Project Manager

Construction crews worked on the new College Park Natatorium, which has the steel walls in place and the concrete poured. The view shows a portion of the shallow end leading to the diving pool area. The warm water pool also has been installed. MP Kelly of Richmond is the contractor on the job, and Codell Construction Company of Winchester is the project manager.

LANCASTER - Proposed improvements to U.S. 27 in Garrard and Lincoln counties may be years away, but hundreds of residents interested in how the project will impact them and their communities showed up for a hearing Tuesday night to see the latest plans. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's most recent preferred alternative, on display Tuesday during a public hearing at Garrard Middle School, would make U.S. 27 a four-lane, divided highway from the intersection with Ky. 34 at Camp Dick Robinson in Garrard County to the U.S. 150 bypass in Stanford, including creating a western bypass around Lancaster.  Project manager Ananias Calvin III with the Transportation Cabinet's District 7 office, said the work, estimated to cost about $138 million, would likely be done in three phases starting at Ky. 34 and heading south.

Construction workers with MP Kelly of Richmond wired rebar together for one of the concrete outside walls of the building that will house the $3.3 million indoor pool being added to College Park Gym, top photo. Workers are also renovating the basement of the gym for new lockers and dressing rooms. Mark Taylor, right photo, removed dirt while digging a section of the building footer. Work is ahead of schedule on the new pool, which is expected to be ready for use by April 2010. Codell Construction Company of Winchester is the project manager for the pool construction.

Barry and Kim West of Nicholasville are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Bobbi Lee West, to Christopher Adam Hoffner, son of Stephen and Rita Hoffner of Nicholasville. Bobbi is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, earning a Bachelor's degree in elementary education and learning and behavior disorders. She currently teaches sixth grade at West Jessamine Middle School while pursuing her master's degree from EKU. Chris is employed as a project manager at AIC Roofing and Construction.

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Gipson of Kevil and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Connor of Paducah are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Jo Connor, to John Hagan Codell Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hagan Codell. The bride-elect received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Kentucky. She now resides in Lexington and works as a senior sales representative at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. The prospective groom is a 1997 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. He now resides in Winchester and is project manager for Codell Construction.

Joseph and Shelia Topmiller of Villa Hills announce the engagement of their daughter, Barbara Ellen Topmiller of Lexington, to M. Chase Thompson of Lexington, son of Terry and Sandy Thompson of Cape Coral, Fla. The bride is a graduate of Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills and the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering. She is employed by Lexmark as a development engineer. The groom is a graduate of George Rogers Clark High School and the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Business Administration in decision science and informations systems.

In an afternoon wedding on Saturday, June 2, Miss Emily Ann Smith and Mr. Todd Auther Bello were united in marriage. The Rev. Dennis Wainright officiated at the ceremony at Central Baptist Church of Winchester. Smith is the daughter of Valerie Parish Smith and Wendell R. Smith, both of Winchester. Bello is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Bello of Lexington. Whitney Smith served as her sister's maid of honor; Ashley Maines and Audra Pace were bridesmaids. Case Clay, Clint Stivers and Todd Weissmueller were groomsmen.

Billy Mitchell Fain, 71, of Linden Lane, died Oct. 26, after a lengthy illness. He was a Jessamine County native, son of the late William Fain and Josephine Stipe Johns and Herschel Johns. Billy was an avid golfer, fisherman and sports fan. He spent 40 years working in Southeast Asia and was a former project manager for Pacific Architects and Engineers. Survivors include a daughter, Naresa Fain of Nicholasville, two sisters, Mary Mardis of Ohio and Barbara Craycraft of Nicholasville, an aunt, Katherine Bruner, several other family members, two lifelong and loyal friends, Jerry Abshear and Don Clark.

LANCASTER - Two Lancaster neighbors have filed lawsuits against the Garrard County Board of Education and Branscum Construction Co., alleging their homes were damaged by blasting done while building the new high school on Industry Road. Randall and Bobbie Stathers of 418 Crab Orchard St. and Brandalyn Elkins of 420 Crab Orchard St. filed separate lawsuits last week in Garrard Circuit Court. Attorney Paul Long Jr. of Stanford represents both parties. According to the lawsuits, "the ultra-hazardous activity of blasting" began at the school site in September and has continued intermittently since.

Brannon Road, which connects U.S. 27 at Brannon Crossing and U.S. 68 near Southland Christian Church, is being studied for possible safety improvements, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Monday. The cabinet has begun the project design and environmental study, according to a media advisory. Project manager Joshua Samples said the cabinet is focused on the safety of the road. “Some of the things we will be looking at is improving the geometry, widening the pavement and the shoulders a little bit, and the elimination of roadside hazards,” Samples said.

Completion of the newly named Red Oak Elementary School in Jessamine County will be delayed nearly a month after cold, wet winter weather slowed work. The board of education approved a request Monday from contractor D.W. Wilburn to add 26 calendar days of work to the project, moving the substantial-completion date from April 1 to April 27. The substantial-completion date marks when the district takes possession of the building and can begin moving in. Mitch Hunter, a project manager with architect Sherman Carter Barnhart, told board members Monday that December and January had included 18 days of above-average rainfall and many days of below-average temperature.

Brannon Road, which connects U.S. 27 at Brannon Crossing and U.S. 68 near Southland Christian Church, is being studied for possible safety improvements, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Monday. The cabinet has begun the project design and environmental study, according to a media advisory. Project manager Joshua Samples said the cabinet is focused on the safety of the road. “Some of the things we will be looking at is improving the geometry, widening the pavement and the shoulders a little bit, and the elimination of roadside hazards,” Samples said.

LANCASTER - Two significant road construction projects that should help people driving through Garrard, Lincoln and Madison counties may break ground in the next several years. Garrard Judge-Executive John Wilson recently met with state transportation officials to discuss the widening of portions of U.S. 27 and Ky. 52, he said during a special Garrard Fiscal Court session Friday. Earlier this year, officials completed the widening of part of U.S. 27 in northern Garrard County.

The city of Wilmore has thrown its full support behind the I-75 connector project. At Monday night's meeting, the city council voted to sign a letter backing Jessamine County Judge- Executive Neal Cassity and the county as a whole in support of the project. The letter was drafted by Wilmore Utilities Director Dave Carlstedt after a presentation by Bob Nunley, program project manager for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Department of Highways; Jerry Leslie, project manager for H.W. Lochner; and Ananias Calvin with the cabinet's District 7. The trio gave a 10-minute  overview of the project with an update of its progress and then answered council members' questions afterwards.

LANCASTER - Proposed improvements to U.S. 27 in Garrard and Lincoln counties may be years away, but hundreds of residents interested in how the project will impact them and their communities showed up for a hearing Tuesday night to see the latest plans. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's most recent preferred alternative, on display Tuesday during a public hearing at Garrard Middle School, would make U.S. 27 a four-lane, divided highway from the intersection with Ky. 34 at Camp Dick Robinson in Garrard County to the U.S. 150 bypass in Stanford, including creating a western bypass around Lancaster.  Project manager Ananias Calvin III with the Transportation Cabinet's District 7 office, said the work, estimated to cost about $138 million, would likely be done in three phases starting at Ky. 34 and heading south.

City and county leaders asked emergency management representatives Monday who would pick up the tab if the new Emergency Operations Center went over budget. In late March, the county secured the necessary three acres for the project from the Clark Regional Foundation for the Promotion of Health. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will give the county $3.6 million for the building. The 6,400-square-foot, single-story building will house the Winchester-Clark County Emergency Management office, the Chemical Stockpiles Emergency Preparedness Program and the 911 dispatch center.

Despite dealing with some rainy weather, work for the new Jessamine County Animal Shelter is on pace for a February completion, Animal Shelter advisory-council chairman Mike Cassidy said. “(The rain) has given us some trouble, but as far as construction, there hasn't been any problems,” he said. Project manager John Dalton of Dalton Construction Management Consultants said now that the roof is on, it's only a matter of time before the shelter is ready to house animals.

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Gipson of Kevil and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Connor of Paducah are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Jo Connor, to John Hagan Codell Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hagan Codell. The bride-elect received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Kentucky. She now resides in Lexington and works as a senior sales representative at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. The prospective groom is a 1997 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. He now resides in Winchester and is project manager for Codell Construction.

STANFORD — If you are a private construction contractor or vendor, you might want to check out possible opportunities involved with two major school projects in Lincoln County. The Lincoln County Board of Education and Codell Construction Co. are inviting construction contractors and vendors to attend a job fair from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday at the Lincoln County board office at 305 Danville Ave. The purpose of the fair is give contractors and vendors a chance to meet with representatives of Codell, the construction manager for the renovation and construction of additions at Crab Orchard and Waynesburg elementary schools.

For years it’s been known as a Day of Caring, but while the name has changed to a Day of Action and the date switched from September to June, the results are the same; many deserving individuals and groups got help from their community on a wide range of projects from gardening to painting. This year, almost 500 volunteers in Boyle, Mercer, Garrard and Lincoln counties spread out early Wednesday morning to do good after a quick breakfast of donuts and coffee, and in Lincoln County, the workers got some last minute marching orders from Lincoln County Coordinator Ruth Smith.