Business of the Quarter: Cindy’s Center Grill

By PJ Martin

Editor

The Herald-News

 

The breakfast began with the announcement of the Edmonton-Metcalfe Chamber of Commerce Fall Business of the Quarter. This quarter, the chamber recognized Cindy’s Center Grill, owned and operated by Cindy Herrington.

Cindy was unable to attend the breakfast because she was serving breakfast to her customers at the grill. So, after the chamber breakfast, the award was delivered to Cindy. Chamber President, Daniel Bragg, Director, Anne Devore-Birge, and Executive Director, Kim Harwood, headed to Center to present her with a beautifully designed plaque by Kayla Blythe Jessee of the Trophy Shop.

Cindy, her twin sister, Mindy, and crew keep the kitchen running, feeding approximately two hundred customers per day with breakfast and lunch. Congratulations, Cindy Herrington and Cindy’s Center Grill.

The next guest speaker was Toby Moss, President and CEO of Farmers RECC, who sponsored the breakfast. He explained how power is generated and the process it takes down to the customer/member, and that Farmers has 27,000 members. He also explained that Farmers has around 16,000 transformers, 3,700 miles of wire, and this is all managed and maintained by only 62 employees.

Moss stated that Farmers RECC purchases power from East Kentucky Power and spends 75 cents of every dollar paid by its members in 11 counties.

He then explained that they are still waiting on FEMA reimbursement for the storm damage earlier this year. Explaining that Farmers will only receive 75% of the $480,000 from FEMA claims for the storm damage.

He invited everyone to the October 3^rd Coffee with the Co-Ops in the old school gym.

The next speaker was Teresa Hubbard, who has worked with the Adult Education Program for 20 years in Metcalfe County. The adult education program has GED preparation, para-educator certification, college prep placement tests, digital literacy certification, and workforce development programs.

Since 2019, the offices have been located in the gymnasium at Bowling Park.

Currently, the GED tests are given in 4 sections, and Hubbard explained that it can take a few weeks or a few years to earn a GED. It all depends on how much time the individual wants to put into the program.

The digital literacy certification is a fairly new program offering 18 modules of certification.

The adult education offices are open on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday each week, and students can work on-site or online.

Hubbard and the adult education goal is, “To get individuals into a career that will sustain them for life.”

Following Teresa was speaker Buddy Steen of CREATE and the WKU Innovation Campus.

Steen relayed the story of his idea to renovate the Old Bowling Green Mall, which led to 2 ½ years of work turning it into a place to house new creative businesses. The old mall is now the WKU Innovation Campus and houses 60 companies.

Using his cell phone, Steen presented the use of AI to converse with live individuals just as a live person would. He stated that the use of AI will bring major changes to the world in the next 3 years. He also noted that his online company, Bucks for Bright Ideas, is a way for inventors to patent their ideas.

The final speaker at the breakfast was Jennifer Capps with the American Red Cross. Capps informed those in attendance about the upcoming Sound the Alarm Save a Life program on Friday and Saturday, October 10^th and 11^th, from 9 am to 3 pm. During those two days, anyone who wishes to volunteer will be installing new smoke alarms in the family homes of those who sign up. The program and smoke detectors are completely free.

She also explained that smoke alarms have an expiration of 10 years, and these new smoke detectors are equipped with a 10-year lithium battery. It has been shown that working smoke alarms cut the risk of death in a fire in half. Capps relayed that it has been determined that a person only has 2 minutes to get out of a building that is on fire.

The Red Cross is also looking for businesses or groups that would like to be ‘shelter trained.’ In times of disaster, temporary shelter needs are great, and, in each area, it is necessary to have a place of shelter ready.

To volunteer to install new smoke alarms or to sign up to receive new smoke alarms, call 270-201-4177 or go to https://www.redcross.org/local/kentucky.html.