 The long-awaited Samsung Galaxy S8 has arrived at Appalachian Wireless. Get yours for the introductory price of just $149.99 with a two-year service agreement, better service, bigger savings. That's today's Appalachian Wireless, an East Kentucky network company. The members of the Pike County fiscal court have apparently warmed up to the idea of giving the county's workforce a raise. In its regular meeting today, the court voted in favor of amending the proposed 2017-18 budget, which was set for first reading today, to include a 2% cost of living pay increase for county workers. The issue was first broached last week when Deputy Judge Executive Brian Morris told the court the county would enter the next fiscal year with a $300,000 budget surplus. Morris asked the court last week to consider including the raise in the budget, but got little support. Today, however, he got unanimous support when he asked the court to reconsider it. I'm full-table for a rainy day, I'm full-table for a rainy day also, but as I discussed in the last court meeting, county workers just took the blunt of these cuts here, and I think it would be well deserving and well appreciative towards our county workers if we can look at just that 2% cost of increased raise. They've been under the gun the last couple of years since I've been here. I mean, we've took, we've took, we've took. I think it would be really, to their benefit and everybody's benefit to give them that 2% raise, and we've got the money to do that with. I agree with Hillman on adding that extra ran, but I think it would be better for the employees to get the 2% raise than getting that extra ran on that road lot. I really do. The first reading of the budget was passed over until the proposed budget can be amended. Morris said he is happy the court had a change of heart on the raise. 2% isn't life changing, but a 2% increase is something. It's a thank you for your hard-working service here at the county. The court also approved including $28,000 in funding for a new vehicle for the Pike County Animal Shelter in the budget. The court will hold a special meeting Thursday morning to hold first reading of the 2017-18 budget. From the Pike County Courthouse, Chris Anderson, EKB News.