Brian D. Gugler

Warren County native appointed to new position

Chad Vannauker has been appointed as a new agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. at Warren County Farm Bureau-Fairview Avenue Agency. 

Vannauker is a native of Warren County. He attended the University of Kentucky and has more than 20 years of sales experience. Vannauker is a member of St. Joseph Church, a board member of the Junior Little League and vice president of the Greenwood High School Booster Club. In his spare time, Vannauker enjoys golfing, hunting, coaching baseball, running and fitness.

In his new position, Vannauker will call on the residents of Warren County to offer a wide variety of insurance coverage through KFB Insurance. He will work with agency Manager Ted Strode and the staff at Warren County Farm Bureau at 101 Riverwood Ave., Suite A.

— To learn more about the Warren County Agency of Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, visit kyfb.com/warren/fairview. To contact Vannauker, call 270-393-0094.

Cone Funeral Home director re-certified

Brian D. Gugler, a funeral director with Cone Funeral Home in Bowling Green, qualified for re-certification as a certified funeral service practitioner by the Academy of Funeral Service Practice. The program is voluntary and encompasses educational and service opportunities.

The academy, founded in 1976, recognizes practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth, raises standards of funeral service and encourages the practitioners to make continuing education a lifelong process. Gugler completed a 180-hour program and is required to accumulate 20 hours per calendar year to re-certify.

First Security Bank receives multiple awards 

The United Way of the Ohio Valley presented First Security Bank, which has a presence in Bowling Green, with three awards for its involvement and contributions during 2016: the Silver Award for its double-digit increase in giving over last year; the Community Spirit Award for sustained per capita giving at the $50-plus level for two or more years; and the Pinnacle Award as a community partner who has made a significant impact on the United Way through generous giving and volunteering.

Ribbon-cutting slated for Love Art Gallery

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. Friday at the new Love Art & Antiques Gallery, 419 Park Row.

The gallery is owned by Bob and Ronna Love, both artists and career art teachers.

It features fine art, antiques and unique gifts. There is a focus on Kentucky artists and artisans. Paintings, furniture, mixed media, pottery, jewelry, cards and other items are on display.

Ky. National Bancorp to merge, expand clientele

South Central Bancshares of Kentucky Inc., the parent corporation of South Central Bank, and Kentucky National Bancorp, the parent company of Kentucky Neighborhood Bank, have announced a merger.

Kentucky National Bancorp will become part of South Central Bancshares.

Kentucky Neighborhood Bank has two branches in Elizabethtown and one in Radcliff.

“We are so very happy to acquire this high-caliber institution with such a professional management team,” Ruthie Bale, chairman of South Central Bancshares based in Glasgow, said in a news release. “Ronnie Pence and his board have operated a very good bank. KNB is a great addition allowing South Central to expand our Elizabethtown family of customers.”

The combined assets are estimated to be near $1.1 billion once the acquisition is completed. The agreement is pending shareholder vote and regulatory approval. It is anticipated to close before the end of the third quarter of 2016 once approvals are made. Details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

U.S. Labor offers free compliance seminar Thursday

The U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division is offering a free compliance seminar in Bowling Green from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The emphasis will be on wage requirements for workers under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The free seminar is at the Bob Kirby Branch of the Warren County Public Library main meeting room, 175 Iron Skillet Court.

The compliance seminar will provide information on the certification process and how to conduct prevailing wage surveys and time studies.

Board members added to Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky announced the appointment of four new board members to its board of directors.

The 2016-17 board chairman is Brandon Jones. Joining the board are Adam Burden, commercial line sales, Van Meter Insurance; Amber Frye, director of customer relations, Franklin Bank & Trust; Chad Carter, Mortgage Loan Officer, BB&T; and David Ferrell, Ford’s Furniture.

Members retiring from the board include: Gayla Warner, owner of Green River Rentals; Scott Thornhill, commercial lender for Independence Bank; Dana Russell, human resources for JM Smucker Co; and Chris Wiseman, director of select/personal Lines, Van Meter Insurance.  

Tea Bayou offers specials during last month in BG

Tea Bayou, a Bowling Green downtown mainstay for five years, is shutting its doors in Bowling Green and moving to a new location in Clarksville, Tenn., owners Theresa and Greg Shea announced.

“We have been looking to relocate our shop within the Bowling Green area, but we have not been able to find a building that met our needs. We have been bursting at the seams in our little shop on State Street for quite some time,” they announced on social media this week.

“Exhausting our options in Bowling Green, we decided to look into nearby towns that have been requesting for us to move to their communities. After looking at Clarksville, Tenn., we found a wonderful downtown building that is large enough for all of our needs, and will allow us to take our shop into the next phase.

“Barring any glitches along the way, we intend to start remodeling the new building in October. The restaurant will be AmeriCajun cuisine, fine-casual, with a New Orleans-style bar, and we are still deciding on what to name it. The remodel will take a couple of months. We will post updates on our teabayou Facebook page, and hope that you will give us feedback on our new look,” the announcement noted. 

“We chose to announce our closing date a month out to allow for our staff to find jobs. We have amazing people that have worked very hard to give each one of our customers a stellar experience in our shop. If you are looking for employee that has this kind of commitment, please let us know,” they noted in the announcement. 

“It is our hope that you will join us for our last month in Bowling Green, and keep in touch with us and visit us when we reopen in Clarksville. All bulk tea and retail will be discounted 50 percent in August (in-shop only; excludes commissioned artwork),” the announcement noted. The restaurant celebrates its fifth birthday on Aug. 13, “New Orleans-style,” the owners noted.

  

Free OSHA training this month in BG

The Kentucky Labor Cabinet will be offering free Occupational Safety and Health Administration training Monday through Aug. 11 at the Holiday Inn University Plaza, 1021 Wilkinson Trace.

Training includes: Monday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., program overview; Monday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., injury, illness, record-keeping; Tuesday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., lockout-tagout; Monday, 1 to 4 p.m., basic electrical safety; Aug. 10, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., working in confined spaces; Aug. 10, 1 to 4 p.m., hazard communications; Aug. 11, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., combustible dust; and Aug. 11, 1 to 4 p.m. welding.

Hospice of Southern Ky. chooses provider

Consolo Services Group of Lexington has been chosen by Hospice of Southern Kentucky as its new hospice emergency medical records provider.

As part of Consolo’s computer software, Hospice of Southern Kentucky will have a subscription including clinical care, billing and Consolo’s training and support.

“We are thrilled to be joining the Consolo community,” said Ellen Sledge, executive director of the Hospice of Southern Kentucky. “By leveraging Consolo’s hospice expertise and their easy-to-use software, we expect it will allow us to focus even more on patient care.”