‘KIDS FISHING DAY’ IS ON JUNE 3, 2023, YATESVILLE LAKE DIRECTOR SAYS

MANY TOURISM EVENTS COMING SOON…

By Susan Salyer

LOUISA, Ky. — On Monday May 15, 2023 The Lawrence County Tourism Committee had a Regular Scheduled Meeting at the Fred M. Vinson Building, Louisa, Kentucky at 5:30PM.

LC Tourism Chairman Wes Kingsmore was in attendance along with Treasurer Brenda Hardwick, Secretary Susie Chambers, and members Debbie Hill, Chris Jobe, Christy Moore and Keith Chaffin. Also attending were Kristen Lemaster, Tamyra New and Sandra Jobe.

Kristen Lemaster, Park Director, Army Corps of Engineers, Yatesville Lake, Lawrence County, Kentucky was a Special Guest at the LC Tourism Meeting.

Lemaster talked about the 5-K Run at the Louisa Middle School on May 6, 2023. “It was rainy off and on all morning, but 50 people showed up for the 5-K.” Lemaster stated.  “There were 75 people pre-registered. LC Tourism

Chairman Kingsmore said, “There was a group that runs all 120 counties in Kentucky. One gentleman that was in the Louisa 5-K, had already run all 120 counties and he was on the 80th county doing the 120 Kentucky Counties again.”

All age groups were represented in the 5-K Run. Lemaster also discussed ‘Kids Fishing Day’ is on June 3, 2023, and plans for a Pollinator Run coming soon.

Tamyra New, “A Ray of Hope” representative was also Special Guest at the LC Tourism Meeting. Ms. New discussed ‘Music at Wilderness Park’ on Saturday June 17, 2023. This will be an All-Day event with plans for music and other arrangements being made and will be announced soon. This event will have corn-hole

competition, inflatables and some home cooks will compete in a food competition.

Kingsmore also discussed the 2023 Gospel Sing at the Lawrence County Community Center. 288 singers signed-up and 230 were from Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky. This event went off without a hitch and a call has been made to re-book again for next year, he said.

Kingsmore continued, “The ‘Mustang Cars Red Mirror Event’ was a great success. The Director of the Red Mirror Events, scheduled fuel stops and lunch in Louisa, Kentucky. There were over 60 Mustang Cars and over 100 people who made a scheduled stop for lunch and a fuel stop in Louisa, Kentucky. Red Mirror Events Director also scheduled a separate run on May 4, 2023 for exotic cars. This event did not go as well, there were at least 5 calls of a Lamborghini and other exotic sports cars speeding up and down US 23, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. The Red Mirror event director did apologize on a Facebook post for the exotic car run attendees behavior. The Mustang Run was a separate run from the exotic car run.

LC Tourism Chairman Kingsmore said “The Fourth of July Event” will be on Saturday July 1, 2023. This event will be much like usual with music in the park in the afternoon and parade will start at 11AM.”

The ‘Pre-Party for Fallsburg Summer Stage’ will be on Thursday May 18, 2023 at 6PM in Downtown Louisa, where ‘Music in the Park’ usually sets up at the Louisa Mini-Park beside the LC Library. There will be food-trucks set up.

Kingsmore talked about the purchasing of ‘State Signs’ from KDOT giving directions for the Fred M Vinson Museum and also a sign for the Louisa Locks between Louisa, Kentucky and Fort Gay, West Virginia. The State of Kentucky does not handle the signs directly, they hire contractors to complete the sign work. The LC Tourism will be using ARPA (American Rescue Plan) Funds to purchase the signs. Also Masterpiece Cafe and The Garden Theater have applied for signs separately.

Kingsmore said, ‘Everything is a go for the ‘Storybook Trail’ except to pick a date to set up the trails. When these walking trails are finished, you will be able to start reading a story as you walk the trail. Along the trail you will find a page to read from the story and as you finish the trail walk you will have read a book.’

Kingsmore discussed a seminar for Tourism Chairmen to attend on Thursday May 18, 2023 in Owensboro, Kentucky. This seminar will be conducted by KTIA (Kentucky Travel Industry Association.) The council voted to send Kingsmore to Owensboro for the meeting.

Kingsmore talked to the Tourism Committee about local Lawrence County restaurants participating in ‘Burger Week’ which will start on June 24, 2023 and end on July 1, 2023. Each participating restaurant will have a special burger listed on the menu or as a special. The winner for Burger Week will be announced at the Fourth of July Event on Saturday July 1, 2023. A special meeting will be on Monday May 22, 2023 for the LC Tourism Committee to discuss the final details.

The LC Tourism Committee also discussed the Harvest Tour which will be on Saturday September 30, 2023. No final arrangements have been made but the Harvest Tour will be discussed again at a regular scheduled meeting soon.

Also the group discussed ‘Farm to Fork’, an LC Extension Office event. This will be the weekend before the ‘Harvest Tour’ on Saturday September 23, 2023. At this event, farmers cook food raised on their farms for people to eat.

AGENDA

1. Blessing
2. Call to Order
3. Special Guests – Kristen Lemaster, Army Corps of Engineers and Tamyra New, “A Ray of Hope”

Old Business

1. Gospel Fest
2. Mustangs
3. Approval of April 2023 Minutes – Motion by Brenda Hardwick 2nd by Keith a Chaffin. None Opposed.
4. Approval of April 2023 Financial Report – Motion by Debbie Hill 2nd by Keith Chaffin. None Opposed.

New Business

1. Discuss May Music in the Park-Thursday, May 18
2. Signage
3. Storybook Trail update
4. KTIA – Motion by Keith Chaffin 2nd by Chris Jobe. None Opposed.
5. Burger Week

Public Comments – None
Adjourn- Motion by Susie Chambers and 2nd by Debbie Hill

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Lawrence County Tourism Commission
Treasurers Report

For Month Ending 3/31/23-4/28/23

Balance Forward: $23,617.36
Deposits $ 3,856.11
Checks $ 6,551.00
Debit Card Activity $ 845.38
Balance $20,077.09
Trail Town Budget (deduct) $ 1,715.00
Paula Nye Grant (deduct) $ 4,000.00
Outstanding checks (deduct) $ 741.89
Deposits not added $ 1,825.47
Balance remaining $ 15,445.67

Trail Town Operating Budget is currently $1,715.00 ($1,250.00 designated to McClure Branch Project and $465 to other activities) $160.00 was spent for signs for walk/runs/bike events sponsored by Tourism or Trail Town.

Submitted by Brenda Hardwick
5/15/2023

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Lawrence County Tourism Commission
ARPA Funds
Treasurers Report
For Month Ending 3/31/23-4/28/23

Balance Forward $42,073.21
Checks (2023 Gospel Fest) $10,500.00
Balance $31,573.21
Outstanding checks (Billboards) $ 2,900.00
Balance $ 28,673.21

Submitted by Brenda Hardwick
5/15/2023

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Lawrence County Tourism Minutes, April 17, 2023
Prepared by: Susie Chambers, Secretary

The Lawrence County Tourism Commission met on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 5:30 pm at the Fred Vinson Tourism Center. Members in attendance were Chairman Wes Kingsmore, Keith Chaffin, Brenda Hardwick, Chris Jobe, Christy Moore and Susie Chambers. Also attending were Kristin Lemaster, Vince Doty, Tamra New, Jimmy Lockridge and Harold Slone.

The meeting was called to order by Wes and Keith gave the opening prayer. Our March minutes were approved with a motion by Keith and a second by Brenda. All in favor. The financial report was presented showing a balance of $15,319.05. Susie made a motion to accept the report and a second was made by Keith. All in favor.

Jimmy Lockridge thanked tourism for their support of the Fallsburg Summer Stage. We already had budgeted $2,500.00 for this event. Since our first Music in the Park is the weekend of Summer Stage, we voted to have a pre-summer stage event instead. Jimmy will secure music for this and we will give the $1,000.00 we normally use for Music in the Park. This concert will be on Thursday, May 18th. A motion to do this was made by Chris with a second by Susie. All in favor.

Kristin reported that they had over 50 volunteers for the clean up at the lake on April 15th. She will keep us updated on events there.

Under old business Wes told us we are eligible for $3,252.00 for an additional ARPA grant. This amount plus our match will cover most of our portion of the Americana Music event. Wes asked Harold to update us on the 581 Bridge Project. Harold says after further consideration, he thinks it would be very expensive to try and re-construct the old bridge as a stage. We will wait to see what we hear about this.

Under new business, with a motion by Chris and a second by Christy, we approved a $250.00 donation for the EKFA spring fire school being held here in May. This amount will help cover the cost of food for the attendees. All in favor.

Vince says they hope to open The Cove at Yatesville Lake the last weekend in May. There will be 4 new cabins there for rentals and also a zip line across the water.

The county and city will be having their spring clean up Saturday, April 22nd starting at 9 am. All volunteers will meet at the community center.

The extension office has decided not to do the Harvest Tour this year. Wes would like tourism to take over and organize the event. With a motion by Brenda and a second by Susie we asked Wes to proceed. All in favor.

There will be a farm to fork dinner at the extension office on September 29th hosted by the FFA & 4-H.

Chris made a motion to adjourn with a second by Wes. All in favor. Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Monday, May 15th at 5:30 pm at the tourism office.

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The next Regular Scheduled LC Tourism Meeting will be held on Monday June 19, 2023.