A Bright Future

In a small community it can sometimes feel like "nothing" ever happens.  Below are some reminders that changes happen everyday in Ashland, and the Tri-State area:

ACTC & Marshall University Sign 2 Plus 2 Agreements

College officials from Marshall University and Ashland Community and Technical College signed agreements to allow ACTC students to fully transfer credits from that two-year degree program to 12 areas in Marshall’s bachelor degree program.

Starbucks Coming to Ashland

By next spring, Starbucks Coffee Company will have an Ashland location!  Plans have been announced for a new store at the corner of Winchester Avenue & 12th Street, where La Finca Mexican Restaurant is now.  The current structure will be razed and a new, 1,850 square foot building will be constructed.  La Finca will be relocating to 12th Street & Greenup Avenue in mid-December 2006.  Starbucks is targeting a grand opening in May or June 2007.  10/31/06.

KDMC Cardiac Surgery Ranked “Best”

King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland has been ranked as the best in KY for coronary bypass (cardiac) surgery.  KDMC is also among the top 5% in the nation for heart surgeries, according to HealthGrades; a healthcare ratings company.  10/17/06.

ACTC Begins Offering Evening Nursing Classes

Thanks to a $495,000 grant from a Florida foundation and 2 local hospitals, Ashland Community and Technical College will begin offering evening nursing classes in the January 2007.  Currently, there are more than 150 students enrolled in the 2 year, associate degree nursing program. 09/06.

OLBH Goes Smoke-Free

Beginning Nov 16, 2006 Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital will have a smoke-free campus.  OLBH selected this date as for the change to coincide with the national observance of the Great American Smoke Out. 06/27/06.

KCTCS Breaks Ground on 35.8 Million Dollar Expansion

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Mon, Oct 2, 2006 for the 35.8 million dollar expansion of Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) at the East Park Industrial Park Technology Drive Campus.  Officials indicate that the 127,500 square foot building could be ready for the spring of 2009.  10/04/06.

Ashland Bans Smoking in Restaurants

Effective October 1, 2006, Ashland has joined the ranks of Huntington, WV; Lexington, KY; Louisville, KY and others, to ban smoking in restaurants.

KDMC Announces New Family Care Center in Grayson

King’s Daughters Medical Center has announced that construction of a new $5,000,000 Grayson Family Care Center on the campus of Kentucky Christian University (just off Carol Malone Blvd.) will soon begin.  They hope to have the new facility completed in May 2007.  09/06.

KDMC Goes Smoke-Free

Beginning September 5, 2006, King’s Daughters Medical Center facilities will be smoke-free.  6/27/06.

New Theater Coming to KYOVA Mall

The KYOVA Mall, in Cannonsburg, announced plans for a new movie theater to open near Christmas.  Phoenix Theaters will operate the 10-screen theater at the old Phar-mor store site.  7/25/06.

Kentucky’s libraries now have Wireless Internet!

Our local libraries, along with most of Kentucky’s library locations along U.S. 23, now have wireless internet access.   The following locations provide free access:

Greenup County Public Library, 614 Main St., Greenup, KY

Flatwoods Branch of Greenup Co. Library, 1705 Argillite Road, Flatwoods, KY

Boyd County Public Library, 1740 Central Ave., Ashland, KY

Catlettsburg Branch Boyd County Library, Catlettsburg, KY

Summit Branch of Boyd County Library, Summit, KY

Lawrence County Public Library, 102 West Main and Jefferson, Louisa, KY

Johnson County Public Library, 444 Main St., Paintsville, KY

02/01/06.