In an evening filled with positive news and good vibes, Logan County Farm Bureau members were issued a warning from the top on a recent Saturday
evening.
Despite a concerted international attack on tobacco and frequent obstacles facing the dairy industry, agriculture remains such an important part of
the Logan County economy that the state organization dispatched its top brass to the sparkling new Logan County Extension Office during the
Logan chapter's annual dinner September 12.
Over 3,200 Logan County families are Farm Bureau members. The state reached its 'quota' of 475,000 members earlier than usual, it was announced. After
yet another excellent meal furnished by Roy's fueled from farm products, Logan President Daniel Gaston introduced Farm Bureau's top employee, Executive
Vice President David Beck, along with State President Mark Haney and Second Vice President Eddie Melton. Also there to congratulate farm people were
State Senator Joey Pendleton, State Representative Martha Jane King, District Judge Sue Carol Browning, Judge-Executive Logan Chick, Sheirff Wallace
Whittaker, Corner Mary Givens Epley and magistrates Lloyd Houchens, Curtis Watkins, and Harold Prince.
Haney issued the warning, saying that Farm Bureau Insurance has been bombarded with claims from "exceptional farm damage" this year and made over a
hundred million dollars in payments as a result. "The good news is that we were able to make all payments, but we have to get our reserve built back
up," the state president said. To those assembled, the message was clear: property insurance rates will have to be raised.
Women's Chair Carrell Hughes honored Catie Martin for receiving the Marshall Coyle Scholarship and Logan Fugate for being last year's district
Outstanding Youth winner. The four LCHS FFA members who represented Logan County Farm Bureau at IFAL (Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders) last
summer-- Justin Allen, Fugate, Chelsey Jones, and Jon Haley-- were given a chance to tell what the experience meant to them.
With the help of district representative Joe Rogan, she conducted Outstanding Youth and talent contests. Outstanding Youth winners were Robyn Estes and
Fugate while sisters Emily and Tiffany Badgley won the talent contest with Brittany Carter as runner-up.
Gaston was reelected president. Also reelected were First Vice President Jeremy Robertson, Second Vice President John Alcott, Treasurer Albert Brown,
Women's Chair Carrell Hughes and Young Farmer Chair Jonathon Brown. Tabitha Robertson was elected Women's Co-Chair.
Elected two new two-year terms as directors in addition to the officers were Earl Costellow, Bobby Dawson, Leo Duncan, Dwight Grise, Barry Johnson,
Richard Moore, Russell Poore, Alan Simmons, Jimmy Simmons and Jimmy White. Continuing directors are Bradley and Frances Brown, Lonny Epley, Jerry
Hughes, Ray Hughes, Denny Price, Clay Turner, Jay Campbell and Patsy Poore.
Speaking often was Russell Poore, who is a member of the state board of directors.
The LoJo
A new addition to the local restaurant market opened last week, and it's being well received.
Ski Daddy's is located at 1138 Bowling Green Road at Russellville's East End, in the former location of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
It features a variety of chicken and fish dishes along with salads and a kids' menu. The food offerings and format are very similar to the popular
Zaxby's in Bowling Green and Franklin, including Texas toast.
The restaurant, which has ample sit-down space and also a drive through, is owned and managed by Mike Jackson, who has been in the food business for
about 20 years. He also has a branch in Central City.
Ski Daddy's opens at 10:30 a.m. daily and closes at 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9:30 Fridays through Sundays.
The LoJo
Auburn Minit Mart has a special day planned, and they've got a pro promoting it. Lynn Thomas, a former aide at Auburn School, is now working at the
Minit Mart. She's billed as "Ms. Lynne, the pizza queen."
I watched Lynne in action when she was president of Auburn PTO. She was a dynamo and helped raise huge amounts of money for the school. Now she's
promoting the Minit Mart, including opening and soliciting members for a Friends of Auburn Minit Mart page on Facebook.
She says, "On Sept. 22, Auburn Minit Mart will be holding it's monthly pizza sale. Large one-topping pizzas all day for only $5! We need a huge amount
of community support this month to be able to get a new flat top grill and deep fryers added to our deli area so that we can offer the community over
30 different choices of foods in the near future. Something a little more than subs and pizza! Last month we were the top sellers in the
Kentucky-Tennessee region, and this month, with the support of the community, we need to top that record. Our competitors say it can't be done ! Come
out and show your support for your community on Sept. 22!"
Ms. Lynne says the new choices will include "fries, ribeye sandwiches,bbq plate lunches, kettle fries, baked beans and chicken tenders, just to name of
the few."
The LoJo
A few other notes:
1) Maple Grove BP has reopened on Clarksville Road at the intersection of Crittenden Drive.
2) Southern Electric Motors Sales and Service is making preparations to move to a building on West Third Street in the old location of Basel
Hinton's auto parts business, which later became NAPA. Southern Electric Motor's long-time site on Summer Street across from Scotty's Barber Shop is
part of the old bus station building, which is expected to be razed by the new owner, the Electric Plant Board. The building was owned for decades by
the Fuqua family, which operated BG&H Bus Lines.
3) Bert's Auto Parts has closed its Auburn branch and is emphasizing its long-time home on Hopkinsville Street in Russellville. Meanwhile LeAnn
Meguiar has closed the Russellville site of her Meguiar Printing Company and has consolidated her operation into the storefront vacated by
Bert's in Auburn. The building was the original Hall and Blythe Food Center on the corner of Main Street and Wilson Avenue, across from Minit Mart.
A sign in the window of the old Meguiar location in Russellville announces that a consignment shop will soon open there. It's on the northwest corner
of Nashville and Ninth streets.