Kelly Witt-Brown, the Site Manager for the Blue Grass Chemical Demilitarization Office and Dave Easter, the Public Affairs Officer for the Blue Grass Army Depot met with the local Kiwanis Club on January 2 and provided an update on the plans for Chemical Demilitarization in the immediate area. They announced a public meetings to be discuss chemical weapons destruction technologies. These sessions will be repeated at 11 a.m. 12 p.m. 1 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Madison County Extension Office at 230 Duncannon Lane.

To be considered are the technologies to be adopted for the destruction of 523.41 tones of chemical agent stored at the Blue Grass Chemical Activities. The basic choice will be between Baseline Incineration and Neutralization/Super Critical Water Oxidation. Also to be considered are the elements the local community wishes the army to study as part of its technology selection process. These include such things as: Air Quality and Noise; Water Quality and Soil; Human Health and Safety; Land Use; Biological Resources; Cultural/Archaeological Resources/; Waste Management; Socioeconomic; and Environmental Justice.

Easter indicated that the decision regarding technology would be made at least by May 2002 and the total desctruction of the chemicals is scheduled (based upon an international treaty) by 2007. The total cost of destruction of the chemicals locally will be in excess of $1 billion dollars. It was pointed out that there are nine sites where Chemical Demilitarization needed to be completed; one site in the Johnson Atoll in the Pacific Ocean has completed its Chemical Demilitarization process. Of the remaining number two have demilitarization facilities constructed and two additional are under construction.

U.S. Representative Ernie Fletcher arranged for the Richmond Kiwanis club to receive a flag that was especially flown over the U.S. Capitol for the Richmond Kiwanis Club. This is the flag that will be used in the future for all club events. Seen there displaying the flag are club members Jay Boyd and Dorothy Esce who arranged to obtain the flag.

The Wellness on Wheels Wagon (WOW), one of the many projects supported by the Richmond Kiwanis, distributes health information to youth and schools in the Madison County Area. See here is Phyllis Adams, Richmond Kiwanis member, who is seen providing information at the Berea Spoonbread Festival. The wagon was also provided information to youth at the Kiwanis Carnival.

Kiwanis International joined the Heartland Film Festival's tribute to international film star Maureen O'Hara at a special viewing of her classic film, The Quiet Man, in Indianapolis this past weekend. In his presentation to O'Hara, A.G. Terry Shaffer, Executive Director of Kiwanis International, spoke of her "outstanding achievement and cinematic excellence in films that promote the importance of family strength and unity."

Terry also spoke of the importance of the "Heartland Film Festival's efforts in promoting films and filmmakers that explore the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." He spoke of O'Hara's 60 films as great examples of excellent films full of hope.

Jeff Sparks, president of the Heartland Film Festival, said of the presentation by Shaffer, "I am excited that Kiwanis has chosen to be involved with our film festival. Kiwanis is one of the most highly respected grassroots service organizations in the world. Kiwanians can encourage their friends and families to go to theaters to see films with positive messages, as well as encourage their neighbors to support television films that similarly promote values that highlight hope and respect for the enriching values of life."