Pike Judge/Executive Calls for Toll Roads in Eastern Kentucky
Pike Judge/Executive Calls for Toll Roads in Eastern Kentucky Save Email Print
Posted: 5:15 PM Dec 2, 2008
 Last Updated: 5:37 PM Dec 2, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford suggests toll roads to help boost the economy for the commonwealth and create hundreds of jobs in eastern Kentucky.

 
Are you willing to pay tolls to upgrade eastern Kentucky's roads?
Yes
No
 

Rutherford sent a letter to Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear Monday outlining a plan to expand the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway from Salyersville to Prestonsburg and widen the Mountain Parkway and the Hal Rogers-Daniel Boone Parkway into four lanes each.

Rutherford says the commonwealth should finance the project through bonds from the Kentucky Turnpike Authority.

"Most residents would rather have a toll road than no four-lane road at all," Judge Rutherford wrote in his letter to the governor.

Rutherford says the other four lane roads in Kentucky have benefited from mineral-rich eastern Kentucky and the situation is "unjust and imbalanced" for this part of the commonwealth.

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Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:14 PM
We pay to much aready no way
Posted by: boyd county ky resident on Dec 3, 2008 at 11:48 AM
i dont mind the new roads they are needed but come on a toll roads, we are already strained in finances as it is with the economy, its not like they money will be used for the roads but stuffed in some ones pockets. I can think of better ways to use the taxes like autisim centers in the eastern ky area now that is something I would pay for but not roads I pay enough taxes for them to use on the roads
Posted by: james on Dec 3, 2008 at 07:11 AM
state of kentucky must have plenty money,someone forgot that a portion of the hal rogers parkway goes through national forest. try to get congress to pass that one.ps what kind of kick back is the judge gonna get he is not in it for nothing.
Posted by: cale on Dec 3, 2008 at 06:34 AM
I applaud the judge for attempting this.. East Ky needs more 4 lane roads , (im from Belfry) That 2 lane stretch from Prestonsburgh to Salyersville takes forever.. not to mention with better roads east ky will benefit due to the fact more industry can ship products in and out.. Who cares if its a toll road? atleast something is trying to be done to improve the area.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 3, 2008 at 12:08 AM
we had toll roads before on the mountain parkway and that money was never used to fix those roads then, why they fix them with it now????
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Oh, please, this is another one of Rutherfords crazy pipedreams. Where does he come up with this stuff. We already pay enough taxes. Let Coal Severance pay for it. Maybe he should have had county workers out picking up scrap metal in Pike County when the price was up, there is surely enough junk and it would have been a good start on the funding. Why doesn't he make people clean Pike County up before he tries to lure more people here.
Posted by: Sam on Dec 2, 2008 at 10:58 PM
the people of ky are already nickel and dimed to death, the judge needs to find a way that would actually work.
Posted by: kevin on Dec 2, 2008 at 08:07 PM
our people pay enough taxes and we need to vote the pike judge out
Posted by: paul on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:45 PM
i drive wva turnpike alot it is a toll road . the highway is terrible never seen work .same will be with ek roads tolls
Posted by: Dan on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:18 PM
This is crap! With all the coal severance tax, we shouldn't need to do something like this and wouldn't have to if it all stayed where it belongs. Coal counties and only coal counties should recieve that tax money. Of course that would give the county judges the opportunity to hire more family, for county jobs, just waste and embezzle more money in general. We're screwed no matter what I guess.
Posted by: Kyle on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Thank God I dont live down there! This would only help those in Frankfort... not Eastern KY where everyone is dirt poor!
Posted by: Wanye Tollbooth Rutherford on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Like it does not cost enough to get from point A to point B already. I am aware gas prices have drooped but I am pessimistic gas will go back up because other oil products have not drop in price. Like motor oil, Kerosene and anything else that is made from oil. There is no more middle class anymore, you are either rich or poor. It is the extra money that citizens have to shell out to cover big company bailout and help make a better Iraq that will keep it that way. Pinch your pennies people because it looks like were in for a bumpy ride when somebody thinks a few toll both jobs will save this state.
Posted by: Commonsense on Dec 2, 2008 at 05:35 PM
This makes too much sense. Eastern Ky will never get anything, especially when the economy is tight. For years coal severence money has gone to counties in Central Ky to build infrastructure. When the coal is gone so will thousands of people in Eastern Kentucky. I hope his plan goes through.
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Judge Rutherford is right, we need more job for Kentuckians, to boost our economy.
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4
  • Posted By: Fixed that for you: Any one who is paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them. Its simple NO TEST, NO CHECK. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for our money to go to people in government and on welfare who can be TRUSTED.
  • Posted By: Chris to WSAZ: To all the workers and employees of WSAZ: Thank you for being there and allowing comments about the news.Our family watch only WSAZ news and enjoy each of you. I know that the recognition that you receive is little to none,but you deserve better.This goes out to the producers,cameramen,to everyone behind the scenes and the ones that are seen too. Thank you for having the best news program available to the public. God Bless Each and Everyone of You. Chris
  • Posted By: redbaron: in response to pablo on comment dated 01/06 - EXCUSE ME!! I do believe FIREFIGHTERS also risk their lives for total strangers and no they are NOT law enforcement!
  • Posted By: omg: I am so sick and tired of hearing how public school teachers are indebted to the public for their salary. Many of you are so freakin nosey that if your neighbor stopped too fast, you'd have to get a crane to remove your head from their rear. I am so tired of this drug test line. Teachers deserve to pee in peace and so do you. Why should teachers be forced to have their personal lives paraded all over the news? That is exactly what would happen. If a typical joe blow got fired from the coal mines for drugs, it wouldn't make front page news. A teacher being fired for drugs would. You people expect teachers to be the mother, father, grandparent, clergyman, counselor, as well as the teacher. You don't do anything with your kids but expect the teacher to fix all the problem you create. Some of them probably need drugs by the time they are done raising your spoiled kids who think the world owes them something on a silver platter. Take your own drug test before you get pregnant.
  • Posted By: Sophie: Re: The student (Hinzman?) being expelled for using foul language after being bullied & beaten on school grounds; you should not have been expelled for expressing your hurt, anger & disgust. You were a victim and did nothing. It is unreasonable to punish the victim - so what if he cussed - I'd cuss too if someone beat the beegeebers out of me. The kid who beat you should receive jail time & counciling; the kid who filmed you & released it on U-Tube should too. It has often been said that television is desensitizing our children so badly they have no empathy for others. This is a prime example. I hope the school board will have enough common sense to clear this victims school record of the incident as he should not have been expelled, and get him counciling also as such a trauma will surly have an effect on a young life.
  • Posted By: Boyd: Any one who is employed and gets paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them for their work. Its simple NO TEST, NO JOB. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for federal, state and municipal employees who can be TRUSTED.
  • Posted By: George: As a parent I have no problem being drug tested. I'll stand in line right behind Katy.
  • Posted By: goodorbad: I look at it like this-if you dont have anything to hide, shut up and do the test!
  • Posted By: Rick: I think all teachers should be drug tested, I drive a transit bus for our county and I want the public to know I am drug free and teachers should want everyone to know the same, that their children are not in the care of people on drugs,if you have nothing to hide why object to random testing I know I don't
  • Posted By: Tea: I can't even imagine that our teachers have not been drug tested up until this time. Anyone who refuses should be fired. These are our children!!! People take drug test when they don't even work with people, let alone children. These are government jobs and we should have a say in what they have to do.
  • Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
  • Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
  • Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
  • Posted By: stephen: Why the heavy emphasis ont he damage to property and life Israel is doing . Where was the media uproar for years that Hamas was rocketing Israel irespective of innocent israelis.. Hamas is actualykilling their own citizens by firing rockets from UN schools and residents. Why does UN allow Hamas to use facilities for attacking Israel, then complain when Israel responds to protect their territory and citizens. Israel targets military targets, respons to from whence rockets or gun fire comes. What would we fire at if Huntington was attacked?Why does the media not put bla,e where balame belongs, and give moral support to the aggreived.What would America do if attacked? to whom would we listen? Russia, Saudi Arabia,Iran?.Media get REAL! Who has given Hamas and the Palestinians millions with which they could buy weapons---American taxpayers money!
  • Posted By: Robert: Although I feel for the employees that lost their positions at Cabell Huntington Hospital, at least more nurses were hired. I recently had a relative in the cardiac unit at Kings Daughters, in Ashland, and I was told that the nursing staff had been cut back and that no overtime was being given. This seems to be a drastic cut in patient care for a facility that spends thousands advertising that they are in the top 5% of cardiac hospitals in the country. I would be willing to wager that the Cleveland Clinic has not cut hours of those giving patient care.
  • Posted By: Boyd: If the state's budget is doing so well, why don't we use some of this money to help towns and cities in the state who are in trouble with their budget, or will this just become another pay raise for politicians?
  • Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
  • Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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