Last year, Christian County magistrates were very much in favor of pursuing grant funding through the Recreational Trails program — seeking mountain biking options for the southern portion of the Pennyrile Forest State Park.
That funding, however, wasn’t granted.
During Tuesday morning’s fiscal court meeting, and after a short presentation from Pennyrile Area Development District’s Jess Kaminski, magistrates again moved in favor of pursuing these funds — in hopes of being accepted in this cycle.
Kaminski noted that Hopkins County has a robust population interested and engaged in the mountain biking hobby, and as such have developed trails for this pursuit.
She said a pitch from Friends of the Pennyrile representative and Dawson Springs Mayor Jenny Sewell, cousin to Governor Andy Beshear, has been well received in the early stage.
The grant, she said, is an 80/20 match, where Friends of the Pennyrile would explore ways to meet the threshold.
Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam called Pennyrile Forest State Park a “hidden gem” within western Kentucky, noting it is “underutilized” and a “great resource” to both visitors and the local community.
Kaminski also confirmed that, if approved, Christian County’s connector portion of the skills trail would cost around $146,000, and would take 6-to-8 months to construct.
In other court news:
— For more than half an hour, magistrates convened in executive session for the possibility of property acquisition. Upon re-entering open session, magistrates voted 6-2 in favor for a drafted letter of intent be signed by Gilliam, for the potential acquisition of said property. Josh Turner and JE Pryor were the “nay” votes.
— Following a successful trial run and implementation on Witty Lane, magistrates unanimously approved a resolution for rubber modified asphalt to be used on Millers Mill Road near Hopkinsville. Gilliam said there is “plenty of horse traffic” out that way, and it was confirmed that Rogers Group helps provide the rubber/asphalt mix.
— Gilliam gave a nod to Magistrate Maggie Ferguson and the newest addition to the “Chapel of Love,” which now has a refurbished and repainted wedding bell on its front step. Newlyweds can joyfully ring in the occasion, thanks to Erica Miller’s father restoring it, and Pryor confirmed it could recently be heard clanging during a show at the Alhambra Theatre.
Ferguson, who administers the weddings, said Visit Hopkinsville provides a small gift bag to new couples, while officials from The Mixer Restaurant donate a small dessert.
— Magistrates also unanimously approved the Area 1 & 2 Mutual Aid Assistance Agreement, which brings Christian County into the emergency response network with the rest of west Kentucky. Emergency Management Director Randy Graham said the formality was important because it was recently utilized during the December 2021 tornadoes, in which Christian County responded to both Caldwell and Hopkins counties, before being called back home to manage all of the damage observed along the stateline.
— Gilliam, meanwhile, brought about a bevy of calendar events that may be of interest to the public.
a) Christian County’s Tire Amnesty is scheduled April 4-6 at the overflow lot for Hopkinsville Elevator. It will run from 8 AM until 4 PM that Thursday and Friday, and from 8 AM until noon that Saturday.
b) In conjunction with Oak Grove Racing & Gaming, Trigg County officials and Christian County officials, “Hams for Heroes” is scheduled from noon until 6 PM this Thursday at the popular hotel’s Equestrian Center. Gilliam said more than 600 hams will be handed out to military and veteran families, just in time for Easter Sunday.
c) Speaking of military veterans, Hopkinsville’s inaugural “Hometown Heroes” banner program is live on both the city and county municipal websites. Gilliam said the price is $150 for a two-year contract, in which the banners will be retired and new ones will be ordered. Banners will run all along 41A into Hopkinsville, and they will be put up prior to July 4 and remain in place through Veteran’s Day in 2024 and 2025.
d) Gilliam noted several Christian County superlatives will be in attendance for the Friday morning 1-year memorial honoring of the March 29, 2023, two HH-60 helicopter crash in Trigg County — which claimed the lives of nine Fort Campbell soldiers. Located at Vinson’s Cemetery along U.S. 68/80 toward Cadiz, proceedings begin at 9 AM.
