Up to 4 inches of Rain forecast by Saturday

Posted by John Humphress on Apr 18, 2011

Ten Die On Kentucky Roadways

Posted by John Humphress on Apr 18, 2011

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Preliminary statistics* indicate that ten people died in eight separate crashes on Kentucky roadways from Monday, Apr. 11, through Sunday, Apr. 17, 2011.

All of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and six of the victims were not wearing a seat belt.  Single-fatality crashes occurred in Clinton, Hopkins, Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Owen and Russell counties.   A triple-fatality crash occurred in Boyle County.

Through Apr. 17, preliminary statistics* indicate that 171 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2011.  This is thirty less fatalities than reported for the same time period in 2010.   There were 142 motor vehicle fatalities and 82 of those victims were not wearing seat belts.  Seventeen of those crashes involved a commercial motor vehicle. Five crashes involved a motorcycle and four victims were not wearing helmets.  Four crashes involved an ATV and three of the victims were not wearing a helmet.  Twenty crashes involved pedestrians.  A total of twenty-one fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their areas.  Crash data for this report is generated from the Kentucky Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Indian package manufacturer to build first U.S. plant in Elizabethtown

Posted by John Humphress on Apr 13, 2011

Apex MediaWire Staff Report

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AMW) — A packaging manufacturer based in India has announced plans to locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Hardin County, bringing a minimum of 125 new jobs to the area.

Gov. Steve Beshear joined local, state and company officials at a press conference today announcing that UFLEX Ltd. will locate its first U.S. plant in Hardin County.  Officials said the project will occur in phases, initially creating 125 new jobs and a $90 million investment. Plans call for the company to eventually invest $180 million and employ at least 250 people.

Performance-based tax incentives of up to $20 million were preliminarily approved today by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. Corporate income tax credits and wage assessments, if formally approved, will allow UFLEX to keep a portion of its investment as long as it meets certain job and investment targets over a 10-year period.

Company officials indicated the first phase of the project will be operational by the end of 2012 with the second phase beginning shortly thereafter.

“We are very upbeat about our U.S. manufacturing venture and look forward to a life-long and rewarding relationship with the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said UFLEX Chairman Ashok Chaturvedi. “The U.S.A. is the world’s largest and most technologically-advanced packaging market and our first manufacturing plant here will be a high point of our leadership ambitions in this business.”

“Being active with large production facilities at strategically located sites around the world has always been our long-term corporate imperative and what better location could we look for than being in the heart of the world’s largest and most advanced packaging market,” said Pradeep Tyle, CEO of the company’s Flex Films division.

“I’m very excited and honored to have UFLEX locate their first U.S.

plant here in Elizabethtown,” said Mayor Tim Walker. “I also feel UFLEX will add diversity to our industrial community and much-needed new jobs to our economy. We believe this important investment reflects the support that the local community exhibits for industrial development.”

Established in 1983, UFLEX is a leading manufacturer of polyester chips, specialty films, coated and metalized film, laminates, pouches, holographic films, gravure cylinders, flexographic plates, inks and adhesives for use in product packaging.

UFLEX already operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in India, Dubai, Mexico and Egypt and is setting up another operation in Poland. The company has established offices all over the world with a market presence in 110 countries.

“This is an excellent opportunity to create yet another long-term relationship with an international corporation right here in Hardin County,” said County Judge-Executive Harry L. Berry.

“India is one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world and represents unlimited potential for cultivating job and investment growth,” Beshear said. “I am thrilled Kentucky is the location of choice for this $180 million investment, one that will create at least 250 jobs.”

UFLEX representatives made their first visit to Kentucky in January following Beshear’s economic development trip to India last fall. At least six states were considered for the new plant.

The new facility will be located in Elizabethtown’s T.J. Patterson Industrial Park.

http://www.apexmediawire.com/wire/20110413/indian-manufacturing-company-to-build-first-us-plant-in-elizabethtown/

Murder Investigation in Marion County

Posted by John Humphress on Apr 13, 2011

(Loretto, KY) – At 8:48 EDT Post 15 received a call from Marion County Dispatch requesting backup for a Deputy Sheriff responding to a residence on Holy Cross Road in Loretto.

Marion County dispatch received a call at 8:42 EDT from a caller who stated that she had found her neighbor lying on the back porch of her residence, bleeding and she believed him to be dead.

Post 15 Troopers and Detectives responded to the scene with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and upon arrival found 22-year-old Brandon Lashaun Stone of Loretto, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.  The investigation is on going at this time.

Press Release from Mayor Young concerning Rescue and E9-1-1

Posted by John Humphress on Apr 12, 2011

I would like to address the needs of our Emergency Medical Services in our community of Campbellsville and Taylor County. It is extremely important that our local governments continue to work together as a team. Our community must be ready to show potential industry looking to locate here that we have Rescue services equipped to handle any emergency. In addition, we must be ready to respond to any emergency involving Green River Reservoir. It is critical that the City and County governments show unity in order for our community to experience growth. As I stated earlier, I feel confident that we’re going to find a positive solution that will be best for us all.

I realize that we are in difficult times not just in Campbellsville and Taylor County but also the entire world. Good decisions must be made to ensure we are efficient and provide necessary emergency services to our citizens.

During the past year I had the opportunity to visit the citizens of the City of Campbellsville two times.

The community expressed concern and frustration for these difficult economic times.Two years ago, when the County broke the Inter-local agreement and the City implemented our own 1% occupational tax, the situation was different than it is in today’s time. We all know the economy has worsened. Costs of operating Emergency Medical Services and E9-1-1 have increased tremendously. Fuel costs, medical supplies, retirement funding, vehicle and maintenance costs, and insurance services have all increased to extreme proportions.

Services (Rescue, E9-1-1, Police and Fire) generally are not income producing businesses. They are what they are, services. Taxpayers have to be willing to decide what level of services they desire for their community and what they are willing to pay for. City and County government only exists because of its taxpayers and both entities have to spend (fund services) according to the taxpayers’ needs and wishes.

In the joint committee meeting last week, five options for funding CTCRescue and E9-1-1 were proposed:

City and County Operate Separate Services:
Duplicating services in both the City and the County is not the answer. It is hard enough for one service to be efficient and profitable. There is not enough room for two separate operations. This would cost taxpayers additional money; another person in charge and additional overhead such as buildings and emergency equipment and paramedic units, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.

City Run Rescue and County Run E9-1-1:
Separating the services will not be a solution that will last. Operational costs are continuing to rise and it will be impossible for the City to operate a countywide service without support from the County government.

Taxing District:
I want to make it clear that I will not support a new tax. We have enough tax revenue to support our services. Shifting an imposed tax rate from one area to another (occupational tax to property tax) will promote distrust of elected officials.

The only two options to consider:

City Run E9-1-1 and Rescue with County Monetary Support
I propose the County’s support of Rescue to be $450,000.00. The current City budget would have to be reduced by $200,000.00. I will take that responsibility and allow that financial relief be given to the County. The City will operate E 9-1-1 with the County’s transfer of receipts from the landline fees (which were imposed strictly for E9-1-1 funding). The City would then assume all responsibilities for expenses incurred by E 9-1-1.

County Run E9-1-1 and Rescue
As of July 1, 2011 the County would take over complete responsibility for the operation and management of E9-1-1 and Rescue as a Countywide Service.

The City’s Occupational Tax would be adjusted accordingly.

Just last Sunday, as I was sitting in my office at City Hall thinking over all the options for Rescue funding, I found myself listening to all the sirens coming from Rescue. At that particular point in time, two serious auto accidents had occurred in opposite ends of the county. I thought to myself, how this scenario would play out if we did not have Rescue. I know without a doubt that if I or my loved ones were to be involved in such an accident, I want our Rescue to be on the scene. Just this week, our community experienced another tragic automobile accident. I witnessed the entire station empty out to respond to this accident. We have all thought at times, why do they send the whole station out to an accident, isn’t that a little excessive? In those situations, I think not.

My own family has experienced personal tragedy where Rescue responded. I will always be grateful to these well-trained professionals. These fine individuals are trained to act and react in these difficult situations, a job I don’t believe I could personally do myself.Unless the County agrees to pay a reasonable sum to the City of Campbellsville for these services, anyone having an emergency outside the city limits would not receive the benefit and expertise of Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue. Example: If a resident of the City of Campbellsville, while traveling in the County, outside the City limits becomes involved in an accident, that citizen would not be entitled to receive care from the best. If the Fiscal Court elects not to provide reasonable compensation as the County has in the past, Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue would become Campbellsville Rescue.

My desire is to see that Rescue and E9-1-1 services are funded for the entire community. Our community should not settle for just average service. Our community desires the very best. Our community deserves the Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue.

What can you do? Please get involved. I encourage everyone to contact the County Judge-Executive, Magistrates, Council Members and me to express your desires for the future of Campbellsville-Taylor County Rescue and E9-1-1 Services.

You can call my office at the City Hall phone number 270.465.7011. You may also write a note and put it in the drop box at the Campbellsville Water and Sewer Company drive-thru window.