Paducah Sun - 9.3.26

0:00Now we turn to the reading of the Paduka Sun for news from N and around Paduka and Macracken County. As a reminder, radio wise of reading service intended for people who are blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material. Your reader today is Bruce Kominisch. Today we will begin with the edition dated September 3rd. She can't be replaced. Paduka, a nonprofit founder, Belle dies at 86, by Drayton Charlton, Pairin, and John Ely. After 35 years of helping those in need across Paduka, Macracken County, as the owner of Martha's Vineyard admission, Martha Belle died Tuesday afternoon at 86 years old. She didn't judge one person based off of what they were going through or what they've been through said Christian Ringstaff, Belle's granddaughter.

1:00She just always wanted to help people no matter what. Starting in the early 90s, Belle hosted events, including Thanksgiving feasts, barbecues, and food giveaways for the hungry. But Belle's daughter, Christy Belle, said Martha offered much more than food. Somebody could come to the vineyard, fresh out of jail or rehab. And Martha would help them find a bicycle, find a job, help them with food or with clothes. Christy said. Christy said her mother had her own way of doing things and with many times, make people work for whatever help they received at the vineyard. She might have made you take the trash out or help her put stuff up that was coming in. Christy said, you weren't getting it all the way for free, but she would help you no matter what. Padukka Mayor George Bray said he had worked with Belle in the past and can attest that she had her own process.

2:01Martha was very unique and you were going to do it Martha's way. Bray said. She was very direct about the way she wanted things, but at the core of who she was, she cared about people and she cared about people who needed other people. McCracken County judge anxiety, Craig at Clymer, recalls volunteering at one of Belle's Thanksgiving feasts in 1993. That experience was inspiring for his children who tagged along. We took our kids with us and helped to serve people to hot meal who wouldn't otherwise have one climber said. I can remember my children being so moved by that. They're little kids and they didn't recognize that there were people that didn't have food and here they were serving people. Ringsdap said, Bill was a community icon and a role model and she looked up to ever since she was a child. When I was in elementary school, I used to write Martha Bill on my school papers because I said I wanted to be just like my granny.

3:09Ringsdap said. I called my mom said we're not getting any of Christian's homework. We're getting papers from someone named Martha Bell. My mom said that's my daughter. She wants to be her granny. Clymer said everyone can take a page out of Martha's book when it comes to generosity and caring for your neighbors. We can take up where Martha has obviously now left off. Bray said. We can carry that torch and recognize when we see somebody that maybe needs a helping hand. We can provide that. Bray said Bill's legacy should inspire us all to do our part in the community. There's people out there that need us and it's always good for people to step up. Bray said Martha's legacy sets an example for others who need to reach out and help those needed the most. Despite new inspiration, Bill's family believes the shoes might be too big to fill.

4:13She can't be replaced. She's the greatest of all time. Ringdap said. The future of Martha's Vineyard is uncertain for Bill's family. Bill's daughter and granddaughter said they don't know how or if the nonprofit will move forward. But they ask for patience as they process the loss of a loved one. We'll figure out if we're going to stay open or not. Bray said. We don't know what's ahead and give us time to grieve a little bit. Don't overwhelm us with everything. Members of the community spoke out on Bill's commitment as well. Shirley Barlow with River City Mission said she knew Bill for more than 20 years and helped mutually share resources when there was a need. I have known her being this loving person that is concerned about anyone that is in need. She wants to help. She did help. She tried every avenue.

5:14If there were problems that she couldn't overcome, she'd go get help. She was always the type of person she wanted to help said Barlow. Barlow said their shared faith played heavily into the decision to start their own ways to help the community. It was nothing that made us do it except this instilled desire that God has put in our hearts. And that's Martha's. Barlow said. Buddy Pugh, manager of Alan Auto Sales in Paduca donated the van. Bill used to deliver food to those in need. Martha Bill, what can you say about her? She's one of Macracken County Spinas known her for a long time. Went to church with her and she has done a good service for Paduca surrounding Paduca actually other counties. I think a lot of Martha a lot said Pugh. Pugh said he would routinely send potential customers in Martha's direction and said the community will miss her contributions.

6:20I've sent a lot of people over. They come in hungry. I sent them over and she fed them. You said we had a lot of people talk about Martha and Martha just one of the best. You know when people pass you think well you're going to say something good about them. But Martha was good. She was a good woman. She loved the Lord. She was a good business here in town and helped a lot of people out. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 8th at Milner and a more funeral home of Paduca with the reverence teeth tilted and tied to Hawkins officiating. Barry old will follow at Maple Lawn Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the service hour of 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to any nonprofit organization in the area.

7:26Flores, please not guilty to grooming charge former Graves teacher faces September 9th hearing by Will Spencer. Sadie Flores, the former Graves County middle school teacher charged under Kentucky's new grooming law. Waved formal arrangement Wednesday morning in the Graves County district court. Attorney Angela Troutman entered a not guilty plea on her clients behalf. Judge Scott Robbins set her preliminary hearing for 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 9th in the district court. As previously reported, the Graves County Sheriff's Office arrested Flores 25 on Friday, August 7th on the class D felony of grooming a minor. The offense is punishable by one, but not more than five years in jail. Flores was reportedly having an improper relationship with a minor student of the district.

8:29The police also opposed arrest citation alleged that messages between Flores and the student, quote, were not of a legitimate purpose and were not school related in both. The parent also identified multiple incoming phone calls that were identified as base time that had occurred multiple times in the late evening hours that the parents were not aware of the citation stated. The two GCSO communications by Flores attempted to manipulate the minor and expressed feelings of love and admiration more so than just a student teacher relationship. The GSO also reportedly learned that Flores and the student met in secret before a school function outside of school that Flores was not directly a part of but lived in that close proximity to the event.

9:30GCSO said the allegation was initially reported to the Graves County School District Office who then immediately reported it to the agency for an investigation. According to her personnel file from the school system superintendent, Matthew Matting notified Flores on Friday, August 7th, that she would be suspended with pay until the district investigated allegations on becoming a teacher. Matting subsequently informed Flores on Tuesday, August 11th, that her limited contract for the 2026 27 school year was terminated after the district substantiated allegations of repeated inappropriate comments through electronic communication with a student. She was also reported to the educational professional standards for. Evidence of the communications were provided to the district and the communications indicate clear evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a student.

10:37Matting said in eight letter to Flores. The repeated lapse in decision making is unacceptable. Flores is legal counsel provided the son with the following statement Wednesday morning. Sadie Flores has done nothing wrong. She has devoted herself to her students into being the kind, caring and compassionate teacher they deserve. Her priority has always been the well-being safety and success of every student interested to her fear. Throughout her career, she has acted in what she sincerely believed was the best interest of her students treating them with dignity, compassion and respect. The allegations against her do not reflect the teacher or students have come to know. Because this is an ongoing criminal matter, she will respect the legal process and address the allegations through the appropriate channels. She asks the public and the media to withhold all judgment until all of the facts and be fully presented and considered.

11:45Above all, she remains grateful for the students, families, colleagues and community members who know her character and have supported her. Her commitment to her students has always been at the heart of everything she has done. The residents oppose, proposed a bluegrass water rate increases. The crack in customers cite high costs, ongoing service problems, but then overbeke and McKinsey Lionberger. The Kentucky Public Service Commission held a public comments meeting at the Macrackland County Courthouse Wednesday. Regarding the requests of bluegrass water utility operating company LLCs, application to increase water and sewer rates across the state, including water rates in areas of Macrackland County. The dozens of community members attended the meeting with 13 making public comments.

12:48The meeting began with a brief explanation of bluegrass water's application and the Kentucky PSC's role in deciding the case by General Counsel Brian Thomas. Utilities in Kentucky are not competitive businesses, but instead monopolies Thomas said. The Public Service Commission exists to regulate utility rates to ensure that they're fair, just and reasonable and that the service is adequate. So changing utility rates is a legal process governed by statutes and regulations. According to Thomas's presentation, the grass water operates waste water systems in Macrackland County. It grade Oaks, timberland, or Katie Pines, carriage park, Marshall Ridge and McReeder Village. The application requests authorization to increase the grass water's water-based rate total revenue by $100,000.

13:54According to a news release from the PSC, residential water customers would see an average monthly water bill increase of $28.22, or approximately 36.3%. This means the average residential customers bill would be about $105.85, up from an average bill of $77.63. The application also requests authorization to increase the grass water's waste water-based rate total revenue by $2,633,981. Residential wastewater customers would see an average monthly bill increase ranging from $33.95 to $79.80 for a total of $111.72, up from an average bill of $39.92 to an average bill of $77.77.

15:02This represents an increase ranging approximately from $43.7% to $219.9%. Before public comments began, Thomas explained that PSC members would not be able to respond to public comments, but would collect them for public record and consider them in their decision. PSC chair, NGC, Hatton, Vice Chair, Mary Pat Reagan, and Commissioner Barry Elmapheel, or President, Hatton addressed the crowd, saying that the PSC is not required to hold public comment hearings, but decided to hold them because they want to hear what the community has to say. This is your opportunity to say what you want to say, and it will be on the record, Hatton said. It will be in the case file, it will be recorded, other people can see it. It's as if you're giving testimony at the hearing.

16:06That said, we're going to be the judges in the case, so it's frustrating for you to have questions that we can't answer because we can't prejudge a case. Just like a judge who's going to hear evidence, they can't tell you their opinion before they hear evidence, and your testimony works sort of like evidence tonight. So if you have questions, go ahead and ask them. Those may be questions that we write down and ask of the applicant at the hearing. It's always good to ask questions. It's important for us to hear what your questions are, but I hope you'll understand that we can't answer questions tonight. Several public commenters accused Bluegrass Water and their parent company Central States Water Resources, which operates across 11 states, buying up water and wastewater systems, and charging excessive prices for their services.

17:06Don Barger, the resident of the Marshall Ridge subdivision in Feduka, said he paid a $15 a month sewer rate before the system was purchased by Bluegrass Water, and the current request would bring his rate to $114 a month. He called the increase excessive, saying it's not like the level of service provided for the cost of living in the area. Residents have faced repeated rate increases every 18 to 24 months, forcing us to continually fight for affordable rates, Argers said. Despite previous hikes, there is little evidence of promised infrastructure repairs. Issues like foul sewer odors and rare utility truck visits persist. The proposed $114 monthly bill is unapporable for many, especially seniors and families on fixed income. Meanwhile, corporate overhead appears to be growing. Before any further rate hikes are approved, there must be transparency and an independent audit of how previous rate increase revenues were spent.

18:21We receive no annual report as to what has been completed with the Marshall Ridge system, and as has already been mentioned, we are a captive audience with no alternative for sewer service. I respectfully request that you deny the proposed increase and demand a full independent audit before considering any further rate adjustments. Robert Evans described himself as an executive of an asset-based company, saying he was embarrassed to admit his profession had similarities to the people that are behind the problems of everyone in the room. He said while his business shares the same need to make money off its assets, that's where the similarities end. This is not the utility company, Evans said. This is Plain as Day, a very greedy, private equity firm that goes out to find the many rich people that have money that they want to invest in a high rate of return.

19:28They spend whatever it takes to acquire these assets from our neighborhoods. You don't see them buying in cities. You see them buying unincorporated property. It's easy for them to get their hands on, grossly underpaying for it or because it's distressed, overpay for it. They then do not care how much money they spend because they know they can hire the best accountants and auditors and show you this exorbitant cost because then they know they can use that over and over again. This is their business model in 11 states. Evans continued. Every single state, they charge significantly more than the other public and private companies that are reasonable and fair. There is nothing reasonable and fair about them. This is a business model that discounts all of us except as ATM machines to keep paying their profit returns to their investors.

20:30Jack Russell, a retired Baptist preacher, brought attention to their seeming to be no clear definition for the PSC's need to determine that rates are fair, just and reasonable. He said he knows of one in scripture. Now, I'm not saying you're the ones that are doing the stealing, but what I am saying is you're enabling the ones that are doing the stealing. There are widows and widowers in our carriage parks subdivision. They've got to worry about paying their medical bills, putting groceries on the table, living off social security, and you find folks are sitting behind your desk and they're not going to be able to do anything. They're a real desk. Enabling a bunch of people that are extortionists, that are taking food from their tables. They can't afford to buy the medicine from their pharmacies, and wonder how they're going to pay their taxes.

21:30And it doesn't seem to bother our state or our attorney general, or absolutely your commission that much. I wonder what Jesus would do with this proposal. I don't know whether you're Christian or not, but you don't have to be a Christian to understand that this is not fair, just or equitable. Another public comment meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Central Time, 5 p.m. Eastern Time, at the Insoor Learning Resource Center in Georgetown, Kentucky. Comments can be emailed to psc.commentatkyi.gov or mailed to 2 11 Sauer Boulevard, Frank Brick and Tucky, 4 0 601. Comments should include the Committer's Name, Address, and Case Number 2025-00354.

22:35Again, that's Case Number 2025-00354. The PSC will hold a formal hearing on the rate increase application. On September 21st, in Frankfurt, their decision on the case is due March 9th, 2027. Domestic violence is incredibly deadly. Maryman House classes focus on breaking the cycle of abuse by Kenna Williams. On Wednesday, the McCracken County Public Library posted a class on domestic violence awareness as part of Maryman House's Break the Cycle Program. Led by Maryman House's Program Specialist, Gail Neal, the class was one of two alternating modules focused on breaking free from the cycle of abuse, starting by defining intimate partner violence and the various forms of abuse.

23:38It is possible to completely change your life, but it starts with being aware and having a language to talk about it, which is what this day is about today, Neal says. Everything you learn in here can be applied to all of your human relationships. The key here is to identify is someone trying to control me or are my behaviors maybe ego driven from a place where I feel the need to control others. That's kind of the central question around domestic violence. Kentucky has the second highest rate of domestic violence in the nation with 45.3% of women and 35.5% of men are predicted to experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. According to Team Kentucky's 2025 domestic violence data report, 33,786 electronic JC3 forms related to domestic and or dating violence were filed

24:47by law enforcement in 2025 and 20,129 emergency protective orders and temporary interpersonal protective orders were ordered by the court. The thing we know about domestic violence is it's incredibly deadly, Neal said. A lot of first responders, including law enforcement, will tell you the most dangerous call they will ever ever take is that of a domestic dispute. Despite the dangers, Neal said that survivors return to their abusers and average of seven times before permanently separating, falling into what can feel like an unbreakable cycle. There's a lot of what we call recidivism or return in domestic violence. That's because of patterns. We're human. We just fall into cycles, she said. Safety planning is probably the most actionable thing that you can offer someone

25:50because no person is going to leave their abusive partner until they're actually ready and that readiness process varies for everyone. A big portion of it is mentally being able to see a future where you are not under somebody else's thumb. Part of safety planning includes being able to recognize different forms of abuse and understand what the cycle of domestic violence looks like. Some forms of abuse, Neal highlighted were physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic abuse in addition to control, intimidation, and the use of male privilege and isolation. According to Neal, male privilege and isolation are two forms of abuse that are seen in abundance within the local region, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. Break the cycle classes are currently offered four times each month, alternating monthly between modules one and two.

26:54Neal said the second module discusses healthy and unhealthy relationships, self-esteem, self-care, the relationship, bill of rights, steps to recover attachment with children after leaving an abusive situation and setting boundaries. Those who are interested in participating in break the cycle are encouraged to reach out to Miriam & House or RSVP on Facebook. This concludes today's reading of the Dutkha Sun. Your reader today has been Bruce Cuminish. Thank you for joining me. Next, please stay tuned for continued programming on Radio I.