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RECENT EVENTS

April 2008

The City of Fleming-Neon receives funding for a new police cruiser

April 4, 2008--The City of Fleming-Neon hosted a key presentation for a grant to purchase
a 2008 Dodge Charger Police Cruiser. Funding: $19,725 from USDA Rural Development
and $6,575 from the City. Pictured from left to right Field Rep. Donna McClure for U.S. Senator
Mitch McConnell; USDA Rural Development State Director Kenneth Slone; Fleming-Neon Mayor
Susan Polis; Fleming-Neon Police Chief Henry Day; Field Representative Pat Wooten for
U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers; USDA Rural Development Community Program Chief
Vernon Brown and USDA Rural Development Area Director Douglas Moore.

March 2008

Wayne County Sheriff's Office receives two new poice cruisers

March 19, 2008-- The Community Facilities $27,726 grant funding through USDA Rural
Development was used in combination with $22,686 from the Wayne County Fiscal Court to
purchase two new police cruisers for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department. USDA Rural
Development Community Programs Director Vernon Brown presented a ceremonial key to Wayne County
Judge Executive Greg Rankin and Wayne County Sheriff Charles Boston. Pictured from Left to Right:
Regina Crawford (Field Representative for U.S. Senator Jim Bunning), Donna McClure (Field Representative
for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell), Vernon Brown (USDA Rural Development Community Programs Director),
Greg Rankin (Wayne County Judge Executive), Charles Boston (Wayne County Sheriff), Doug Moore
(USDA Rural Development Area Director), and Chris Girdler (Field Representative for U.S. Congressman
Hal Rogers) Also attending but not pictured was Tommy Spencer (Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy)

February 2008

City of Carlisle purchases new fire truck

February 14, 2008-- A key presentation was held by the City of Carlisle to commemorate
the purchase of a new fire truck funded with a $23,000 grant and a $100,000 Loan,
both from USDA Rural Development, along with $35,000 in local funds. Pictured left to right,
Council member Bill Gaunce; Council member Tommy Crawford; US Senator Jim Bunning 's
Field Representative Holly Hopkins; USDA Rural Development State Director Kenneth Slone;
Mayor for the City of Carlisle, Ronnie Clark; and Carlisle Fire Chief Jeff Jefferson

EKU receives Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant from USDA

Dr. Doug Whitlock, President of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), center, accepts a
check representing a $307,000 Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Making the presentation were, from left, Debbie McKinney,
state director, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Senator Jim Bunning; Holly Hopkins,
field representative for Senator Bunning; Kenneth Slone, Kentucky State Director,
USDA Rural Development; and Kathy Hamilton, field assistant for U.S. Senator
Mitch McConnell. The grant, matched with an additional $216,946 from the University,
will be used for new hardware and software to improve interactive television (ITV)
at EKU campuses in Corbin, Danville and Manchester, as well as the Lancaster
Higher Education Venter, a collaborative venture between EKU and
Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

January 2008

City Of Benham's new police cruiser

January 15, 2008--The City of Benham received a $16,935 Economic Impact Initiative Grant
from USDA Rural Development to purchase a 2007 Dodge Charger Police Cruiser.
Several local and congressional officials gathered for Rural Development State Director
to present the keys to Benham Police Chief, Mike Franks. The cruiser will serve approximately
4,110 citizens in the communities of Benham, Cumberland and Lynch, in rural Harlan County

Clay County purchases three Crown Victoria police cruisers

January 15, 2008--The Clay County Fiscal Court received a $54,109
Economic Impact Initiative Grant from USDA Rural Development to purchase
three 2007 Crown Victoria police cruisers for the Clay County Sheriff Department.
Approximately 1,738 citizens in Manchester and surrounding rural Clay County
will benefit from the purchase of the cruisers.

December 2007

City of West Liberty receives a new fire truck.

December 17, 2007--USDA Rural Development State Director Kenneth Slone presented
keys for the City of West Liberty's new fire truck. Pictured during the event are:
Firefighter Jamie Phipps, Adam Howard of US Senator Mitch McConnell's office,
Firefighter Joshua James, Mayor of the City of West Liberty Robert Nickell,
Kenneth Slone, Firefighter David Conley, Firefighter Carter Easterling, Pat Wooten
of US Representative Hal Rogers' office, and Fire Chief John Conley in the back.

November 2007

USDA awards $50,000 to Northern Kentucky University to create a regional economic development plan.

November 30, 2007--USDA Rural Development presented a $50,000 ceremonial check to
officials of Northern Kentucky University. The funding will be used to assist the northern
Kentucky Counties of Bracken, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Owen and Pendleton with the creation
of a regional economic development plan. Pictured are Adam Howard of US Senator
Mitch McConnell's office; Matthew Stevens of US Congressman Geoff Davis' office;
Keith Schneider, Communications Director at NKY Tri-Ed-NKY E-Zone, Innovation and
Commercialization; John Salyers of US Senator Jim Bunning's office; Kenneth Slone, State
Director of USDA Rural Development; and Dr. John Belcher, Dean, College of Business, NKU.

Knox County's Artemus Fire Company receives a new fire truck

November 27, 2007--USDA Rural Development State Director Kenneth Slone presented
Artemus Volunteer Fire Department Chief, John Bays, with keys for a new tanker fire truck.
This vehicle meets current standards, will provide a safe, dependable vehicle for quick transport
to emergencies, and will insure a dependable supply of water for fire fighting activities for the
rural population of 1,123 in the community of Artemus and surrounding areas in Knox County.

Frontier Nursing Service, Inc. receives a $72,450 grant to help provide telemedicine technology

November 27, 2007--Frontier Nursing Service, Inc. received a Distance Learning
and Telemedicine (DLT) grant of $72,450 from USDA Rural Development. These
funds will be used to provide telemedicine technology to rural residents in Clay,
Harlan, Leslie, and Perry Counties—maintaining a hub site at the Mary Breckinridge
Hospital in Hyden, KY, that will serve two health clinics and one mobile unit serving
four additional health clinics. Pictured are James Wilson, General Field Representative,
USDA Rural Development; Holly Hopkins of US Senator Jim Bunning's office; Donna
McClure of US Senator Mitch McConnell's office; Denise Barrett, Development and
Alumni Relations, FNS; Kenneth Slone, State Director of USDA Rural Development;
Nathan Lee, CEO of FNS; Pat Wooten, Field Representative of US Congressman
Hal Rogers' Office and Lonnie Hendrix, Mayor of Hyden.

November 19, 2007--A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the NeighborWorks®
America members from Federation of Housing Enterprises, Inc; Frontier Housing, Inc.; Housing Partnership,
Inc.; Community Ventures Corporation; and the federal agency, USDA Rural Development, for processing
leveraged loans and expanding the use of affordable housing opportunities throughout rural Kentucky.

All agencies share in the commitment of making the dream of homeownership a reality for low income
Kentuckians. The signing of the MOU furthers the commitment by stretching technical and financial
resources to benefit individuals and families in rural Kentucky who are seeking homeownership.

Attending the MOU signing were: Mike Hynes, Vice President of The Housing Partnership, Inc.; Jim
King, President, Federation of Housing Enterprises, Inc.; Kenneth Gross, of NeighborWorks® America;
David Dangler, Director, NeighborWorks® Rural Initiative; Dr. Thomas Carew, Frontier Housing, Inc.;
DeMara Tritipo, Relationship Manager, Great Lakes District of NeighborWorks® America; Paul Poston,
Director, Great Lakes District of NeighborWorks® America; Kenneth Slone, State Director, USDA
Rural Development; Denver Parks, Single Family Housing Program Director, USDA Rural Development;
Ronnica Mabry, Frontier Housing, Inc.; F. Lynn Luallen, President, The Housing Partnership, Inc.;
Maria Hendrichs, Community Ventures Corporation; Kevin Smith, President and CEO of Community
Ventures Corporation; and Russ Thomason, Housing Specialist, USDA Rural Development.

Foothill Academy dedicates its new Computer Lab

November 15, 2007--Foothills Academy held a dedication of their Computer Lab
in the new administration building. With the excess computers and printers the
young men attending the Academy now each have a computer they can use to
complete their school work. Pictured, from the left, Head Teacher of Foothills
Academy Todd Messer; two students demonstrating the computers; Vernon Brown,
Community Programs Director for USDA Rural Development; Kenneth Slone,
State Director of USDA Rural Development; Sandy Simpson of U.S. Representative
Ed Whitfield's Office; and Douglas Moore, Area Director of Rural Development.

Estill County Ambulance Service receives a new emergency vehicle

November 14, 2007--The Estill County Ambulance Service hosted a key presentation
for the District’s newly purchased ambulance. They purchased a new ambulance to
provide emergency and non-emergency service for 15,037 rural citizens in Estill County.
USDA Rural Development awarded a community facilities grant of $50,000 for this ambulance.
Attending the key presentation are:: Bill Lambdin, Field Representative for U.S. Senator
Jim Bunning; Kathy Hamilton, Field Assistant for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell;
Kenneth Slone, USDA Rural Development State Director; Ron Jackson, Estill Co.
Ambulance District Administrator; John Isfort, Estill Co. Ambulance District Chairman;
Wallace Taylor, Estill County Judge Executive; and Charles Crowe, Ravenna Mayor.
Also in attendance, but not pictured was Ernest Farmer (Irvine Mayor).

USDA awards funding for a relending program for community and business development

November 9, 2007--USDA Rural Development State Director Kenneth Slone presented
Gregg Jones of Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED) with a
$448,209 check. The Intermediary Relending Program funds will provide low-interest loans
to public and nonprofit organizations to relend for community and business development.
Participating during the ceremonial check presentation are: Holly Hopkins of US Senator
Jim Bunning's office; Greg Jones; Kenneth Slone; Donna McClure of US Senator Mitch McConnell's
office; and Scott Maas, Business-Cooperative Loan Specialist of Rural Development

October 2007

Liberty Communications, Inc. receives $177,487 to expand broadband service to Gratz, KY

October 22, 2007--USDA Rural Development awarded Liberty Communications, Inc.
$177,487 for wireless Broadband service and community-centered connectivity to
Gratz, KY. The project service area will extend beyond the Gratz city limits to include
adjacent areas of Pleasant Home (Owen County) and Lockport and Cemetery Ridge
(Henry County). The Gratz Store Diner is making room in their building to house the
computers, indicating the high level of community support for this project. The Kentucky
River and Rescue Station will be receiving free broadband service for two years
as a result of this grant. Pictured above: Matthew Stevens of US Congressman
Geoff Davis' office; Adam Howard of US Senator Mitch McConnell's Office; John Salyers
of US Senator Jim Bunning's Office; Kenneth Slone, State Director of USDA Rural
Development; Vona Fuelhart, President of Liberty Communications, Inc; Mayor
Charles Redmon; Gex Williams and Scott Vogler of Liberty Communications

The Edmonson County Water District hosts groundbreaking

October 17, 2007--The Edmonson County Water District hosted a groundbreaking event to extend
22 miles of waterlines to 67 new customers in Edmonson and Hart Counties. This project will also
enhance service to existing customers by providing more reliable hydraulic performances.
Improvements to the Wax water treatment plant are needed to meet disinfection by-products limits
currently in effect. One new booster pumping station will be constructed and an existing one will
be upgraded for increased capacity. Water storage capacity will be increased by constructing a
250,000 gallon elevated water storage tank. Funding: USDA Rural Development loan of
$1,720,000 and grant of $438,000. Other contingent funding: KIA grant of $1,038,500 and
applicant contribution of $12,000. Pictured, left to to right, Nelson Sanders, Edmonson County
Water District Manager; Tim Thomas, Executive Director Kentucky Infrastructure Authority;
Dottie Sims, State Representative; LeAnn Crosby, Field Representative, U. S. Senator
Mitch McConnell; Gary Larimore, Director of Kentucky Rural Water Association; Jim Askins,
Field Representative, U. S. Senator Jim Bunning; Kenneth Slone, KY State Director USDA
Rural Development; N.E. Reed, Edmonson County Judge Executive; Harold Stewart, Member,
Edmonson County Water District; Jackie McCombs, Secretary Edmonson County Water District;
Jimmy Mills, Chairman Edmonson County Water District; Phyllis Causey, Field Representative,
U.S. Representative Ron Lewis; Debbie McKinney, State Director for US Senator Jim Bunning;
and Vernon Brown, Community Programs Director, USDA Rural Development.

October 10, 2007--USDA Rural Development provided $33,000 in community facilities
grant funding for the purchase of a 2007 Ford Type II Ambulance with customized
painting, graphics, and lettering. Other funding for the ambulance was provided by
local contributions. Pictured from left to right: Darlynn Barber, Field Representative for
US Senator Jim Bunning; Vernon Brown, Community Program Director for USDA
Rural Development; Hershell Sexton, Menifee County Judge Executive; Kenneth Slone,
USDA Rural Development State Director; and Charles Fugate, Ambulance Director.

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