Latest news with #GRAYSON
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Webb: 'Give me a chance'
GRAYSON Sen. Robin Webb, who just last week was the lone Democrat representing rural Kentuckians, said she never expected her party switch to garner so much attention. Webb, who has represented back-country counties in Frankfort since the 1990s, has been the center of both praise and contempt after announcing she would be joining the Republican Party last week. Often voting in line with Republican legislature and sponsoring bills with bi-partisan support throughout her decades in the General Assembly, Webb said she didn't anticipate her announcement to be a surprise, or that it was worthy of reaching the national stage. 'Oh heck no. I'm not that important,' Webb said when asked if she expected to appear in national and international headlines, including multiple talking segments on Fox News since the announcement. That attention has brought Webb an array of reactions, a mixed bag of 'disappointment and meanness expressed — but it's overall been positive,' she said. After decades in the legislature and at the near halfway point of her Senate term, Webb said she chose to join the Republican party to 'get it out of the way,' ahead of the General Assembly's interim budget session. 'I wanted to be starting legislative work in earnest and get it out of the way so it wouldn't be a distraction,' Webb said. 'I felt like it was the transparent and ethical thing to do, to not do it at the last minute.' As mentioned, Webb's legislative history has often leaned conservative on issues related to gun, conservation and agricultural issues, which she said compounded onto a 'disconnect and rural divide' within Kentucky's Democratic Party. 'Of course there are a few issues we separate on,' Webb said of her former party. 'They just have a different demographic and I felt like we weren't being acknowledged.' That division, Webb said, became more clear to her on energy, agricultural and social policies, although she said she still strived to remain 'party-blind when it comes to work.' 'Like I said, my votes are pretty consistent the past 25 years. Nothing much has really changed about me,' Webb reasoned. 'I landed where my votes and things have taken me.' The Senator's district — Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lewis County — has continued to trend from historically Democrat to Republican in local and national races, but Webb told The Daily Independent her decision to change parties was not swayed by future political races or aspirations. 'I felt like if my voting record was that far off, I would've probably had opposition,' Webb said, adding running as a Democrat candidate has never lessened her popularity in her district. 'I represent a Republican district and I won one of the most Republican counties in the state,' Webb said. 'To nip that myth, I do not have my eye on any other office. I like where I am and will run for state senate again.' In response to statements of betrayal possibly felt by rural Democrats who officially have no representation in Frankfort, Webb said that shouldn't be the case as she will continue to legislate as she always has. 'They should feel like I'm being transparent and honest,' Webb said. 'I'm being true to myself and trying to be true to my people. 'I thank everybody who has put me where I am and all the party support I've received from both sides,' Webb said. According to Webb, her party affiliation was not swayed by national politics, either, as she said 'nationally, I don't agree with anybody completely,' as her national focus has been preserving Second Amendment rights and preserving 'the Constitution as a whole.' Webb's primary focus in the Senate, however, will continue to be on 'rural issues and voters.' 'I will continue to look at how to help my people and continue to look at their issues,' Webb said, '(and) try to bring our share of tax dollars and try to grow our economy. 'I'm still who I am and I hope that they give me a chance to do it,' Webb said to her voters — no matter their registration. 'My people mean more to me than anything and that's not going to change.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local News in Brief: Senior vouchers for farmers market
Senior vouchers for farmers market GRAYSON Seniors in Carter County may schedule an appointment to receive a farmers market voucher card by calling (606) 474-6686 starting on May 29. Free yoga in Ironton IRONTON The Lawrence County Health Department will offer free yoga classes at 5 p.m. Mondays at Briggs Library. Classes are directed by Eternal Yoga. The library is at 3212 S. Fourth St. Book, DVD sale next week FLATWOODS The Flatwoods branch of the Greenup County Public Library will have a sale of books and DVDS from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 28. Donations will be accepted. The library is at 1705 Argillite Road. For more information, call (606) 836-3771. Gallery accepting art submissions GRAYSON The Grayson Gallery and Art Center is accepting art for its annual Pride in the Arts exhibit. 'Again this year, simply inclusion, diversity and love for all will be the theme,' Gallery Director Dan Click said. Artists may submit up to three pieces in any medium and include any subject (each submission will be accepted, regardless of theme or subject matter). Submissions may be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 21 and 23 at the gallery at 301 E. Third St. Click said a large number of pieces and artist turnout is expected, so dates will not be extended. Each original work must have artist name, title, medium and price on the back (or tagged for 3D pieces) with wire hangers or other means of hanging. All work on hand may also be picked up during the above dates. There is no entry fee, but a 20% fee will be taken for all works sold. Four cash awards of $50 each will be given for People's Choice (by popular vote); GGAC Board Choice, the Pen Lady choice and the Brandon Click Art Memorial Award. Opening reception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. June 27. Military appreciation picnic May 31 HUNTINGTON The 14th annual 'Military and Veterans Appreciation Picnic' for all military, veterans and their guests in the Tri-State will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31 at Harris Riverfront Park. Free food, live music, door prizes, weapons display, military vehicles and equipment displays and demonstrations and classic and antique cars will be on hand. Anyone may attend, but the free lunch is provided only to military, veterans and their guest. Attendees must bring proof of service. The menu includes BBQs sandwiches, hot dogs, BBQ chicken breast, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, water and sodas, watermelon and soft-serve ice cream. The event is sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America, Tri-State Chapter 949. For more information, visit To volunteer to help serve at the picnic, call Ron at (740) 446-1795. GCHD announces holiday hours GREENUP Greenup County Health Department will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. The health department will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on May 27.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Helping those in recovery
GRAYSON 'I'm here to thank you for giving a damn,' Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, told the crowd at Bridges Out of Addiction on Tuesday. 'My grandmother would not like me talking like that, but I'm here to thank you for giving a damn.' Coleman was the afternoon keynote speaker for the sixth annual Bridges Out of Addiction at the Ashland Community & Technical College Technology Drive Campus. 'The only way we can make headway is a three-legged stool. One of those legs is prevention, one of those legs is treatment, one of those legs is enforcement,' Coleman said. Regarding the enforcement leg, Coleman said his office has made a priority of going after drug dealers 'who bring these poisons into our community.' He brought up the improvements in treatment in the state in the last five years. 'Five years ago, you had to get on waiting list,' Coleman said. He said the state now has more treatment beds per capita than any other state. 'As the AG, my job is to make sure those beds are efficient,' he said, adding his office works to ensure the treatment facilities in the state operate to help those needing treatment and not simply as a money-making business. 'We have failed on the prevention front,' Coleman said. 'It's the hardest leg to measure. How do you measure a negative? You measure it by saved lives.' Coleman said the state introduced a 'Better Off Without It' campaign last year. 'How do we get to where the kids are?' Coleman said. 'We're leveraging the technology that is being used for ill, leveraging it for good.' The program is utilizing social media to reach children. 'This might be the most important thing I do,' Coleman said. He told of an example of the ad campaign that will use college athletes in hopes of stepping up prevention. 'You want to wear this jersey, you're better off without it,' Coleman said one of the ads will say. 'Most of you in this room will never see these ads.' He added that means the ads are reaching their targeted audiences. He told of a picture on his phone of a rising college student who took a single pill and was found dead in his bed in the morning. 'We know the drug threat is proving it has zero margin of error,' Coleman said. 'We are going to partner with those who are appropriate to reach our youth,' Coleman said. 'I welcome partnerships, I'm here to listen, I'm here to learn.' That partnership approach was a key aspect of those in attendance. Outside of the room, the hallways were lined with tables showcasing different opportunities and businesses that can provide help for those in recovery and those in addiction, and even help with prevention. Paul Patrick, court liaison with Southern Hope Recovery in Portsmouth, stressed the importance of working together to meet the needs of those battling addiction. 'It's great to meet and make connections with all of these resources,' Patrick said. 'If we feel we can't meet a clients' needs, we know who can.' Another group looking to build roads in the region was Healing Appalachia. The group puts on a concert where the proceeds go to help those in recovery. 'We buy vans for recovery houses, we pay for the roofs on the houses,' Cliff Masey, volunteer coordinator with the concert, said. The concert recently announced it is moving from Lewisburg, West Virginia, to Boyd County for its annual concert in September. While a lineup has not been announced, Tyler Childers is a perennial headliner who uses the concert to bring other artists to raise not only funds, but also awareness of the opioid crisis in Appalachia. 'It takes a lot of effort to put on the concert,' Masey said. While those on stage bring in the concert goers, Masey said the concert is put on by those in recovery. 'Volunteers will put up the fences, build the stage; from the trash pickup all the way up, it will be people in recovery,' Masey said. The coordinators building connections with recovery houses in the area to fill the need for volunteers to put on the concert at the Boyd County Fairgrounds on Sept. 19 and 20.
