PULASKI’S PAST: Pat Kelly, J. Allen Brown start new video recording business | Community
We are back in July of 1984, where we once again can see several examples of how much has changed – and how much has not changed.
Making headlines 40 years ago was our relatively-new combined city/county EMS service. The service has remained in our local headlines steadily over the years. In 1984, the main issue seemed to be how to keep the entity afloat financially.
Also 40 years ago, some local churches were excited about an area located behind the Tradewind Shopping Center that was planned to be the new hot spot for youth rallies and other events. Four decades later, the site (Trinity Springs Park) is all but forgotten for most people in the community.
And here’s a milestone I’ve not heard about this year: Apparently, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the state park commission. Forty years ago, General Burnside State Park celebrated the 60th anniversary in style with an all-day event featuring a square dance and hot air balloon rides.
Here’s what was newsworthy in Pulaski County this week 40 years ago — in 1984 — from the pages of The Commonwealth-Journal.
Ambulance operation assured for four months
The Somerset City Council last night assured the continued operation of the ambulance service for four months by approving the extension of the present budget on a 30-day prorated basis until the future of the service can be determined. The city and county have $91,000 each in their budgets for the service, city administrator Jack Early said today. Councilor Peggy Dugger made a motion that Billy Miller be appointed temporary manager of the Somerset-Pulaski County Emergency Medical Service, a move the council endorsed. The formal council action confirms Miller’s appointment by the ambulance service’s advisory board. Miller replaces outgoing manager Rockey Johnson, who managed the service since the city and county took over joint operation of the service last year. Johnson left for personal reasons to accept a higher paying job with the Jefferson County ambulance service, he said. The council noted Miller’s appointment is a temporary one that will last at least until decisions on the future of the local ambulance service are made.
Court approves sticker tax for local ambulance service
Pulaski Fiscal Court today approved an annual $5 vehicle sticker tax to support the city-county emergency medical service. The action, approved by a vote of 3-2 a few minutes before press time this morning, brings the tax close to reality. Somerset Mayor Smith Vanhook and eight councilors overwhelmingly but “unofficially” voted their approval last night at a meeting of the city-county ambulance service study committee. The city officials last night also urged fiscal court to create a “non-political” committee to oversee the administration of the ambulance service. Council members Nancy Bunch, Eugene “Skip” Padgett, Paul Wilson, Merrel Henderson, Richard Denham, Henry Neeley, Peggy Dugger and Bill Massengale raised their hands in support of the $5 ambulance sticker tax when called upon by Mayor Vanhook, making it unanimous among the city governors present. … The emergency medical service has been solely the responsibility of city and county government since mid-April of last year.
Dinner to promote sheriffs’ amendment
At present, only one state in the nation does not permit a sheriff to run for re-election. That state is Kentucky. But the sheriffs of this state are banding together in an attempt to change this peculiar law. This November an amendment will be on the ballot which will give Kentuckians an opportunity to decide whether they want to allow their sheriffs to seek additional terms. Locally, Pulaski County Sheriff John Adams will host a dinner July 27 sponsored by the Kentucky Sheriffs Association at Holiday Inn. … “We want to inform the public of the benefits if a sheriff can be re-elected,” said Adams. … Adams, whose term expires at the end of next year, feels that a sheriff may not have the incentive to do a good job if he does not have the opportunity to succeed himself. According to Adams, some sheriffs will not go that extra mile in their duties if they know there is no chance that voters could consider them for another term. And sheriffs who do work extra hard to do well cannot be rewarded with another term. “No professionalism can be established in that short period of time,” claimed Adams.
KY 461 to be upgraded
Upgrading KY 461 from Somerset to Mount Vernon to Class I status will be accomplished during Gov. Martha Layne Collins’ administration, Transportation Secretary Floyd Poore announced at a press conference outside the District 8 Department of Highways Office in Somerset this morning. … Class I roads, the state’s highest designation, have wider shoulders and surfaces, shallower grades and passing lanes. Poore also said the state Transportation Cabinet began another project yesterday — upgrading a 2.1-mile stretch of Oak Hill Road from U.S. 27 to the city limits. … Poore said the … project would include widening the road and adding curbs and gutters.
Developers sought to restore downtown building
Somerset City Council last night paved the way for the renovation of the former Western Auto building at 220 E. Mount Vernon St. by approving a motion to allow advertising to attract developers interested in the project. “We’re pretty excited about it,” Tom Fiorini, director of the Downtown Somerset Development Corporation (DSDC), said after the meeting. “Nothing can happen from this but good. It’s a good deal for developers” if they understand the package, he said. Developers interested in buying the building must meet certain criteria to be considered for the project, Fiorini said, and the city will review all the proposals presented before making a decision on who to award the project to. The city’s objective in the sale, according to information handed out at the meeting, is to sell the building to the private sector to be reused to help the community and the downtown area and to generate funds to build a Market Street parking lot. … Demolition of the building will not be considered, according to DSDC, and the entire structure must be historically rehabilitated following Secretary of the Interior Standards.
Baptist group is clearing land
David Aker stood yanking and pulling weeds from the ground — an uncommon task for someone serving as director of missions for the Pulaski Baptist Association. But the look on Aker’s face was not one of resentment over his duty. … Aker was helping start a project he feels has been needed by the county and the association for quite some time. On this land where Aker tugged weeds, someday will stand a center for all of Pulaski County, all of the Pulaski Baptist Association and, mainly, for all Pulaski County youth. Tuesday was the first of three volunteer work days by the association, which consists of 58 Southern Baptist churches, to clear off a plot of land located behind Tradewinds Shopping Center. … The land, all 14.38 acres of it, was donated to the association last year by Correll Enterprises. “Although the Corrells put no stipulations on what we could do on the land,” said Aker, “they did express an interest in using it for the youth of this community.” “We had people wanting to use it for businesses, but we thought it would be better for this,” said Ward Correll. … “Our ambition is to develop it for the use of the churches in the area and the people of Pulaski County,” Aker said. The first step in this development is to have the land cleared off in time for an associational youth rally Aug. 4. Aker hopes to have a crowd of 1,000 young people present for the event. “Really, the youth rallies were what pressured us to get the land,” Aker said. “The rallies kept growing to gigantic sizes, and there were simply not enough churches around here large enough to hold all of them. It was then we felt we should try to acquire some land.” … Aker hopes that someday the area will include softball diamonds, picnic areas, a Christian activity center and someday possibly offices for the association. … The association is even considering the possibility of an amphitheater.-Army Spec. 4 Judy E. Mayfield, daughter of Allen E. and Lula B. Mayfield of RR 2, Somerset, has arrived for duty in Heilbronn, West Germany. Mayfield, a telephone switching systems repairer with the 26th Signal Battalion, was previously assigned at Fort Gordon, Ga.
-Sgt. Benny L. Burdine, son of Benjamin K. Burdine of RR 5, Somerset, has graduated from the Air Force non-commissioned officer leadership school at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The sergeant studied techniques of leadership, management and supervision. Burdine is a power production technician with the 3rd Combat Communications Group. His wife, Rhonda, is the daughter of Bobby and Bertean Chaney of RR 4, Somerset.
-Army Pvt. Jackie L. Roaden, grandson of Willie and Lucy Childers and son of Gertrude Childers of 101 Todd St., Somerset, has completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
News from Local Businesses:
-Pat Kelly and J. Allen Brown are starting a new video recording business in Somerset, known as Eye Witness, Inc. The firm will be able to record business events, weddings and other special programs.
-Clearing the way for the purchase of the Crane Company by the Chicago-based Fiat Products, Somerset City Council last night authorized Mayor Smith Vanhook, City Clerk David Godsey and City Attorney Joe Travis to sign papers allowing Fiat to purchase an option on 54 acres of Crane land. … Fiat is a privately owned company specializing in producing and selling plumbing products. It owns and operates plumbing manufacturing plants in four U.S. states and Canada, and is negotiating to buy Crane plants in two other locations, along with the Ferguson plant. Company president Reed Beidler said… that Fiat plans to upgrade and expand Crane’s Ferguson plant, retooling it to diversify its production capability and provide additional local production jobs.
-Eaton’s TV and Appliance has moved from its former location downtown to 140 North U.S. 27 across from Louise Florist and next to Food Fair. Bill Anderson is manager of television sales and service. Eaton’s features RCA televisions and recorders and Hotpoint and Amana appliances.
-Two officers at a local bank recently graduated from the Kentucky School of Banking. Mary Ann Burkett, assistant cashier, and Barbara K. Sanders, assistant vice president, First and Farmers Bank of Somerset, were among the members of the school’s 37th graduating class. … Mrs. Burkett is branch manager of the First and Farmers Plaza Branch. Mrs. Sanders is advertising and public relations director of the bank.
-Martha “Mom” Land, of Indian Hills, is the 59-year-old manager of Pulaski County’s oldest pizza parlor, Dino’s, located on South Maple Street. Founded in 1966, Dino’s was once one of the most popular teenage eateries in the county. But in recent years Martha has cut back her hours and now says she operates the business “as a hobby.” But she still has a faithful clientele who will eat only “Mom’s” pizzas.
-Physicians in the community soon will have another option in dealing with “routine surgery” when Walk-in and Out Surgery Center opens in September. The center, located in the Grissom Medical Building, 353 Bogle St., is a freestanding surgical facility developed by Dr. Truman Mays and Tom Grissom, both of Somerset. The new center’s name reflects its planned operation: The performance of outpatient surgery on a “same day, in and out” basis.
-Franklin Life Insurance Company has named Roscoe Perkins district manager for the Somerset area. A native of Middlesboro, Perkins has taught and coached in the Somerset Independent School District for the past six years. Perkins will be specializing in tax shelters, life insurance and retirement plans.
Read the story in its entirety at www.somerset-kerntucky.com.
