Madisonville, KY – Hopkins County Judge Executive Donnie Carroll, Sheriff Frank Latham, Webster County Judge Executive Jim Townsend and Sheriff Frankie Springfield gathered at the Hopkins County Government Center Monday morning for a check presentation. 

Chester Thomas of Allied Resources LLC presented a check to the Kentucky Sheriff's Boys & Girls Ranch in the amount of $25,000.  Thomas, of Muhlenberg Co. said, “You guys do a great job in making our communities better and by helping children. This is a very special thing you are doing.”

Judge Carroll was a Hopkins County Deputy Sheriff in 1974 when the ranch was first opened.  The facility is located in Gilbertsville near the Kentucky Dam.  The state used the facility to house forestry workers and later the workers who built the Kentucky dam.  Carroll, who was also chairman of the Kentucky Sheriff's Association at the time the ranch was created said, “The association agreed to lease the ranch from the state for $1 a year for 100 years.”  He said, “The purpose for the camp was to help wayward children in the state.”

Retired sheriff and camp director, Jerry Wagoner thanked Thomas for his donation and said, “This gift is greatly appreciated and needed to help take care of children from all of our communities.”  The ranch is located near the dam and consists of about 50 acres. Between 600 – 800 boys and girls attend the ranch every year.  Sheriff Latham said, “There is a swimming pool, archery range, a small lake and horseback riding provided for the campers.  College students from the area are hired each summer to staff the facility and to act as camp counselors.

The facility has an operating budget of about $500,000.  Wagoner said the facility does not receive state or federal funding but operates solely on private donations.  About $600 is needed to sponsor a child at the camp for a week.  Wagoner said the $25,000 donation from Thomas will go to the building fund.  The camp is in need of a new kitchen and dining hall as well as a large bunk house.

Any child age 8-11 years of age is eligible to attend the camp.  Each county Sheriff's Department has a process that is used in choosing the campers.  Sheriff Latham said approximately $6,000 is donated each year from Hopkins County citizens for the camp.  Donation forums can be picked up at the sheriff's office or you can down-load a form on line.  Last year there were 30 Hopkins County children who attended the camp.  Wagoner said, “We will do everything we can to keep from turning a child away.”  100 percent of the donations are used to operate the camp. 

Judge Townsend and Sheriff Springfield also thanked Thomas for his donation.  Townsend said to Thomas, “you have done a lot for the coal industry in providing jobs and creating energy and now your help for our community’s children is appreciated.”

Sheriff Latham told those gathered, “Children are our future.  They are very deserving of a camp like this. Many (campers) have become very productive citizens of our community; some have even become law enforcement officers.”

Thomas ended by saying, “Coal is vital to Kentucky from employment to energy to the economy.  If it wasn't for what the coal industry has done, I would not be able to do this today.”

Tim Moore, News Director – iSurf News