternoon filled with fun, games and prizes. The popular event will include light refreshments and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny. Pre-registration is requ...
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Saylor
Police arrest 2 in Belk theft
Two Bell County women were recently arrested for allegedly attempting to steal from Belk in the Middlesboro Mall. Terri Smith, 36, of Hulen, and Tammy Saylor, 39, of Coldiron, were both arrested by Middlesboro Police Officer Barry Cowan and charged with theft by unlawful taking over $500. According to the arrest citation, the two women were observed by an employee from Belk Lost Prevention working together in an attempt to steal $669.98 w...
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Salvation Army to observe Denim Day
The Salvation Army in Middlesboro will be bringing attention to violence against women as they observe Denim Day on Wednesday. The event stems from a rape case back in 1992, when an 18-year-old in Italy was raped by her driving instructor. According to a flier released by the Salvation Army, the girl pressed charges and won her case, but the instructor appealed and the case went to the Italian high court. The release states in 1999 the ...
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Cawood resigns from Pineville school board
A member of the Pineville Independent Board of Education has resigned from her position. Jeanette “Sissy” Cawood has resigned to “spend more time with her family.” “She has been a vital part of this school and the community,” said Pineville Superintendent Terry Hayes. “We appreciate her commitment and are very grateful for her service.” Hayes said Cawood had discussed a possible resignation months prior to her actual resignation. He sai...
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Skateworld
Skateworld, a downtown staple and locally owned business since the 1930s, has been chosen as this week’s Surviving the Hard Times business. Frank and Penny Smith have owned the business since 1988 but their history with the rink goes back to when they were teens. When Penny was 12 years old, she was hit by a car. Her femur in her left leg was broken and she needed rehabilitation. Although she had never skated before, Penny decided ska...
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Smith addresses coal, biomass at luncheon
Senate Majority Whip Brandon Smith spoke on several issues involving coal during the Bell County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday. The most shocking news, according to Smith, involved the amount of coal mine closures in the region. Smith said eastern Kentucky has always mined the majority of coal in Kentucky. He said the eastern part of the state typically mines 75 percent of the coal in Kentucky, while 25 percent is mined by the we...
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Late night: Senate Democrats work to pass budget
ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats neared approval of their first budget proposal in four years on Friday, calling for almost $1 billion in tax increases over the coming decade while sheltering safety net programs targeted by House Republicans. The Democrats also would reverse automatic spending cuts that are beginning to strike both the Pentagon and domestic programs. The nonbinding but politically symb...
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SKCTC honored
Dr. W. Bruce Ayers, right, president of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College along with other finalists in the 2013 Aspen Institute Prize for Community College Excellence, displayed awards received during a ceremony March 19 in Washington, D.C. SKCTC was chosen as one of the top ten community colleges in the nation from a field of over 1,000 colleges. Co-winners for the overall award for excellence went to Santa Barbara City Colle...
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Renovations may be coming to Canal Walk
Middlesboro City Council voted in support of a resolution to apply for $100,000 for the restoration of the Canal Walk. If funded, the Canal Walk — from Lothbury Street to Ashbury Street — will be paved with asphalt. Other existing sections between Cumberland Avenue and Lothbury Street will be repaired and enhanced. Interpretive signs would be added along the whole length of the walk. A brochure will be produced and printed. Middlesbor...
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Possible circuit court consolidation on the horizon
A movement is at hand involving the Bell and Harlan circuit courts, according to Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock. He addressed the issue during a luncheon at Pine Mountain State Park and Resort on Thursday. Brock stated the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is attempting to combine Bell and Harlan circuit courts. “This negatively impacts the jails in both counties,” said Brock. “It would slow the docket down more than it a...
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Steelworkers issue strike notice to ARH
Appalachian Regional Healthcare President and CEO Jerry Haynes has notified the health care system’s employees that the United Steelworkers has issued an “intent to strike notice” to the not for profit corporation providing health care to 350,000 residents across rural eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Haynes, in the letter dated March 21, told employees that the USW broke off negotiations after issuing the strike notice and won’...
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Board approved 2013-2014 calendar
The Middlesboro Board of Education approved the proposed school calendar for the 2013-2014 school year. The calendar was well received among school employees. Over 90 percent of the vote was for the presented calendar. The first day of school for teachers is scheduled for Aug. 7, with students starting the next day. Observed holidays include Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Day, and President’s Day. However, President’s Day m...
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Middlesboro board cuts 10.5 positions
The Middlesboro Board of Education approved cutting 10.5 positions for the 2013-2014 school year. The action came Tuesday night during the regular meeting with community members, students and educators packing the library for a standing room only crowd. Despite the large turnout, no one from the public asked to speak. Chairman Bill Johnson clarified with the audience that no one had signed up to address the board. The board unanimously ...
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