Fletcher is sworn into office in midnight ceremony

KCTCS regents approve Elizabethtown consolidation

Give Knott CDI Project a chance

Herald-Leader
December 9, 2003

Fletcher is sworn into office in midnight ceremony

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gov. Ernie Fletcher was sworn into office in a private, midnight ceremony to complete Kentucky's transition to a Republican administration for the first time in a generation.

Fletcher simultaneously resigned his seat in the U.S. House - an act formalized Monday night in letters delivered to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and to a representative of departing Gov. Paul Patton. The letter specified that the resignation and the swearing-in were to coincide, an aide said.

Ahead lay a long day of pomp, public ceremony and just plain partying. But first came paperwork.

Fletcher signed an order appointing Donald Storm as adjutant general, satisfying the Kentucky Constitution's mandate that the state must never be without one. Appointment of the adjutant general traditionally is a new governor's first official act.

Within the hour, Fletcher was in his Capitol office signing orders to appoint some of the members of his new staff and cabinet, including Lt. Gov. Steve Pence as justice secretary and Fletcher's campaign manager, Daniel Groves, as chief of staff, a post Groves held in Fletcher's congressional office.

Fletcher spokesman Wes Irvin said the new governor also was appointing Mike Duncan, an Inez banker who has been general counsel to the Republican National Committee, as a "special senior adviser." Duncan headed Fletcher's transition team. It was unclear whether Duncan would be a constant presence at the Capitol.

The swearing-in ceremony, a private affair for about 180 invited guests, took place inside the Capitol Rotunda, which glittered with gold and white holiday decorations.

Fletcher, his hand on a family Bible, stood by wife Glenna as Chief Justice Joseph Lambert administered Kentucky's quaintly archaic constitutional oath - a promise to uphold the law and a vow by the new officeholder that he has never fought a duel.

"It's overwhelming," Fletcher told his audience. "It's hard to know what to feel."

Some of his fellow Republicans felt a sense of history, considering it had been 36 years since Kentucky last inaugurated a Republican governor. In introductory remarks, Duncan told the audience to "welcome this special moment in history."

Fletcher also had a historical prop, signing his first order on a pedestal base table once owned by statesman Henry Clay. Irvin, his spokesman, said it was borrowed for the occasion from the Clay estate in Lexington.

Fletcher, Patton and their wives planned to attend a private worship service Tuesday morning at First Christian Church in downtown Frankfort. An inaugural parade was to step off at 10 a.m. EST. Fletcher's public, ceremonial swearing-in and inaugural address outside the Capitol were scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Business First
December 8, 2003

KCTCS regents approve Elizabethtown consolidation

The board of regents of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System has approved the consolidation of Elizabethtown Community College and Elizabethtown Technical College into a single institution, according to a news release.

The combined institution will operate as the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.

The regents also authorized the combined college to pursue a single accreditation under the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Lexington-based KCTCS, which oversees operations of the state's community and technical colleges, already has combined many of the community and technical colleges across the state, including those in Jefferson County.

Give Knott CDI Project a chance
MASTER PLAN WILL BRING MORE JOBS TO MOUNTAIN COUNTY IN LONG TERM

Having spent most of my life working with communities in Eastern Kentucky, I have some expertise in community development and strategic planning. The CDI Project in Knott County is one of the best -- and best-thought-through -- plans I have seen.

We are not focusing on "trinkets and roadside crafts," rather quality Appalachian craft and education. "Craft" is a term used to encompass various artworks, including jewelry making, work with fibers, blacksmithing and woodworking.

We realized from the beginning that we could not chase smokestacks but had to build on what we have. To do this, we had to have a strong educational foundation. A nationally recognized School of Craft and a branch of the Hazard Community & Technical College are two major steps in this direction.

If the reporter had read our proposal and master plan, he would have seen that housing and other job-related activities would be a spinoff from bringing in 300 to 500 people daily to this community.

The main problem is the shortsightedness of those who want to cast stones even though they don't have the knowledge to do so. It's true that few jobs have been created thus far. But this is a long-range plan.

Tupelo, Miss., a town held up by many as an example of good community development, took 40 years to turn around. Our plan is looking at 20 years. The investments made through the CDI in Knott County are investments in our future by focusing on our culture and our past.

Yes, Hindman will become a center of Appalachian craft and a community with a strong educational foundation. The CDI plan, crafted by some of Knott County's strong leaders, will work. Those folk who understand long-term development will understand this.
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Linda Gayheart of Hindman is a consultant in community development and leadership.