Renovation

In another step toward the beautification of downtown Wilmore, the city received plans for the renovation of the old grainery on south Main Street. The grainery, known as the Brumfield building, was built in the early 1900s according to the project architect, Rebecca Burnworth. "All of the old famous farms used to get their feed there," Burnworth said. "All of the columns still have the names of the farms that would come to get their feed. " Burnworth said that she plans to preserve the historical aspects of the building.

Brookside Elementary's brand new gymnasium was full of teachers, parents and students Sunday, as they celebrated completion of the school's renovation. "Looking back over this past year-plus, all the trials and tribulations ... they were all worth it," Principal Ned Slone said. He said the new facility will renew the focus on learning at Brookside, and students' pride in their surroundings will translate to pride in their abilities. Built in 1979, Brookside had never undergone renovation before.

LANCASTER - Three companies submitted bids Tuesday to renovate the historic Grand Theatre. Sesabaugh Inc. bid $1,412,913; Hawkins Construction bid $2,600,000; and Galvin and Associates bid $1,800,600. Lora Littleton and Carole Yocam of Cox-Allen and Associates of Louisville, the architecture firm designing the extensive renovations to the 11,000 square foot building erected in 1925, were on hand at Tuesday's Garrard County Fiscal Court meeting. They said the next step is to interview the companies and check out references.

A $5 million renovation project is slated for next year at Danville High School, but it's not the kind of work that would qualify as a sexy makeover. Much of the 40-year-old school's utility infrastructure will be upgraded under a $3.5-million performance contract with the remainder of the money going toward more cosmetic improvements such as new windows and lockers. "We hope to have a little gingerbread in there," said Superintendent Bob Rowland. "The new windows will dress up the outside of the building aesthetically, but most of the improvements will be very functional.

Boyle County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to accept its only bids for a $4.4 million construction project that includes most of what it hoped for but still leaves several items to be completed at a later date. A bid of $2.9 million from Branscum Construction of Russell Springs was the only one submitted for renovation work at the high school. Allen Co. of Winchester's bid of $1.4 million to reconfigure traffic flow and parking on the main campus was the only that came in. C & T Designs of Danville was the only company to bid on supplying cafeteria equipment at $236,754.

Two hundred persons filled a portion of Main Street Sunday to dedicate Stanford's latest building renovation. The former Harvey Helm Library, originally a log meeting house, received $500,000 in state grants for the makeover that started early summer. "We pay tribute and reverence to our ancestors and their ancestors standing in awe of this modest building," said Lincoln County Historical Society President Steve Dozier during the dedication. Moments earlier, Rev. Jim Baughman arrived by mule to deliver a sermon in the fire-and-brimstone style of the Rev. David Rice, the early circuit preacher in Lincoln County.

The renovation of the Gilcher Hotel will start next week, as work continues swiftly on the old Hub store next door. Not far behind are bids for a parking garage behind them both. A fence has been placed around the parking lot behind the buildings in preparation for the next phase of demolition and construction. Where dressing rooms once bustled at the Hub, the space is now wide and lofty with red, brick walls exposed. The third floor looks similar, the paint stripped and the original brick color left behind.

It's been years since the vacant building on the corner of Adams and Stanford streets has had people mill in and out of its doors. But now thanks to a local real estate agency, the structure will soon get a new look and be open for new business. The last business that thrived in the structure was called the Wash House. It provided laundry service to the community before finally closing its doors in 1991. But the building has had many owners in prior years. In 1968, the building was a busy car wash.

The Community Arts Center will apply for a $250,000 Renaissance Kentucky grant that, unlike most arts-related grants, could be used for renovation of the Federal Building on Main Street. A public hearing on the application will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at city hall. Both the numbers of people in attendance and those who speak are important because a tape recording of the session will be sent to the state, said Wilma Brown, executive director of the CAC. The group will soon begin to solicit funds from businesses and corporations.

BURGIN - Construction on a $1.75 million project at Burgin school is scheduled to begin Feb. 1. At a pre-construction meeting Wednesday afternoon, school officials signed contracts with Van Cook Construction of Danville, the company that won the contract for the project. Construction costs are set at $1.58 million. Superintendent Richard Webb said the estimated completion date is Nov. 1. That means the work will be going on while classes are in session. "It's going to be a mess, but it's worth it," he said.