Good News Community Center: A Place for Everyone

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 1:49pm — Diane Dyer

A little less than seven years ago, Gene and Connie Poole opened the doors to the Good News Community Center at 5401 Caneyville Road in Butler County. They had one central aim: to have a facility that would glorify God by blessing the community with a place they could use, free of charge. A brief survey of last month’s activities and this month’s scheduled events shows their vision for the facility is on track. Weddings, showers, receptions, birthday parties, reunions, benefits and various community meetings are common occurrences at the center.

The Good News Community Center is located in the former Fifth District school building, and includes adjacent property that contains a playground, a pavilion and a concrete walking track. The Pooles were in full-time ministry in Longmont, Colorado before moving to Kentucky. After seeing the property for sale it was purchased by the Free Methodist Church, and the Pooles installed as directors for the facility.
Since their arrival, Gene and Connie, along with Randall and Pam Bratcher, have overseen major renovations to the structure, putting their own backs into much of the labor, and depending on community volunteers to bring the plans for an active community center to fruition. The gym has been re-roofed and the inside walls have been given a fresh coat of paint. Rooms have been fitted for meetings and furnished with tables and chairs. In addition to meeting rooms, the center features a chapel, an exercise room, a children’s room (complete with toys, a crib and a changing table), a fully-furnished kitchen and a gym. The Pooles, who work as bus drivers for the Warren County School system, along with their daughter and granddaughter, actually live in the facility in rooms set aside as their living area.
Although the Good News Center is owned by the Free Methodist Church, it is completely self-supporting. The daily operation and maintenance of the center depends solely on donations and volunteers. A quick glance at the work projects list is a reminder that volunteers are always needed to paint, mow, fix, install or build at the center and its adjacent property.

“Even though the center is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, it is open to all denominations and people at no charge,” Connie Poole says. The use of the center is free to everyone, but reservations are still necessary. They are on a first come, first served basis. “If the day is open, it’s yours,” she says.
A community wide yard sale at the center will be held on Saturday, June 1st from 7:00-2:00pm.