Pennyrile Area Development District Holds 50th Annual Meeting

A record crowd of nearly 600 gathered at the James E. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, KY on June 10, 2019 to celebrate the 50th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Pennyrile Area Development District.

The annual event, sponsored by Planters Bank of Hopkinsville, gives all local officials, legislators, business and civic leaders, and others from throughout the Pennyrile the opportunity to look back on the year’s activities.

The following Board Members were recognized for milestone years of service to the PADD Board of Directors: Denise Sutton, Citizen Representative for Lyon County, for five years of service; Lori Harper, Citizen Representative for Christian County, for 10 years of services; Bart Frazer, Citizen Representative for Crittenden County, for twenty years of service; and Judge Steve Tribble, Judge Executive for Christian County, for twenty-five years of service. PADD Staff who reached milestones of service were also recognized.

A new regional award was unveiled, the Pennyrile Regional Award of Excellence, which honors individuals, groups of individuals, or entities who have shown a flaming passion for regionalism and cooperation, while at the same time, providing leadership in various exemplary ways. The Pennyrile Regional Award of Excellence is in the shape of a flame. The symbol of the flame represents those who selflessly go out and light the way for others to make the Pennyrile region a better place to live, work, and play. The 2019 Pennyrile Regional Award of Excellence was awarded to the previous Executive Directors of the Pennyrile Area Development District, Mr. John Adams, Mr. David Shore, Mr. Dan Bozarth and Mr. Chris Sutton.

Guest Speaker, Retired Justice Bill Cunningham, spoke to the history of the region and the beginnings of the Area Development Districts in the State of Kentucky and their accomplishments over the past 50 years.

PeADD Executive Director Jason Vincent, presented the 2019 Annual Report, a video tribute, and thanked everyone for contributing a tremendous amount of leadership and vision to the entire region. The Area Development Districts’ goals of regionalism, sound planning, efficient coordination of programs, and support to local government are as important now as they were 50 years ago and we are looking forward to the next 50 years.