Daviess County Fiscal Court will award a $50,000 grant to support a collaborative effort, honoring Moneta J. Sleet, Jr.
“Sara Hemingway, on behalf of the Young Foundation, is working with the latest class of Leadership Owensboro on a project to honor Moneta Sleet, Jr. He was a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist from Owensboro,” explained David Smith, Director of Legislative Services.
“They wrote a letter requesting $50,000 in silo-busting funds,” he added. “This grant will be used to hire a playwright to create a monologue of Mr. Sleet’s life that can be performed, not only at the inaugural festival, but the Kentucky Humanities Council is going to help with this project and will use it as part of their Chautauqua Series.”
Bob Morris, the former editor of The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, is also working on a photo display honoring Sleet at the RiverPark Center.
“When the festival is over in February 2023, those photo panels will go to the Owensboro Museum of Science and History,” Smith said.
This is only the third time in the past decade that the Fiscal Court has awarded the silo-busting grant.
“For 10 years, we’ve put $50,000 in the budget every year and asked that groups come forward and do something with the money that benefits the community as a whole,” explained Judge-Executive Al Mattingly.
The 2021 class of Leadership Owensboro unveiled a portrait of Moneta Sleet, Jr. on November 17th at Max Rhoads Park in Owensboro. The portrait, created by Artist K.O. Lewis, is rotating throughout the community leading up to the “Through Sleet’s Eyes” festival in 2023.
Other News
Commissioners approved a contract for fire hydrant testing, and an agreement with the City of Whitesville for fire hydrant testing and repair.
Fiscal Court awarded and/or renewed annual bids for hot mix & pavement milling, engine oils & lubricants, mosquito control services, elevator maintenance, mowing of county right-of-ways, property maintenance service, and mowing at the West Daviess County Landfill.
Commissioner Mike Koger encouraged everyone to visit the light displays at Panther Creek Park, open nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $5 per vehicle and supports five non-profits in Daviess County. Independence Bank is sponsoring the “Indy the Eagle Holiday Scavenger Hunt” with a chance to win an Apple iPad Air.
[Christmas at Panther Creek – Information]
Board Appointments
Jeremy Smith has been re-appointed to the Ambulance Contracting Authority Board for a four-year term, January 2022 to January 2026.
Manuel Ball has been re-appointed to the OMPC Board for a four-year term, December 2021 to December 2025.
With the consolidation of the “Southeast” and “West” water districts, the Court had to re-appoint members of the newly formed board for the “Daviess County Water District.”
4-Year Term (December 2021 – December 2025)
Scott Kuegel
Hugh Bittel
3-Year Term (December 2021 – December 2024)
Phil Haire
Stan Conn
2-Year Term (December 2021 – December 2023)
Christina O’Bryan
John Bell
Dan Styke and Monica Connelly have been appointed to the Daviess County Cooperative Extension District Board for three-year terms, December 2021 to December 2024.
Employee Anniversaries
25 Years
Stephen Szefi, Fire Department Lieutenant
Carl Wright, Road Supervisor
Robbie Hocker, Solid Waste Manager
20 Years
Joe Paul Bickett, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor
15 Years
Jared Mattingly, Solid Waste HEO
Nick Wall, Fire Department Engineer
Brian Cecil, Fire Department Engineer
10 Years
Katie Jones, Payroll and Benefits Specialist
Terri Thompson, Accounts Payable Specialist
David Smith, Director of Legislative Services
