Somerset — The Commonwealth’s governor made a stop in Somerset Monday to kick off the Portrait of America Road Tour, designed to promote awareness of the importance of completing the 2010 Census questionnaires which will be mailed to all households this month.
Gov. Steve Beshear shared interesting statistics for Kentucky from the 2000 Census, but reminded listeners that the numbers available in census information are “used for much more than trivia.”
“It’s absolutely critical that every Kentuckian be counted,” Beshear said. “These numbers help policy makers make decisions ... and help divvy up $400 billion in financial aid for states.”
Financial assistance available as a result of census statistics has an impact on programs for senior citizens, housing, schools, economic development, and more.
Beshear explained that the process of filling out a census questionnaire is simple.
“It’s my understanding that it’s never been quicker or easier to do this,” he said. “It’s short, painless and confidential.”
Also yesterday, the public was invited to apply to work for the Census Bureau. In spite of high unemployment rates in the Bluegrass state, the Bureau is having difficulty hiring workers to go door-to-door in neighborhoods to collect census information.
In all, about 750 individuals are needed in Pulaski County to collect the information. Pay for the jobs is around $10.75 per hour, not including reimbursement for mileage. Part time and full time jobs are available.
To begin the application process, call 1-866-861-2010 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov.
The Portrait of America event was scheduled to last from 1 to 4 p.m. yesterday; however, due to the cold temperatures, the outdoor kick-off was cut short.
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Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
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Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
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