Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Thumbs down...to a report showing heroin use is up in Kentucky. The Kentucky Health Issues Poll released in May noted 17 percent of Kentucky adults know someone who is using heroin, up from 9 percent in 2013. The report added 17 percent say they know someone who used methamphetamines and 27 percent say they know someone who has abused prescription pain medication. “The country, and Kentucky in particular, are facing an opioid epidemic that is truly shocking,” said Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President and CEO Ben Chandler in a release.

Thumbs down...to the Richmond Police Department losing four officers in early May. Three of the departing officers accepted positions with the Kentucky State Police. They include: Joshua S. Roaden, with six years of service; Neal M. Barnes, with four and half years; and Carl B. Roark (length of service unavailable). Brady Prewitt, hired March 1, left on April 27 and has resumed his employment with the Corbin Police Department. The city commission did approve the hiring of Kyle Morgan, a Richmond resident who previously worked for the Hazard Police Department, effective June 1.

Thumbs up...to all those who participated in the 25th annual Stamp Out Hunger. Area residents were asked to collect and bag non-perishable food items and hang them on, place inside or beside their mailbox for Madison County letter carriers to pick up. Food will be distributed to local food banks. “Just put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You never know when you might lose your job and be down on your luck and need (help too),” said area Stamp Out Hunger coordinator Randy Wiles.

Thumbs up...to San Diego officers visiting Richmond. Three San Diego officers took their department cruiser, which lists the names of 33 slain SDPD officers and the dates their service ended, to Washington, D.C., where the name of fellow SDPD Officer Jonathan de Guzman, who was killed July 28, will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. They stopped in Richmond because it is home to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial and to express condolences to the Richmond Police Department for the loss of Officer Daniel Ellis.

Thumbs up…to a Madison County Schools bus driver whose quick thinking kept them and students safe during a bus fire. According to officials, shortly after it departed B. Michael Caudill Middle School on May 18, a shuttle carrying approximately 35 students caught fire while on Lexington Road on the Exit 90 overpass. After smelling smoke in the rear of the bus, where the engine compartment is located, the driver of bus #222 immediately stopped and evacuated the vehicle.