Archive for the ‘Help!’ Category

I got this e-mail from Jeremy Blansett, a case worker for the Red Cross, forwarded to me by Karla Sefcak. I’m working on a story for the paper, but it looks like the Red Cross’ presence in Garrard County is uncertain because of a lack of funding.

If anyone knows someone in Garrard who received help from the Red Cross after a fire or something like that, I’d like to talk to them for the story. You can e-mail me if you know of someone.

From Jeremy’s e-mail:

Ok guys and gals, I have asked for help before but this time I really need either need ideas or help. As most of you guys know I am a caseworker for The Daniel Boone Chapter of The American Red Cross. As it currently stands we could be ending or reducing services in these counties if something is not done. We are trying to raise 5,000 in each county. I know just as well as you all do the economy is NOT HEALTHY, but we have to do something. Right now as it stands we only have 500.00 a month in Lincoln county and NO MONEY to spend in Garrard. If we have a fire we will have to either refer of just be a shoulder to cry on.  I need fundraising ideas quickly and then help to pull them off. If anyone has any questions or ideas please call me ASAP to discuss them. MARCH is RED CROSS month and our hereos campaign which is our biggest fundraiser for the chapter for the years I need help raising money in these counties or we will END ALL SERVICES VERY VERY SOON. I would really like to get the schools involved somehow. Please let me know ASAP with ideas.

1. Beautify Garrard County has a blog post up about some volunteers who recently cleaned up roadways to support the local backpack club that helps to feed kids on free lunches at school when they go home for the weekend. Read the whole thing here.

2. I’m looking for local farms that participate in community-supported agriculture, where local residents can buy shares of a cow or a chicken or a field of veggies and then get a share of the milk, eggs or produce when it becomes available. Right now might be the off-season for such operations, but I’m hoping to find out which local farmers do this and when they’ll be revving up for the warmer months, so I’ll know when a story about this would be possible.

1. Just checked Kentucky’s band Web site, and it looks like Garrard County’s band placed 7th (out of 16) in the triple-A semi-finals at the state competition on Saturday. Way to go Garrard County!

2. I’m looking for information on what events are happening in Garrard County to celebrate Veterans’ Day. The Advocate is compiling info about Veterans’ Day celebrations in all of its counties and it’s lacking any events from Garrard County.

3. A massive number of people visited this blog yesterday after the blurb about my blog ran in Sunday’s paper. Thanks, everyone, for taking an interest!

4. The Lancaster City Council and Garrard County Fiscal Court meet today. According to their agendas, the city council will be working on an insurance tax ordinance, while the fiscal court has an item called “Kentucky State Police Drug Task Force Agreement.” Stories on the meetings will probably be in tomorrow’s paper.

5. The very first meeting of the Garrard County Humane Society is Thursday at 7 p.m.

Instead of covering the ribbon-cutting ceremonies happening this week in Lancaster, I’m going to work on a story for the Advocate’s business page on all the different businesses that have recently come to Lancaster. I know of at least six: Godfather’s Pizza, Lancaster Liquor, Antonio’s Pizza, Lancaster Lube, Manning Law Office and Somerset Oil. If you know of more, let me know. Anyone with suggestions for angles, contact info for business owners or interesting information for the story, drop me an e-mail or comment on this post.

(Updated twice below)

I’m currently working on a potential centerpiece for Nov. 1 about recycling in Garrard County. The Garrard County recycling center has apparently been around since the mid-90s, and there are efforts being made all over the county recently to increase recycling participation.

Lancaster has free curb-side pickup, there are recycling drop-offs in Paint Lick and at the fairgrounds, and businesses and schools are getting involved too.

I’m hoping to look at some of the history behind how Garrard County became one of the most active recycling counties in the area. I also want to trace recyclable materials from the recycling center in Lancaster through the middle men to the materials producers and find out what at least some of Garrard County’s recyclables get made into.

Right now I’m trying to track down Ray Hammonds, who was judge-executive when the recycling center was first created. I’m also stuck just one link down the chain trying to find out where the recyclables wind up. I’m having a tough time getting in contact with Director Mickey Mills from Bluegrass Regional Recycling, which is the company that sells Garrard County’s recyclable materials.

If anyone out there can connect me with Ray or Mickey, or if you have a brief flash of genius and have an idea for something I could include in the story, post a comment or shoot me an e-mail @ bkleppinger@amnews.com. That’s all for now.

*UPDATE*

I just had a great conversation with Kim Nicholson-Messmer about her part in the history of the growth of recycling in Garrard County. She hooked me up with several more good sources, which I will be getting in contact with this afternoon.

Also, I thought I would mention whom I’ve already talked to for the story, besides Kim: Chris Thomason, Mike Davis, a Lancaster resident who uses curbside pickup, a Lancaster Elementary teacher and a Lancaster business that recycles its boxes.

*UPDATE 2*

I was able to talk with former Judge Hammonds tonight. Turns out the recycling center got started because of some Bluegrass ADD grant money that was available in the early 90s when there was a big push to provide trash pickup in many area counties.