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Nominations are now being accepted for Kentucky’s most distinguished awards honoring excellence for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings, and cultural and archaeological sites. Presented annually since 1979, the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Awards ceremony will take place this May in Frankfort during National Historic Preservation Month.
The awards are named for Kentucky’s first state historic preservation officer and recognize contributions to preserving our collective heritage at the local level and throughout the Commonwealth via personal commitment, investment, advocacy, volunteerism, building partnerships, public involvement, lifelong dedication or significant achievement. The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation hosts the event in partnership with the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office (KHC).
Awards are presented in four categories, and all nominations must be received in the KHC office or postmarked by Friday, April 20. Guidelines, nomination form, submittal instructions and more about previous recipients are available at www.heritage.ky.gov.
Preservation Project awards honor outstanding examples of rehabilitation, restoration and adaptive reuse including, in 2017, a former lumber mill in Covington converted into a community placemaking hub, a Paducah Coca-Cola Plant restored to its former Art Deco glory, the painstaking rebuilding of iconic Rabbit Hash General Store following a fire, and a former Odd Fellows Hall in downtown Paris converted to apartments and retail.
Service to Preservation awards recognize individuals, organizations, nonprofits, public officials, financial institutions, news media, volunteers and others whose contributions have had a positive impact in their communities. In 2017 these included a Midway couple honored for their hands-on rehabilitation of multiple family homes, two Lexington neighborhood associations documenting their African American heritage, and the annual University of Kentucky Historic Preservation Symposium.
The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Award goes to the individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the cause of historic preservation in the Commonwealth. Last year, Linda Bruckheimer of Bloomfield was recognized for more than two decades of preservation philanthropy, investment and advocacy.
Grassroots Awards are given at the selection committee’s discretion and honor those who have committed their personal time and resources to successfully take on a challenge that addresses a preservation issue at the most fundamental level, such as, in 2017, a Mt. Washington youth group that preserved a historic limestone mile marker and a Johnson County man who extensively restored an all-wood vernacular frame structure.
The memorial foundation was chartered in 1979 to honor the late Ida Lee Willis, the first executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Commission (now Kentucky Heritage Council). Current board members are Stephen L. Collins of Shelbyville, chair; William Averell of Frankfort, vice chair; Barbara Hulette of Danville, secretary; Robert Griffith of Louisville, treasurer; and Christopher J. Black, Paducah; Marion Forcht, Corbin; Jolene Greenwell and Charles W. Stewart, Frankfort; Alice Willett Heaton, Bardstown; David L. Morgan and Charles Parrish, Louisville; Donna Horn-Taylor, Springfield; and Milton and Anne Thompson, Washington, D.C.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Cindi Fowler is inviting residents of District 14 to take part in her next Community Forum on Tuesday, March 20th as a way of bringing an issue or concern to her attention and the attention of Metro Government.
“These forums are part of my goal to always stay in touch with the people of District 14,” says Fowler. “I want to make sure everyone knows the latest update on repaving of Dixie Highway and other ongoing programs that affect this area.”
The next “Fowler Forum Community Meeting” will be held at Valley High School’s Conrad Bachmann Auditorium, 10200 Dixie Highway, beginning at 6:30pm.
Representatives from LMPD, Code Enforcement, MSD, and two representatives of Louisville Public Works and Assets will be in attendance to talk about Dixie Highway and other issues.
The Councilwoman says if the public has other issues of concern, this is a way to let her know how you feel about an issue.
For more information about the Fowler Forum, contact Councilwoman Fowler’s office at 574-1114.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24) announces the 2018 ‘Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign will be extended through April as a way to help the brave service men and women who are serving their country in some of the most dangerous spots in the world.
“I am very pleased with the response from the community with the collections that have been made so far,” says Flood who kicked off this year’s effort on February 14th. “We have been very fortunate that the weather has worked in our favor this year. We still would like to send as much as we can to make life a little easier for our troops.”
The Councilwoman says the extra time will allow for the community to collect more items to be sent off to those in the military. The new deadline is April 14th.
Joining Flood as sponsors of the 2018 campaign are the Okolona Business Association, the Okolona Fire Department, Republic Bank, Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling, PARC and Jackson-Hewitt Tax Service and Wesley Manor. The campaign runs through the end of March.
If you cannot donate items and wish to make cash contributions to help cover the cost of shipping, Republic Bank continues its partnership by setting up an account to accept all monetary donations to cover postage for the items going overseas. Every package cost $17.40 to send. Make sure to note on the check “From the Heart” account at these locations:
- Outer Loop 4808 Outer Loop, 40219
Shepherdsville 438 Hwy 44, Shepherdsville 40165
Corporate 601 W Market St, 40202
Brownsboro Rd 4921 Brownsboro Rd, 40222
J-Town 3811 Ruckreigel Pkwy, 40299
Dixie 5250 Dixie Hwy, 40216
Here is a list of items needed that can be dropped off at a “Doing Our Part” location:
- Chewing Gum/Mints/Lifesavers/other candies that will not melt
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Foot Powder
- Razors
- Body Wash
- Band-Aids
- Q-Tips
- Bug Repellant with DEET
- Eye Drops
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wet Ones
- Kool-aide or Gatorade individual packs
- Peanut Butter
- Individual snacks, chips, nuts, pretzels
- Neosporin
- Sun Block/After Sun lotion
- Nasal Spray
- Tylenol/Pain Relievers
Here are the drop-off locations for the 2018 Doing Our Part from the Heart Campaign:
- Republic Bank “From the Heart Account” at all Republic Banks
- Okolona Fire Department 8501 Preston Highway, Louisville
- Scheller’s Fitness & Cycling
- 8323 Preston Highway, Louisville
- 11520 Shelbyville Road, Louisville
- 1000 Veterans Parkway, Clarksville
- Jackson-Hewitt All Locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana
- Wesley Manor 5012 East Manslick Road
- City Hall 601 West Jefferson, Louisville
For more information about the 2018 “Doing Our Part from the Heart” Campaign, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124. You can visit the Councilwoman’s webpage at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-24 or go to “Doing our Part From the Heart” on Facebook.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Bill Hollander is inviting District 9 residents to come out to the bi-monthly “Meet with Bill” meeting on Wednesday, March 21st.
“We are always happy to hear from constituents. To make those meetings more convenient, we’ll be holding office hours at various places around the district in addition to our regular, evening D9 Community Conversations,” says Hollander.
“Meet with Bill” is set for the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the party room.
“Please stop by with any questions or concerns. It is an informal way of telling me what’s on your mind,” says Hollander.
For more information about “Meet with Bill” or any other issue in the district, call 574-1109 or email kyle.ethridge@louisvilleky.gov
Important work is going on at 2615 Magazine Street. It is the continuation of efforts to convert vacant and abandoned property into suitable housing while at the same time providing needed skills training and employment to those looking for a second chance in life.
On Saturday, Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton joined the Reverend Charles Elliott and representatives of organized labor in the Louisville area to applaud the efforts of “Jesus and a Job.”
“We have more than 5,000 vacant and abandoned properties in our city and as we continue to work towards returning those properties to livable affordable housing, this effort shows one of the ways to tackle the problem one house at a time,” says Hamilton.
For several weeks, the “Jesus and a Job” program has been working to convert 2615 Magazine Street from an abandoned structure into an affordable home for an individual or a needy family.
“It is our hope that when finished, this house could be the first home for a person looking to first rent and then buy and become part of the community,” says Rev. Elliott. “This is the fourth house the program has worked on since the beginning of the year.”
“Jesus and a Job” is a program that employs ex-felons to work on abandoned properties. By giving them a job, the program hopes they will learn a skilled trade and have a better transition back in the community as a productive citizen.
The program has been helped with funding from Heaven Hill and additional revenues from other community groups. It also has assistance from volunteers from many area labor organizations, who provide their time and talent to work on the properties. The program has also been able to utilize recent changes to allow the purchase of abandoned property, through the Landbank at minor cost.
“This is a great partnership that has brought together those in need and those who want to help,” said Hamilton. “It shows we are working to transform neighborhoods.”
Among the groups assisting “Jesus and a Job”:
I.B.E.W. Local 369
UAW Local 862
Greater Louisville Central Labor Council
L.I.U.N.A Local 576
Greater Louisville Building Trade Unions
Construction Labor District Council
Whitney Young Job Center
Blackhawk Enterprises
Albeys tree Services
Attorney General Andy Beshear and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general sent a letter urging congress to scrap legislation that would block states from combating fraud and abuse by the student loan industry.
The coalition is advising Congress to remove language from the pending version of the Higher Education Act reauthorization, H.R. 4508, also known as the PROSPER Act that will obstruct state oversight of private companies that initiate, service or collect on student loans.
“In the face of a student loan debt crisis in our country, protecting Kentucky students from predatory loan companies who seek to mislead them is simply the right thing to do,” Beshear said. “Congress must take immediate action and join our coalition in standing up for students.”
In the fourth quarter of 2017, U.S. borrowers owed an estimated $1.38 trillion in federal and private student loans – more than auto loans, credit cards or any other non-mortgage loan category.
The letter also points out in recent years, state attorneys general have investigated significant, far-reaching abuses in the student loan industry and won settlements returning tens of millions of dollars to student borrowers.
In Kentucky, the Office of the Attorney General has helped more than 9,000 students receive more than $25.5 million in restitution, including debt relief, from predatory lenders and for-profit colleges.
Beshear said today’s letter is just the latest action he has taken to protect Kentuckians from a series of acts by the U.S. Department of Education that aim to strip critical protections from millions of students and families repaying student loans.
In October, Beshear and 18 other state attorneys general sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, demanding the department stop rolling back vital safeguards for student loan borrowers.
In July 2017, Beshear and 20 other state attorneys general submitted public comments in response to the department’s announcement of intentions to delay large portions of the Borrower Defense Rule, which was designed to hold abusive higher education institutions accountable for cheating students and taxpayers out of billions of dollars in federal loans.
Beshear opposed the department’s efforts to replace the Gainful Employment regulations that empower students to make informed decisions about their education, and protects students from burdensome debt and poor job prospects.
Beshear remains committed to holding for-profit colleges accountable in Kentucky and helping defrauded students.
Students who have been a victim of a for-profit college or predatory loan practices may contact the Office of the Attorney General by phone, 502-696-5300 or by completing an online complaint form.
Gov. Matt Bevin congratulated Kings Royal Biotech Inc. (KRB), a manufacturer of cannabidiol isolate, for breaking ground on its $30 million-plus facility, a project expected to create 140 full-time jobs in the West Kentucky city of Bardwell.
“Ag-tech businesses are increasingly recognizing the many benefits of manufacturing hemp-related products in Kentucky,” Gov. Bevin said. “We are grateful for the jobs and investment that Kings Royal Biotech brings and for the company’s efforts to build lasting relationships with West Kentucky farmers. We look forward to seeing our state become a global leader in this rapidly growing industry. Congratulations to KRB on today’s announcement and to the Carlisle County community on this exciting new opportunity.”
KRB will build its 75,000-square-foot building on nearly nine acres in Carlisle County. The facility will use state-of-the-art methods to extract, refine and re-crystallize cannabidiol (CBD) from industrial hemp and is believed to be the largest operation of its kind in the nation. With the issuance of an industrial hemp research pilot program processor license by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, KRB plans to start processing hemp in late 2018 and ramp up to full capacity by summer 2019.
“Industrial hemp is the next big thing in Kentucky,” said Keith Taylor, chief operating officer at KRB. “The bourbon industry is synonymous with the state, and it is our goal to reach that level of success, where any time someone thinks of hemp-related products, they think of Kentucky.”
KRB, incorporated in Kentucky in 2017, partnered with a China-based company specializing in industrial hemp-related products to establish the Bardwell operation. KRB licensed its partner’s patented extraction and crystallization process in West Kentucky. CBD isolate and full spectrum oil will then be sold in commercial quantities throughout the US and worldwide. People use CBD isolate for numerous health and wellness purposes.
Taylor noted Kentucky’s ideal conditions for the growth of hemp as a major influence in its decision to locate in the state, and the company has hired J.T. Workman IV, of Carlisle County, as its growing manager. Workman assisted the company to secure an agreement with local farmers to plant and harvest more than 1,000 acres of hemp.
KRB also has partnered with Andrea Schiavi of Lexington-based Schiavi Seeds LLC to provide hemp seeds certified through the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). Schiavi Seeds received recognition in fall 2017 for becoming the first company since the 1930s to produce certified hemp seeds in the commonwealth.
“Kentucky’s nationally-renowned industrial hemp research pilot program continues to grow,” said Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles. “The number of processors is increasing, creating new market opportunities for our farmers and jobs for Kentuckians across the commonwealth. I’d like to thank Governor Bevin and the Cabinet for Economic Development for continuing to attract new and exciting businesses to Kentucky.”
Sen. Danny Carroll, of Paducah, expressed enthusiasm for the project.
“I’d like to congratulate and welcome Kings Royal Biotech to Carlisle County as it builds a $30 million facility that will create 140 jobs in Senate District 2,” Sen. Carroll said. “As a manufacturer of CBD, Kings Royal Biotech uses state-of-the-art methods that will help the commonwealth lead the nation in this fast-growing industry. I look forward to the completion of this project and the national distribution of its Kentucky products.”
Rep. Steven Rudy, of Paducah, welcomed the company to west Kentucky.
“This facility will be a tremendous asset for the Carlisle County region,” Rep. Rudy said. “Hemp production is a growing industry and the company will provide more than 100 great jobs in Kentucky. We welcome Kings Royal Biotech to the state.”
Carlisle County Judge-Executive Greg Terry said the project shines a light on the community’s ability to support new business.
“I am very proud of the work that the Carlisle County Industrial Development Board has done to show what a great place Carlisle County would be for this new CBD isolate facility,” Judge-Executive Terry said. “I look forward to working with Kings Royal Biotech during this process.”
KRB can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
A detailed community profile for Carlisle County can be viewed at http://bit.ly/CarlisleCo.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.
