Several of you have inquired about Time Warner and high definition TV. A city franchise here, or anyway, cannot regulate cable television to require them to do certain things such as channel selection, rate control, and editing programs.

 

The question is WOWK is not on on local TW in high def. Negotiations between TW and WOWK have been going on for months. Time Warner negotiates from their corporate office in Denver.

 

On the bright side, twelve channels on local TimeWarner will convert to High def on April 1st. Which channels are unknown to me as I write this message.

Flowers Bakery is building a distribution center at 35th & Winchester. This will also contain a retail outlet.

 

Remember going on tours of Betsy Ross bakery at same location? Now you can take a virtual tour of Flowers Bakery here.

Amtrak, the nation's rail passenger serves Ashland Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, is having a getaway fare sale on various routes. Washington, DC, from Ashland is $57.00. Look and book online at the Amtrak web site.

Some fares from Tri-State Airport remain very attractive with Ft. Lauderdale at $29, Orlando, $59. and St. Pete $59.

 

Myrtle Beach non-stop jet services starts April 1st at $39. Hurry to the Allegiant Air web site and fares are starting to go up with summer travel ahead.

If you're headed west toward Portsmouth, expect delays on US 52 from now until late August. Ohio DOT IS resurfacing and rehabbing bridges from the Ashland bridge west to Hanging Rock. Traffic reduced to one lane and speed reduced to 45 mph.

Marshall University, along with WSAZ has a news segment featured that occurred 50 years ago each day. It is a good one to bookmark here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congress recently enacted the Economic Stimulus Act which is to stimulate the economy with "shovel ready" projects to create jobs. Without debating the merits of the  legislation, the graphic above shows ho Kentucky plans to spend the loot.

 

The money flow through the Governor's office  in each state, then out to the communities. Below is Ashland's effort to obtain funds. This money is not in bank. Rather, it is what the city has applied for and hopes to have in the bank for the below listed projects. CSO means combined sewer overflow which Ashland and all communities are required by law to address.

 

 

The City has been notified $1,608,400:
$       184,000 additional CDBG funds  -  Community Development Block Grant
$       143,000 Highlands Museum
$       180,400 Mass Transit System
$       400,000 additional ESG funds  -  Emergency Shelter Grant
$       601,000 Ashland Housing Authority (Scope Towers)

 

 

 

The City has requested or applied for $26,900,000:
$ 16,000,000 Riverfront
$   1,500,000 Streetscape
$      900,000 Community Trust Plaza
$      500,000 Police Station
$      500,000 Transportation Center (Train Station)
$   4,200,000 Roberts Drive Pump Station and Force Main Upgrade. (CSO Project)
$   1,800,000 6th Street Pump Station and Force Main Upgrade. (CSO Project)
$   1,100,000 10th and 6th Street Station Channel Grinders. (CSO Project)
$      400,000 Putnam Street Sanitary Sewer Improvements. (CSO Project)
 
 
 
 

 

 

What day would you think is most busy for Ashland Police?

 

 

Ashland Police received 160 reports of shoplifting in 2007 and a drastic increase to 405 in 2008.   Burglary reports are 309 in 2007 (including one at my house) and 308 in 2008. Larceny, 945 in 2007 and 1,127 in 2008. Robbery, 41 in 2007 and 35 in 2008. Destruction & vandalism, 270 in 2007 and 136 in 2008. Felony drug Drunk driving arrests(DUI) 161 in 2007 and 199 in 2008. narcotic violations 155 in 2007 and 267 in 2008.

 

Property value of thefts and burglary:

 

               2007: $1,862727            2008 $1,490,194

Amount recovered: $508,138                    $342,927

 

 

Traffic accidents:  2007  1,482

                           2008  1,123

 

Total calls for service:   2007    25,060

                                  2008     27,673

 

And what day is most busy? Wednesday with Sunday the least. Police demand peaks between 10:00 - 11:00 PM.