Letcher County Judge Executive’s Office

NOW HIRING
Seeking candidates for Streets & Parks Maintenance Workers.
The City of Whitesburg Street Department is currently hiring Maintenance Workers.
Starting pay is $10.00 per hour.
Pick up applications at Whitesburg City Hall, 38 East Main Street, Whitesburg KY.
*Must Be Able to Pass a Drug Test* and Have a Valid Driver's License.
Apply at Whitesburg City Hall during regular business hours, Monday Through Friday from 8:30-4:30.

Bridge Replacement Project on Blair Branch Rd Reduces Traffic on KY 7 in Letcher County | The Bulldog 103.9 FM | 103.9 The Bulldog | Whitesburg-KY PIKEVILLE, Ky.(July 23, 2024) The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet advises motorists of a bridge replacement project at the intersection of KY 7 and County R ...

We have repaired the water line break affecting all customers on Solomon Road. Water service will be on a BOIL WATER ADVISORY for those customers until further notice. OTHER AREAS AFFECTED by this BOIL WATER ADVISORY< other than Solomon Road, are as follows: Bridge Street, Long Avenue, Fields Cliff, Church Street and Park Street.
This BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMOVAL process requires testing and subsequent approval from the KY Division of Water.
Your patience is appreciated.

We’re having a hot dog dinner and bake sale July 27th,2024 from 11am-4pm or until we sell out. We are trying to raise money for the repairs on our church. Everyone please come out and get you a dinner and please feel free and encouraged to share this post to spread the word around. May god bless everyone.

It had to happen sometime this season. It's wet out there and it's not going to dry up enough by 4:30. Let's take it over to the Solar Pavilion!

This summer our high school interns have been working on some amazing projects to bring the community together and on Sunday July 21st, 7:00 at the Letcher County Farmers Market. the Cowan Creek Interns will be hosting the Community Unity Glow 5k to raise money for the Letcher County Oasis Project and their work to bring more clean water to Neon!

Glow-sticks will be provided to you, your family, your friends and even your pets to light themselves and the path up but you are welcome to bring your own if you want!

Don' t worry if running is not your thing, you are welcome to talk and take your time.

Signing up is free and donations will be collected on site.

You can sign up by going to this link: https://cowancommunitycenter.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/cowan-community-unity-glow-5k?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1diw4s-PtgaQZN9762wUoVUSpBYVIllbJaOrpAE4D_rmE3Ws-QI6szam4_aem_2zjGIDPojCmo5ophu6Ofug

We look forward to seeing you there!

Regular Court Meeting Monday, July 15th @ 10:00 am

It is with great sadness we inform you of the passing of our beloved double kwik/Childers Oil founder William Donald Childers.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Monday, July 8th at 1pm at the First Baptist Church of Whitesburg.

William Donald Childers entered eternal life on June 29, 2024 at his home in Whitesburg, Kentucky with his bride of 71 years Peggy Jo Ratliff Childers and his two daughters, Donna Jo Childers of Nicholasville and Ina Michelle (Missy) Matthews of Whitesburg by his side.

Don was born on November 7, 1931 in Aunt Cordy's house in Pikeville by the hands of Dr. Kaminski. His parents Johnie "Bear" Childers and Ruby "Bear" Childers lived in Hellier and Don's grandfather, William "Doc" Bartley, drove the couple to Pikeville to be close to the doctor for the birth.

Don's early life was spent in a shotgun house in Hellier down the road from Johnie Bear's barber shop, which also included a pool room and restaurant. Ruby ran the small restaurant and sold hamburgers for a dime and Pepsi for a nickel. While attending Hellier High School, Don was a member of the Hellier High School basketball team and a proud Hellcat. Don spoke frequently of his days as a teenager hauling coal for his dad in the 1940's. His dad eventually let him have the old KB-6 International truck but he had to service it while learning about a transmission and differential and changing the oil. This became Don's first business venture. At the end of high school when it came time for college, the coal truck was traded for a car.

A 1950 baby blue Studebaker transported Don to Pikeville College for two years while he earned an Associates Degree and then on to the University of Kentucky where he graduated in 1954 with a degree in Business and Commerce.

Following college, Don was inducted into the US Army taking him from basic training at Ft. Knox to later being stationed in West Germany. He reached the rank of corporal, Specialist 3 in the 65* Field Artillery Battalion, an administration specialist in the area of finance. The skills learned here would come in handy down the road.

Once back home, Don had a brief stint teaching and coaching at his alma mater, Hellier High School, before interviewing for a job with Gulf Oil Corporation in Toledo, Ohio.

In 1956, Gulf Oil hired Don and gave him the title of sales representative in Whitesburg.

As a Gulf sales rep, his job consisted of selling to what the industry refers to as service station dealers. He sold tires, batteries, antifreeze and gas as well as trained the dealer on Gulf standards and image. Clean bathrooms, cleaning parking lots, good customer service and good Gulf gasoline were at the top of the list. The dealers would earn a commission, but all of the locations were owned by Gulf Oil Corporation.

His sales job with Gulf totaled 10 years of service and found him in three different regions with his young family in tow. The moves took them from Whitesburg to Corbin and on to Knoxville, Tennessee. The Knoxville experience proved successful and provided a strong professional resume for the next move.

His next promotion with Gulf would require him to move his family to Atlanta, Georgia. Before making the move to Atlanta, Don was given one final assignment. Gulf needed help finding a buyer for the Whitesburg distributorship that the company no longer wished to own. Since Don knew the area well, they asked him to help find a buyer.

After much prayer and discussion with Peggy, a decision was made. On July 2, 1966, Don made Gulf an offer for the Whitesburg based business and gave them his resignation. He became an independent businessman with the start of Childers Oil Company. This would bring him back to his beloved eastern Kentucky mountains.

Over the next 50 years with Don's vision, passion and grit and Peggy working by his side, the family business has grown to 40 plus convenience stores, a hometown restaurant, a tire store and numerous other business ventures.

Throughout his life, Don would tell you his greatest accomplishment was being in a position to help others. He constantly made himself available to people from all walks of life as they endeavored to improve their quality of life or learn a new skill. It was never just about the job. Investing in people became Don’s passion. He was especially interested in sharing his testimony of faith with his work family and often invited them to Sunday School or church. He felt these words of encouragement or personal interest in their lives was an investment in their future and a personal relationship with Jesus. He remembered who was sick, their children's names, their papaw’s surgery or a health concern of a wife. His genuine love was shining through, and it was more important to others than Don realized. Don stood steadfastly on his convictions. God, family, work, community in his daily path.

A natural born storyteller and historian, he would pride himself in remembering names, places and events in detail.

As a servant leader and willing participant, Don became a member of the Pikeville College Board of Directors and Kentucky Petroleum Board as well as Letcher County Planning Commission and the Letcher County Airport Board, serving both for over 18 years. As a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Whitesburg for over 40 years, he made a quiet commitment to addressing any needs or repairs around the church property be it large or small.

Don was not a tool of mediocrity. If things needed to be done, he would make sure to do them right whether volunteering his time, talents and materials or development of a new project. He always had a list, actually several lists. His motto often reflected his goal of pray, prepare and have a plan. If you do the 90 percent, God will always come through with the 10 percent. The difference was Don also followed up personally on projects, contacts or challenges that were his or those of an employee, including the occasional 'marriage counseling'. Don truly enjoyed investing in someone's growth, getting back to work or seeking a better quality of life.

If you knew Don at all, then you probably have your favorite Don quote – “All new brooms sweep clean”, “You can only expect what you inspect”, “Nothing very very bad or very very good lasts for very very long”, “You are and literally become what you think about”, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”, “Always expect the best but prepare for the worst”, “Never never assume”, “If money or power will change a man, then it won’t take much”, and “Always follow up”. This list is endless and could go on and on.

As a loving husband, father and grandfather, Don cared deeply for his family and the time he devoted to them. He was preceded in death by his son, William Douglas Childers. He is survived
by his wife and soulmate, Peggy Jo of 71 years, two daughters, Donna Jo Childers of Nicholasville, Ina Michelle (Missy) Matthews and husband Charles Matthews Jr, their children Eli Matthews and Isaac Matthews also of Whitesburg. Granddaughter Carlie Childers Cornett and grandson Jordan Childers and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate charitable gifts be made to the First Baptist Church of Whitesburg or our double kwik Fueling the Future Foundation providing scholarships in the counties we serve.

!!REMINDER!!
Judge's Office, Sanitation Department, Transfer Station and Road Department will be open tomorrow, Thursday, July 4th!
All offices will be closed on FRIDAY, JULY 5TH! Garbage Pickup will not run on Friday!
Have a good 4th of July weekend!

We will be closed this Thursday, July 4th. Volleyball games will be played on Friday, July 5th. We hope everyone has a wonderful Fourth! ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

Did you know Fishpond Lake is also home to nearly 22 miles of incredible and adventure packed ATV trails? Around Fishpond Lake you can find different ATV access points. Load up the family, do a little fishing, have a picnic, and venture off the beaten path this summer to make memories that will last a lifetime!

Click the link to view a map on our website defining the trail. You’ll find the paved driving trail in red and the off-road trail in green. You don't want to miss this one!

https://www.discoverletcher.com/fish-pond-lake

Letcher County Judge’s Office, Sanitation Department, Transfer Station and Road Department will be closed on Friday, July the 5th. We wish everyone a safe and Happy July 4th 🇺🇸

‼️ROAD CLOSURE‼️
TAN YARD HOLLOW CR # 1869
Tan yard hollow will be closed Thursday the 27th to replace water lines. It will be closed from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm
Please be aware of this closure.
Thank you

Letcher County Fiscal Court will be having a Special Called Meeting Wednesday, June 26th @ 10:00. The meeting will be in the conference room of the Emergency Management building.

‼️ROAD CLOSURE‼️
County Road 1724 ( Manix Drive)
The road off of Highway 1148 at Little Colley will be closed Tuesday the 18th and 19th to do drilling for road repairs from 8:00am until 5:00 pm
Please be advised of this road closure Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th.

Thank you.

‼️ROAD CLOSURE‼️
County Road 3408 (Bull Creek)
The road at Bull Creek at the pumping station will be closed Monday the 17th to do drilling for road repairs from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm
Please be advised of this road closure Monday the 17th.

Thank you.

Letcher County Regular Court Meeting
Monday, June 17, @ 10:00 am District Court Room

There will be a Temporary Water Outage for the residents of Upper Bottom this afternoon/evening.
We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to have this matter resolved in a few hours.
There will be a boil water advisory for Upper Bottom until further notice.