BoC is century old

Beth Grant, Cashier, at the Bank of Columbia, has filed with the Kentucky Bicentennial Committee to designate the bank as an official century-old business.

A search has gone on across Kentucky for about a year for the oldest businesses. So far the bank is the only one in Adair over 100.

The Bank of Columbia has records dating back to its origination in 1866.

50's Party is August 22

If you came of age in the '50's you may enjoy the celebration being planned for downtown.

Lainey's Diner owner Elaine Bennett has set August 22 for the first annual 50's celebration.

"We'll be serving breakfast, dinner and supper, from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m, with old fashioned prices," Elaine says.

50's music will play all day in her restaurant, and Mayor Hardwick has approved her plans for an evening sock hop on the square.

Your favorite movie?

The Columbian Theatre is preparing to celebrate 50 years in downtown Columbia and manager Shane Arnold is looking for customer's ideas.

If you have a favorite movie you'd like to see on the big screen again, or other ideas for the Theatre, call 384-3979, ext 2, and leave your message.

Good news for Westlake

After a two-month battle with top state officials, Casey County Hospital in Liberty has been moved into Westlake Hospital's managed-care region.

Under a managed-care plan, the state will be divided into eight health care regions for Medicaid patients. Casey was originally placed in Region 5. Westlake, which leases Casey Hospital and Casey Primary Care, is in Region 4. Keeping the two hospitals in separate regions could have impacted the linkage between Westlake and Casey.

"If the switch hadn't been made, we would have had no choice but to pull out (of Casey County)," said Rusty Tungate, administrator of Westlake Regional. Westlake is nearing the second year of a five-year lease of the Casey facilities. The lease is renewable each year.

The state's Health Services Secretary had refused to allow Casey to change, but efforts by hospital administration, board members, and a 3,500-name petition drive made the difference, Tungate thinks.

"I think what convinced them to switch was that they knew that we couldn't stay if the change wasn't made," Tungate said, "But we couldn't have stayed, because Westlake would have suffered financially."

Westlake's lease of the Casey facilities so far has proved to be a financial boon, Tungate said. Westlake receives profits from the facilities, as well as the ability to share staff and services, he said, adding, "The people of Casey County are benefiting most from the arrangement. We've upgraded their facilities and staffed them with excellent health care providers, and we've reduced their outstanding debt from $1.5 million to $350,000 in just nine months."

Jobs agencies open

Quality Personnel and Holland Employment both have moved into Columbia in recent weeks. Both will recruit employees in efforts to place them with area businesses in need of help.

Mother-daughter team, Bonnie and Monica Rodgers manage the Quality office which is locating in the house across from the library.

Barbara Babb, a native of Adair County, employed first at Holland's headquarters, will be coming to manage their offices located in the Madison Square office complex.

Adair is situated between three major employers, Fruit of the Loom in Taylor and Russell Counties, and Sumitomo and Carhart in Metcalfe County.

The growing need for employees in those factories may have kept us from seeing more serious problems from OshKosh closing.