October 28, 2008--The City of Beattyville held a Dedication Ceremony for their new
water treatment plant--called the Charles Beach III Water Treatment Plant.  The
project included the construction of a new 2.0 million gallon per day (mgd)
conventional water treatment plant, raw water intake structure on the Kentucky River,
and a transmission line from the intake to the new water treatment plant.

 

This project was funded through a $1,100,000 Rural Development loan and
$1,400,000 grant; ARC Grant  $750,000; KIA 2020 Grant $1,000,000; KIA 2005
Grant $950,000; KIA 2006 Grant $2,000,000; KIA Tobacco Settlement $750,000;
EDA Grant $1,558,000, EPA Grant $346,900, and Local/Kentucky DOT $274,545,
for a total project cost of $10,129,445.   Attending the Dedication Ceremony
were Debbie McKinney, State Director for US Senator Jim Bunning; Regina
Crawford, Field Representative for US Senator Jim Bunning; Donna McClure,
Field Representative for US Senator Mitch McConnell; Kenneth Slone, State
Director of USDA Rural Development; Charles Beach III, former Mayor of
Beattyville and namesake for the water treatment plant; Joe Kash, Mayor
for the  City of Beattyville; Robert Stivers, State Senator; and Pat Wooton,
Field Representative for US Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers.

October 17, 2008--The Carter County School District received $438,904 in Distance Learning
and Telemedicine grant funding from USDA Rural Development.  This funding be used
to install an interactive videoconferencing system to link the hub site to eleven end-user
sites in Carter County.  The system will also provide the school district the ability to 
archive classes, conduct collaborations, provide professional development, and manage
presentations for on-demand viewing as well as enable live streaming to any end-user
in the network.  This grant will enable the Carter County School District to expand the
curriculum and impact learning for the 5,121 students in the schools of the end-user
sites, as well as increase the educational opportunities for the 27,000 county residents.  

 

Pictured with the ceremonial check are:  J.R. Reed of US Congressman Geoff Davis'
office; Superintendent of the Carter County School District, Darlene Gee; USDA Rural
Development State Director Kenneth Slone; Adam Howard of US Senator
Mitch McConnell's office; and John Salyers of US Senator Jim Bunning's office.

October 15, 2008--The McCreary County Fiscal Court received a $35,925 community
facilities grant from USDA Rural Development to be used, along with $11,975 from the
Sheriff's Department, to purchase two new police cruisers for protecting the citizens of
McCreary County.  Pictured during the "Key Presentation" are:  Debbie McKinney, State
Director of US Senator Jim Bunning; McCreary County Judge Executive Blaine Phillips;
Kenneth Slone, State Director of USDA Rural Development presenting the "Ceremonial
Key" to Sheriff Gus Skinner; Donna McClure, Field Representative for US Senator Mitch
McConnell; and Regina Crawford, Field Representative for US Senator Jim Bunning.

October 14, 2008--The City of Beattyville hosted a "Key Presentation" for their new Police Cruiser,
purchased with a $23,407 grant from USDA Rural Development and a $7,803 contributed from the City. 
Pictured are:  Kentucky State Senator Robert Stivers; Joanne Dunaway, Beattyville City Council Member;
Pat Wooton, Field Representative for U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers;  Regina Crawford, Field
Representative for U.S. Senator Jim Bunning;  Kenneth Slone, State Director of USDA Rural Development
presenting the key to Mayor Joseph Kash;  Donna McClure, Field Representative for U.S. Senator 
Mitch McConnell, and Timothy Chandler, Chief of Beattyville Police Department. 

 

This picture was provided by the Three Forks Tradition newspaper staff.

October 2, 2008--Wood Creek Water & Sewer District celebrated the opening of
their newly renovated  water treatment plant with an Open House.  The District has
been in existence for over 40 years and is a regional supplier, providing treated water
to many adjacent utilities, and growing from approximately 600 to 4,755 customers. 
The renovation was funded by a USDA Rural Development loan of $7,975,000 and
$1 million grant, in addition to a $500,000 ARC grant, $750,000 KIA grant, $1,199,000
EDA grant, and $3,605,000 KRWA loan, for a total project cost of $15,029,000.

 

Among the dignitaries attending the open house were (left to right) State Senator
of the 21st District, Tom Jensen; Field Representative for US Senator Jim Bunning,
Regina Crawford; USDA Rural Development State Director, Kenneth Slone; State Director
for US Senator Jim Bunning, Debbie McKinney; Field Representative for US Senator
Mitch McConnell, Donna McClure; and Laurel County Judge Executive, Lawrence Kuhl.

 

 

September 30, 2008--The City of Springfield purchased a 2001 Seagrave Custom
Pumper Fire Truck with a guaranteed USDA Rural Development loan of $100,000,
through Springfield State Bank; a Rural Development grant of $61,250; and
applicant contribution of $13,750, for a total cost of $175,000.  With this
purchase the city will be able to meet mandatory requirements to retain their
current insurance rating and will also be  able to provide adequate fire protection
services for the 2,634 residents of Springfield, in rural Washington County.

September 10, 2008--A Ribbon Cutting was held to commemorate the Fleming County Public Health

Taxing District's completion of a 12,650 square foot activity center that will provide nutritional

counseling and fitness programs for all residents in Fleming county.   This project was financed through

a USDA Rural Development $450,000 loan and $50,000 grant, along with $1,537,000 from the District.

Approximately 120 attended the event, including personnel from the Fleming County Health Taxing

District, local officials, representatives from Buffalo Trace ADD, representatives from the Governor's

office, representatives from the Congressional offices, and from USDA Rural Development.

 

 

 

 

 

September 4, 2008--USDA Rural Development contributed a $740,000 rural economic
development loan that  was used to provide a pass-through loan to South Kentucky RECC. 
The funds constructed a 10,000 sq.ft. office building for Somerset-Pulaski County Development
Foundation who in turn leased the building to Presidium Learning, a company that provides
24/7 contact center/help desk consulting services to assist with any college courses or
credits up to a doctorate degree for the University of Kentucky and all of the KCTCS
colleges in Kentucky.   The project will create 200 new jobs over a three year period.

(Front row from left to right) Tiffany Finley from Pulaski County Judge Barty Bullock's office;
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler: Regina Crawford, Field Representative for US Senator
Jim Bunning;  Carrol Estes, Executive Director of the Somerset/Pulaski Co.
Development Foundation; Allen Anderson, President & CEO of South Kentucky RECC;
Kenneth Slone, State Director, USDA Rural Development; Presidium President
Andrew Rosen; Donna McClure, Field Representative for US Senator Mitch McConnell, and
Chris Girdler, Field Representative  for US Congressman Harold Rogers. (Back Row) Greg Jones,
SKED; Bob Abraham, Presidium Vice President of Operations; Jack Keeney, Director,
Somerset/Pulaski Co. Chamber of Commerce; David Wiles, Somerset Community College;
Dr. Tony Honeycutt, Provost, Somerset Community College; Bennie Garland, Community
Development, South Kentucky RECC; Michael Bryant, Site Manager, Presidium,
(barely seen) Lonnie Lawson, Executive Director, The Center for Rural Development,
and Dennis Holt, Board Member, Somerset/Pulaski Co. Development Foundation.

August 21, 2008--The City of Grayson hosted a Key Presentation for the purchase of two new 
2007 Ford police cruisers.  The purchase of the cruisers was made possible through a $25,000
community facilities grant from USDA Rural Development, along with $25,000 from the city. 
The new cruisers will provide public protection for the 3,877 citizens in rural Carter County.

Pictured: Tony Cantrell - Police Officer; Jimmy H. Hall, Area Director of the USDA Rural
Development Area Office in Morehead; Vernon Brown,  Community Programs Director for
Rural Development; John Salyers,  Field Representative for US Senator Jim Bunning;  Kenneth
Slone, State Director of USDA Rural Development; Ed Ginter, City of Grayson Police Chief; Adam
Howard,  Field Representative for US Senator Mitch McConnell; and Dean Ison, Police Officer.

August 20, 2008--Key Presentation/Photo Opportunity was held by the City of Loyall for the
purchase of a 2008 Crown Victoria police cruiser in order to provide public safety and emergency
response for the 766 citizens of Loyall in rural Harlan County.  The cruiser was funded through
an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $20,100 from USDA Rural Development, along with $6,700
from the City of Loyall.  Attending the presentation was Michele Howard-Loyall City Clerk;  Mandy
Longworth-Loyall City Treasurer;  Clarence Longworth-Mayor of Loyall;  Chris Haught-Loyall
 Chief of Police;  Ken Slone, USDA Rural Development State Director; Regina Crawford, Field
Representative for US Senator Jim Bunning; and Joe Grieshop-Harlan County Judge Executive.

August 19, 2008--The Magoffin County Senior Citizen's, Inc.'s "Meals on Wheels" program
received the keys to their new 2007 4x4 Jeep Patriot vehicle in a ceremonial "Key Presentation"
by USDA Rural Development State Director Kenneth Slone.  The Senior Citizens Center
delivers hot, nutritious meals to elderly residents in rural Magoffin County, population 13,332.  
Standing Left to Right: Dr. Charles Hardin, Magoffin County Judge Executive; Darlynn Barber, F
ield Representative for Senator Jim Bunning;  Sandy Runyon, Executive Director, Big Sandy
Area Development District;  Kevin Atkins, Field Representative for Senator Mitch McConnell; 
Ken Slone, USDA Rural Development State Director;  Marlene Howard, Director, Magoffin
County Senior Citizens, Inc.;  Magoffin County Senior Citizens, Inc. Board Members Tressie Oney,
Debra Wireman, A. B. (Hap) Gose, Marie Prewitt, and standing in back not shown is Lois Hatter

August 13, 2008--The Morgan County Water District held a ground breaking for 43
miles of waterline extensions.  The new waterlines will serve 108 new customers in rural
Morgan County who presently rely on contaminated wells and cisterns.  Funding for the
project is financed by a USDA Rural Development $1,445,000 loan and $754,000 grant;
a $500,000 ARC grant; and $50,000 from the Water District.  Participating in the
ceremony were:  Tony Campbell, Board Member; Frankie Spencer, Magistrate; Stanley
Rigsby, Magistrate; Tim Connely, Morgan Co. Judge/Executive; Donnie Gunnel, Board
Member; Holli Litteral, Board Member;  Roy Collett, Chairman; John Will Stacy, State
Representative; Kenneth Slone, Rural Development State Director; Cynthia Montgomery,
Manager; Steve Pelfrey, System Operator; and Monty Rhody, Engineer.