News

Despite recent job losses in the area, employment opportunities are available for those looking for a job, officials said.

Earlier this month, Federal Mogul announced it would close its Maysville facility in June 2015; the J.Curtis Salon and Spa closed its doors; and the Regal-Beloit plant in Mount Sterling closed. Between Federal Mogul and Regal-Beloit, 360 people are, or will be out of work within the next year.

According to Jeremy Faulkner, business service coordinator at the Kentucky Career Center, Tenco Workforce office in Maysville, companies are hiring.

They came from all walks of life and across the country Saturday to spend a day working at the log cabin of Col. Charles Young.

The Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mount Sterling will host the Kentucky Arts Council's "Makings of a Master" exhibit, a celebration of Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships, from August 1 – 29.

Visitors to the "Makings of a Master" exhibit will explore the relationship between master and apprentice through artifacts, videos and activities, as well as live performances and demonstrations.

Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s (BSCTC) Fine Arts department held its Little Sandy Singers Children’s Music and Drama camp this month on its Prestonsburg campus. 

The camp concluded with a performance of "An Evening of Disney Magic" on Thursday, July 24, in the Gearheart Auditorium.

Laura Ford Hall, associate professor of communications, served as the camp instructor.

For more information on BSCTC’s Fine Arts Department, contact Clayton Case at (606) 886-7388.

Story provided by Big Sandy Community and Technical College.

State Representative John Will Stacy says there’s a disconnect between what constituents and health care providers are telling him about Kentucky’s Medicaid Managed Care program and information supplied by the state’s Department of Medicaid Services. The West Liberty Democrat made the observation at a hearing in Frankfort last week, a day after he attended a forum in Morehead on the financial challenges facing rural hospitals.

Stacy says he rarely hears anything good about managed care…

The Paramount Arts Center in Ashland this summer will spend nearly 70-thousand dollars on capital improvements to its historic theater…That’s the word from Executive Director Bruce Marquis.

He says the work includes new lighting…

Marquis says the improvements to the 83-year-old structure will be finished before fall.

Kentucky Parks Commissioner Elaine Walker says she has no plans to turn over the Perryville Civil War Battlefield to the U.S. Parks Service. Walker says some groups in Kentucky favor that idea but she’s not advocating it…

Walker calls the Perryville site a “jewel” in Kentucky’s parks system. She testified last week before House and Senate members of the state legislature’s budget committee.

Sunday Night Jazz Showcase

Program #29 (July 27 at 11pm)

Horace Silver was born in Norwalk, Connecticut on September 2, 1928. His father had immigrated to the United States from Cape Verde---and that island nation's Portuguese influences would play a big part in Silver's own music later on.

When Silver was a teenager, he began playing both piano and saxophone while he listened to everything from boogie-woogie and blues to such modern musicians as Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk.

Renee speaks with Dr. Robert Hilgers, founder and president of the Global Women's Cancer Alliance. The WGCA works to advance women's health, addressing particularly those in need of cancer care in developing countries. A 2014 KET production.

Journalists from around the state discuss news of the day with interim host Bill Bryant from WKYT in Lexington. Guests include Joe Arnold, political reporter, WHAS-TV in Louisville; Gregory Hall, business reporter, Louisville Courier-Journal; and Theo Keith, political reporter, WAVE-TV in Louisville.  A 2014 KET production.

July 2014 edition of 'Shaping Appalachia' with MSU President Dr. Wayne D. Andrews.

Moderator: Jason Blanton

Guests: Tim Rhodes and Joel Pace

Topic: Morehead State Early College Program

The first six months of the SOAR initiative are history and Congressman Hal Rogers says they’ve been “great”. SOAR stands for “Saving Our Appalachian Region” and it’s a joint effort started by the Republican lawmaker and Democratic Governor Steve Beshear to improve the economy of eastern Kentucky.

Rogers says a lot is happening and there’s more in the works…

Motorists should watch for traffic changes on the Morehead connector next week, the week of July 28, as contractors expect to begin paving operations along the state highway.

A mile and a half of KY 32 from approximately Big Four Street to Mabry Drive – the hillside cut section between the Lewis Place shopping center and downtown – will be blacktopped. Motorists should expect one-lane traffic on both the eastbound and westbound sides of the highway during construction. Delays are possible, especially during peak rush hour traffic times.

Maysville is still reeling after a company announced its decision last week to close its plant in the city. MSPR's Zachary Senvisky has the story...

July 24th -- Chuck Mraz is joined by Jim Nickell, Rowan County Judge Executive.

The president of Morehead’s Saint Claire Regional Medical Center says there’s a definite need re-evaluate Kentucky’s managed care system for Medicaid. Mark Neff was among those who attended Wednesday’s forum in Morehead on the challenges facing rural hospitals in Kentucky. It was hosted by State Auditor Adam Edelin.

Neff believes managed care can work but it hasn’t gone very well so far in the Commonwealth…

Neff says managed care needs to be structured and more refined in order for it to be effective. He says that hasn’t happened yet.

Daniel Becker, who served as Morehead State's graduate assistant for athletic video operations the past two years and produced more than 100 events for the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network, has been named the school's director of volleyball operations.

"I really enjoyed my position as video coordinator, but I'm excited about this new role because of the respect I have for our volleyball student-athletes and coaches," Becker said. "I want to thank the people who originally brought me to Morehead State and those who continue to believe in me."

Officials with Federal Mogul say the scheduled closure of its Maysville plant is part of an overall corporate strategy to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. The Michigan-based auto parts company discussed its plans during its quarterly conference call today.

Dan Ninivaggi is chief executive officer of the Motorparts Division. He says mothballing the Mason County facility is in keeping with a process the firm began during the last quarter…

More Family Dollar stores will begin selling beer and wine this year and next…That’s according to Company Chairman Howard Levine who says the idea has already been tried in selected markets across the country…

Levine says the dollar amount of a purchase that includes beer and wine in Family Dollar’s test markets has been about two to three times higher than other buys. He says liquor sales over the July 4th holiday were encouraging. Family Dollar has a distribution center in Morehead that supplies 750 stores in seven states.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, will visit the Morehead Conference Center from 10 AM-2 PM on Wednesday, August 6. Health Matters celebrates his visit with a show about beer bellies, Alzheimer’s dementia, mosquitoes, and narcotic drugs.

Tip: Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, exhaled breath, and smell. Candles, dark clothing, and noisemakers that clip to your belt are not a reliable way to prevent mosquito bites.

Links:

The Morehead Tourism Commission welcomed special guests and friends to the Morehead Trail Town Designation Ceremony on Tuesday, July 22 at the Rowan County Arts Center.

Guest speakers include:

Bob Stewart, Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

Elaine Wilson, Executive Director, Office for Adventure Tourism

Jane Beshear, Kentucky's First Lady

Rep. Rocky Adkins, Majority Floor Leader

David Perkins, Morehead Mayor  

Kentucky’s economy is recovering from the recession but progress has been slow and lower and middle-income families have seen little improvement. That much both liberal and conservative analysts seem to agree on, though they differ on solutions to make things better for everyone.

Anna Baumann is a researcher with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. She and Tom Dupree of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions debated the issue Monday on KET’s Kentucky Tonight. Baumann says the Commonwealth is still a long way from a robust economy…

The Kentucky-based global nutrition company Alltech announced on Monday (July 21) it will build a distillery, fish farm and poultry-layer facility near Pikeville.

Deirdre Lyons is co-founder of the firm.

“We expect to spend ten to twelve million on the distillery, three to five million on the egg production and agriculture eight to ten to begin with.” –Deirdre Lyons

The development will happen on a new 380-acre industrial park known as Marion Branch. The city of Pikeville is extending water and sewer service to the site. 

Morehead State's Drew Kelly, Chad Posthumus, Kareem Storey, Jordan Percell and Karam Mashour have been named to the 2013-14 National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court for academic achievement.

The Honors Court recognizes juniors or seniors who own a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 and have been enrolled at their current school at least one year. The 2013-14 list includes a record number 895 student-athletes from 335 institutions.

Six distinguished Kentucky artists have been awarded Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships from the Kentucky Arts Council for demonstrating a high level of excellence and creativity in their literary arts careers.

The prestigious award, named in honor of Kentucky journalist Al Smith, recognizes professional artists who have reached a high level of achievement in their career. Since its beginning in 1983, the program has provided more than $2.5 million in funding to artists in the visual arts, literary arts, media arts, composing and choreography.

In order to replace a drainage pipe, the Kentucky Department of Highways plans to close KY 2016 (Big Andy Ridge Road) in Lee County on Saturday July 26.

The road will be closed at mile-point 3.3, just north of Cliffs Run Road. The project will begin around 8 a.m. and will continue until approximately 3 p.m. During this time, the road will be closed to all through traffic.

No marked detour will be posted, but drivers can use KY 715 and KY 11 through Wolfe County as a detour route. Motorists should plan their trips accordingly.

Alan Joseph, who coached 18 All-Americans and two Olympians during a 20+ year career leading the Xavier rifle program, has been named head rifle coach at Morehead State.

"I am very excited to be joining the MSU Athletics family," Joseph said. "A great foundation is already in place. I plan to use my expertise and enthusiasm to continue the development of the program. We have a lot to look forward to."

Season tickets for Morehead State football, volleyball and soccer are now on sale through the MSU ticket office and online through MSUEagles.com.

Single-game tickets for football will be on sale online on Monday. Single-event tickets for volleyball and soccer are available on game-day only. Fans may also purchase single-game tickets for football on game-day but are encouraged to secure the best seats by completing their purchases online in advance.

Group tickets are also available for football. Groups can secure seats for only $5 per adult.

A dark comedic novel about a fictional and highly successful social media company called The Circle, where Mae Holland is hired as a Customer Experience representative. Mae slowly becomes "encircled" by the corporation, whose sole mission is to have all experiences, images and thought by everyone available to all people.

Sunday Night Jazz Showcase

Program #28 (July 20 at 11pm)

Michael Franks occupied a uniquely popular niche in the world of soft jazz and pop music in the 1970’s. He was one of those crossover artists who defied easy category on the radio and found an audience mostly among college students.