GREENUP —
Summer’s bounty is here, as evidenced by the number of roadside fruit and vegetable stands that have popped up along busy U.S. 23 in recent days.
Those vendors could soon have a new, safer place to do business along the highway, much to the delight of public safety officials.
Plans are to establish a permanent farmers market in a field near the intersection of U.S. 23 and the Industrial Parkway next to the Greenup County Cooperative Extension Office.
The location is visible from the highway but would allow motorists and vendors to be completely out of the busy road’s right-of-way and provide ample parking for motorists, too.
Greenup County Judge-Executive Bobby Carpenter said state highway officials approached the fiscal court over a year ago about finding a place for the roadside stands to alleviate safety concerns stemming from traffic stopped along the roadway.
“We are going to put it there,” Carpenter said of the potential new home. “It’s the safest place you can put them.”
He expects 20 or 30 vendors to locate there as soon as it is opened.
The plan has hit a snag, however, because no one knows who owns the location. But Carpenter is undeterred. He said if searching for a deed to the property is fruitless, the court could condemn the property and take it via eminent domain.
The new marketplace could also create a revenue for the city of Wurtland, which requires all vendors to buy a $50 business license fee. The lot is inside the city limits.
Carpenter hopes the county can eventually invest more than gravel into the lot, which it intends to put down to create the lot.
“I hope one of these days we can afford some structures to put up there,”βhe said.
The creation of the farmers market has the support of highway officials and law enforcement.
Wurtland Police Chief Philip Piercy said the vendors are good for the city, but a location off the roadway would help improve safety.
Piercy said he, along with the Kentucky State Police, have fielded complaints from motorists in recent days about the roadside stands.
“We are supportive of the benefits of the county’s actions from the standpoint of relieving the safety and encroachment issues,” said Allen Blair, a spokesman for Highway District 9. “It’s a dangerous situation and we would advise people not to have those activities on a state highway right-of-way, especially a right-of-way on a highway with 55 mph speed limit.”
The issue of encroachment is not isolated to roadside vendors in Greenup County, he added.
“Across the state we have issues with advertising, vehicles for sale, and other unpermitted encroachments. We have a problem with that from the standpoint it presents a safety issue for traffic.”
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
Local News
Citing safety, Greenup County seeks to move stands off U.S. 23 right-of-way
- Local News
-
-
Homeless count up in Boyd
A count of Kentucky’s homeless in January revealed the population is shrinking statewide, but locally the numbers rose, as projected by officials.
-
59-year-old accused of stealing at Raceland graduation
A 59-year-old Greenup County man is accused of stealing from students during Raceland-Worthington High School’s graduation on Tuesday night.
During the graduation ceremony, Doran O’Neal of Raceland stole about $40 and an iPhone from purses placed in a side room, according to the Raceland Police Department. Officers said the theft was captured on surveillance video and they were able to identify O’Neal.
Raceland Police Chief Don Sammons said the graduation was finished around 9 p.m. and O’Neal was in custody before 10 p.m. -
Famous luthier/musician visits with fans in Ashland
Guitar-builder Paul Reed Smith shared sonic secrets Wednesday evening during a visit to Ashland’s 4 O’Clock Rock Guitar Shop.
“This is one of the most dedicated Paul Reed Smith dealers in the world and I’m here because I want to be here,” Smith said Wednesday afternoon as he tested a new chorus-effect pedal through one of his own amplifiers. -
Cadets honor veterans by placing flags
On their final full day of school for the year, nearly 40 Russell High School students decided they could best spend their time placing American flags upon the graves of local veterans buried at Rose Hill Cemetery.
-
12th Street bridge closed
The Kentucky Department of Transportation is in the process of closing the 12th Street Bridge.
-
05/23/2013 β What's happening
Local news
-
Bagby Music Fest new attraction for event
Patriotic and inspirational music sets the theme for a new Memory Days event at 2 p.m. Saturday following the parade.
-
Memory Days/Arts
There are extra arts events in Grayson this month that encompass music, poetry and visual arts.
-
Police beat: 5/23/13
The following information was taken from Ashland Police Department reports:
-
Local in brief: 5/23/13
A Rowan Circuit Court jury deliberated six hours here Tuesday before reporting it was hopelessly deadlocked in the case of Dallas Carpenter, 60, of Emerson in Lewis County, who was on trial for murder in the May 2010 traffic deaths of a Clearfield couple.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Homeless count up in Boyd
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
