Legislative Update: Good things happening in state’s 14th Senate district

By JIMMY HIGDON
14th District State Senator

SEN. JIMMY HIGDON

Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, 3:30 p.m. — This week I was happy to learn that Mother Catherine Spalding — a resident of Central Kentucky in the early 19th century — was honored with a statue in Louisville. Mother Spalding, was a nun, and co-founder of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, an order based at Nazareth just north of Bardstown.

The SCNs have a rich history of service to the community by building and staffing many schools, orphanages and hospitals across Kentucky. Today, the order continues their work across the world. Mother Spalding’s legacy is remarkable – not only in Kentucky but internationally. She was largely responsible for shaping the Catholic community of our region, as well as her work to establish schools, hospitals and orphanages in Kentucky.

Veterans in the Greater Louisville area and their spouses now have a program to assist them in transitioning to civilian careers. The jobs program, Opportunity Knox, will connect veterans and military spouses to businesses seeking employees with an emphasis on the skills gained from their service. The website for more information on this program is www.hereopportunityknox.com.

I want to congratulate the Marion County Public Schools for their dedication and work to make preschool education available to every child. Studies continue to show the importance of preschool education in academic achievement throughout schooling. Kindergarten readiness is a challenge in our state, and programs such as this one providing preschool access to all, will ensure students have every opportunity to be ready for school on that first day.

Spencer County Public Schools is also changing the lives of its students with a program called A Leader In Me. The program teaches skills of an effective leader using guidelines from Steven Covey’s bestseller, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Also, the program includes tools for parents to encourage and build these skills with their children. I was very impressed with the student buy-in of this program. With resourceful programs such as this, students can learn how to set goals and accomplish them, be proactive and take ownership of their future. You can find out about this national program by visiting www.theleaderinme.org.

Congratulations to Jordan Meece of Casey County who is one of three finalists from 55 counties for the 2014 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award. The program is presented by Eastern Kentucky University College of Business and Technology, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED), and The Center for Rural Development. Meece owns Aqua 41 which is a fine fragrance company that offers high quality fragrance at affordable prices. Meece graduated from the Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program in 2008.

Jordan is a great example of the many entrepreneurs and skilled business people in Casey County. In fact, Casey has probably produced more entrepreneurs per capita than any other county in Kentucky. I’m honored to represent such a vibrant and innovative district. Our schools are working hard to provide bright futures and our young people are achieving at high levels.

It is good to be your Senator. I am always interested in your comments or questions. Please feel free to contact me by calling and leaving a message at the toll-free message line for legislators, 1-800-372-7181. Also, you are welcome to call me at my home, 270-692-6945. My e-mail address is jimmy.higdon@lrc.ky.gov.

Keep up to date with all the Interim Joint Committee schedules and agendas by visiting the legislature’s website at www.lrc.ky.gov. Archived meetings and proceedings, as well as interim coverage, can be viewed at www.ket.org.

Other resources include our e-News page, www.lrc.ky.gov/pubinfo/listserv.htm, and you can subscribe to frequent e-mail updates on what is happening at the Capitol. In addition, the General Assembly has its own blog, Capitol Notes, www.lrc.ky.gov/pubinfo/capitol_notes.htm that allows you to receive legislative updates at your leisure.

You can also stay in touch with General Assembly action in the following ways:

● A taped message containing information on legislative committee meetings is updated daily at 1-800-633-9650.

● People with hearing difficulties may leave messages for lawmakers by calling the TTY Message Line at 1-800-896-0305.

● You may write any legislator by sending a letter with the lawmaker’s name to: Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

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Senator Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) represents the 14th District including Casey, Marion, Nelson and Spencer counties, as well as part of Jefferson County. He is the Chairman of both the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee, and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation. He is the Vice Chair of the Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee and the Transportation Committee, as well as a member of the 2012 SS HB 1 Implementation and Oversight Committee; the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, and Public Protection; the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee; the Education Committee; the Health and Welfare Committee; the Program Review and Investigations Committee; and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee.

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