Community Leaders

Hundreds of business and community leaders turned out to Connemara Golf Course Friday afternoon to bid Nancy Stone farewell. Stone retired as director of the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 1. Several people lauded Stone for her many accomplishments during her tenure as chamber director. Stone received keys to the city from Wilmore and Nicholasville, a state Senate proclamation and recognition from the Jessamine County Fiscal Court. The retirement celebration was from 2-4 p.m. Stone’s family, including her four grandchildren were also in attendance.

The Danville school district has spent decades giving grades to thousands of students. On Tuesday night, it was the district's turn to get a report card from the community. The results of the informal review: Overall, the district is performing pretty well, but more could be done in the way of providing individual attention to students, especially in the early years, and making computers and other technology more accessible to students, especially those in homes that don't have computers.

Dear Editor, As the election draws closer and closer and the citizens of Danville will soon make decisions for the future of Danville, I strongly recommend Hugh Coomer for mayor. Hugh has excellent interpersonal skills to provide community leadership for all city employees, community leaders and elected officials, all citizens in our community, and all visitors to Danville such as prospective businesses or honored guests. Hugh has impeccable character and integrity that was evident throughout his long tenure as a successful businessman in Danville.

Dear Editor: Your article on the Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership indicates that my firm, The Idea Farm, was hired to assist in presenting the concept of the partnership. As a member of the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, I have worked for several months with other community leaders in developing the concept of an economic partnership to promote growth and jobs in our community. My firm has never been hired to present anything associated with the partnership.

The Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission and the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 1:30 p.m. in Rooms A and B on the lobby level at Eastern Kentucky University's Carl D. Perkins Building. The meeting is open to the public. The CAC is a governor-appointed group that represents community and state interests to the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. The CDCAB is an independent sub-committee of the CAC made up of community leaders who represent local concerns regarding the chemical weapons disposal program.

Central Baptist Church will host a community forum to discuss the problem of illegal drugs and pills in the community. The forum is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, who said previously that Winchester has a serious drug problem that needs to be addressed, will be the lead speaker. Also speaking will be Clark County Coroner Robert Gayheart, who will discuss the toll drug-related deaths have taken on the community, and Stephen Humble, who will speak of the work of the Clark County Christian Drug Coalition and how the church community can get more involved in addressing the drug problem.

Danville City Commissioners have submitted a list of qualities they would like to have in the new city manager. The selection committee plans to begin reviewing applications at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Members of the committee want to interview and do background checks on those that survive the first round of checks. Here are the qualities they listed: Mayor John W.D. Bowling: people sensitive, outgoing, communication skills, understands budgets, innovative and experience in conflict resolution.

Earl Coffey, who resigned as city engineer last week, did not return calls from The Advocate Monday after the news was confirmed through the city manager. Instead, his office issued a press release later in the day. According to the release, Coffey has been city engineer since August 2001 and is resigning to pursue consulting work at a civil engineering firm in London, Ky. Coffey originally came to the city from a heavy highway contractor also located in London. Coffey will continue to live in Danville and maintain other business interests in Danville.

Dear Editor, Janet Hamner is a candidate who will make a difference in our community. If you look at Janet's past history you will know she wants to keep Boyle County vibrant and progressive. Janet has been instrumental in leading and being a member of many groups who are interested in historical preservation, architectural and horticultural beauty, planning and zoning, progressive development, financial accountability, to mention a few. Janet has a vision for Danville that has held strong throughout her many years in being involved in Danville.

The Danville/Boyle County Economic Development Partnership and its partner organizations would like to recognize the smashing success of the first-ever Kentucky State BBQ Festival and congratulate all those who made the event possible. Led by Brad and Cindy Simmons, with help from Bob Stovall, Maureen Loar, Myrna Miller and others, this was a true community effort driven by the passion of those serving on the steering committee and the volunteers who stepped up to execute the festival.

Events are planned throughout Clark County in the coming days to say thank you to local veterans for their military service and continued service to the community. “I think it's extremely important that we honor our veterans. I think it's extremely important to honor those that served and honor the freedom that we have on Election Day to vote,” Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner said. Programs begin at 8:45 a.m. Thursday at Providence Elementary, where breakfast will be served to veterans.

On a very rainy evening last week, Janet Hamner visited our neighborhood on the south end of town for the purpose of hearing our thoughts about Danville's future, and our opinions of how best to set and reach our community's goals.  I cannot express too strongly how refreshing it was to have someone make the effort to listen. And she returned the next morning for our community coffee, just to meet and talk to those who had missed the evening meeting because of the weather! I think I heard that this was the third such gathering she has had in different locations around the city.  If you were not able to attend one of these sessions, you missed something important.

Now in its sixth year, Bluegrass Community and Technical College's annual Run for the Glitz fundraiser drew its biggest crowd Friday night with nearly 500 people in attendance. “People like to support things for education, and this has consistently grown every year,” said JoEllen Reed, event organizer and community relations director for the Winchester campus. Local businesses donated $36,000 in sponsorship money, and Reed said organizers hoped to clear $40,000 to put toward construction of a new amphitheater at the Winchester campus.

It may not be secretive like the legendary Skull and Bones society, but for all the community leaders it churns out, the George Rogers Clark High School speech and debate team seems to predict success. Some of the alumni include Senior Judge Julia Hylton Adams, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park John Nicholson, Herald-Leader sports columnist John Clay, the late Clark Circuit Clerk David Hunt, Morehead State University Office of the Provost Projects Director Lisa Shemwell, Clark Family Court Judge Jeff Walson, City Commissioner Shannon Cox, County Commissioner Vanessa Rogers, and former mayor Dodd Dixon, who now serves as the team coach.

A recent survey on the strength of Wilmore's social and business community did not boast positive results; however, it did not herald any surprises from community leaders either. “We've done several of these reports over the years,” Wilmore Mayor Harold Rainwater said. “Not one with this level of expertise, but the results were almost predictable. “We don't have adequate business space in Wilmore, and the big issue is, where would you put it if we did have someone who'd want to come?

The Danville/Boyle County Economic Development Partnership and its partner organizations would like to recognize the smashing success of the first-ever Kentucky State BBQ Festival and congratulate all those who made the event possible. Led by Brad and Cindy Simmons, with help from Bob Stovall, Maureen Loar, Myrna Miller and others, this was a true community effort driven by the passion of those serving on the steering committee and the volunteers who stepped up to execute the festival.

Central Baptist Church will host a community forum to discuss the problem of illegal drugs and pills in the community. The forum is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, who said previously that Winchester has a serious drug problem that needs to be addressed, will be the lead speaker. Also speaking will be Clark County Coroner Robert Gayheart, who will discuss the toll drug-related deaths have taken on the community, and Stephen Humble, who will speak of the work of the Clark County Christian Drug Coalition and how the church community can get more involved in addressing the drug problem.

Small businesses are the backbone of the United States economy, interim Chamber of Commerce President Todd Denham said at Thursday’s annual banquet. Approximately 300 business owners and their employees were present at the banquet, helping make the event the chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year. “I’m excited about each and every one of you in this room tonight. “We would not have a Chamber of Commerce if it weren’t for the 300 people in this room,” Denham said. Denham highlighted the benefits of membership in the Chamber of Commerce, including networking and support from other community business leaders.

Friends and relatives are mourning the passing of a woman described as a pillar of the community.   Christene Gay died Monday at her home on Madison Avenue at the age of 79. “She was a fine Christian lady. She was a friend to everyone. She was a wonderful musician in her church, and a wonderful musician generally,” Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner said. Burtner met Gay when he moved to Winchester more than 30 years ago, and said she was a true friend to the community.

Hundreds of business and community leaders turned out to Connemara Golf Course Friday afternoon to bid Nancy Stone farewell. Stone retired as director of the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 1. Several people lauded Stone for her many accomplishments during her tenure as chamber director. Stone received keys to the city from Wilmore and Nicholasville, a state Senate proclamation and recognition from the Jessamine County Fiscal Court. The retirement celebration was from 2-4 p.m. Stone’s family, including her four grandchildren were also in attendance.