3/10/10
Posted: 3/9/2010
NEWS NOW: No Saturday classes
In an effort to recoup some
of this year's snow days, Shelby County Public School Board members on Thursday considered having school on two Saturdays -- March 20 and 27. Instead, they chose a second option: to extend the school year to June 8.
Snow closed schools nine times this winter instead of the typical two or three, according to Director of Student Accounting and Support Services Gary Kidwell.
Snow closed schools nine times this winter instead of the typical two or three, according to Director of Student Accounting and Support Services Gary Kidwell.
Rockets head for Rupp
Watch the final seconds of Shelby County's Region Championship game against South Oldham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLJj5uDflaQ
NEWS NOW: Local hospital to cut 8 jobs
Louisville's Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare announced Wednesday it is cutting about 500 jobs throughout its health care system, but only eight jobs will be eliminated in Shelbyville.
Jewish Hospital Shelbyville CEO Michael Collins said the general downturn in the economy prompted the cuts across the system, which locally will impact only administrative jobs."Our intent has been very clear, to avoid impacting patient-contact jobs," Collins said Wednesday. "The majority of these job reductions throughout the system apply to administrative and support functions. We do not have any bedside positions affected." Even though only eight jobs will be eliminated locally, Collins said hours will be reduced on some positions.
Approximately 500 positions will be eliminated throughout the system, Jewish said in a press release. The eliminations will be achieved through attrition, layoffs and productivity improvements.
Collins said hospitals, like any other business, are susceptible to changes in the economy.
"A lot of people think that health care is immune, but it's not," he said. "We're seeing a much higher percentage of patients who are unable to pay for care -- bad debt is going up. According to an article in the Courier-Journal, one-third of adult Kentuckians below Medicare age don't have insurance. That's huge. And hospitals are seeing a decrease in the volume of services."
Collins said most of the affected employees had been told by late Wednesday afternoon, but he was still meeting with some.
"It's been a long day," he said.
Bekaert to expand with 10 new jobs
Gov. Steve Beshear and Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes announced Wednesday the expansion of Bekaert Corporation in Shelbyville. The company, which manufactures drawn steel wire products, will create 10 new jobs as a result of the expansion and invest more than $2 million in the commonwealth."Kentucky is pleased that Bekaert, a company that has called the Bluegrass State home for 20 years, is once again investing in the Commonwealth," Beshear said in a press release. "The creation of 10 new jobs and a capital investment in excess of $2 million will provide a much welcomed economic boost in the community."
Located in Shelby County since 1990, Bekaert plans to add a hot-dip galvanizing line to its 260,000 square-foot plant. The process provides corrosion protection for wire used in exposed environments. Currently, the Shelbyville plant employs 101 people full-time.
"Bekaert is thrilled that its business is growing and creating an opportunity for us to further invest in our plant here in Shelbyville, Kentucky," said Kendall Hall, Shelbyville Bekaers plant manager. "The location of this plant is strategic for Bekaert to serve many of its customers up and down the eastern part of the United States and Canada, and we are very pleased with the support we've been receiving from the Commonwealth of Kentucky."
Bekaert's wire products are used in a variety of applications such as staples, paper clips, nails, spiral notebook wire, concrete and automotive uses. In fact, one in every four tires in the world runs on Bekaert steel cord. The company employs 23,000 people worldwide and serves customers in 120 countries.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Bekaert Corporation for tax incentives up to $200,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The incentive can be earned over a five-year period through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments. The maximum annual approved amount to be earned by Bekaert is $40,000.
The Bluegrass State Skills Corporation (BSSC), the workforce training arm of the Cabinet for Economic Development, also approved a grant-in-aid package for Bekaert to provide skills training for its new and existing employees.
"On behalf of the city of Shelbyville, I want to congratulate Bekaert on the future upgrade of their wire coating process," said Shelbyville Mayor Thomas L. Hardesty. "It is exciting to learn they will be adding 10 employees and be able to utilize BSSC for employee training. I wish them continued success and prosperity in Shelby County."
"Shelby County Fiscal Court is extremely excited to be able to team with Bekaert Corporation to add the hot dip galvanizing line, which will diversity operations in the plant and create several full-time and temporary positions," said Shelby County Judge Executive Rob Rothenburger.
Visit www.bekaert.com for more information about Bekaert Corporation.
 |
 |
 |