By Dennis Brown

After having expanded to Lewis County just over four years ago, Northern Contours now has more than 100 employees in two locations and are in the process of purchasing the buildings they had been leasing from the city and county.

The company manufactures custom cabinet doors for customers all across the country. They're located in both buildings formerly occupied by Nine West, a shoe manufacturing company.

Kenny Clark, Human resources Director for Northern Contours, said there are 89 employees at the location on Lions Lane across from Lewis County High School, and 27 employees at the location on Ky. Rt. 8 in Vanceburg.

"We have a good workforce and the workers meet their quotas for each hour," Clark said. He added that the promise of good workmanship and attendance were critical in attracting the company to expand here in 2001.

The company first expanded to the Lions Lane location and then in July of 2003 began operation in the Ky. Rt. 8 location. More equipment and employees are planned for the second location in the near future.

Northern Contours began in 1992 at Ferguson Falls, Minnesota, and has been growing since then.

Plant Manager Hussein Hammoud said the company custom manufactures cabinet doors for many customers. Orders range from one to 10,000 and the turnaround from order to shipping is five work days.

Clark said sheets of particle board and veneer from the northern US and Canada arrive at Lions Lane where they are sorted and graded.

From there the particle board, which is made from wheat stock, goes to the core area where it is cut with automated machines. The core then goes to the humidity controlled veneer area where the veneer wood, ranging from walnut to pine, is placed on the particle board core. It then goes to the sanding department where it goes through several processes and inspections to prepare it for the next step.

The finished inserts are then taken to the Ky. Rt. 8 location where the rails or frames are added.

The frames, four pieces for each door, are cut with automated equipment. The doors are assembled, sanded, inspected and carefully prepared for shipment to customers across the country.

Hammoud said the plant produces about 15,000 square feet of product per work day. He added that Northern Contours is the only company in the US to custom make cabinet doors from blueprints provided by customers.

Clark said the Lions Lane location has two shifts of workers while the Ky. Rt. 8 location has one shift.

Hammoud said customer demand is fairly steady throughout the year with December and January generally being the busiest months.

The company backs up their product with a five-year warranty and prides itself on the satisfaction of its customers.

"We just want to have everyone satisfied," Hammoud said.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Division of Driver Safety and Traffic Operations has initiated Operation Drive Smart Blitz on the AA Highway corridor, through May 14.

State and local law enforcement agencies will heavily patrol this corridor, extending from Campbell County to Greenup and Carter Counties, in an attempt to reduce Kentucky's increasing number of traffic fatalities and injuries.

Drive Smart visual speed radar units have been placed on the designated corridor in each county. 

The portable units are intended to remind motorists to be aware of their speed and comply with the posted speed limit and traffic laws.

All law enforcement will have zero tolerance for such factors as speeding, driving impaired, equipment violations, aggressive driving and expired or no liability insurance. Other violations relating to seat belts and child passenger safety will be strictly enforced to encourage buckling up and using proper child restraints.

Lewis County High School will be conducting a safety fair during the week of the blitz. Activities include the Drive Smart Rollover Simulator and a DUI Simulation Car from the Kentucky Crime Prevention Center. A "Buckle Up LCHS" sign will be unveiled at the school's entrance on Friday, May 13.

For more information, contact Melissa Hardy at Buffalo Trace Area Development District, 606-564-6894.

By Al Owens

Meeting in a short session last week the Vanceburg City Council heard a comment from Mayor William T. "Bill Tom" Cooper, went into an executive closed session and then adjourned.

Cooper stated that the city can find no record that it owns or has placed the street in front of Central Elementary School in its street system. 

The street connects Rt. 3037 and Lexington Avenue and also runs past the old superintendent's office.

The council approved the minutes of last month's regular session and then entered a closed session to discuss potential litigation. After returning to open session the council took no action, and the meeting was adjourned.