PADD CELEBRATES ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HONORS REGIONAL DRUG TASK FORCE

Growing up, Dave Stone admits he was rarely asked to sing in front of an
audience. A writer, author and pastor of Southeast Christian Church in
Louisville, Stone said there was one exception.

"My parents used to ask me to sing to church hymns," Stone quipped.
"'Softly and Tenderly' and 'On a hill far away.'"

Stone spoke to a crowd of 300 community and business leaders at the 33rd
annual meeting of the Pennyrile Area Development District at the Western
Kentucky State Fairgrounds Convention Center Monday.

"The Pennyrile Area Development District is representative of some of the
best in the commonwealth of Kentucky," Stone said. "I'm here to remind you
that your purpose is to serve the people."

Stone advised volunteers and employees of PADD to continue to put forth the
effort, encouragement and be an example to others through their community work.

"All of us have gifts, talents and abilities that we can use to serve the
people," he said. "The question is whether or not you're willing to be that
type of servant."

In addition, the W.W. "Bill" Bryan Memorial Award was given to the
Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force. The award is presented to the individual or
group that embodies the spirit of regional cooperation in honor of the late
Bryan, the first PADD chairman.

In November 1987, the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force was formed by 28 units
of local government to address the problem of illegal drug activity in this
region. Over its 15-year history, the task force has had 6,500
investigations. Approximately, 4,400 arrests have been made and 189
methamphetamine labs have been destroyed.

"Through the dedication of the agents, the cooperation of the law
enforcement community and the leadership of the task force board of
directors, the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force is truly a model for regional
cooperatives," said Lyn Bailey, vice chairman for PADD and mayor of Cadiz.

Cheyenne Albro, Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force director, accepted the award.

"The history of Pennyrile Narcotics and the things we've done speak for
itself. It's your task force. You're the ones that had the wisdom to put it
together and make it work," he said. "I accept this award on behalf of you."

Bailey presented the award in the absence of Bryan's son, former
Hopkinsville mayor Wally Bryan, who was bitten by a dog earlier in the day
and could not attend the event.

In the annual report, PADD executive director Dan Bozarth said amidst
national tragedy, progress was made in the region over the past year.

"In spite of the events of Sept. 11, we've had a really good year," he
said. "We've continued to make progress and we've had a lot of activities."

Bozarth said 10 companies have announced plans to open plants in the
district in the past year, creating 1,000 jobs. Approximately 3,000
downsized or laid-off workers received job assistance in regional career
development centers in the past year.

"The good news is that about 80 percent of them have already been placed in
other jobs at about 96 percent of the wage that they were making when they
were downsized or laid off," Bozarth said. "The important thing about these
career centers and workforce centers is that they focus everyone's
attention in the community on skilled workers. I think everyone agrees
that's the future of economic development in our region."

Staff members receiving longevity awards for their service to PADD were
Craig Morris, five years; Bernard Standard, 10 years; Tim Barnes, 15 years;
Brenda Orten and Neville Rust, 25 years.

PADD directors also elected several individuals to serve for three-year
terms starting July 1.

Elected were: F.E. Whitney, Bart Frazier, Stacia Peyton, Hazel Demery, Kay
McCollum, Steve Allen and Agnes Radford.

The evening closed with a duet by Hopkinsville Mayor Rich Liebe and
Madisonville Mayor Karen Cunningham of "God Bless America."