A year flew by rather quickly in west Kentucky.
Just ask Beth Sumner, who — after executive session deliberations concluded late Thursday afternoon — accepted a four-year extension to continue as the Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism executive director.
Sumner accepted a similar one-year contract last summer, following the retirement of long-running incumbent Bill Stevens, and this week prompted discussions of renewal.
Sumner confirmed that her pay will remain the same, though it can come under review each June near the end of the fiscal year, and that she had two added sick days — bringing her to 12 annually.
In other Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism news:
+ Board members opened Thursday with a surprise for long-time chair Deepak Patel, honoring him with the Commonwealth’s greatest title: Kentucky Colonel.
Chairman Matt Ladd offered the explanation.
+ Sumner, meanwhile, said there were roughly 14 spots open for vendors at the upcoming Trigg County Country Ham Festival, and that many people on the waiting list have been contacted. She further reminded board members that “Locals Lane” has now been moved to the new Farmer’s Market Pavilion, in order to create ease of access and additional cover for Trigg County vendors. “Ham Fest,” she said, “is less than 40 days away.”
+ Thursday also marked the return of Mallory Lawrence to the tourism fold. A board appointee by the county, Lawrence last served the commission in 2018. It is then we she, retired Bank of Cadiz President Kevin Atwood and Greg Batts saw their terms expire and non-renewed, following alleged “controversy” surrounding the joint city-county Parks and Recreation Board’s refusal to ink a tax agreement.
Lawrence was not present for the vote on it, but at the time reportedly criticized the lack of a written agreement between the parties, calling it a “terrible business decision.”
Even then, she said tourism was something she was “passionate about,” and she echoes those sentiments still.
