The Daily News
March 15, 2005
Technical college presidential candidates to meet the pulic
Bowling Green Technical College system has four candidates vying to replace
former President Jack Thomas.
The candidates are being introduced to the public during meetings, the first
of which was held Monday evening at the Kentucky Advanced Technology Institute
Campus at 1127 Morgantown Road.
The first candidate was Judith Hansen, who is currently president of Independence
Community College in Independence, Kan. On Wednesday, the community can meet
Nathan Hodges, president of Haywood Community College in Clyde, N.C.
On April 4, Katherine Persson, vice president of educational programs and services
in the North Harris Montgomery Community College District of Kingwood College
in Kingwood, Texas, will be introduced. The last forum will be for Luke Robins,
vice president for instruction at National Park Community College in Hot Springs,
Ark., on April 5.
The new president would replace Thomas, who resigned in December after being
appointed to oversee corporate and industrial training in the Kentucky Community
and Technical College System.
— Each of the forums are from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call
Bowling Green Technical College at 901-1150.
Kentucky New Era
March 15, 2005
New factory would help offset job losses
With job security a big concern in Trigg County right now, the announcement
that a new plant is locating in Cadiz couldn't come at a better time, said local
officials.
Benson International, Inc., a manufacturer of steel and aluminum truck trailers
and bodies, announced on Monday its decision to locate a $10 million facility
in Trigg County's Industrial Park.
The 180,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in about 10 months, said
Donnie Holland, president of Benson International.
The plant will be located on about 15 acres of the industrial park's third
site, which is empty now. Benson will open with two production lines and plan
expansions within five years, depending on the market, Holland added.
Forty people will be employed at the facility when it opens. At least 150 are
expected to be employed there in two years. Within five years, 250 could be
employed at the plant, Holland said.
He said the decision to locate here was in part based on an independent market
survey that showed a need for a facility in the Southwest.
Aluminum welders would be needed to fill the jobs and Holland said Hopkinsville
Community College could provide that training to the workforce.
"This is the right place for us," Holland said. "We're very,
very excited about the new site. We're anxious to get going."
Dan Bozarth, executive director of the Pennyrile Area Development District,
said the decision by the company to locate here means a lot.
"It means 250 jobs that will offset some of the job loss over there,"
Bozarth said. "This will make a lot of difference to the community.
"For the region, we're always pleased when we get new jobs. Obviously,
a lot of behind the scenes work went into this. We think this is a good fit."
Within the last seven months, two Trigg County factories have announced they
were closing operations.
Chelsea Industries laid off more than 50 employees in October at its Cadiz
factory that made automobile parts.
Elk Brand, a jeans manufacturer, announced Sunday that, after more than 80
years in business, its 70 Cadiz employees would have to look for new jobs in
May, when the factory will close its doors.
"We feel very fortunate that Benson International is locating in Cadiz
and Trigg County," said David Shore, chairman of the Cadiz-Trigg County
Economic Development Commission. "This development will have a positive
impact on our community and the surrounding counties."
Cadiz Mayor Lyn Bailey said the city welcomes Benson with open arms.
"Being one of the largest custom trailer companies in the business, we
feel they will complement our existing industries," Bailey said.
Benson International has been building "rugged and reliable transportation
equipment" for more than 50 years and is now one of the largest custom
trailer and body builders in the business, according to its Web site. It has
operating plants in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and dealerships
in more than 20 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
In a press release Monday, Gov. Ernie Fletcher thanked the company for choosing
Kentucky.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the workforce in Trigg County,"
Fletcher stated in the release.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved
Benson International for tax credits under the Kentucky Industrial Development
Act (KIDA), an incentive program aimed at increasing manufacturing employment
in the Commonwealth.
Fletcher added that his administration would continue its commitment to provide
more jobs and opportunities for Kentucky families.
Kentucky Enquirer
March 15, 2005
NKU a winner before 1st tipoff
Governor leads cheers in praise of $54M for arena
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - It was in a debate during the 2003 gubernatorial race that
Republican Ernie Fletcher first committed to funding a special-events center
at Northern Kentucky University.
Tuesday afternoon, in the same building and standing on practically the same
spot, Fletcher made good on that promise.
The Republican, who was elected governor in 2003 by beating Democrat Ben Chandler,
was the focal point of a pep rally to celebrate the General Assembly's approval
of a state budget that includes $54 million in borrowed money to build the center.
"Opportunities like this only come along every few decades," Fletcher
told a crowd of more than 1,000 students, staff and community leaders that gathered
in Regents Hall. "There is a lot of competition across the state for projects.
"But this is an excellent, well-deserved facility ... that will be welcomed
by the entire Northern Kentucky community," Fletcher said.
The Bank of Kentucky has acquired naming rights on the building for $6 million,
bringing the total cost of the project to $60 million. The naming-rights agreement
lasts 20 years.
Not only will the center allow NKU's sports teams to move their games from
Regents Hall, which seats fewer than 3,000, but the university is also studying
a move to Division I college athletics.
NKU will now determine the best location for the 10,000-seat arena. But once
that decision is made, work will begin almost immediately.
"Next year's freshman class will play in this special-events center"
before they graduate, said NKU President James Votruba. "This is truly
a historic day for Northern Kentucky University and our entire community ...
and we are going to seize on this opportunity to continue moving forward as
a university and a region."
Tyler Haverly, 20, a physical education major from Florence, attended because
he was required to - for a political-science class assignment. But he supports
the project and said that if NKU played Division I sports, he probably would
have gone to a few more basketball games.
"We're growing out here, and we really need a new arena," Haverly
said. "It's time because we've outgrown (Regents Hall), and if the state
spends the money, then it's good they are spending it here."
The center could also boost the region's economy, particularly tourism, said
Tom Caradonio, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
While it's NKU's sports arena, it's also being built to host concerts, high
school sports tournaments and other large-scale corporate and community events.
"I've already got one group interested in trying to rent it once it's
built," said Caradonio, who would not name the group because the bureau
is still negotiating with it. "This is a natural for our region. We need
it, and it's going to help tourism - especially if they start bringing in national
(music) acts. It will help put us on the map."
Much of the 45-minute event was for NKU to thank Fletcher, members of Northern
Kentucky's legislative caucus and House Speaker Jody Richards, a Bowling Green
Democrat who attended.
The school's pep band played, cheerleaders performed and legislators were given
Viking helmets - complete with horns - in recognition of NKU's nickname, the
Norse.
Following the lead of Rep. Jon Draud, R-Edgewood, a retired educator and NKU
instructor, other legislators and even the governor donned the headwear.
"This is an exciting day, and an exciting time for Northern Kentucky,"
said Rep. Addia Wuchner, R-Florence. "It shows what we can accomplish when
we work together as a caucus and as a region."
Fletcher said Northern Kentucky lawmakers showed "tremendous leadership"
in securing funding for the region.
The budget also includes $15 million for Gateway Community and Technical College,
$15 million - with a commitment for an additional $15 million next year - for
NKU to borrow money to build a new student center, $6.5 million that NKU will
use to slightly pare back a planned tuition increase, and millions of dollars
for road, water and sewer projects throughout Northern Kentucky.
All told, about $250 million in the $20 billion budget is earmarked for Northern
Kentucky.
Fletcher has expressed some concern about the level of debt in the budget.
In the final days of the legislature, lawmakers loaded up the spending plan
with nearly $2 billion in projects that will have to be paid with borrowed money.
Fletcher said that when he begins looking at vetoes later this week, he might
veto some projects - but funding for the arena and other major projects for
the region will not be sliced.
Paducah Sun
March 17, 2005
WKCTC nominates employees
West Kentucky Community and Technical College employees Tina White and Tena
Payne have been nominated for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s
2005 New Horizons Award.
Each KCTCS school nominates one faculty member and one staff member for the
annual award, which honors exemplary employees.
The nominees will be recognized at a dinner on Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency
in Lexington, where the winner will be announced.
White is the Office of Minority Affairs coordinator and has worked there since
2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s
degree in human services from Murray State University.
Payne directs the college’s nursing program and has worked at the college
since 1985. She holds a doctorate in education from the University of Kentucky,
a master’s in nursing from the University of Evansville, and received her
bachelor’s degree in nursing from Murray State.
Last year, Clemens Fine Arts Center director Gail Robinson Butler was awarded
the New Horizon Award for staff members.
Kentucky New Era
March 16, 2005
Cream or sugar?
Community College gains tasty addition
A little extra poundage might be noticed on the Hopkinsville Community College
campus with the addition of the Purple Cat Cafe
The Purple Cat Cafe has been in operation at the auditorium building for a
little more than a month and it's changing campus eating habits.
"I had a lady the other day said she would often go the whole day without
eating. Now she said she's going to get fat (because of the new eatery),"
said Irene Jaques, the cafe owner.
Jaques is a veteran of café and coffee shops, both here and California.
She worked at Coffee And downtown. Her first job with a café was when
she was 18.
Her relocation from California to Kentucky was after the first of two daughters
moved to Hopkinsville.
"I could take it for only six months without my granddaughter, Sela,"
said Jaques.
The business name comes from family history. Purple is the favorite color of
daughters, Tina and Rosie. The cat is granddaughter Sela's preferred animal.
Tina helps out with the café and Jaques' husband, Jesse describes himself
as the "dishwasher."
Students have been discovering this new treat on campus. A lot of times they're
in between classes, but on Thursday there's even more of an attraction for The
Purple Cat.
"Every Thursday I'll have a surprise for the customers, a special dish,"
said Jaques.
Those dishes can be Greek, Mexican or Italian origin.
"My chili is a favorite," said Jaques, who also adds her own recipe
for pizza toppings. She also makes one of the biggest peach pies ever seen.
Some surprised students benefited from Jaques' pizza. They were playing ping-pong
in the nearby recreation room. She had leftover pizza, so she donated it to
the recreation room group.
Jaques is familiar with education systems. In California she was a special
education aide for 10 years in both high school and elementary schools.
"At first it was difficult (getting to know the students) because they
were in a hurry to get to class, but now we're having more of an exchange of
conservation," said Jaques.
Instructor Jim Hunter's calculus class has benefited from the new café.
Hunter had to change his class schedule. It meant the students had to adjust
their schedules and some missed lunches.
Hunter responded by buying them lunch for five days.
Jaques is of Hispanic descent, so some of her entrees are of Mexican origin.
"One of the students who is Hispanic comes in here just so I can speak
Spanish to her," said Jaques.
The café has strong coffee discipline. The espresso machine has Cuban
coffee, lattes and cappuccino, not to mention regular coffees. There is an Obulita
coffee, which is made with Mexican chocolate.
The new slogan for the Purple Cow Café -- A Café with Style &
A Warm Smile."
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