Hopkinsville’s Silo Special Events Center played host, and was packed, for Thursday morning’s Christian County Chamber of Commerce Eye-Opener Breakfast — engaged for a “State of the Community” address and eventual podcast series from local leaders about the region’s present and future.
Emceed by City of Hopkinsville’s Amanda Brunt, panelists included Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam, Mayor J.R. Knight, Mayor Jackie Oliver, and Magistrates John Bruce and Phillip Peterson — with queries ranging far and wide on the civic spectrum.
Among them, Brunt asked what investments were desired and discussed throughout governing bodies and their constituents.
Oliver affirmed she would “never give up the fight” to bring an elementary school to Oak Grove.
Bruce, meanwhile, said road access has been a recent hot topic, with 20 miles of gravel roads currently still in use throughout rural areas of Christian County.
And this is after more than 10 miles of recent paving measures.
From industrial leaders to everyday motorists, the soon-to-be widening of KY 115 has everyone’s attention in south western Kentucky, and for a number of reasons.
Chief among them, Peterson noted, was just how deadly the stretch of road has been throughout the years — the need to unclog one of Christian County’s top arteries, and main corridors from I-24 to Pembroke, growing annually.
Brunt mentioned that both the city and county held considerable funding responsibility in building roads and a rail spur for the South Park industrial site, which came with its own challenges and expectations.
Knight said the absence of a riverport made it a necessary build for the shipping of industrial goods from the site, but it will also help Hopkinsville-Christian County prepare for future growth.
A handful of questions were accepted from the crowd, too, with Gilliam noting jobs — good jobs — would help young professionals stay in the region.
Gilliam and Oliver also had comedic moments, too, with the former joking about judicious use of I-169, and the latter offering unique details about the Oak Grove Racing & Gaming Hotel.
Brunt said several of the public’s questions, which were submitted live, weren’t answered, but would likely get answered through future releases and announcements.
