Construction

LANCASTER ? Two major construction projects in downtown Lancaster are on schedule and moving forward as planned. Construction of the new Garrard County Judicial Center and renovation of the old Grand Theater are both on track to be complete in the later part of 2010. The judicial center, a state-funded $11.9 million project that got started in mid-October, is going up as planned and on schedule, site supervisor Bill Bridges said. Previous estimates placed completion of the project in winter of 2010.

Marriage licenses recorded in the office of Lincoln County Clerk George O. Spoonamore IV. Thesia Jane Wilson, 26, Junction City, cook, to Zachary Coy Simpson, 20, Stanford, construction. Niletta Jane Mullins, 55, Eubank, Wal-Mart, to Nevil Garrett Hendrickson, 67, Crab Orchard, retired. Rachel Elizabeth Ledford, 24, Stanford, student, to Jonathan Reuben Anthony, 27, Stanford, production specialist. Amanda Jane Baker, 19, Stanford, hairdresser, to Ryan Lee Woodall, 29, Waynesburg, HVAC tech.

Dear Editor, City Commission meeting, Sept. 5, 2009: approve tax increase of $87,926; approve change order for new city hall, $68,108. Remember when Danville City Commission went ahead with city hall construction, and Nicholasville stopped construction that was further along than Danville's? Economy tanked. Enough said, next election. Sherrill Hudman Danville

Asbury College awarded D.W. Wilburn, Inc. a $12.1 million construction contract Thursday for its new communication arts building, according to a press release from the school. The 50,869-square-foot building, which will be called the Andrew S. Miller Center for Communication Arts, was announced by Asbury one year ago and will be a technologically advanced venture, housing a television studio, theater and high-definition equipment. Asbury Vice President for Business Affairs Charlie Fiskeaux said in the Wilmore City Council's Aug. 5 meeting that in addition to the $12.1 million in construction costs, furnishing, architectural and miscellaneous costs should be around $2.5 million.

FORKLAND ? When the Rev. Junior Fields was called in February 2001 to serve as pastor of Pleasant Run Baptist Church, he was given both an opportunity and a challenge. It was the first pastorate for the young minister, and the church he was called to serve had lost so many members over the years attendance was down to double digits ? barely. "I was excited that the Lord had called me to my first church, and here I was a minister who, yes, was ordained but had a modest resume that included no formal seminary training," Fields said.

BURGIN ? Lake Village Water Association has issued a boil water advisory for 450 to 725 Curdsville Road and 766 to 1926 Paradise Camp Road. A water line was damaged in construction of a new water line.

As weather continues to snag progress on construction of Danville's new city hall, some design details also are complicating the process. It has taken several weeks to locate the custom bronze colored metal to match the windows to the roof, according to the steering committee that met Wednesday at the construction site. The bronze sample that was sent previously appeared to be a dark, almost black color. Monica Sumner with the architectural firm Brandstetter Carroll said the company working on the windows indicated it could take another six to seven weeks to get another metal that is a closer match.

HARRODSBURG - Construction begins on the southern intersection of U.S. 127 and the 127 Bypass in Harrodsburg on Monday. A sign at the intersection currently announces that the on ramp going from the the bypass onto 127 north will be closed. The construction is intended to make the intersection safer by widening the ramps, adding lights and adjusting the banking of the road. It has been in the works for several years now. Mercer County Judge-Executive Milward Dedman said the intersection has been a major safety concern for many drivers.

Before the proposed I-75 connector can become a reality, Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce Director Nancy Stone said an extensive environmental impact study must be completed. "We were in Washington two weeks ago, and we did some lobbying for this with 55 other people with the Central Kentucky Regional Policy Committee," Stone said. "This organization is made up of chamber execs and business people who determine issues that we can support in a specific region that will positively impact the Bluegrass.

HARRODSBURG - Plans to build a new judicial center in Mercer County are continuing, and soon residents will be able to see the progress. A fence and signs will go up this week around the existing courthouse, which will be demolished to make room for the new facility. Soon, construction workers will remove the asbestos from the courthouse, and it will take two to three weeks to tear down the building. Two streets, Short and West Office, are now permanently one-way, Mayor Lonnie Campbell said.