More rain is expected the rest of the week, and we may see a small break Sunday, forecast details are on the way.
A Belfry Elementary custodian who is known affectionately as the “BES Papaw” is a finalist for a statewide award honoring school support staff. Estil Hylton has been with the school for nine years, and his coworkers say he arrives before dawn, routinely stays late and often volunteers on the weekend to ensure the school runs smoothly. The 82-year-old Hylton is now one of three finalists for the Fred Award, competing against an Estill County custodian and a Boone County para-educator. The Fred Award, now in its 17th year, is given out annually by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. It seeks to honor the unsung heroes of schools who make exceptional contributions that promote learning and growth. The award is named after Fred Shea, the subject of Mark Sanborn’s 2002 book, The Fred Factor.
Floyd County voters will go to the polls on May 21 for Kentucky’s primary election and will be presented with the opportunity to make choices in connection with a few offices. In state elections, Republican voters will be casting ballots for their chosen nominees for the 95th District state representative seat and the 29th District state senate seat. The winner in the state representative race will face Democrat incumbent Ashley Tackett Laferty of Martin in the November general, while the senate nominee will face Independent candidate David Suhr of Middlesboro in the general election.
The Paintsville Independent Board of Education approved its 2024-2025 tentative budget during its regular meeting May 13. Superintendent David Gibson noted that the tentative budget includes $1.4 million in the district’s general fund, which is “really strong for us.” Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding that school districts receive from the state is based on attendance, but Gibson said that a 3 percent increase recently approved by the General Assembly is not included in the tentative budget.
Two people are facing child neglect charges after two young children were found living in a home covered in filth, including human waste and roaches crawling on the floor and furniture, the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office reports. Officers responded to the apartment along Indian Summer Lane in North Matewan after getting a report from a STAT EMS worker. According to the criminal complaint, the worker stated that inside the home fecal matter, urine, roaches, and a substantial amount of trash were found on the floor and hallways. When deputies arrived, they found the home in the same shape as the EMS worker described, fecal matter, urine, and several roaches on the floor, couch, stove, and kitchen table. Curtis and Casey Meade 23 and 24 respectively were arrested.
An employee of Floyd County Schools was indicted on May 8 by a Floyd County Grand Jury on one count of use of an electronic communications system to acquire a minor to commit a sexual offense. According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 21, 2021, through Aug.11, 2022 Darion B. Huff, 30, of Stone Creek Road, Garrett, “committed the offense of use of an electronic communications system to procure a minor to oblige a sexual offense when (Huff) knowingly used her cellular telephone or any other electronic means for the purpose of procuring the use of a minor.” According to the Floyd County Schools website, Huff currently works as an administrative secretary in the transportation department for Floyd County Schools.
