http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/ Smiths Grove, KY News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/8357a53aca3c2ad185c6a00edd24e58b.html Gov Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board renewed its support Friday of the 8220;Kentucky Proud8221; marketing effort The board while meeting in Bowling Green approved 036;33 million in funding over the next two years to try to expand the program that now has 1200 participants in 112 countiesBeshear noted that a recent study conducted by the University of Kentucky commended the ag board on Kentucky Proud and other projects that it has fundedThe Kentucky Proud program 045; which labels and finds markets for agriculture products grown and finished in Kentucky 045; received the best rating by the consultant on the impact it was having on increasing farm income and diversification8220;I don8217;t know if you can get any better than that8221; Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said 8220;This is something that I am very passionate about8221;Farmer said his office has seen the Kentucky Proud program find success on essentially a shoestring 045; just more than 036;5 million over several yearsFarmer said he has called in favors from basketball coaches Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith as well as former teammates of his from the University of Kentucky basketball team to get a big bang for his buck8220;We have been good stewards of this money and will be glad to continue to report to you about how we spend it8221; Farmer saidFarmer8217;s department had requested 036;615 million from the program but Roger Thomas a Smiths Grove resident in charge of the Governor8217;s Office of Agriculture Policy said the money simply wasn8217;t available 8220;so the funding has been kind of flatlined8221; Thomas saidFarmer said his request for additional funding was not 8220;being greedy8221; but because he wanted to make an even bigger push for the program that recently added SavALot as a major vendor of Kentucky Proud products8220;It is a highly effective and worthwhile program one of the best I8217;ve seen8221; said board member Scott Smith dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture 8220;Unfortunately we are not in a situation where we can invest more than we have8221;The money will be used to fund the position of a retail liaison and goods distribution coordinator restaurant rewards branding and advertising and other costs Funding the first year is 036;1675000 and is reduced to 036;1650000 the second year8220;The best thing we can do is create markets for our farmers8221; Farmer saidBoard member Mary Sias president of Kentucky State University said the Kentucky Proud label is tantamount to a Good Housekeeping seal signaling the product is safe and can be trusted Sias said she gets questions all the time from the public about the products that carry the labelsBeshear in speaking before the board and earlier to the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce said Kentucky8217;s agriculture industry can play an important role in the state8217;s economic healthThe governor encouraged the board to look at funding innovative projects research and development of agriculture products particularly those that could help in the production of energyThe funding distributed by the ag board comes from the state8217;s portion of the Master Settlement Agreement from tobacco companiesOn Friday the board also approved 036;5 million to be given to the Kentucky Agriculture Finance Corporation Eighty percent of that will continue the corporation8217;s current loan programs to farmers while 036;1 million will be used in the establishment of the Large Animal Veterinary programThomas said that program will begin accepting applications after the first of the year for loans up to 036;100000 The purpose is to encourage capital investment in large animal vet practices of which there is a shortage across the stateAn item that garnered much conversation was funding for the Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program operated by UK The 18month program seeks to offer intense training to the next generation of farmers and the first such class saw 20 agriculturalists of diverse backgroundsThe university asked for and received 036;150000 to be matched with private funding of 036;150000 to fund the next class and 036;850000 to start an endowment also to be matched If the matching fund is not reached the grants will be revokedA few board members questioned if it was wise to put money in an endowment with the potential that UK would come back in two years and ask for more funding if the endowment was not yet growingBut board member Sam Lawson of Bowling Green said investing in such an endowment is a good idea when funding is short8220;It8217;s a way to have an impact in perpetuity8221; Lawson said 8220;What better legacy can we have than to invest in our future leaders8221;In the end all but three board members approved the fundingMore than 036;1 million was approved to spend on 18 separate ag programs none of which were in southcentral KentuckyThe UK report which Beshear mentioned looked at the 036;209 million spent by the board from 2001 to 2007 It found among numerous other items that every 036;1 spent on many programs resulted in 036;187 of additional farm income being generatedInvestments in certain types of programs have involved more than 50000 farmers improved farm efficiency and doubled an 036;86 million in farm investments into 036;161 millionThomas told the board that he wants to generate more public knowledge about the ag development board and how it can help Kentucky8217;s agriculture industry Staff members intend to have a plan for that effort next month8212; For more information about the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board and its programs visit http:agpolicykygov http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/5910321df58034bc6478a94a132a3fd2.html A decision on offering hazardous duty retirement benefits for sheriff8217;s deputies in Butler County has been delayed Magistrate Curtis Smith said action was delayed so an expert could help the magistrates make a more informed decision8220;Sheriff Joe Gaddie himself wanted to delay the decision until we could receive more information8221; Smith saidA decision on hazardous duty will not be made until after Jan 1 he saidGaddie was not available for comment this morningThis is the fourth time that Gaddie has approached the topic of offering hazardous duty retirement for the officersLocally the Bowling Green Morgantown Western Kentucky University Glasgow Franklin Scottsville Smiths Grove and Russellville police departments and the Warren Simpson Allen and Barren counties sheriff8217;s offices all have hazardous duty status; Butler Edmonson and Logan sheriff8217;s offices and the Cave City Police Department do notCounties or cities have to pay 135 percent of an employee8217;s salary into retirement for an employee on the regular state retirement system but with hazardous duty benefits the cost is 295 percent of the salary Gaddie said previously Hazardous duty retirement allows law enforcement officers to retire after 25 years with full benefits as opposed to 30 years The goal is to allow officers to retire at a younger age because of the inherent risk and demands of the jobInitially the change would cost Butler County around 036;30000 a year to cover the sheriff8217;s office he said which includes four deputies and the sheriffThose initial costs would be recouped over the years by having deputies who stay longer and are better trained It costs about 036;40000 to train a new deputy he saidGaddie said overall providing hazardous duty benefits would save Butler County money because it would encourage deputies to remain with the office longer therefore reducing the amount the county spends to train new deputies http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/4eaa93daba884dad85cc5a30ba065f29.html Four incumbents will be returning to serve additional twoyear terms on the Tompkinsville City Commission Reelected are: Scotty Turner with 488 votes; Steve Carter 547; Jeff Harrison 478; and Richard Jackson 395 http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/4f656017db7296bbcf7c63e897928c0f.html Tompkinsvilles Marci Turner shot a 75 while Glasgows Taryn Durham carded a 78 in the second round of the Duramed FUTURES Tours 2009 Qualifying Tournament on Wednesday http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/1924a692ba3ae04d5dabd531fd91a36b.html Nine rising stars who have been recognized by their peers for contributions to Glasgow and Barren County were honored Thursday night during a reception at First Christian Church on North Race Street http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/5ee413783dca0c2e2923275c820ade8f.html Had one of those Eurekamoments lately Is there an light bulb floating over your head right now http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/c8a7fe5923e7bb15cbffb63162af2d1f.html Jim Hyatt made the decision to become a librarian while serving in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/kentucky/smiths-grove/content/3400b55a9bf348954a858c15b96ce6a9.html Chuck Hughes with the Kentucky Department of Corrections and Tracey Moutardier a jail consultant visited the Barren County Fiscal Court on Tuesday evening to discuss the jails performance on the smoke evacuation test