Police said the children and animals were removed from the home. The children were 2 and 4 years old, according to the report. KSP also said troopers found two adults under the influence of methamphetamine, that the 2-year-old was living out of a playpen and that the 4-year-old later tested positive for methamphetamine.

What police reported

Shane Dufresne and Angel Dufresne were each charged with first-degree criminal abuse, according to the Kentucky State Police account reported July 13, 2026.

The charges followed the June 18 police response at a home in Owingsville, the Bath County seat. More than a dozen animals were removed along with the two children. The approved report does not identify the children or provide the home’s address.

The allegations involve child safety, animal welfare and claimed substance exposure. The reported methamphetamine test result applies to the 4-year-old; the report separately said two adults were under the influence of methamphetamine. Those details remain allegations and reported investigative findings, not a court determination of guilt.

Custody and next steps

When the report was published July 13, the two defendants were being held at the Rowan County Detention Center. That status is a snapshot from the time of publication and does not establish whether either person was later released or whether a court changed the custody arrangement.

KSP said its investigation was continuing. The approved information does not provide a later court date, final charges, a court finding, custody decisions for the children or placement outcomes for the animals.

For people in Owingsville and Bath County, the confirmed development is the removal of the children and animals and the filing of criminal charges after the June response. The case may involve Bath County and Rowan County court and detention systems, but its final legal outcome was not available in the approved report.

Owingsville is the county seat of Bath County. No later agency or court update was included in the approved source material.

Juniper Tree opened its Owingsville recovery facility in February 2026. CEO Jeff Caudill told WKYT that settlement support could help pay for transportation, employee salaries and assistance for people preparing to live outside treatment. The report did not identify an approved award to Juniper Tree.

How Owingsville has used the money

Owingsville leaders told WKYT that the city had spent part of its allocation on the Thrive 51 recovery group, an anonymous tip line for people dealing with opioid abuse and improved police radios. The city also planned to use part of the funding to staff an opioid-prevention officer.

Those uses are not all at the same stage. The support for Thrive 51, the tip line and police radios was described as spending that had occurred. The opioid-prevention officer was described as a planned use rather than completed spending.

Applying the reported 30% figure to the $150,000 allocation produces an approximate calculation of $45,000 used and $105,000 remaining. That is not an audited balance and may not reflect later receipts, expenditures or reporting adjustments. Residents can use the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission spending dashboard to review public reporting as it becomes available.

What Juniper Tree is requesting

Juniper Tree Recovery lists its outpatient recovery center at 199 Williams Ave. in Owingsville. Caudill said funding could help with transportation, employee salaries and efforts to help people prepare for life after treatment.

WKYT reported that the facility is primarily supported through Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. Caudill said reimbursement limits and expected changes to Medicaid funding could make opioid-settlement money important to the facility’s operations.

Who decides whether funding is available

The immediate question is whether an authorized local government will determine that Juniper Tree’s request fits the rules for opioid-remediation spending and approve an award. Juniper Tree planned to meet with local leaders to determine whether it qualifies.

WKYT also reported that the facility serves people from across the region, not only Owingsville residents. That raises separate questions about whether other counties’ settlement funds could be involved. The report did not identify a formal award or approval for Juniper Tree.

The Kentucky Association of Counties says settlement spending must comply with approved opioid-remediation uses under state law and the national settlement agreement. Those uses include care, treatment and other programs designed to address opioid misuse, opioid-related disorders or effects of the opioid epidemic.

For Owingsville residents, the accountability questions are how much of the city’s allocation has actually been spent and whether officials approve any eligible request for the remaining funds. The state dashboard and future city records should provide the clearest updates on spending, balances and any action involving Juniper Tree.

Sources

• WKYT report on Owingsville's opioid-settlement spending and Juniper Tree's request
• Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission spending dashboard
• Kentucky Association of Counties opioid-settlement guidance
• Juniper Tree Recovery Owingsville facility page

This explainer breaks down what each document does—and what residents can reasonably expect to see as the Sept. 1 start date approaches.

Quick timeline (the key dates residents should track)

Feb. 9, 2026: Owingsville adopted Ordinance No. 2-2026, creating a natural gas distribution franchise framework and setting a 10-year term structure.

March 2, 2026: The Kentucky PSC issued an order in Case No. 2026-00043 addressing Delta’s request for a certificate authorizing Delta to bid on the franchise created by the city ordinance.

Sept. 1, 2026: The signed franchise agreement states the franchise “shall commence” on this date.

What Owingsville approved in Ordinance No. 2-2026

Ordinance No. 2-2026 establishes the franchise rules Owingsville planned to use to award a natural gas distribution franchise. Two provisions stand out for resident impact:

1) The franchise is non-exclusive. The ordinance states the franchise is not exclusive and that the city reserves the right to grant a similar franchise to another entity at any time. It also says franchise extensions to newly annexed territory would be on the same general terms, but subject to approval of applicable state regulatory authorities.

2) The ordinance sets a franchise-fee formula based on gross revenues. Under the ordinance, the franchise fee is 3% of the franchisee’s gross revenues received from natural gas distribution services generated within Owingsville’s corporate limits, with payment terms set out in the franchise agreement.

In other words: the city ordinance is where the franchise framework and the gross-revenue-based fee structure come from.

What the signed Delta franchise agreement says (and when it starts)

The signed franchise agreement memorializes the deal terms between Owingsville and Delta. Two key items for residents:

1) Non-exclusive franchise, term structure tied to the ordinance. The agreement states the city granted Delta a non-exclusive franchise for a term of ten (10) years, and that the franchise expires as provided in Ordinance No. 2-2026.

2) A specific commencement date: Sept. 1, 2026. The agreement states the franchise “shall commence September 1, 2026” and then expire as provided in the ordinance terms.

Practically, the commencement date is the moment the franchise relationship described in the documents is intended to begin.

How the PSC order fits in: the “bid authorization” step

The Kentucky PSC order in Case No. 2026-00043 addresses Delta’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) that authorizes Delta to bid on the franchise established by the City of Owingsville.

Two parts of the order matter for understanding what this step does—and does not do:

Need-and-demand check only. The PSC explains its authority is limited to determining whether there is a need and demand for the service.

No ruling on franchise-fee ratemaking treatment. The order also notes it does not make findings about the qualifications of the bidder, the validity of franchise provisions, or the manner in which any franchise fee is to be treated for rate purposes.

So, the PSC order supports the administrative authority that makes the franchise-bidding step possible—but residents should not assume it automatically settles how franchise-fee costs are reflected in customers’ delivery charges.

What residents should watch between now and Sept. 1, 2026

Because these documents separate “franchise framework” from “PSC ratemaking,” the most useful resident focus is on where changes show up and what source explains them.

1) Watch for rate/tariff activity separately from franchise-start headlines. If any bill impact occurs, it will typically be explained through utility tariff/rate processes rather than the commencement date alone.

2) If your utility bill changes, ask which part changed. Residents can look for whether changes are tied to franchise-fee mechanics, fuel or other regulatory adjustments, or separate approved rate components.

3) Read the franchise documents for the fee formula—not for the exact monthly bill amount. The ordinance and agreement describe a gross-revenue-based franchise fee structure (including the 3% language), but they are not the same thing as a customer-by-customer price sheet.

FAQ

Is this the same thing as gas delivery rates?
Not automatically. The PSC order emphasizes that it does not determine franchise-fee treatment for rate purposes, and the franchise documents set a franchise-fee framework rather than a resident-facing delivery price schedule.

When do franchise terms begin?
The signed franchise agreement states the franchise “shall commence” on September 1, 2026, with expiration tied to the ordinance’s ten-year structure.

Where can residents find the official documents?
Key primary sources are Owingsville Ordinance No. 2-2026, the signed Delta franchise agreement, and the Kentucky PSC Case No. 2026-00043 order.

Sources

• KY PSC order (Case No. 2026-00043)
• Owingsville Ordinance No. 2-2026