Monday, July 04, 2011
EKB Capsule News...Kentucky...7-5-'11
- Leslie "Wayne" Southwood, an inmate who escaped from Three Forks Regional Jail in Breathitt County on June 26th, is still on the loose, and authorities say he is extremely dangerous. Police are searching across the area but believe he is still in Breathitt County. In May, Southwood's brother Jeffrey was killed in a police shootout while they were searching for Leslie Southwood. Southwood had been sentenced to 20 years for violating probation.
- Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer say the region already has two Ford plants and a Toyota plant, but there is room for more. Businessman Jim Host has been chosen to lead an 18-month study that will be undertaken by a committee appointed by the mayors to study ways they can partner to attract regional economic development. Host expects the first meeting to be in August or September.
- The Kentucky Association of Food Banks has launched a program to increase access to fresh produce among people in low-income households. The association is using a $163,000 grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and matching funds from the Walmart Foundation to buy surplus fruits and vegetables and produce not sold on the retail market because of minor blemishes or size discrepancies. The food is then distributed at no cost to people in need in Kentucky. The association plans to distribute more than 400,000 pounds of produce purchased from at least 150 different farmers this growing season.
- Drivers in Boone, Gallatin, Hardin, Jefferson and Oldham counties may notice new message signs and traffic-monitoring cameras in the next few months. Seven new side-mounted message signs and eight cameras are being installed by Arrow Electric of Louisville under a $1.5 million contract. The devices will be part of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's overall intelligent transportation system, which relays information to motorists about traffic incidents and delays. The work is scheduled to be finished in January.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:23 PM 
