Recent Articles

Many of my records dwelt with the formation, organization of, and eventually the death of Kentucky Program Development Office. During 1972 I was a young regional planner for the state and oversaw specialized sections of the Kentucky Area Development Districts (ADDs) formation.

...Extreme weather: heavy rains, ice, snow, and fierce winds attack the roofs of old buildings. Once the integrity of the roof is compromised, it is only a matter of time before the water and other extreme elements of Mother Nature take the building down.

Editor's Note: This analysis from 2018 feels prophetic. Many of the downtown buildings in Mayfield were heritage brick buildings.

(February 5, 2018) - Patti's 1880's Settlement was damaged in an early morning fire. According to WKMS, the cause of the fire is believed to be in the heating system. The kitchen and office suffered fire damage. The rest of the building was water damaged. The animals were not injured.

Patti's employs over 200 and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to tiny Grand Rivers every year.

....several issues and forces that will interact with each other to build new momentum and energy for disrupted future shock in Kentucky and the nation.

1. Roaring stock market...New York stock market has gone from a rating and high of 6,000 points under President Obama in 2007 to 26,000 in 2018. Could 2018 see a market pricing correction of over 20% in one week? Will this be a "market crash" like 1929?

Barlow (a small town in Ballard County) resident Desireé Owen has filed to run against Republican incumbent Steven Rudy for the Kentucky First District House seat. The First District is all of Ballard, Fulton, Hickman, and Carlisle Counties, and several precincts in McCracken County.

The Democrat will be on the ballot with the Republican incumbent in the fall.

Local libraries will lose all state funding under Governor Bevin's 2018 budget. Supporters are being asked to express opinions to their legislators.

State funds account for 80% of some public library budgets.

Legislative Day in Frankfort for library supporters - February 15th.

I anticipate this will be a lively session. Work is already underway on the state's spending plan. As you read in my last correspondence, the Governor has released his proposal and it is the possession of the House, where that body is preparing a budget to send to the Senate

Today was a breakthrough day for the poor of Kentucky (wink, wink). Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Ben Carson (R ) joined with Kentucky's Governor, Matt Bevin (R ) and Congressman Andy Barr (R ) to show how Republicans have come to the rescue of the poor and homeless in America.

O what a short memory these Republicans have!

The frantic shopping of the Christmas season always starts with my wife saying "What gift are you getting for our grandson (this year he is 6)?"

Toys R Us, located in Paducah, Kentucky was a place of options. They had a little of everything for the young minds. However, they were also an hour driving time from our front porch. But this year, it didn't work out for shopping in Paducah.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 25, 2018) - Today Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary William M. Landrum III announced the opening of the Beaver Dam Rest Area, originally slated for Jan. 26, is delayed due to unforeseen construction issues that are taking longer to address than anticipated.

Wingo Elementary School fifth-grade students in teacher Blake Jessup's class worked diligently Wednesday on brainstorming hundreds of kind thoughts to change the world, following the tragic shooting at Marshall County High School Tuesday, Jan. 23.

FRANKFORT, Jan. 8 -- House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Chair Kenny Imes, R-Murray, presents HB 23, a bill proposing to amend Section 95 of the Constitution of Kentucky to move the election of statewide constitutional officers to even-numbered years starting in 2024. If the bill passes, the proposed amendment would go before voters.

FRANKFORT--The Kentucky House wants the federal government to accelerate research on the "safety and effectiveness" of medical marijuana.

That is at least one message found in House Concurrent Resolution 34 sponsored by Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, a licensed pharmacist who cautioned his House colleagues against adopting drug policy without thorough study.

FRANKFORT--A constitutional crime victims' "bill of rights" amendment edged closer to this fall's statewide election ballot with today's final passage of a bill proposing the change.

Senate Bill 3--widely known as Marsy's Law--sponsored by Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville, will place the proposed amendment before voters this November. Kentucky currently has crime victims' rights listed in statute, but not in the state's constitution.

Sweetheart Serenade, a new event in the Graves County Schools' Season Event Series, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. It will include performances from Graves High's various bands, choirs, orchestras and drama, as well as light refreshments. In keeping with the Valentine's season, the music features love songs.

Our newest site of interest is the Jackson Purchase Historical Society which meets quarterly. http://jacksonpurchasehistory.org/

Next meeting:

March 10:

The Wild World of the Jackson Purchase

Richard Dwayne Parker

Benton, Kentucky Public Library

10:30 am

Ryan and Joelle Long of Texas Roadhouse in Paducah recently presented $33,500 raised from last fall's Stomping Towards a Cure fundraiser to the Baptist Health Paducah Your Fight Fund, a fund started by employees to support local cancer patients.

Over 100 supporters of the Women's March gathered at the Cherry Community Center in Paducah, not to march, but to listen to candidates, create signs and to take them to the street.

Update: The solar bill is back after House leadership added three (friendly) new members to Gooch's committee. Kentuckians for the Commonwealth are saying call, call, call the General Assembly.

Rep. Jim Gooch (R - House 12) of climate denying and coal loving fame brought HB 227 which would gut the growing solar power movement in Kentucky. Committee Chair Gooch pulled HB 227 off the Natural Resources & Energy Committee schedule on Thursday.

The bill supported by the traditional utility industry, is opposed by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and other consumer groups.

FRANKFORT - A bill that would require the inclusion of abstinence education in any human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases curriculum passed the Senate by a 32-5 vote today...

Sen. Danny Carroll, R- Paducah, voted for SB 71.

MURRAY, Ky. -- Three creative writing faculty members at Murray State University -- including Ann Neelon, Dale Ray Phillips and Allen Wier -- will give readings from their work Thursday, Feb. 8, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Clara M. Eagle Gallery on Murray State's campus. A book-signing and reception will follow the reading. This event is free and open to the public.

The District 1 Snow & Ice Team reports they have placed orders for 13,500 tons of salt with a price tag of $770,000. District 1 counties have also ordered 45,000 gallons of calcium chloride at about 86 cents per gallon. Crews used about 75% of their available salt supply over the last week.

The District 2 Snow & Ice Team reports they have placed orders for 9,500 tons of salt with a price tag of $535,000. District 2 counties have also ordered 64,450 gallons of calcium chloride at about 86 cents per gallon. That's more that District 2 crews used during all of the mild winter of 2016-2017.

I'll cut right to it: Governor Bevin's proposed budget would be a disaster for Kentucky.

Not only is he proposing to eliminate funding to over 70 programs -- including Breast and Colon Cancer Screening, the Commission on Women, Teach for America, and the Bluegrass State Games -- but his budget will so severely cut public education across the state that it will never recover.