t Volume 51, Number 19 VOTE Tue00 ::' ' ""'' 18th N Letcher Coun Communi USPS 310660 . 75 Cents Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Breeding: A Trail Blazer Remembered County Emergency Services quickly alerted the Kentucky Division of Water about a gas or oil leak into the Kentucky River in Whitesburg Monday afternoon. The oily substance could easily be seen on top of the water near the Southeast Community College late Monday afternoon. Within minutes County EMS Director Paul Miles was on the scene and notified the proper personnel which kept the spill from affecting any county drinking water intakes. Several measures were put in place late Monday including booms in the river near Whitco as well as absorbant material at what appeared to be the source of the leak under the by-pass in Whitesburg. The Division of Water is investigating the source and cause of the leak. Car Wreck Claims Driver Letcher County Judge Executive Jim Ward (left), and Deputy Judge Eddie Meade talk with Joan Johnson of Letcher Manor Monday morning. Ward and Meade were two of many who visited the Whitesburg nursing home congratulating staff and visiting with residents. They brought many smiles while visit- ing the residents. Judge Ward read a County Proclamation to begin the festivitiesin honor of National Nursing Week. This week acknowledges the nursing home professionals who ded- icate themselves to caring for the elderly. Senior citizens are also acknowledged for their legacy or responsibility and service. Letcher Manor was proud and honored to host our region's rep- resentatives, whose efforts have help build a society that values the life and dignity of every person. Kentucky State Police Post 13 inHazard were called to respond to a car accident on Highway 1103 in the Hallie Community of Letcher County on May 10 at 6:15 p.m. A 2001 Isuzu driven by Marty Dixon of Isom reportedly lost control of the vehicle, going over an embankment and striking a tree. A passenger in, the vehicle was transported to Whitesburg ARH, while the injuries Mr. Dixon received were fatal. Both Dixon and his passenger were said to have been wearing seatbelts. The accident is currently under investigation by Trooper Brandon Thomas with the KSP Post 13 in Hazard, KY. Country Artist Rocks Local High School By Eve Wyatt The May 8 concert featuring Justin Moore lured more than enough fans from Letcher County and beyond, filling the Jenkins Middle/High School gym to capacity with screaming fans of all ages. The country music event, which started at 7:30 that evening, was kicked off by Highway 23, who performed several songs, including a Motown hit, 'Chain of Fools,' before a brief intermission and the next act, Folk Soul Revival. The bluegrass group hit the stage and before jumping into their nealy hour-long performance, declared, " We're the speed bump on the way to Justin Moore!" Their ecletic sound fueled audience anticipation and several of the group's songs received roars of applause and cheers as people counted down the minutes until Moore would make his appearance. Finally, just before 9 p.m., the lights dimmed for the final time and ear- piercing screams resounded throughout the gymnasium as Justin Moore made his way onto the stage with his band playing at decibals that could be felt to the bone. The crowd, worked to a frenzy by the country crooner materialized, sang to a crowd that followed along with Moore's lyrics, note for note. Girls pushed on-lookers packed near the stage aside, making the gym their personal dance hall, as a Continued to Page 2 Toby Pettit and Lincoln Caudill of Morehead were excited to see country recording artist, Justin Moore at JHS Saturday. By Eve Wyatt During a ground breaking in April, the county's new ATV trial was dedicated to a man known for his love of riding. The ATV trail at Fish Pond Lake is now the name- sake of Roger Breeding, a barber by trade, and well- regarded family man and friend to many who to this day, recall with fondness, his love for seeking out and riding trails. What began as a past time for Breeding about 20 years ago, evolved into a passion and earned Breeding the reputation as the go-to guy for other riders, including total strangers from Ohio, who would track down Breeding and request his services to serve as a guide. Holly Caudill, Breeding's daughter, elaborated on her father's love for four- wheeling; "I remember he started going when I was in grade school. He would ride from daylight to dark. He used to go with his brothers, but he trips got longer and longer, so they quit going. He would pack everything he needed.., fix full meals while he was out, and just ride." David CaudiI1, Breeding's son-in-law, had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors on a number of occasions with Breeding. David said, "(Roger) helped found the Letcher County Mountain Crawlers- they still do chaJ ity rides from time to time." The group, David said, was started several years ago and even did a charity ride for Relay for Life last year. Not all of Breeding's long treks were smooth going. "We worded about dad all the time." Holly recalled. "One day, dad wrecked in Jackson, KY and some people passing by found him. He ended up in ICU for a while with multiple injuries...but he liked to do what he liked to do." What Breeding liked to do, blossomed into a full-blown love and a need to appreciate nature. Undaunted by his accident, Breeding returned to riding, taking photograghs of cabins, horses and elk. Once back home, he would share his experiences with his loved ones. Holly said that her father confessed to them that spending those hours on the trails made him feel "closer to God." David and Holly said that Breeding was called to help map a number of trails in Leslie, Laurel, Knott, Breathitt and other counties- and that each trail he helped to map he did without benefit of financial gain, but rather for the enthusiam he harbored for riding. Naming the Fish PondATV Trail after Roger Breeding serves as a fitting tribute to a man whose hobby grew to become an obsession which he gladly shared with others. A long ride with Breeding gave people the opportunity to escape the everyday and take part in the thrill of discovering new sites and sounds. Those experiences, then shared with family and friends upon their return, could be enjoyed for years to come. Breeding's four-wheeler, kept by Holly and David to this day, sits just as it did when Breeding took his final ride: a treasured keep sake for his family. Holly said that once the trail is open to the public, the family is considering riding the trail in order to honor her father. The late Roger Breeding with his beloved four-wheeler during one of his many rides. Breeding was instrumental in getting trails throughout the region mapped for ATV enthusiasts. First Resp0nders Gain Valuable Knowledge In Meth Class 101 By Eve Wyatt Paul Miles with Search and Rescue conducted a Meth class for first responders, to educate them how to spot and respond to clandestine (secret) meth labs. Atotal of 81 of 120 counties have been found to have the presence of meth labs since 2005. So far this year, three labs have been discovered within Letcher County. Miles instructed first responders to "work your land," to ensure clandestine labs are not in their communities, endangering them, due to exposure. The highly toxic Schedule II drug, methamphetamine, makes it mroe difficult for the brain to process the things in life that otherwise healthy brains would associate as being pleasurable. When responding to emergency calls, Miles warned the emergency workers to be acutely aware of the homes which they enter, because people who use meth have "Increased paranoia." He went on to say that users and manufacturers also also "set booby traps (due to paranoia), and have weapons...and they know where they're hidden- you don't." Some red flags that Miles instructed the workers to be aware of while responding to calls, other than the obvious sight of a lab are" the staining of sinks, tubs, toilets and stoves, a collection =0"T pornographic material" (to activate dopamine in the brain, a stimulate), meth precursors: kerosene, bottles with hoses attached, large amounts of sudaphed packages, starter fluid, and other meth ingredients. And maybe most alarming, the hoarding of bottles of urine to consume, since, according to Miles, "the body passes 85% of the meth which users take in." The presence of lab equipment, along with numerous precursors, Miles further instructed first responders to notify the health department, as well as the hospital, in order for a decontamination room to be prepared for their use as soon as possible. But, Miles warned, while contacting law enforcement or other health care workers, to be on guard because meth manufacturers/users could pose a threat to them, due to their tendency to be paranoid. During the coarse, Miles and the first responders came to a realization: there is currently no code or procedure in place for Letcher County first responders to call for other health workers and law enforcement to come to a residence that is found to be a place for meth manufacturing. _Coupled with that, first responders were hit with the idea that they have quite possibly or will more likely inthe near future encounter a dwelling where meth is produced- exposing themselves to a contaminated environment. Gary Rogers, Fire Chief with Letcher Fire and Rescue, said he felt that a meeting with Paul Miles, along with various health and law enforcement heads in the coming weeks was in order to "check for state- wide protocal and look at the existing London, KY policy." After the class several first responders expressed interest in taking the necessary training to become members of a decontamination team, which Letcher County currently does not have. This decision was encouraging for Miles, who said," I .justwanted to raise their awareness. Being a first responder is not like it was ten years ago. If I can spark the interest (of just three or four workers) along with three or four officers- which are needed for a decontamination team.., then Letcher County would have a good team."