Chamber Awards Luncheon

The Madisonville/Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce recognized the contributions of a number of businesses and individuals at the annual awards luncheon held today, January 29, at the Ballard Convention Center. More than 250 people attended the event.

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Hopkins County Fair - Ballard Convention receives $20,000 check

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) Commissioner James Comer visited Hopkins Co. today, along with other legislative members, including Representative Ben Waide. Hopkins County Central High School and Madisonville North Hopkins High School 4-H Clubs as well as the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) groups were also invited to attend this morning’s presentation.

Read more: Hopkins County Fair - Ballard Convention receives $20,000 check

Veteran's Memorial Committee Thanks Volunteers & Veterans

The Ballard Convention Center saw a full house as the Veteran’s Memorial Committee thanked contributors, volunteers and especially veterans. The celebration served as a prelude to the formal dedication to the Veteran’s Memorial on November 7th. Veterans from all five branches were in attendance having served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Madisonville North Hopkins High School Choir performed an inspiring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. They also sang a melody of the 5 service hymns.

According to Master of Ceremonies and committee chair, Bob Simmons, the memorial was a dream of Mayor David Jackson. Simmons said that Jackson chose the location as one that would inspire people as they drove by. “His vision was to see a memorial on the site as it is. So as we go up that hill, we are looking at the sky; and, as we go past that memorial, we have an opportunity to remind ourselves each day how important the job our veterans have done for us.”

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We honor our Veterans,

The original concept for Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day until after WWII, was to be observed with parades and public meetings and brief suspension of business. It was declared November of 1919 at the end of WWI also known as The Great War. It meant to end hostilities.  Veterans were honored at the Ballard Convention Center in a ceremony on Saturday, November 3rd.

The community paid tribute Wednesday, November 7th at the Memorial Dedication downtown.  The Veterans’ Parade on Sunday, November 4th in downtown Madisonville Kentucky. 

Our Veterans are a vital part of our history and pride in community.

Memorial for Uday VInodrai Dave, M.D.

Uday Vinodrai Dave, M.D., 75, husband of Aroona Dave, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, while attending a medical conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. A resident of Madisonville, Kentucky since 1977, Dr. Dave practiced medicine as an otolaryngologist (Head and Neck Surgeon) on the medical staff of Trover Health System.

Dr. Dave grew up in Mumbai, India, the son of a civil engineer and homemaker. He was chosen as one of only 50 individuals in the first year of its inception to attend the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where he obtained his medical degree. He was attracted to surgery as a specialty and after living with his family in England for two years, Dr. Dave entered medical residency in New York, followed by a fellowship in Philadelphia before making his way to Madisonville, where he practiced medicine for nearly 35 years. During his life in Kentucky, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States and a proud Kentucky Colonel. As a Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of Louisville, he taught third and fourth year medical students and family practice residents at the Trover Health System.

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Women's Club Christmas Auction

The annual Christmas Auction will be held at the Ballard Convention Center on November 13th with doors opening at 6:30 and auction starting at 7:00 pm.

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38th Ruby Laffoon to be held in new Garden Hall

Democrats from across the region will gather tomorrow for the 38th annual Ruby Laffoon & Steve Beshear Democratic Dinner, sponsored by the Hopkins County Democratic Executive Committee. Normally held in the spring, coinciding with primary season, the dinner was moved back due to the lack of contested races this year.

The evening’s venue will be the newly-remodeled Garden Room in the Ballard Convention Center at the Madisonville-Hopkins County Fairgrounds. HCDEC Chair Pat Vincent had this list of notable speakers to expect and the mission of the dinner, which has become a Democratic fixture in the county.

The event isn’t as much of a fundraiser as it is a motivational rally, according to Vincent, who said that the $25 entry fee just about covers the HCDEC’s expenses to rent the venue and cover food costs.

Read more: 38th Ruby Laffoon to be held in new Garden Hall