Natural Disasters

Dear Editor, I wish to express my support for Harold McKinney as Boyle County judge-executive. I’ve known Harold for many years, and know he has the education and training to continue being a great judge for Boyle County. He also has the temperament to get us through hard economic times, as well as any natural disasters like the ice storm of 2009 and the flooding last May. Please join me in voting for Harold on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Mary Hurley Danville

Farmers are reminded that the deadline to apply for coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency is near. March 1 is the deadline for grass forage and grazing, lespedeza and mixed forage. March 15 is the cut-off point for Alfalfa, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs, lettuce, oats, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, sorghum, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips and watermelons.

Indiana-based NiSource Inc., parent company of Columbia Gas of Kentucky, has announced a $25,000 donation from the NiSource Charitable Foundation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in support of its relief efforts in Japan. “Natural disasters such as the one in Japan affect us all,” NiSource president and CEO Robert C. Skaggs, Jr. said. The contribution continues NiSource’s long-standing partnership with the Red Cross and will bolster the organization’s effort to support victims of the disaster, as well those affected by disasters in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world where need is greatest.

The Jessamine County Public Library will host preservation week April 21-27. The theme of Preservation Week @ your library is “Pass it on.” The Jessamine County Public Library will use this week to bring awareness to and pass information to the community about caring for and preserving collections, family heirlooms, digital memories, and other items to preserve our collective history. Light, pollution, heat, and moisture are just some of the environmental factors that damage documents and heirlooms, such as diaries, photographs, and genealogical records.

Jeffery S. Hall, State Executive Director, today announced that Kentucky has received approval to close 13 local Service Center Offices in the final phase of restructuring that began in 2007. The Nicholasville FSA Service Center will be consolidated with the Lexington Service Center in Fayette County effective Jan. 8. The FSA Office in Lexington is located at 141 Leestown Center Way, Ste. 210. "Consolidation of offices is necessary due to reduced staffing and continued budget cuts," said Hall.

Jeffery S. Hall, state executive director, announced that Kentucky has received approval to close 13 local service center offices in the final phase of restructuring that began in 2007. The Lancaster FSA Service Center will be consolidated with the Stanford Service Center in Lincoln County effective Jan. 13. The FSA Office in Stanford is located at 102 Metker Trail, Suite 1., toll free telephone (1-888-758-6910). "Consolidation of offices is necessary due to reduced staffing and continued budget cuts," said Hall.

HINDMAN - Kentucky's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Donald C. Storm, will visit soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard's 217th Quartermaster Detachment, based in Danville, at 11:15 a.m. Monday at Knott Central High School in Hindman. Following the site visit, Storm will have lunch with the troops at the high school and then will meet with the county judge-executive, mayor and emergency management officials in the school's conference room. The 217th Quartermaster Detachment has been on site providing relief due to the area's water shortage.

John Carpenter is essentially Jessamine County's "go-to man" when it comes to natural disasters and chemical spills. He also coordinates mutual emergency agencies from other counties if the emergency calls for it. He also helps with the training of responder groups at the EOC (Emergency Operation Center.) While it may sound overwhelming compared to the typical career, Carpenter has got it under control. "I've been full-time since December 2004 ... and I really don't know how we pulled it off with just a part-time person before that," he said.

Since Jan. 2005, dairy production in many United States counties has been severely impacted by widespread and significant natural disasters, such as ice storms, heavy rainfalls, floods, extreme heat, and etc. The Dairy Disaster Assistance Payment Program (DDAP III) will provide benefits to eligible dairy producers who suffered dairy production losses as a result of these natural disasters. This program will provide a direct payment for eligible losses to help relieve economic injuries suffered by the dairy industry in disaster counties throughout the United States.

The Jessamine County Public Library will host preservation week April 21-27. The theme of Preservation Week @ your library is “Pass it on.” The Jessamine County Public Library will use this week to bring awareness to and pass information to the community about caring for and preserving collections, family heirlooms, digital memories, and other items to preserve our collective history. Light, pollution, heat, and moisture are just some of the environmental factors that damage documents and heirlooms, such as diaries, photographs, and genealogical records.

While September has become a month of remembrance, emergency personnel want people to remember to prepare themselves for any potential disaster. It is National Preparedness Month in Kentucky. “It's a month that we want people to take charge of their preparedness,” Winchester's Emergency Management Director Gary Epperson said. “They need to know what to do, where to go, the local hazards and have a plan, be able to implement the plan and have a disaster kit.” While the terrorist attacks of 9/11 are more than a decade in the past, Epperson is quick to note the majority of disasters are weather-related.

When the runners cross the finish line at today's Soles4Souls 5K Run/Walk, more than just the race will be ending. After nine years of membership in Girl Scout Troop No. 699, Ashton Wasson and Callie Miller will have completed their Girl Scout careers and their Gold Award project. “We're all friends, and we used to go to the same school,” Callie, 15, said of the nine girls in the troop. She and Ashton were both first-grade students at St. Agatha Academy when they began Girl Scouts.

Deadline for submitting information to the Bulletin Board is noon Thursday. There is no charge for this service. Items run as space permits. Mail information to The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, Ky. 40423; fax to (859) 236-9566; or call 236-2551 ext. 352. Bookmobile Monday —  South  Bragg Street, Perryville, 11-11:10 a.m.; Third Street, Perryville, 11:15-11:30 a.m.; Old Mitchellsburg Road, noon-12:15 p.m.; shut-ins (two  stops), 12:20-12:35 p.m.; Ky. 37, 12:45-1:30 p.m.; Nosco Road (two stops)

Indiana-based NiSource Inc., parent company of Columbia Gas of Kentucky, has announced a $25,000 donation from the NiSource Charitable Foundation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in support of its relief efforts in Japan. “Natural disasters such as the one in Japan affect us all,” NiSource president and CEO Robert C. Skaggs, Jr. said. The contribution continues NiSource’s long-standing partnership with the Red Cross and will bolster the organization’s effort to support victims of the disaster, as well those affected by disasters in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world where need is greatest.

Dear Editor, I wish to express my support for Harold McKinney as Boyle County judge-executive. I’ve known Harold for many years, and know he has the education and training to continue being a great judge for Boyle County. He also has the temperament to get us through hard economic times, as well as any natural disasters like the ice storm of 2009 and the flooding last May. Please join me in voting for Harold on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Mary Hurley Danville

Conkwright Middle open house Aug. 25 Conkwright Middle School will have its open house Tuesday, Aug. 25, with dinner from 5 to 6 p.m., and visits to classrooms from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Students must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Cougar T-shirts and sweatshirts will be on sale. Commodity food distribution Monday Commodity food distribution will be Monday, Aug. 24. Senior adults who have pre-registered for the program may pick up their commodities at each designated site.

Boyle, Mercer receive grant funds Fire and police departments in Boyle and Mercer counties will receive grant funds from two federal agencies. Danville Fire Department will get $44,489 for operations and safety from a portion of the $993,638 in assistance to firefighters grants awarded Monday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA funds will go to fire departments and emergency medical services organizations across the state. Danville also will receive $38,647, and Harrodsburg $19,324, in Recovery Act 2009 funds for law enforcement assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program.