Job Skills And Technology Services At Local Libraries

Frankfort KY, December 15, 2011 —- Job applicants searching online for employment opportunities, workshop participants learning how to build a better resume, children learning to read or studying after school — these are just a few of the ways Kentuckians are taking increased advantage of their local libraries during tough economic times according to the Kentucky Public Library Association (KPLA). And they represent just part of the reason why local libraries have come together to ask the Kentucky Legislature to take advantage of an established state construction grant program.  The Kentucky Public Library Facilities Construction Grant program will allow communities to complete library expansion and renovation projects by leveraging local dollars with modest investments from the state.

“We are very excited about this real opportunity to finally build a library to serve the needs of the people of our county,” Breathitt County Library Director Stephen D. Bowling said.  “The services that the library currently offers have outgrown our building and the library is in need of more room to better serve the literacy and access needs of our community.”

According to KPLA Advocacy Chairman and Campbell County Library Director J.C. Morgan, the library grant program already exists and can be used to help complete ready-to-go library expansion and renovation projects across the state.  Nearly 300,000 square feet of new library space is planned, increasing Kentucky’s total public library capacity by more than 12%. Twenty-seven public libraries have already been built in 26 counties under this program.

“This is a prudent and progressive investment that makes sense during these difficult times,” said Morgan. “What other program can leverage one dollar from the state to turn it into $2.75?  Besides creating 1,600 construction jobs, these library projects will make a real difference in the lives of our citizens across the state, from Crittenden to Russell to Grant to Breathitt Counties.”  Twenty-three counties have identified local library projects that are ready to go.

Through the library grant program, local libraries take on construction loans or bonding to pay for the construction.  The state provides an annual grant to pay a portion of the debt service for twenty years. (State bonding capacity is not affected.)  Statewide, local tax dollars and private contributions would cover nearly two-thirds of total construction costs. Construction must begin between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2014 to be eligible.

The Breathitt County Public Library is one of the state libraries applying for funding under the program.  The proposed library would expand the space for books, would add computers, and would create more public meeting and gallery spaces for the people of Breathitt County.  Under the plan, the Breathitt County Library would receive nearly 50% of the funding for the new facility from the state program.

Funding the public library construction grants requires a budget appropriation of $2 million in FY2012-13 and $4 million a year in FY2013-14 and beyond.  Based on the 23 projects already identified as ready-to-go, the state’s funding of $40 million of total construction costs will realize more than $110 million in construction activity and will create 1,600 jobs across Kentucky.  The expanded and new libraries will increase Kentuckians’ access to literacy, education and technology services, including state government services.

“Our libraries provide vital services for people trying to learn workplace skills and keep up with technology.” Morgan said.  “We owe it to our communities to make sure we have the capacity to help make their lives better while being good stewards of their tax dollars.”

Stephen D. Bowling

Director, Breathitt County Public Library

Vice Mayor, City of Jackson

1024 College Avenue

Jackson, Kentucky

(606) 666-5541

(606) 666-8166 (fax)

Breathitt@bellsouth.net

Officer Ken Spicer leads the 2011 Heritage Fair Parade in the City's new cruiser (Photo - Jessi Hamblin)

The 2011 Breathitt Heritage Fair Parade is in the books. The turnout was good considering the chilly weather.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Photos by Jessi Hamblin

In 2009 Aaron Tippin Packed out Douthitt Park during his upbeat show (East KY Media Photo)

The 7th Annual Breathitt Heritage Fair is under way and as with all things, change is inevitable. The Fair Committee has some new members as some Fair founders step aside to concentrate on other ventures. The Fair which started in 2005 had a lot of challenges in front of it. The Fair, which concentrates on the rich Heritage of Breathitt County prides itself in free concerts for the general public. In 2005, the only year the main concert had an entrance fee, The KY Headhunters packed out Lees College gym to provide the Fair with a legitimate act. In 2006 thousands braved a cold night as Ty Herndon put on a crowd pleasing show. In 2007, Exile & Kiss Army drew well over a thousand people in rather warm temperatures. 2008 brought in on of Country musics bigger stars in his hey day as Sammy Kershaw packed out Douthitt Park. 2009 was much the same as Aaron Tippin with his fan friendly show, kept the thousands jumping. 2010 saw the return of the KY Head Hunters and their upbeat “rock-a-billy” music. A large crowd was on hand and once again filled Douthitt Park. This year, the cold weather returned and the timing could not have been worse. Five minutes before American Idol star Bucky Covington was set to take the stage, a mere 300-400 people had braved the cold. The crowd would get a little bit bigger during the show, but it was not the crowds the Heritage Fair had grown used to. The economy & cold weather had a lot to do with it.

CROWD PHOTOS FROM 2005 – 2011

Some other changes made this year was the arrival of a carnival. This started on Thursday night and although cold weather appeared to slow the crowd, kids still found time to enjoy the rides and games. All in all the Fair still is a crowd pleaser and folks would not let mother nature keep them from having fun. As with any good Fair, there is trial and error, and the Breathitt Heritage Fair is no different. Changes will be made to improve things for next year. The Fair is in good hands and those who left over the years, have helped lay the groundwork for great Fairs for years to come.

Great Job Breathitt Heritage Fair Committee.

Blood Donors could win a Toyota (Click image to enlarge)

Ale 8 One celebrates new drink - Caffeine Free Diet Ale 8

The first production run of the new Caffeine Free Diet product will take place at the Winchester factory on March 1st at 1:00 p.m.  Cases produced that day will be placed on the trucks for retail sale Monday, March 7th.

“We have heard from a portion of our customer base that they love our product, but for medical or health reasons they are now caffeine restricted and can no longer drink Ale-8 at all or later in the day.  In addition to not having any caffeine, it is also sweetened with Splenda® and has been formulated with this population in mind.  Now they can have the flavor of Ale-8-One minus elements that present a problem for them.” said DeAnne Elmore, Marketing and PR Director for Ale-8-One.

Caffeine Free Diet Ale 8 will be produced in the familiar green glass bottle initially.  The label has a green background and the Ale-8-One red shield, a trade mark for the company which features a gold background.  The color gold is a soft drink industry standard for signifying caffeine free products.

Ale-8-One Bottling Company is a family-owned business headed by Fielding Rogers, the great, great nephew of G.L. Wainscott founder and inventor of Ale-8-One.  Rogers blends the secret formula today using Wainscott’s hand-written notes.  All Ale-8-One products contain the secret flavoring.

Many new and exciting things have been going on at the museum during the spring months.  Several events and meetings have taken place here.  Also, it has been spring cleaning time and that means good news for the museum!  Several individuals have cleaned out their attics and storage buildings and found wonderful treasures to donate.

In April we had a book signing event for Dr. Owen Collins.  The Jackson Woman’s Club pitched in to provide refreshments.  Ms. Dorothy Marshall of the woman’s club helped decorate the temporary gallery room for the event.  The book signing was a huge success with many old friends of Janice and Owen Collins in attendance.

The museum has become very active in a new recent community arts project.  Mrs. Laura Thomas of the Community Action Team came up with the idea of organizing a local theatrical group, and several individuals are now hard at work on this project which will be a play dealing with the history of Breathitt County.  The museum has been providing historical information and has been part of the script writing group.  Others involved in the writing phase of the production include:  Charles Shouse, Grace Warrix, Robert Cundiff and O.T. Watts.  The script is almost completed, which means audition time is just around the corner.  The production will take place on the Lees Campus of HCTC in the fall.  Please check your local newspapers for dates and times for both auditions and production.

THE COMBS FAMILY, Henry B., Joyce and Merve, of Woodcenter Drive, recently donated several very nice items to the Breathitt County Museum. The donation included an old wooden spinning-wheel, a WWII era throw, and a card table which was a fund-raising project of the Jackson Womans Club. The last two items belonged to Joyce's mother, the late Ollie Hays-Smith, who was past president of the womans club.

As far as donations go, we have recently accepted many nice items of historical significance.  Joyce and Henry B. Combs of Woodcenter Drive were kind enough to donate an old spinning-wheel, a throw from the WWII era, and a card table which is an interesting piece of Jackson Woman’s club memorabilia.  The top of the table looks like a very large advertisement layout, featuring many local business establishments who contributed to the project.  Several include: the Jackson Pastime Theaters, Dalton ’s Garage, Bays Tea Room, and Begley Service Station.  Phone numbers, such as #75, Grigsby Lumber Company, allude to a time when folks had only to dial two numbers to reach a friend or local business in Jackson .

SHARON DEATON of HWY 1110 recently donate a number of items to the Breathitt County Museum. One collection consisted of old cookbooks, newspapers and radios donated in memory of her parents, Sam and Betty Moore. The other collection came from John Deaton, who donated yearbooks, newspapers and scrapbooks in memory of Golden Turner. The museum would like to thank these donors for their generous contributions.

Sharon Deaton of HWY 1110 recently visited the museum with several nice donations.  She donated several old cook books, newspapers, and cameras in memory of her parents, Sam and Betty Moore.  Also, during her visit, Sharon brought another donation which came from John Deaton of Hebron , KY made in memory of the late Golden Deaton.  Included this donation were numerous yearbooks from the 1940s from the Highland School and Lees Junior College .  Also in this donation were several scrap books containing a wealth of old newspaper clippings?

The museum would like to thank all past donors and would like to encourage others to donate as well.  We are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  For more information, call 666-4159 or visit our website which is breathittmuseum.com.  Our mailing address is 329 Broadway, Jackson , KY  41339 .