Monday night in Hopkinsville’s Bruce Convention Center, many regional officials split their impassioned attention between two events.
Checking their phones repeatedly, seeing if the Murray State Racers and their nine guys on the field could hold serve against the ACC’s Duke Blue Devils in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Durham, North Carolina Super Regional.
And celebrating a nine-county region — Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd and Trigg — for the 56th Pennyrile Area Development District Annual Dinner.
PeADD Executive Director Jason Vincent, Todd County Judge Executive Todd Mansfield and the evening’s guest speaker — renowned author and freelance journalist Melody Warnick — were all in on the duality.
But just like the diamond sports, this was a celebration of a team effort.
Christian County Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam said he had the honor of bestowing the John C. Mahre Award for Regionalism to Elizabeth McCoy and her tireless staff at Planters Bank.
McCoy said she was “overwhelmed, taken aback” by the nod from her peers, and was able to genuinely reflect.
In the past year, Vincent noted that PeADD remained responsible for the managing of a $31 million budget, the providing of more than 160,000 senior meals, the passing-through for more than $479 million in community projects and block grants, and the assisting on more than 50 job fairs for 143 different employers.
Warnick, meanwhile, circled the bases before touching on the importance of home and “place attachment” — a frequently-proven theory describing the emotional bond people form with specific locations, often rooted in positive experiences and meaningful connections.
Not only does it influence identity, but she said it can create a sense of belonging, and form reinforcing behaviors related to community, urban development and environmental care — which, in turn, leads to a better region, and in some cases increased regional gross domestic product.
Three PeADD employees were also honored for 20, or more, years of service with the organization: Accounting Assistant Sherry Chambers, Communications Director Melissa Thompson and Payroll Specialist Kim Choate.
Warnick’s Full Presentation:
