Video summary
The Ratliff Hole area of Brakes Interstate Park is set to undergo significant renovations thanks to new grant funding from both Kentucky and Virginia agencies. This project highlights a strong tradition of interstate cooperation that has supported the park since 1954, with funds combining on both sides of the border to improve facilities across Pike County in Kentucky and its counterpart in Virginia. The primary focus of this initiative is to restore restroom facilities to full service while also upgrading roads, parking lots, and lighting systems throughout the area. Additionally, there are hopes that remaining funds will be used for stream bank stabilization to prevent erosion caused by high river flows, ensuring a safer environment for visitors who currently rely on these popular swimming spots even when local pools close.
Beyond physical improvements at the park, recent voter registration data reveals a shifting political landscape in Kentucky where residents are increasingly registering as independents rather than aligning with the two major parties. Secretary of State Michael Adams noted that nearly 8,600 new voters registered last month, with independent and other party-affiliated voters accounting for the largest share of these new registrations despite Republicans still remaining the single largest voting block at 48 percent. This trend suggests a growing desire among Kuckians to distance themselves from traditional partisan lines, while overall voter rolls expanded by nearly 5,000 after routine removals of inactive or deceased registrants in July.
In other community news, veterans across Southeast Kentucky gathered for the first-ever Veterans Resource Fair held at the Knott County Sportsplex on Friday, August 7th. Organized by Lady Veterans Connect and supported by local officials, the event aimed to connect military service members with essential resources regarding education, insurance, medical benefits, and housing support. A key highlight was the presence of Brian Amber, a legislator instrumental in passing legislation for veterans affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, who returned home to share his work on this critical issue. The fair also highlighted services provided through transitional homes for women veterans dealing with homelessness or trauma, emphasizing the organization's mission to help individuals rebuild their lives one step at a time.
The broadcast concluded with updates on upcoming college basketball matchups and promotional messages encouraging students and teachers to upgrade their technology before the school year begins. Fans were informed that Kentucky will face Virginia in an ESPNW Invitational game scheduled for December 20th, continuing a historic rivalry where the Wildcats currently hold a two-to-one lead in all-time series wins against the Cavaliers. As always, viewers are reminded to check local Facebook pages for football schedules and preseason previews, while also tuning into Mountaintop TV every weekday at 6 p.m. or via their mobile app for continued coverage of these diverse stories from the region.
Read the full video transcript
Ratliff Hole will soon see major
facility upgrades and more Kuckians than
ever are moving away from the two major
political parties. I'm Jerry Scott and
this is the Mountaintop Daily.
The Ratliff Hole area of Brakes
Interstate Park has seen some of its
facilities fall into disrepair over the
years, but that may be about to change
thanks to grant funding that will pave
the way for renovations. Robin went to
the park today to learn more about the
project. Recent grants from the
Appalachin Regional Commission and the
Virginia Koffield Economic Development
Authority are allowing Brakes Interstate
Park to renovate the Ratliff Hole River
Access Area.
>> One of the really neat things about
working at the Brakes over the last 16
years is seeing how Virginia and
Kentucky combined funding uh to support
the park. So, this is an example where
um a project started with a
Kentucky-based grant um on the Kentucky
side of the park in Pike County. Uh and
then a Virginia based funer joined that
grant with matching funds. Uh but the
same thing has happened on the Virginia
side of the park. We uh especially with
our water park project. There were there
were Kentucky based funds used on the uh
water park project and I think it's just
a good example of the interstate
cooperation that has made the Brakes
interstate park work since 1954.
>> The money will be used for some sorely
needed improvements.
>> So this grant the primary thing it will
do will be to completely renovate and
restore the restroom facilities back to
service. It will also improve the roads
and parking lots. Um it will add
additional lighting to the area. Uh
replace the old lighting. Uh and it will
uh hopefully there will be enough money
to do some stream bank stabilization. Uh
there are times when uh we get really
high flows in the river and they tend to
erode the bank. So in certain areas at
Rat Lapole uh so we hope to have enough
leftover to do some stream bank
stabilization. Bradley said the poor
facilities haven't deterred people from
visiting this popular area.
>> We definitely haven't seen a decrease uh
in visitation at Ratliff Pole even
though uh the restrooms are closed and
even though the the there's parts of the
bank that are getting eroded. Um if
anything, we've seen an increase over
the years as people have looked for as
local pools have closed and people have
looked for other options to swim. But
again, we want to give our guests the
best experience possible. Um, so with
this increasing visitation, we want to
be able to have restroom facilities,
shower facilities that are functional.
Uh, we don't want our guests on areas of
eroded embankment, that kind of thing.
So, uh, so the visitation has remained
steady and actually grown. Uh, but we're
we're hoping that this will just provide
a better visitor experience. Renovations
are scheduled to begin late this fall
with hopes of completion next summer.
Reporting for Mountaintop News, I'm
Robin Tilman.
Voter registration numbers from last
month indicate that Kuckians are
starting to move away from the state's
two major parties as more Kuckians
registered as independents than
Republicans and Democrats combined.
Secretary of State Michael Adams says
nearly 8,600 people registered to vote
during the month with voters outside the
two major parties accounting for the
largest share of new registrations.
Republicans remain Kucky's largest
voting block, making up 48% of
registered voters, while Democrats
account for 41%. Independent and other
voters now make up 11% of the state's
electorate. Overall, Kucky's voter roles
grew by nearly 5,000 voters in July
after routine removals of deceased
voters, felony convictions, and other
inactive registrations. Coming up after
the break, veterans had access to a
variety of services at the Southeast
Kentucky Veterans Resource Fair today.
We'll take you there when the
Mountaintop Daily continues. But first,
sports and weather.
>> Bada bing, bada boom. Let's do this.
How's it going sports fans? Cody the
Professor Davis here with Mountaintop
Sports Recap. And let's just jump into
it. [music] Big games are being
announced for women's basketball this
upcoming season. And Kentucky will face
[music] Virginia, a team also coming off
a sweet 16 in the Sprouts Farmers Market
ESPN [music] Invitational Sunday,
December 20th at Bridgestone Arena in
Nashville. The two teams will meet for
the third time in the alltime series
with Kentucky holding a [music] two to
nothing lead in the series. UK defeated
UVA in a home and home series in
back-to-back years, including a 63 to 51
at home in 2018 and a [music] 50 to 47
on the road in 2019. The Wildcat matchup
against the Cavaliers is one of two
games [music] featured in the Sprouts
Farmers Market, ESPNW Invitational, with
the other game being Yukon [music]
and LSU.
Tip off times will be announced at a
later date. Also, don't forget we're
continuing to keep those area football
schedules coming to our Facebook page.
Be on the lookout for those and our
pigkin previews that'll be coming out
shortly. You're going to love them.
That's going to [music] do it for today,
sports fans. I'm Cody the Professor
Davis. And as always, thanks for
watching.
Ned Pillarsdorf fights for the underdog
in courtrooms where he advocates [music]
for the most vulnerable. And in
classrooms where at risk kids get a
second chance.
Ned doesn't just talk about things. Ned
shows up and people notice.
He's the best pro bono attorney in the
nation.
Now he's bringing his fight to
Washington.
I'm Ned Pillarsdorf and I approve this
message.
>> Okay, raise your hand if you've got a
cracked screen or a phone that barely
holds charge or a tablet that's slower
than a Monday morning. Yep, I thought
so. So, before [music] school starts,
why not stop by your local Appalachin
Wireless retail location and upgrade to
the latest smartphone, tablet, or
smartwatch. Whether you're a student, a
teacher, or just ready for something
new, we've got incredible back to school
deals just waiting for you. So, class is
almost in session, and don't [music]
wait. Come into an Appalachin Wireless
retail location and start the school
year connected. There's more reasons to
switch and more ways to save today
because we are you. We are Appalachin
Wireless.
>> Veterans from around the region went to
the Knot County Sportslex today as the
facility hosted the Southeast Kentucky
Veterans Resource Fair. Nick brings us a
look from the event.
>> On Friday, August 7th, Lady Veterans
Connect hosted their first Veterans
Resource Fair at the Knock County
Sportslex. Veterans of all military
branches and vendors were welcomed to
network with each other to learn more
about education, insurance, and medical
benefits. Lady Veterans Connect founder
and executive director Phyllis Abbott
tells us more.
>> Our mission with this is to bring as
many resources to veterans as possible
so that they know what is available to
them. And one of these that today has
been important is we've had Brian Amber
here who's been instrumental in getting
the pack uh passed for veterans who have
been at camp lune and
spirits at contaminated water. Um
southern
southeastern Kentucky doesn't know as
much about it as probably more
metropolitan areas. So we wanted to
bring this to you here and Brian grew up
here in county. So, this is kind of home
for him to come home for a reunion and
and share his u hard work he's put in on
to help him get that passed.
>> Abbott and the other volunteers were
glad to see so many veterans in
attendance alongside supporting local
government officials. They work with
organizations all across the state to
reach as many people as possible.
>> Anytime we can help one veteran, it
helps. We know we've made a difference.
And of course, it's also for us is we
have the transitional home for women
veterans in Winchester where women
veterans can live up to a year while
they're getting their lives back
together from being homeless, uh being
exposed to military sexual trauma or
having PTSD.
Uh so we have those that part of our
program and this is a separate arm from
it. So it's connecting all veterans
together through this. Most of these
veteran uh organizations
uh they have been in almost all of our
events because they don't realize the
importance of doing these events like
this to connect veterans to resources
they don't even know it's available to
them maybe we can change one life at a
time. That's what it's all about.
>> Reporting for Mountaintop News, I'm Nick
Colum.
>> That will do it for this edition of the
Mountaintop Daily. Be sure to check us
out at 6 p.m. every weekday on
Mountaintop TV, the Mountaintop TV app,
and the Mountaintop News Facebook page.
With your Mountaintop Daily, I'm Jerry
Scott for Mountaintop News.