THREE INDUCTED INTO KENTUCKY TEACHER HALL OF FAME

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Three outstanding educators were inducted Tuesday at the State Capitol as the third class of the Gov. Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame. 

The three, chosen by a statewide selection committee, were Linda D. Childress of Cub Run, Walter Dick of Cumberland and Frances Steenbergen of Glasgow.

“There are few individuals who have a greater ability to influence the lives of Kentucky’s children than our educators,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “A good teacher can instill a love of learning that encourages students to stay in school, develop a voracious appetite for knowledge and continue on to postsecondary education. I am proud to honor three of these fine educators today from across the state: their commitment to and investment in Kentucky’s future is unrivaled.”

The Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame was created in 2000 through a gift by former Gov. Nunn.

“Gov. Nunn selected Western Kentucky University to be the home of the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame because of our 100-year history in teacher education and commitment to excellence in this field,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said. “And like Gov. Nunn, our current Gov. Steve Beshear and members of the Kentucky General Assembly recognize the vital role that primary and secondary teachers in Kentucky play in the education of young people and the positive impact education has on the state’s economy.”

Gov. Beshear and Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday presented the Hall of Fame awards to each recipient.

Secretary of Education Joe Meyer, House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Senate President David Williams also participated in the ceremony, offering their congratulations and thanking the inductees for their combined 117 years of providing young people with skills for the future and making a difference in the lives of countless students.

As part of Tuesday’s induction ceremony, the honorees were introduced on the House and Senate floors and attended a luncheon held in their honor.

 Walter Dick

A native of Cumberland, Dick is characterized as a legend by colleagues and former students.

He taught algebra and mathematics for 52 years in the Harlan County school system. His devotion to student success has been evident in before and after school tutoring sessions and his expectation that all of his students can be successful.

His students excelled in math competitions and posted high scores on standardized tests. “We’ve had some great students,” Dick said.

In retirement, Dick continues to teach math skills to GED students as well as students preparing for the ACT exam.

“I know how to teach what I know,” Dick said.

Dick, who ran track in college, was a successful track and baseball coach early in his career and maintained a connection to Cumberland High School’s basketball program by keeping the scorebook in recent years.

Dick received his bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in math and business from Union College in 1956 and his master’s from Union in 1979.

He taught for six years at Benham High School before moving to Cumberland High School in 1961.

Dick has been honored by several groups, but the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame “would have to be the highest,” he said.

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Political candidates cautioned against placing signs on state highway right of way

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Issued By: Department of Highways, District 10

This year, Kentucky voters will go to the polls to choose various local and state elected officials. Personnel with the Kentucky Department of Highways are already noticing campaign signs illegally placed on the right of way of state-maintained highways. These signs pose various hazards for drivers and for maintenance workers. During each election cycle, state highway workers remove and discard dozens of these illegally-placed signs. Political candidates and their supporters can avoid this by not placing signs on state right of way.

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KENTUCKY METH LABS SOAR IN 2009

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Kentucky State Police (KSP) released the 2009 methamphetamine lab statistics today and the numbers are soaring.  KSP reports that there were 716 meth labs in the Commonwealth last year which is an all time high for the state, increasing sixty percent over the 2008 totals.  

The last record was set in 2004, when 600 labs were discovered.   The production of meth in Kentucky dropped after a 2005 law went into effect requiring that purchases of pseudoephedrine (PSE) tablets be made at pharmacy counters.  This ‘pharmacy log’ statute (KRS 218A.1446) had an immediate effect by substantially reducing meth labs in the state by fifty percent over a three-year period.

Major Joseph Williams, Commander for the KSP Special Enforcement Troop, contributes meth’s popularity to the relatively easy cooking process, the highly addictive nature of the drug and the ease of obtaining pseudoephedrine.

“With a small investment consisting of supplies bought from neighborhood stores, dealers can easily cook up hundreds of dollars worth of a drug so addictive, that users quickly descend into an abyss of violence and crime to get to their next high,” said Williams.

“This frightening scenario is the reality of methamphetamine, a dangerous drug that is sweeping Kentucky, spawning crime and ripping apart local communities – not to mention the huge financial burden it yields,” he added.

The total cost to KSP last year to remove the 716 reported meth labs totaled $1,373,825.00.  These costs include the discovery of labs, certified lab responder salaries, removal and transportation of waste from the scene and hazardous waste disposal fees.  This does not include costs to social service organizations, remediation, incarceration or medical expenses incurred.

As the drug’s popularity grows in the state, so does its far-ranging, devastating effects: jails are packed with inmates who need health care, children are being permanently removed from their parents, addicts face the challenge of trying to kick a powerfully addictive stimulant and law enforcement agencies struggle for resources to battle the growing number of labs.

On June 1, 2008, in an effort to further reduce meth lab production, a new Kentucky statute required the pharmacy logs to be reported on a centralized database designated by state government.  This computerized system utilizes an electronic PSE monitoring system known as Meth Check.  In spite of the new Meth Check system the state’s 2008 meth lab total rose forty-one percent.

One notion that may be partially to blame for the spike in labs is the development of a quicker, more efficient method for producing meth, called the “one-pot” or “shake-and-bake” method. This method leads to a great deal of pressure inside the container and can easily cause an explosion. The mixture of toxic ingredients in this process results in a chemical reaction which changes the pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine. 

Trend analysis in Kentucky and other states show that meth labs are moving into urban areas because of the ease of the one-step method.

In 2009, 240 meth labs were found in structures that are classified as multifamily dwellings, which include apartment complexes, hotels and motels.  Seventy-four meth labs were found in vehicles and over 148 labs were found in locations within one-thousand yards of a school.

“These are a big problem because the innocent individuals also living within these structures may not know that the production of meth is taking place,” Williams said.

Williams indicated that law enforcement are finding larger yielding meth labs out in the more rural areas of the state.

“Smaller scale labs within city limits are escalating while a reduced number of rural labs are increasing their output.  It’s a lose-lose situation.”

Children are not immune from the far reaching effects of meth.  Over the past four years, authorities in Kentucky have removed more than 350 children from meth lab locations. The children found in these labs are defenseless against the deadly actions of parents who cook meth.

Methamphetamine is not just a Kentucky problem. Occurrences of meth labs have been on the rise across the country and states are scrambling to find solutions.  According to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), Kentucky ranks number three nationally for the number of meth labs discovered in 2009.  Missouri ranked number one with 1,537 labs followed by Indiana with 1,096.

The state of Oregon has made PSE available by prescription only. Since that time, meth lab incidents have gone from over 400 per year (prior to the prescription only law) to averaging fewer than 20 a year.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has committed to proposing legislation to take the Oregon Anti-meth Legislation nationwide, requiring all states to comply with a PSE prescription only process.

In Missouri, several towns and counties have also made PSE available through the prescription only process, with positive results.

Williams said that the goal of the agency is to remain vigilant in preventing future occurrences of meth labs and raising public awareness about their dangers.

“Meth labs are devastating our state financially, placing our officers in harms way,  contaminating our environment, destroying families and robbing us of our greatest asset – our children,” added Williams.

KSP advises that if you suspect someone is making meth or you encounter a meth lab, call 1-800 DOPETIP (1-800-367-3847).  Callers can remain anonymous.

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January Radon Awareness Month in KY

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan 21, 2010) – Gov. Steve Beshear has officially proclaimed January Radon Awareness Month across the state, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Radon Program and other agencies are urging Kentuckians to learn more about the dangers of radon, particularly in the home.

  Western Kentucky University, the Kentucky Clean Indoor Air Partnership, the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are joining the awareness effort to further educate the public about the health risks of exposure to radon.

“Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas found in our rocks and soils. It enters homes through cracks and other openings in foundations,” said Guy Delius, director of the Division of Public Health Protection and Safety. “Any home can have elevated levels of radon. The only way to know about your home is to test.”

 “Radon can certainly be a threat to public health and is a risk factor for lung cancer. It is extremely important to have radon levels tested in your homes,” said DPH Commissioner William Hacker, M.D.  “In some instances, radon exposure over an extended period of time can cause serious adverse health effects.”

According to the National Academy of Sciences, exposure to indoor radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. The Surgeon General issued a health advisory in 1988 emphasizing the need to test for indoor radon and correct the problem when elevated levels are found.

“Fortunately, most homes with elevated levels of radon gas can be easily fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs,” said Clay Hardwick, radon coordinator for DPH. “If you’re having a new home built, you should discuss with the builder about incorporating radon resistant construction methods recommended by the EPA.”

To get children involved in radon awareness, the Kentucky radon program created the Kentucky Radon Calendar Contest. DPH is now accepting entries for the 2010 contest. To participate or to learn more, visit www.chfs.ky.gov/dph/info/phps/radongas.htm or call (502) 564-4856.

The 2009 Kentucky Radon Calendar Contest winner was Katie Bruegge from Kenton County. Katie won a laptop computer system, and her poster entry was sent to the National Radon Poster Contest sponsored by the National Safety Council. The poster was also incorporated into a calendar that will be distributed statewide.

“The calendar contest helps us teach young people about the dangers of radon,” said Hardwick. “It’s really a great opportunity for children to lend their skills and talents to radon awareness.”

For more information on testing your home for indoor radon gas, contact the Kentucky Radon Program at (502) 564-4856, or call your local health department.

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Governor Beshear Announces Energy Assistance for Colder Months

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2010) – Governor Steve Beshear today announced that Kentucky families who need help paying for heat during winter’s coldest months can apply now for assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), funded by the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services (HHS).

 “Now is the time to ensure that Kentucky families stay warm during this cold season,” Gov. Beshear said at the Louisville announcement. “A warm home for the winter isn’t a benefit – it is a necessity, and with LIHEAP, many families who need help can receive it.”

 Last fall, HHS released more than $2.6 billion for states’ LIHEAP, which helps families pay their energy bills, particularly during the very cold and hottest months.

In Kentucky, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) administers the LIHEAP program through a contract with Community Action Kentucky (CAK), which disburses benefits through Community Action Agencies (CAA) across the state. Every county has at least one staffed Community Action Agency office.

Kentucky’s has $66.6 million in available LIHEAP funding this year, including a $57 million award for this fiscal year and $9 million left over from last year’s funding.

 Last year, Kentucky spent approximately $61 million in LIHEAP funding and served nearly 300,000 families through both phases. Cabinet staff expects to serve about the same number or more this year.

LIHEAP’s first funding phase, for all eligible families who need heating assistance, ended last month. However, the program’s crisis phase, for families facing a home-heating emergency, began on Jan. 4, 2010.

 Metro Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said low-income families are especially vulnerable to higher costs when their energy use increases in the winter.

 “LIHEAP funding has helped hundreds of Louisville families through the season’s start,” he said. “With the colder weather coming to the Commonwealth, it’s reassuring to know families facing financial emergencies can access this crisis funding.”

 CHFS Secretary Janie Miller said she is grateful the federal government recognizes the importance of providing a basic resource like energy assistance.

“Crisis mode specifically helps families who can’t pay their bills during the harshest part of the season,” she said. “If you meet income requirements and your bill is past due or your services are about to be disconnected, money is readily available to you.”

 Miller said the eligible households that can benefit most – seniors, the disabled and families with young children — are encouraged to take advantage of LIHEAP assistance.

 LIHEAP is a short-term aid program available to clients at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For example, a family of four must have a monthly income of no more than $2,389.

 The crisis phase, for families in a home heating emergency, ends March 31, 2010 or when funds have been exhausted.

Families applying at their CAAs during the crisis component must bring a past due or disconnect notice from their utility provider.

 For more information about applying for LIHEAP, visit http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/LIHEAP.htm or www.communityactionky.org or call (800) 456-3452 to find a local Community Action Agency.

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Take Steps to Avoid Hypothermia This Winter

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2010) – With low temperatures, icy conditions and power outages around the state, many Kentuckians could be exposed to harsh winter elements. To prepare for these conditions, Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) officials are emphasizing the importance of limiting exposure to the cold and taking other necessary steps to prevent hypothermia.

“In the south, we think of winter as being relatively mild. However, serious threats to health and wellbeing exist,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “I caution everyone to be mindful of health safety tips devised to ward off winter weather-related illness and injury.” 

Hypothermia occurs when an individual’s body temperature drops below what is necessary to achieve normal metabolism and other bodily functions. In severe cases or when the body is not properly warmed, death can result.

“When the thermometer drops, people are at increased risk for hypothermia,” said DPH Commissioner William Hacker, M.D. “Steps should be taken to prevent this very serious – and sometimes fatal – condition.”

The condition occurs most often when an individual is submerged in icy waters. However, people exposed to cold weather who aren’t sufficiently prepared also are at an increased risk for the condition.

To prevent hypothermia, DPH advises that Kentuckians:

−     Wear appropriate clothing. Layer clothes made of synthetic and wool fabrics, which are best for keeping warm. Always remember to wear hats, coats, scarves and gloves.

−     Avoid consuming alcohol if outdoors. Alcohol can actually speed the loss of heat from the body.

−     Avoid overexertion from activities that cause excessive sweat. This can lead to damp clothing, which causes chills.

−     Stay as dry as possible.

Individuals working outside during at this time of year should pay extra attention to these guidelines, particularly those susceptible to overexertion. Outdoor workers should make sure they are appropriately dressed and take frequent breaks to warm up and make sure their clothes are sufficient to keep them warm and dry.

Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, altered speech pattern, abnormally slow rate of breathing, cold pale skin and lethargy. Seek medical attention if you or a loved one experiences the signs of hypothermia.

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Cold Weather Water Pipe Protection Tips

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2010) – With frigid temperatures and wind chills expected to continue through the week, the Kentucky Division of Water reminds citizens to protect the water systems in their homes and businesses from freezing.

When water freezes, it expands. When water freezes in a pipe and expands enough, the pipe bursts, water escapes and serious damage results. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold outside air to flow across the pipes.

To keep pipes from freezing, wrap hot and cold water pipes in insulation or layers of newspaper, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Allow a trickle of water to run from a cold faucet that is farthest from the water meter or one that has frozen in the past. This will keep the water moving so that it cannot freeze and will help relieve pressure should ice form in the pipes. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.

If pipes freeze, remove the insulation, completely open all the faucets and pour hot water over the pipes or wrap them with towels soaked in hot water, starting where they are most exposed to the cold. You may also use a hand-held hair dryer or electric heating pad if there is no standing water. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored.

Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or other open flame device to thaw a pipe. A blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to explode. All open flames in homes present a serious fire danger, as well as a severe risk of exposure to lethal carbon monoxide.

If you are unable to locate or reach the frozen area, call a licensed plumber.

When away from the house for an extended period of time, consider draining the water system completely. To drain the system, shut off the main valve, turn off and drain the water heater and turn on every water fixture (both hot and cold lines) until water stops running. When returning to the house, turn on the main valve, turn on the water heater and let each fixture run until the pipes are full again.

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