The discussion of solar farms wasn’t the only topic of note during Tuesday’s Christian County Fiscal Court meeting.
Dan Brechwald, a concerned Hopkinsville citizen and 30-year military veteran, originally hails from Oklahoma — and as such, knows a thing or two about “Tornado Alley.”
Approaching the one-year anniversary of those devastating tornadoes that blasted west Kentucky, Brechwald remembers December 10 fairly vividly. Living with his wife in Novadell, he said the evening felt treacherous, with little warning outside of their due diligence.
He said that by later evening, he and others were running around banging on doors to wake up senior citizens, while sending fervent messages through their home owners association Facebook page.
He said Countryview Estates, near I-24, needed the same protections.
Randy Graham, emergency management director, did reiterate that a FEMA Hazard Mitigation grant for the purchase of four outdoor sirens has already been applied for and accepted at the state level, and currently resides at the federal table for final approval.
One of those sirens, he added, is set to be placed on Crenshaw Boulevard.
Graham also noted other three other FEMA grants have been applied for, with one of them being an earlier-reported purchase of 10 sirens to be strategically placed in places like Pembroke, Oak Grove and other less-covered areas.
As such, one of the three grants is also for the purchase of weather alert radios for every house in the county. Another grant is for the eventual purchase of 12 tornado shelters similar to the one already located in Crofton, in order to provide more rural parts of the region a safe place to retreat.
Text alerts, he said, are also another popular option.
In other fiscal court news:
— The Hopkinsville-Christian County Senior Citizens Advisory group is bringing back its annual Fish Fry Fundraiser for the A.W. Watts Senior Citizens Center.
Darrell Gustafson, who sits on the advisory’s board, said it would be a good time for a good cause.
Set for 4:30-7 PM October 20, with tickets set at $13 including fish and the fixings. Magistrates, alongside Judge-Executive Steve Tribble, will be working the event.
— Gustafson also noted that work continues effectively for Mike Foster Way, in which gravel has been certified ready, and will be followed with three inches of asphalt and a one-inch sealer.
He said the thoroughfare is expected to be completed by the end of October.
— Irene Grace of the Christian County Regional Animal Shelter noted that from 11 AM until 3 PM October 22, her organization will be hosting “Pets & People,” in which both pets and people are welcome to attend. A family-oriented gathering, she said photo opportunities, pumpkin painting, face painting and tours of the shelter will be available.
