Staff Report

Pineville City Council agreed to approve a proclamation for the “War Against Violence” campaign during their meeting on Monday.

The campaign encourages and challenges all Kentuckians to voluntarily reduce violence by 10 percent within the state.

Pineville became the 101st city to sign the proclamation. The city of Middlesboro signed the proclamation earlier in the year.

The campaign is an active attempt to reverse some negative trends of violence in Kentucky. The campaign’s main focus is on Kentucky’s youth. The campaign is said to be educational only and has nothing to do with politics, finance or religion.

The program does not require any legislation or state funding. According to a press release, violent crime in Kentucky increased from 11,656 in 2009 to 37,467 in 2011. According to the release, juvenile detention in Kentucky went from 4,293 in 2009 to 7,981 in 2011.

Several mayors across Kentucky have signed this proclamation including the mayors of Corbin, London, Williamsburg and Somerset.

A tentative date was set for the council to take the oath office. The date is Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. Billy Robbins will be the new council member taking office Jan. 1.

Other business taken care of during the meeting included a Main Street Pineville update and the approval of minutes from the previous meeting.