MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR MARCH 13, 2015

From Ryan CraigExecutive Director

Logan County Chamber of Commerce

ryancraig@loganchamber.com

 

Of my many, many kinfolk who live in Logan County, it is always nice when I get to talk about some who are not facing incarceration. (Ha!)

Holly Goddard Jones

The family historian, the late, great Larry Craig, once claimed some distant kin was once tarred and feathered and then ran out on a rail. At least he was mostly tarred and feathered. He was a big guy, tar was short, and so they threw molasses on him so the feathers would stick. I don’t think that story is true, but with Larry you never knew.

My first cousin-in-law and Russellville native, Holly Goddard Jones, won a state award from Transylvania University for a novel that best represents rural Kentucky. Goddard Jones was selected for the award by famed Kentucky author Silas House. Her book, a mystery which is set in a thinly-veiled Russellville and Logan County, is called The Next Time You See Me and will make a great read to add to your list. Goddard Jones was also mentioned in the recent issue of Kentucky Monthly.

 

In this week’s newsletter I have much, much more to brag about.

ANNUAL DINNER IS UPON US

Cajun Spice and everything nice, fun with a hint of saffron, Mardi Gras and it’s a party, y'all!

Well, you get the badly written puns. It is time for our Annual Dinner and there will be a great deal of food, fun and fellowship, but if you don’t have your tickets, the time is drawing nigh. We need to do a head count for the food, so we need confirmation on if you are coming or not by Monday.

Also, and this hasn’t been mentioned, but we have a pretty well-known blues and jazz band as our entertainment this year. They are called “Hear.” Hear is led by Trey Farley, a Logan County native, and the band has been invited to play at national blues and jazz festivals, so we are in for a treat. And, yes, I’m going to say it … Here, Here for Hear. Sorry.

We will also have a debut of the new Tourism film. It is about six minutes long and a lot of people will see people and places they know in it. And, the National Anthem will be sung by a local group of students.

Assistant Director Amanda Baker said the Extension Office will be open Thursday, March 19, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all table sponsors to set up and decorate their table for Annual Dinner.  Amanda will be there during that time to check everyone in and answer or address any needs or concerns.  Please make plans to have your table completed by 4:30 that afternoon, she said.  From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., the doors will be locked and access to the facility will not be granted due to the need to complete final preparations for the evening.

Amanda reminds us all that seats cannot be reserved prior to the 5:30 opening.  The only table reservations are for special guests and those tables will be marked.

We have a great list of sponsors that have worked hard to provide each and every guest with a special “welcome gift” at each place setting and every seat will offer a wonderful surprise.

The Grand Entrance will begin at 5:30 when the doors open and the program is scheduled to start around 7 p.m.

 

NEW VICE-PRESIDENT FOR CHAMBER

In a unanimous vote at the Board’s meeting on March 10, Joe Hendricks was named the new Vice-President of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.

Joe Hendricks

 

Joe, who will be the President in 2016, is the son South Logan farmers, Joe Wayne and Cathie Hendricks, a native of Logan County, and graduate of Logan County High School.  A graduate of Berry College and the Georgia State University College of Law, Hendricks is licensed to practice law in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia and began practice in 1995 as an Assistant District Attorney in Georgia's Appalachian Judicial Circuit, entering private practice in the Atlanta Metro area after three successful years. Hendricks ran a solo firm there focusing on criminal, family, tort, business and bankruptcy law.

In 2004, he was elected District Attorney in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit and spent the next eight years running a highly regarded office, winning murder trials and successfully prosecuting corrupt public officials.

His trial performance and moral courage won respect statewide, and he was invited to work with the Judicial Qualifications Commission to remove unethical judges around the state.

Hendricks returned to Logan County in 2013 and practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and wills, criminal defense, family law and business law.
He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and is a Wealthcounsel member.

 

Joe is married to Kaye Hendricks, who is a teacher at Adairville School.  Their son, John is an Eighth Grader at Adairville Middle School.

A big congratulations to Joe, who has a passion for the place he lives, and will do a great job helping lead the Chamber.

 

COFFEE AND NETWORKING

We had a great time this morning (Friday, March 13) at the Coffee and Networking event at the Logan County Library. There was a good crowd despite the rain and there was great conversation. A great amount of kudos goes to King Simpson and his staff for the warm welcome and the very tasty food in their very impressive building.

RIBBON CUTTING COMING UP

We hope to have a good crowd and good weather for a ribbon cutting at noon on March 24 at The Loft, on 4^th Street. The Loft is an events rental facility and is owned by Lisa Haley-Miller. Make your plans now to be there to support this new business.

BROOKS SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIES FOR FOSTER CARE REFORM



We mentioned earlier in this newsletter about Joe Hendricks’ news, but his law partner Ami Brooks, with Brooks & Hendricks, PLLC, was an integral part of passing a bill in this year’s state General Assembly to help improve the rights of children in foster care.



Ami Brooks with former Speaker
of the Kentucky House, Jody Richards.

Brooks traveled to Frankfort on Feb. 25 to testify before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on the bill, which she wrote.

“This bill is a small portion of the changes I hope to see passed by our legislature in the near future to protect and preserve Kentucky families,” Brooks said. “I’d like to see a system in which the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, foster families, and families with children in state custody work together to solve the problems that have caused children to be removed from their parent's care. Focusing on the family as a whole is a key portion to protecting Kentucky’s children.”

The bill passed the Kentucky Senate on Monday, March 6th on a vote of 36-0 and then passed the Kentucky House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 11th with a vote of 98-0. The bill has been sent to Governor Steve Beshear for final approval. The Chamber congratulates Ami for her good work.

COMING NEXT WEEK

There is much more to discuss next week. Besides the coverage of the Annual Dinner, we will talk about even more upcoming ribbon cuttings, OSHA training through WKU, our updated mission statement and vision plan and retail development. With the upcoming pretty weather, it is now time to kick things up a couple notches (see how I worked in a New Orleans-themed reference there? BAM!).

So thanks for reading and I hope to see/meet many of you at the Annual Dinner next week!

Ryan