Eighty-two Kentucky communities were honored as newly certified Kentucky Main Street/Renaissance on Main communities during a ceremony Wednesday, May 31, at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville.

Kentucky Poet Laureate Dr. Sena Jeter Naslund opened the program with a commentary about the meaning of "sense of place".

Administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office, the Kentucky Main Street Program is the oldest statewide downtown revitalization program in the nation, whose goal in partnership with Renaissance on Main is to encourage downtown revitalization, public-private partnerships and economic development within the context of historic preservation. New in 2006, communities are no longer ranked for approval as either Certified I or II; instead, cities must re-qualify each year for Certified City status. All incorporated cities within the Commonwealth of Kentucky are eligible to submit a pre-application, and unincorporated cities are eligible for consideration if sponsored by county government.

Certification demonstrates that Kentucky Main Street/Renaissance on Main programs in these communities meet certification criteria outlined through developing and implementing successful projects in design, economic development, organization and promotion, the four-point approach developed by the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Certification also makes these communities eligible to apply for $2 million in annual funding through Renaissance on Main, administered by the Governor's Office for Local Development (GOLD). Funding can be used to restore buildings, renovate sidewalks, match federal Transportation Enhancement funds for streetscape projects, restore historic building facades and for other projects whose goal is to improve the local downtown and attract and retain businesses.

In 2005, Kentucky Main Street and Renaissance on Main programs reported nearly $142 million invested in downtowns, representing 2,296 new jobs created in Main Street districts, 381 new businesses and the rehabilitation of 293 downtown buildings. This figure includes public improvement projects totaling $35,931,521, private investment projects of $47,624,228 and new construction projects of $58,405,338. In fact through this program over the last 27 years, more than $2 billion has been reinvested in Kentucky downtowns.

"This is not just an application process but an involved program that demonstrates and recognizes a community's commitment to downtown revitalization," said Becky Gorman, Kentucky Main Street state coordinator. "Also, being a certified city is not just the responsibility of the local Main Street or Renaissance manager. Each program is supervised by a board and committee structure focused on each of the four Main Street points, so this shows the depth of grassroots support that is required."

From left, Renee Alexander, executive director of Renaissance on Main; Patty Kennard, Vanceburg Renaissance Coordinator; David Morgan, Kentucky Heritage Council executive director and state historic preservation officer; and Lindy Casebier, executive director of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Kentucky Commerce Cabinet.

Community Main Street/Renaissance on Main programs recognized during Wednesday's ceremony were Ashland, Augusta, Barbourville, Bardstown, Beattyville, Bellevue, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calhoun, Campbellsville, Campton, Carrollton, Cloverport, Covington, Cumberland/Benham/Lynch*, Cynthiana, Danville, Dawson Springs, Dayton, Elizabethtown, Elkton/Guthrie/Trenton*, Elsmere/Erlanger*, Eminence, Falmouth, Flemingsburg, Frankfort, Franklin, Fort Thomas, Georgetown, Glasgow, Grayson. Greensburg, Harlan, Harrodsburg, Henderson, Hindman, Hodgenville, Hopkinsville, Horse Cave, Irvine, Irvington, Jeffersontown, LaGrange, Lawrenceburg, Lebanon, London, Louisville, Ludlow, Madisonville, Marion, Mayfield, Maysville, Midway, Morehead, Morganfield, Mt. Sterling, Mt. Vernon, Munfordville, Murray, New Castle, Newport, Nicholasville, Olive Hill, Paducah, Paris, Pikeville, Princeton, Richmond, Russellville, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Springfield, Stanford, Vanceburg, Versailles, Warsaw, Williamsburg, Williamstown, Wilmore and Winchester.

Following the certificate presentations, Heritage Council Restoration Project Manager Scot Walters and Louisville developer Bill Weyland of City Properties Group, LLC, gave an overview of the new Kentucky Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program administered by the Heritage Council. Weyland also discussed historic preservation projects he has initiated in Louisville, including Glassworks, and gave a tour of one of his current projects, the YWCA redevelopment.

*Communities with cities combined under one Kentucky Main Street/Renaissance on Main program.

The community of Lewis County and the American Cancer Society announces the Lewis County Wall of Hope Banner Tour.

This banner is part of a nationwide effort to collect the signatures and stories of people touched by cancer in every community. 

These banners will come together to form one large four-city-block monument consisting of more then 5,000 banners and more than three million signatures, as part of the 2006 Celebration on the Hill. 

This banner will be available at Ginn's Hardware store and the Lewis County Relay for Life event.

Sponsored locally by Ginn's Hardware, Rodney and Tammy Ginn and Anita Chinn, the banner will be making stops at the following locations: Ginn Hardware now through June 9 and Lewis County Relay for Like June 9 and 10.

A cooperative effort between the Vanceburg Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff Department resulted in 32 indictments of individuals on various drug and criminal related charges.

According to Lt. Tom Flannigan of the Vanceburg Police Department, the sweep was conducted in an effort to curb the street level drug activity in Lewis County. 

The undercover buys were conducted from May of 2005 and continued through November of 2005, utilizing confidential informants for the transactions. Arrest warrants were issued by the Lewis Circuit Court, as a result of indictments that were returned by the Lewis County Grand Jury recently.

At 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30, officers of the Vanceburg Police Department and Lewis County Sheriff Department conducted raids of several homes in the countywide sweep. 

Several firearms and illegal drugs were confiscated from the homes during the raids, mostly which consisted of prescription pain medication A large quantity of money was also seized from several individuals.

The following were arrested and lodged in the Lewis County Detention Center:

Wendell Cooper, Brian Jenkins, Jeff Sapp and Elmer Gayheart, all of Garrison; Ray Hackworth, Sandra Hackworth, Kenny Switzer, Joel Dunnigan, Danny Stone, Daniel Stone III, Tommy Gilliam, Jr., Lonnie Rickett, Jo Dawn Anderson, Wayne Jasiecki, Stephanie Chandler, Ronnie Dale Crawford, Stella Colegrove, Tracy Rickett, Ella Rickett, James Savoie, Gary Mofford and Adam Thacker, all of Vanceburg; Chris Clark and Steven Clark, both of Quincy; Johnny Johnson of Tollesboro; Brea Shea Swearingen of Wheelersburg, Ohio; Hank Stafford and Steven Cooley.

Further arrests are anticipated in this sweep.

The Lewis County Sheriff Department and Vanceburg Police Department are continuing to work together in an attempt to eradicate the ongoing illegal drug activity in Lewis County. Anyone with information of suspected drug activity may report it to the Lewis County Sheriff Department tipline at 606-796-0123 or they may call the Vanceburg Police Department at 606-796-2111. Tips may also be e-mailed to tips@lewiscountysheriff.org. Callers may remain anonymous.