Business

Unemployment rates fell in 83 Kentucky counties between April 2015 and April 2016, including Knox, Whitley and Laurel counties, rose in 33 counties, and remained the same in four, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Whitley County's unemployment rate fell from 6.3 percent in April 2015 to 6.2 percent in April 2016. This was a 1.5 percent decrease from the March's rate. Whitley County tied Muhlenberg, Union and Livingston counties with the 34th highest April unemployment rate in Kentucky. Knox County's unemployment rate fell from 7.5 percent in April 2015 to 7.2 percent in April 2016. Knox County...

The Williamsburg Kiwanis Club is inviting all current and former members to attend its 35th anniversary celebration at noon Thursday at the Cumberland Inn. "We're inviting all the old presidents back and old members back. We are going to celebrate 35 years of Kiwanis," said Williamsburg Kiwanis Club President Alvin Sharpe. "We would just like for everyone to come out and we would also like to invite any perspective members to join the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club. Our purpose is to help young people in Williamsburg and the surrounding area." The keynote speakers for the event will be Kentucky/Tennessee Kiwanis Governor Chuck Fletcher, Vice-Governor Dale Hawkins and Governor-Elect Leigh Chagnon. Other honored guests...

Safety has become something of a tradition for the 400-plus workers at the Williamsburg Firestone Industrial Products plant, which was recognized with the Governor's Safety and Health Award during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the plant. This is the third time in six years, the Williamsburg plant has been recognized for having one million consecutive hours or more without a lost-time injury or illness. The plant has received the recognition in 2010, 2012 and 2015. "It is a big day for all of us to recognize and celebrate our safety programs," said Plant Manager Michael Weir. "This marks an important safety milestone achieving one million man hours without a lost time accident....

For popular Corbin dentist Keith Gibson, the road to an early retirement started at NIBROC. Dr. Gibson had asked one of his patients if he knew a good dentist that could possibly take over his practice. Just so happens, he did. The wife of one of the patient’s best friends was a dentist. The two played volleyball together annually at the festival’s volleyball tournament. “It’s just something they did. I’ve been to NIBROC a bunch of times,” said Dr. Katherine Whitaker. The Bardstown native, who eventually did take over Dr. Gibson’s Main Street practice, said she wasn’t really looking to make a move. She had a lucrative job at a large dental clinic...

More than a year-and-a-half after the project was first announced, officials with Grace Community Health Center and the Southeast Kentucky Industrial Development Authority met Thursday to close the sale of 10 acres of property in the Southeast Kentucky Small Business Park that will serve as the site of a new “medical campus.” Michael Stanley, CEO of Grace Community Health Center, said the project, which was originally scheduled to break ground in early 2015, has been delayed as the non-profit organization has continued to expand. “Even during this process, we have grown considerably,” Stanley said, noting that in addition to family practice, the organization offers internal medicine, women’s health, behavioral health, outreach...

On Friday, April 29, 2016, Governor Matt Bevin appointed Steve Brunson to the Kentucky Housing Corporation Board of Directors. Brunson is a Senior Vice President of Business Development for Forcht Bank in Northern Kentucky. Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) invests in affordable housing solutions by offering an array of programs and services designed to develop, preserve, and sustain affordable housing throughout the state. KHC is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors, consisting of 10 private members appointed by the governor who represent designated interests in affordable housing. Mr. Brunson has over 25 years of banking experience in a variety of roles, and is an active member of the Northern Kentucky community...

Corbin’s oldest continuing primary care medical practice has merged with a local faith-based health care group, and both sides are calling the move a positive one for patients. The practice of Dr. Michael Watts and Truman Perry is now officially part of Grace Community Health Center. The final portions of the deal were signed last Thursday. Michael Stanley, CEO of Grace Community Health Care, said the acquisition is a significant one for the group since Watts and Perry had quite a large practice — between 9,000 and 11,000 patients. “They have a rich history and a lot of patients. I think their patient population will be the ones who reap the benefits,”...

Forcht Bank was the presenting sponsor of the recent “Emerge 2016” Conference in Lexington. In photo left to right: Andrew Miller - Forcht Bank Marketing Director, Debbie Reynolds – Forcht Group of Kentucky President, Terry Forcht – Forcht Group and Forcht Bank Chairman, Leslie Jarvis – Forcht Group Human Resources Director, Eddie Woodruff – Forcht Group Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, and Tucker Ballinger – Forcht Bank President. The Emerge 2016 Conference was held on April 19, 2016 at the Lexington Center and brought together over 300 young professionals, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, and business professionals to explore personal, professional, and community development.

Donevon Storm, Agency Manager of the Whitley County–Williamsburg Agency for Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, has been named 2015 Agency Manager of the Year for District Four. The award was presented during the company’s 61st annual sales conference, held in Louisville, Kentucky on March 29. The District Four Agency Manager of the Year award recognizes the agency manager who displayed the highest level of excellence in overall sales production, satisfactory loss-ratio, service to policyholders and an affirmative attitude. District Four is a 24-county region consisting of agencies in the following counties: Adair, Bell, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Estill, Garrard, Jackson, Jessamine, Knox, Laurel, Lincoln, Madison, McCreary, Mercer, Owsley, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Taylor,...

Forcht Bank customers can now add a Forcht Bank debit card to the Wallet App on their Apple iPhone®, iPad®, and Apple Watch™. The Wallet App with Apple Pay™ offers an additional layer of security when shopping online or at participating retailers. When someone adds a debit card to an Apple device through the Wallet App, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device or on Apple servers. The Device Account Number, along with a transaction-specific dynamic security code, is used to process the payment. The debit card numbers are never sent to merchants. To pay in stores that accept Apple Pay™, the customer just holds the Apple device...