Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Cool.

Indeed.

Well, as you've seen this week, there's a lot of focus on downtown revitalization in Hopkinsville.

>> While staying true to the community's commitment to its agricultural heritage.

Why was there this week?

I sat down with Christian County Judge executive Jerry Gilliam at the historic Alhambra theater to talk about the growth and the opportunities for the area too.

>> I bragged about being in this space so many times.

I'm sure our viewers are tired of me saying it.

But do you ever get tired being in this space and saying how just majestic it is and the county does run it.

So you have a vested interest in and looking the way it looks.

It was money well invested.

You know, we went through the major back in 2018 we're very proud of it.

And >> very proud of the management operations of come up.

There are urged council they do a great job.

>> Taking care of the facility and it's a it's a venue for so many different from concerts to plays and it really serves our community.

Well.

>> Right.

I was talking to Jennifer Brown who runs the opt out right when she said she saw Star Wars here.

Right lot.

You know.

And so you think about the memories is not just a place to comments like a place to build memories like, you know, and people remember what they saw here, what they did here for their kids and grandkids did here with the other thing.

It does Rican hmic development expression within downtown is it's the staple.

>> Venues.

So, you know, for restaurants, low, locating here, you know, people go out to dinner before they come to show so opportunities for for local that this place a while for their businesses is really, really need to see.

>> Well, it's a beautiful downtown area and we tried a lot of the local saying the time that we've been here and we won't mention our favorite said because we the next time we go to will be our facts right.

But talk to us about the downtown revitalization.

We know work is still ongoing, but a lot of work has already been done.

>> It is.

And I think it's a very clear focus now on our downtown.

I'm looking really take a section at a time and try to renovate.

You know, the 6th Street was renovated several years ago.

And of Amber's adjacent to that our office, which is 2 blocks over.

We're doing them.

We're doing a renovation to that office and really because we need to we need to step up our game and and fit the facade of the of the growth in the and advancements that are making in these buildings.

There's a lot of private investment.

A lot of people putting a lot of money in some of these facilities and and really making a you know, that's what's going to land these other other small businesses to one you in that love how you're respecting the architecture.

Write your story.

And it's a true to the integrity of the original design and architecture.

But that also means a lot of money when you're talking about old buildings that can be rehabbed with, I can't even name all the things asbestos and mold and a structural issues.

>> And though you can almost do something new for what you're putting into something to try to make it for today.

Right?

>> You peel this onion back.

You see different problems emerged and oh, yeah, the investors that have Cain that come downtown and started, you know, they're really have to come in revamp a lot of part of that building in order to protect the integrity of the coverage was on.

Yeah.

>> So talk about the other things that are happening in the county to I mean, we're situated downtown, but we know there's a lot of great stuff that's happening in Christian County.

We are, you know, I'm very proud to be from Christian County all of my life and >> I think Christian County the perfect example of America.

we're focused on agriculture, our agricultural roots and in our military and what to do more.

Most powerful Americana events and their culture in the military.

So we're very fortunate to live here.

We're very fortunate to embrace the military and very surrender cultural Agriculture is a lot different here than it is.

Other parts of the area or part of the Even the nation because it's so are productive souls.

And we've got some really good AG agricultural leaders that have advanced a son and set the stage agriculture to prosper for many years to come.

Yeah.

>> Grain is the saying tonight.

Yeah.

And taking the grain and making pancakes to the brownies all locally.

>> Is is something that we course ethanol.

We've we've got a large ethanol plant here, too.

So really sustaining agriculture, providing renewable resources for and providing food for America.

>> Yeah.

And that's so critical.

We talk under south of food and food It's a nice to know that that is happening here.

We know that McDonald's and Ghirardelli and some of our sweet tooth and other vendors are ones that are taking advantage of the great products that come from this part of the state temps a little bit.

Yeah.

Technology to, you know, were We've got 2 great pioneers in the past.

You know, kill farming was invented right here in Christian County and that sun.

>> It's a worldwide trend now.

So the first know till plot was was in South Christian, Kentucky that school what it what are some other little known facts that people will be surprised to learn about here.

We've also when neighboring county in Todd County, and then in a plan or a catchment that is for now with role players that kind of clean the residue out of the way for the planet to planet to planet in a good so some innovation.

We're just we're just been very, very fortunate to have a lot of innovators and creative thinkers not only from the but the engineering side.

The Israeli advanced us.

>> I agree culturally.

I have to ask you the question.

I asked some others about what would be the three-year plan for Christian County.

What would it look like on the other side when you've got to where you wanted to be, what would it look like?

You know, we're as a fiscal court in Christian County government, we embarked on a strategic this past year.

>> And we really focused on strengthening and nurturing a relationship with Fort Campbell.

How the housing development is another one now and also taking advantage of our natural and manufactured resource goods.

Those are 3 of the biggest goals that we have.

And I think if you can pull up the waters and not be able to see the state line based on the development that you see now, you know, it's funny.

We talk with other people from different from throughout the state and they said, yeah, we put into words.

We can see exactly where the state line is because of the development.

So, you know, I think our vision of goats would be gross would be looking toward the future and scene.

You would be able to see where the state line.

Yeah, yeah.

So but being strategic too, with that comes some responsibility protecting that agricultural resource to not going going wild on development but being very strategic in our development and ensuring that the development that we could.

Has.

We're using the best misuse of land.

Yes, and we know that's always a time to warn other areas.

Are I grossed versus protecting and preserving that the important critical farmland?

Well, and perhaps you all can write the playbook.

>> For others all once you once you get there and you've learned that that county and state lines so was thank you.

Judge has been a pleasure to spend a few minutes with you and just want to say thank everyone here in Christian County and Hopkinsville for being so hospitable to us.

It's been a pleasure to be here.

We're very proud that you're here and come back anytime.

Thank you, sir.

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