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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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$17.5M possible for Bell school bonding
The fiscal agent for the Bell County School District provided an update to the Bell County Board of Education on the district’s bonding capacity from the “recallable nickel.” Joe Nance reported the district currently has bonding potential of $8.7 million. That number will potentially increase to approximately $17.5 million after the General Assembly meets next year. The original projection for bonding potential after the recallable nickel...
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Spring time
Photos by Anthony Cloud|Daily News Spring officially began on Wednesday. One can see a few trees turning green in this photo taken from the Pinnacle. Yellow pansies, shown here, are typically associated with spring-like weather.
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Children’s Reading Foundation awarded $2.87 million grant
In October 2012, trail-blazing early literacy initiatives of the national Children’s Reading Foundation (CRF) received a two-year grant totaling $2.87 million to serve more children. National CRF President Nancy Kerr said the grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education through the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program. Total cost of the two year expansion, including the Foundation’s contribution, is $5.4 million. “Children...
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Fire deaths stress need for working smoke detectors
In January, five people — including four small children — died in a house fire in Pike County. On March 9, seven people died in a Knox County house — five of them children. Last week in Wayne County, three people died in a fire, including a child. In Harlan County earlier this year in February, a man was severely burned in a fire at Verda and later died as a result of his injuries. The death toll from house fires in the state is climbing,...
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PHS switching to 7 period schedule
Pineville High School will change to a seven-period school day next year. The school board approved the change during regular session on Monday. Currently, the school uses modified block scheduling. Students have two 90-minute blocks that change each semester. Students also have three one-hour long classes that continue for the entire year. The school has used this process since the 1990s. Next year, the school will have seven one-hour ...
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Cutoff dates for HFRP funding announced
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kentucky, in cooperation with their partners, announced application cutoff dates for the implementation of the Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP). Applications are currently being accepted, with the next scheduled ranking cutoff date of April 19. Applications not making the cutoff will be evaluated for the next funding cycle. The purpose of HFRP is to assist landowners, on a voluntary basi...
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