Erin Hall joins Community Trust

Western Kentucky University graduate Erin Fulkerson Hall was named vice president of relationship officers for private wealth services for Lexington-based Community Trust and Investment Co.

Hall’s responsibilities include overseeing client relationships, administering trusts and assisting with legacy planning. Her office is in Lexington.

Hall graduated from Lexington’s Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from WKU and juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in Lexington. She has been a practicing attorney and a senior wealth adviser at a regional bank.

She is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Fayette County Bar Association, Western Kentucky University Young Alumni Council and the Bluegrass Estate Planning Council. She lives in Lexington.

Optometrist attends conference

Optometrist Russell Heltsley of Bowling Green attended the 2016 Kentucky Optometric Association’s Fall Education Conference in Louisville.

Heltsley, whose office is at 2425 Scottsville Road, Suite 114, attended lectures on diabetes, glaucoma, dry eye disease and pain management.

Heltsley has practiced in Bowling Green since 1997.

Warren water donates refilling stations

Warren County Water District donated water bottle refilling stations to all Warren County Public Schools high schools.

The donations help “offer a healthy drinking option that is convenient and free for students while making a positive and tangible environmental impact,” according to a news release. The stations promote sustainability by reducing the waste created by the bottling process and the need for fossil fuels to make plastic. A tracking system located on each station displays a running total of plastic water bottles saved from landfills by being refilled.

“Warren Water believes that educating the next generation on water with the proper tools is equally as important as providing safe drinking water on tap,” district General Manager John Dix said. “The water bottle refilling stations serve as a constant reminder to protect our environment while offering students with a healthy option to stay hydrated.”

County schools Superintendent Rob Clayton said: “We appreciate the support of Warren County Water District’s investment in our schools. The water bottle refilling stations are a huge hit with our students and we immediately noticed this impact within our schools.”

Spirited Funds’ WSKY launched

ETF Managers Group, in partnership with Spirited Funds LLC, launched its newest fund, the Spirited Funds/ETFMG Whiskey and Spirits ETF.

The exchange-traded fund is designated on the New York Stock Exchange Arca as WSKY.

WSKY invests primarily in companies that derive most of their revenue from producing and marketing whiskey and spirits, plus a small number of companies that derive part of their revenue from the industry. Major names in the underlying index include Pernod Ricard (France), Diageo (England). Brown Forman (U.S.), Thai Beverage (Thailand), Kirin Holdings (Japan) and United Spirits (India), among others.

“We believe we’re at year 5 of a 25- to 40-year supercycle that could see continued growth in consumer demand for whiskey and spirits, much like what has occurred with craft breweries over the past two decades,” David Bolton, president and chief executive officer at Spirited Funds, said in a news release.

High-end premium and super-premium bourbon and Tennessee whiskey brands saw revenues increase 50 percent and 155 percent, respectively, from 2010-2015, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

Total U.S. spirits sales were $72 billion in 2015.