Beech Tree News Network

Kentucky Farm Bureau, with more than 465,000 member families statewide, is the state’s largest general farm organization. Approximately 1,500 members attended KFB’s 95th annual meeting in Louisville, December 3-6, to recognize this year’s individual and organizational achievements and adopt policy for 2015. Butler County received several awards.

The Butler County Fiscal Court met in their regular session for December on Monday, December 8th. Magistrate Johnny Tuck was absent from the meeting. The meeting was held at the Green River Museum in Woodbury. Visitors included Morgantown Mayor-Elect Billy Phelps, MPD Chief Charlie Swiney, Magistrate-Elect Bobby Moore, Gina Tynes from Hocker Family Insurance, and Lewis White and Shirley Flener from Green River Waste.

Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (Warren RECC) was recently recognized by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for its energy efficiency efforts in several programs.
 
Ernie Peterson, TVA Kentucky District General Manager, presented the award to Warren RECC President and CEO W. Scott Ramsey at the cooperative’s annual Member Advisory Dinner on November 13. TVA Director Pete Mahurin also attended the event.
 

The Holiday shopping season is upon us and I want to give residents and shoppers a few safety tips so your property will stay with its rightful owner.  While the majority of us go about their shopping in the legal and honest way, there are some who don’t.  While most get their discounts at malls and stores on Gray Thursday, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, some prefer the “five-finger discount.”

Current Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture and G.O.P. gubernatorial candidate James Comer visited Morgantown on Monday, December 1, for a meet-and -greet fundraiser.

Comer, originally from Tompkinsville, was elected Agriculture Commissioner in 2011, and led the ticket on the way to winning his first state-wide campaign. Now he has his sights set on the Governor’s mansion, where he thinks major changes are needed in order to make Kentucky competitive with other states.

The Butler County Boys Bluegrass Band, comprised of Collin Coots and Aaron and Luke Jacobs, performed before a live audience during the December 5 general session of Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) 95th annual meeting in Louisville. Winner of both the Butler County and District 3 preliminary contests, the band was one of 11 acts invited to perform at the state level Variety Showcase. The competition is sponsored annually by KFB to support youth achievement in entertainment.

Recognized for its outstanding programming and for having a positive impact on both the community and its membership, Butler County Farm Bureau was honored as Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) “Top County” in 2014. This is the second year in a row that Butler County won the award. Volunteer leaders from Butler County received the award at a recognition breakfast held this morning during the 95th KFB annual meeting at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville.

Warren RECC President and CEO W. Scott Ramsey announced that over 3,000 comments have been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in opposition to the agency’s proposal to limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The comment period closed on December 1.

Butler County NSDAR held a luncheon on Tuesday,  December 2, 2014 at the Festival of Trees in the former Dollar General building. Jane Henderson opened the ceremony by welcoming the various guests, many of which represented other NSDAR chapters in the area. Henderson stated that over 500 human hours had been invested over the 14 days prior to the date of the luncheon in preparing the Festival of Trees. The members of the Festival of Trees Committee were asked to stand for recognition.

This Saturday, December 6th. at 5 p.m., the Butler County Arts Guild (B.C.A.G.) will be hosting their Celebrations of Lights & Sounds event at the Community Mural in downtown Morgantown.  The event will feature the lighting of the trees and unveiling of new holiday art from talented local artist Gail Smrtic.  The event will also feature performances by members of the Butler County High School Band, B.C.H.S. Choir and a special performance by The Dance Academy.  All are invited to attend.