Video summary
The video begins by examining a significant financial challenge facing Pike County's school district, which is projected to receive over $300,000 less in property tax revenues despite maintaining the same tax rate. This decline is not due to falling real estate values, as property prices continue to rise, but rather stems from a dramatic decrease in the assessed value of unmined coal, oil, and gas mineral rights. Kevin Auton, the county's property valuation administrator, explains that while tangible personal property like mining equipment has also declined because only one coal company remains operational in the area, these drops have outweighed gains in real estate. To offset these losses, Auton suggests leveraging the growth of local institutions like a hospital and university, though he urges new leadership to find innovative ways to bring additional industries into the county to support struggling rural areas.
The broadcast then shifts to a serious legal development involving Clinton Gene McNeely, a 31-year-old from Lyburn in Logan County who faces escalating federal charges. Initially arrested in January for distributing material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct, McNeely was recently indicted on even more severe counts, including three instances of sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography, and transportation of obscene matter for sale. The most critical charge is the alleged coercion of children in Logan and Mingo counties to engage in live internet-based sexual acts. These new charges carry potential sentences ranging from fifteen years to life in prison, marking a significant increase in severity compared to his original felony charge which carried a maximum of ten years. McNeely is scheduled to appear in Charleston Federal Court on Tuesday to face these additional accusations.
Following the legal and economic updates, the program highlights two distinct stories regarding community rights and advocacy. First, Ned Pillersdorf is celebrated as a leading pro bono attorney who advocates for vulnerable individuals both in courtrooms and classrooms, with his efforts now extending to Washington. The segment also features James Folgum, a resident of Grundy, Virginia, who successfully used his personal experience to educate the public about the rights of service animal owners. Folgum recounts an incident at Buchanan County Hospital where staff repeatedly refused entry to his service dog, citing fear of the specific breed rather than adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits breed discrimination for legitimate service animals. In contrast, he notes that his dog was welcomed in Florida hospitals and even provided special care during his own surgery. Folgum continues to pursue legal action against the hospital to ensure others understand that service animals are essential medical equipment comparable to wheelchairs or oxygen tanks.
The episode concludes with a sports recap hosted by Cody "The Professor" Davis, who provides details on upcoming football games between local schools such as Pikeville and Christian Academy of Louisville, as well as Betsy Layne and Prestonsburg. Viewers are encouraged to watch live streams via the station's Facebook page, app, or cable channel, while radio listeners can tune in to specific frequencies for kickoff coverage. The broadcast ends with a promotional message from Appalachian Wireless, offering back-to-school deals on smartphones and tablets for students and teachers, before signing off with host Jerry Scott. Throughout the program, the focus remains on local issues affecting education, justice, disability rights, and community sports within the Appalachian region.
Read the full video transcript
We'll look at how declining tax revenues
are affecting local government. And a
Logan County man is indicted on child
exploitation charges. I'm Jerry Scott
and this is the Mountain Top Daily.
Earlier this week, we told you about how
the Pike County school district would be
receiving more than $300,000 less in
property tax revenues simply by keeping
their tax rate the same. The only way
that is possible is if the overall
assessed value of all property has gone
down, which is unusual given the fact
that real estate generally increases in
value. The issue is a problem facing
many local governments who must choose
between making cuts or passing along
higher cost to taxpayers. Nick spoke
with Pike County's property valuation
administrator to find out what's behind
the decrease.
>> Following the Pike County school board's
decision to adopt a state proposed tax
rate resulting in an annual $322,000
loss, some may wonder if property values
across the county have decreased. While
real estate values continue to rise,
there are other taxable assets that have
decreased for a number of reasons. Pike
County property valuation administrator
Kevin Auton speaks on the issue.
>> The real estate values
have increased and always have.
Now, part of the numbers that they get
to tax on is what's called unmined coal
and oil and gas mineral rights.
Okay? Now, those numbers have been
dramatically dropping.
Uh and it the this year, those numbers
dropped more
than the increase
in the real estate side.
So, yes, the school board had less
assessment cuz they get it that as part
of their assessment also. Well, big coal
companies that have dozers and mining
equipment, those are also taxed as as
tangible
personal property.
And um
those have also been on the decline
because coal companies I think we have
one working coal company in my county
now. So, uh
uh those have declined.
>> Auton says there are unique challenges
for making up property value losses
across the county. He says a growing
hospital and university can offset some
of the loss, but wants to see new ideas
from county officials.
>> I'm willing to serve on any committee or
brainstorm and and I I hope our our new
leadership that's coming in can figure
something out. It's been a challenge. I
mean, we've got to redo our workforce.
Um
bring bring in other types of
businesses, education. Thankfully right
now we have a growing hospital and a
growing college, which is kind of
keeping our
little economy right here around
Chapmanville going.
But out in the county they're they're
really suffering and and I would love to
see some type of industry move in, you
know, uh
out in the county to help those people.
>> Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm
Nick Collam.
>> A Logan County man who was arrested
earlier this year on child porn charges
is now facing even more serious charges
in federal court. 31-year-old Clinton
Gene McNeely of Lyburn was arrested back
in January on a charge of distributing
and exhibiting material depicting minors
engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
That charge is a felony punishable by
two to 10 years in prison. But now
McNeely potentially faces a much longer
sentence after he was indicted this week
on three counts of sexual exploitation
of children, three counts of possessing
or receiving child porn, and one count
of transportation of obscene matter for
sale. He is accused of coercing children
in Logan and Mingo counties to engage in
sexually explicit conduct that was
transmitted live over the internet.
The exploitation charges are the most
serious, carrying potential sentences of
between 15 years and life in prison.
McNeely is scheduled to appear in
Charleston Federal Court on Tuesday.
Coming up after the break, a Grundy man
is using his own experience to let those
with service animals know they have
rights. That's coming up when the
Mounaintop Daily continues. But first,
sports and weather.
>> One.
>> NO, BACK UP.
>> [laughter]
>> RIGHT THERE.
>> RIGHT THERE. BOOM.
How's it going, sports fans? Cody "The
Professor" Davis here with your
Mounaintop sports recap, and let's just
jump into it. Don't forget you can watch
live stream action of tonight's football
game between Pikeville and Christian
Academy of Louisville on our Facebook
page, our app, and even our cable TV
channel, or listen on WDHR 93.1.
You can also catch the Betsy Layne and
Prestonsburg game on the airwaves
Mounaintop Sports on 98.1 and 104.5 The
Goat. Kickoff for both those games is
set for 7:30. Finally, we have Belfry
and East Carter kicking off at 8:00
tonight on 96.5 FM.
Saturday, we have live stream action
from Robinson Creek with Letcher Central
battling Johnson Central at 6:00 p.m.,
followed by Shelby Valley and Pleasure
Ridge at 8:30. In addition to those live
streams, be sure to keep your eyes out
this weekend for photos and game
stories. We're working hard to bring you
the best coverage in the mountains.
That's going to do it for today, sports
fans. I'm Cody "The Professor" Davis. As
always, thanks for watching.
>> Ned Pillersdorf fights for the underdog
in courtrooms where he advocates 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 [music]
in the nation.
Now, he's bringing his fight to
Washington.
>> I'm Ned Pillar Dorf 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 school starts, why not
stop by your local Appalachian 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 [music] you. So,
class is almost in session and don't
wait. Come into an Appalachian Wireless
retail location and start the school
year [music] connected. There's more
reasons to switch and more ways to save
today, because we are you, we are
Appalachian Wireless.
>> A Buchanan County man says he has faced
problems in trying to use a service
animal. Now, he's using that experience
to let people who depend on service
animals know they have rights. Robin has
his story.
>> James Folgum is a Grundy, Virginia
resident who was trying to file a
complaint at Buchanan County Hospital
when he experienced what he feels was
discrimination against his service dog.
>> Now, I'm going over to the hospital to
file uh the complaint in the HR
department. I knock on the door and I
open they open the door up and they look
down and see him. So, I'm going to open
the door on my foot as I'm starting to
step in. I said, "How?" "Well, excuse
me."
Is is there
I said, "I'm here to file a complaint
already and uh can you help me, please?
Things need to de-escalate." And she
said, "Well, people don't normally bring
dogs in here." I said, "Ma'am, he's a
service animal. He's piece of service
equipment like somebody's wheelchair or
piece of oxygen tank."
And she about five times did this
different excuses and it comes uh
opening time and opening time and
opening door on my foot five times.
And saying it comes down to she's scared
of specifically that breed of dog.
>> The Americans with Disabilities Act does
not specify breeds in regards to service
dogs. It does explain where a service
animal is allowed in a hospital. Fulghum
said he has only experienced this
problem in this area.
>> I was just down in Florida a few weeks
ago and blowed my fingers apart. I mean
I mean bones are blowed plumb apart.
He sit right here just like he is right
now as I sewed my fingers up in the
emergency room. They gave me zero
issues. They they actually legitimately
were doing what they could do not to
disturb him. They went to the extent of
holding wires up over out around and I
offering
water for him.
They brought him they even brought him a
heated blanket
to lay on and cover it up because the
floor was cold.
>> Fulghum has been pursuing legal action
against Buchanan County Hospital since
2024.
He filed a lawsuit representing himself.
The hospital asked the judge to dismiss
it saying Fulghum didn't allege anything
that represented a valid legal claim.
The judge agreed to dismiss the
complaint on May 27th but has allowed
Fulghum to file an amended complaint.
Fulghum said he's going to continue
pursuing this case because he wants
people to know they have rights.
>> Our viewers need to warn
be a little more proactive of
how your health care provider treats you
cuz you have rights.
Two, if if if you are with disabilities
and you have a service animal, make sure
it's a legit service animal and not
somebody claiming it to be a service
animal because things like that is also
what makes it very difficult for us that
need them.
Just as somebody needs a wheelchair or
pacemaker or bottle of oxygen.
>> Buchanan General Hospital declined to
comment. Reporting for Mountain Top
News, I'm Robin Tillman.
>> That will do it for this edition of the
Mountain Top Daily. Be sure to check us
out at 6:00 p.m. every weekday on
Mountain Top TV, the Mountain Top TV
app, and the Mountain Top News Facebook
page. With your Mountain Top Daily, I'm
Jerry Scott for Mountain Top News.