Video summary
A Perry County woman named Megan Caldwell Combs is facing significantly increased legal consequences after her case was transferred from state to federal court. Originally arrested in April on four counts of possessing child pornography involving minors under the age of twelve, she was initially charged with a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. However, following an investigation that revealed additional details, a federal grand jury indicted her on August 27th with one count each of receiving, possessing, and distributing child pornography. These new federal charges carry a much heavier penalty, with each offense potentially resulting in a sentence of up to twenty years in prison. Combs was released on bond while her case remained sealed until prosecutors confirmed the details of her arrest, highlighting the severity of the situation as she now confronts a substantially longer potential prison term.
In a different segment focusing on community spirit, residents of Pikeville gathered to honor the late Dolly Parton despite near 100-degree heat. An event sponsored by Mountain Top Media and the Mountain Girl Experience served as a celebration of life, where attendees shared stories, performed her music, and participated in activities like open mic nights and karaoke. The gathering was particularly meaningful because it directly supported Dolly's Imagination Library initiative; donations collected at the event were sufficient to fund the program for an entire year, ensuring that children continue to receive books monthly. This turnout demonstrated the profound impact Parton had on the Appalachian region, where her generosity and kind spirit resonated deeply with locals who saw their own values reflected in her life.
The broadcast also covered various local updates, including sports recaps for the University of Kentucky Wildcats and UPike volleyball team, as well as a promotion for Appalachian Wireless which emphasizes local, dependable service without hidden fees. Additionally, the program highlighted a volunteer-led walking tour in Paintsville led by Dirk Cook, which explores the town's rich history dating back to its founding in 1814. The tour covers significant events such as Civil War battles fought near the courthouse, bank robberies, and visits from famous figures like President Lyndon Johnson, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the colorful past of this small community. These diverse segments collectively illustrate the daily life, legal challenges, cultural tributes, and historical interests that define the region covered by Mountain Top Daily.
Read the full video transcript
A Perry County woman is indicted on
federal child porn charges and fans of
Dolly Parton remember her legacy in
downtown Pikeville. I'm Robin Tillman
and this is the Mountain Top Daily.
A Perry County woman who was arrested on
a child porn charge back in April now
faces substantially more prison time
after her case was moved to federal
court.
37-year-old Megan Caldwell Combs of
Hazard was arrested April 6th following
an investigation by Kentucky State
Police.
At that time, police alleged she had
been discovered sharing sexually
explicit images of children online and
electronic equipment believed to be used
in the crime was seized for forensic
examination.
She was charged at that time of arrest
with four four la la la.
Wow, okay.
She was charged at the time of her
arrest with four counts of possessing
matter portraying a sexual performance
of a minor younger than 12, which is a
felony punishable by up to five years in
prison.
But on August 27th, a federal grand jury
charged her with one count each of
receiving, possessing, and distributing
child porn.
Combs was free on bond and her case was
sealed until prosecutors learned of her
arrest on Tuesday. Each of the charges
she now faces is punishable by up to 20
years in prison.
Dolly Parton may have been a lifelong
resident of Tennessee, but her music and
her personality endeared her to
residents throughout Appalachia, who
perhaps saw their own values and humor
reflected in her life.
That helps explain why many in the
region were affected by her death last
week.
Last night, many of her fans brave near
100-degree heat to remember in an event
sponsored by Mountain Top Media and the
Mountain Girl experience. Nick takes a
look back at the evening.
>> On Tuesday, September 1st, Pikeville
area residents gathered at the Mountain
Top Media stage on Main Street for a
celebration of life dedicated to Dolly
Parton. Some went on stage to tell
stories about Dolly and others performed
her music as a tribute to her legacy.
Although she is gone, the Appalachian
people will remember her for her
generosity and kind spirit.
>> Last night we had a basically like a
celebration of life for Dolly Parton. It
was very thrown together in short
notice, but even considering that it was
pretty amazing. We probably had like
50, 60 people there, maybe more. And uh
it was brutally hot, but it was still
awesome. I MC'd it. And uh it was really
fun. We did some musical performances.
We did open mic. I think we might have
had some karaoke. Uh we had the
Imagination Library there from the li-
from the Pikeville Library. Bracelet
making, butterfly tattoos. Um yeah, it
was it was a lot of fun. It was really
neat.
>> Staff from the Pike County Library were
also present to accept donations toward
Dolly's Imagination Library initiative.
There were enough funds raised during
the event to support the program for an
entire year.
>> We had a table there last night. The
Pikeville Library was there uh
representing the Imagination Library
with Dolly Parton. And they were taking
donations. And I just learned that we
raised enough money just last night to
fund an entire year of Imagination
Library. So that's books going out to
kids once a month, which is amazing. And
they were actually giving away The
Little Engine That Could, which was one
of my favorite childhood books. So I had
to take a copy.
But um I just think that's so incredible
that even though she's gone now, that's
going to continue to be her legacy. And
kids will continue to receive books and
learn how to read and have that family
time thanks to her. It was like a a
crash course in Dolly Parton, and I had
no idea that she had such a huge
influence on this area. And even despite
the brutal heat, it was really neat to
see people come together and just enjoy
the music and the camaraderie and the
kindness that was Dolly Parton.
>> Reporting from Mountain Top News, I'm
Nick Collum.
>> Coming up after the break, Eastern
Kentucky has a history like no other
place. Well, to you about a way you can
experience it when the Mountain Top
Daily continues. But first, sports and
weather.
>> Oh, I'm doing it myself. Oh, wow.
I've been promoted.
How's it going everyone? I'm Destiny
Vaughtie and this is your Mountain Top
Sports Recap. The University of Kentucky
Wildcats kick off the football season
this Saturday against Youngstown [music]
State. Mountain Top Sports will have you
covered with radio coverage at 1:00 p.m.
on WDHR 93.1 [music]
FM. Still want to watch the game on TV?
No problem. We encourage listeners to
tune in on the radio [music] while
watching the game so they can hear their
favorites like Tom Leach break down all
of the action. Also, stay tuned to
Mountain Top Sports [music] Facebook as
well because the crew will be on hand
for photographs, game updates, and
written coverage. [music]
Don't want to miss that. Meanwhile, at
UPike, the volleyball team is making
noise as [music] the Lady Bears Chloe
Brinton has been named the setter of the
week by the AAC. We send her huge
congratulations on the achievement.
That's your Mountain Top Sports Recap.
For the latest in sports, be sure to
follow Mountain Top Sports on Facebook,
[music] Instagram, and X or visit
mountain-top-sports.com.
That's it for me. See you next time.
>> Ned Pillersdorf fights for the underdog
in courtrooms where he advocates for the
[music] most vulnerable.
And in classrooms, where at-risk kids
get a second chance.
Ned doesn't [music] 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 Pillersdorf, and I approve this
message.
>> Us hillbillies, we have a lot of
sayings, and there's one that sure holds
true in wireless. If it sounds too good
to be true, well, it probably is. And
our other competitors, well, bless their
[music] hearts. So, why put up with a
carrier that surprises you with fees,
confusing bills, and promises that don't
add up? At Appalachian Wireless, we
believe in telling you like it is.
[music] No runaround, no big city sales
pitch, just local people, dependable
service, and a network built for where
we live. You know, the Kentucky way. So,
keep it simple, keep it local, and keep
it connected, because we are you. We are
Appalachian Wireless.
>> Eastern Kentucky's natural beauty makes
it an attractive place for both tourists
and residents. But, its unique history
can also have the same draw. Over in
Paintsville, a volunteer-led walking
tour is helping to showcase that town's
history, with a focus on some of the
more colorful episodes. Connor tells us
more.
>> For all the history fans, it's time for
the Paintsville guided walking tour. Led
by volunteer Dirk Cook, the tour will
take you around town over the course of
2 hours, exploring all the history of
the town. Here is Cook to tell us more.
>> The town was actually uh
founded uh in
uh 1814
as such. Uh a
Reverend Henry Dixon, and you have a
monument over here
uh that uh he was the gentleman that had
moved into the area in in the late
1700s, early 1800s,
and built the first house
in Paintsville in 1814,
uh up on the S curve here, up on the
hillside. And on the monument, you can
see a photograph or an old uh
picture of what the house
a log style house would looked at. Henry
Dixon actually
was buying up property in the area when
he moved here.
And he laid out a plat for the town in
1826.
And then officially Paintsville was
established as a town
in 1834.
>> With a wide selection of fun and random
bits of history to be discussed, there
is something for everyone to find and
enjoy. They will be starting the tour at
the Johnson County Library Saturday,
September 5th at 11:00 a.m. for the
public.
>> There it's really amazing
what a small
all the the really interesting things
that has happened here in this small
little town with a very small population
in the past 200 plus years.
There's
there's been
bank robberies, there's been murders,
small raids, and a and a very large
battle during the Civil War fought right
around the courthouse here.
And um
there's
been a lot of country music stars and
movie stars that have
come to the town.
We've had a presidential visit from
Lyndon Johnson back in the '60s and um
car wrecks
that are kind of funny. There's been a
great religious move movement in this
area. So, just things like that is is
what the tour is all about. And I have a
new tour set up for this Saturday here
at the library. It's 11:00. People seem
to really enjoy it.
And everybody, including myself, usually
finds out something that they didn't
know about Paintsville from the people
that are on the tour. But, that's that
that's it in kind of a
uh you know, uh
symbol here of things uh but, you got to
come take the tour uh if you really want
to find out a little bit more and find
out a little more detail about these
interesting items that have actually
happened here.
>> Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm
Connor Kid.
>> 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
Robin Tillman for Mountain Top News.