The Fulton City Parks Master Plan is now being developed everyone is welcome to make input. Talk to a Parks Board Member or the City Manager.   Below are the links to the plan and videos.

Master Plan Document

Lions Park Video

Benny Gordon Park Video

Pontotoc Park Video

Riceville Park Video

Public Works Employee Scott Madding recently celebrated his 25th year of continuous service with the City of Fulton since 1994. Madding had worked part time for about two years prior to the full time date. Madding was presented a wrist watch engraved with his name and years of service by City Manger Mike Gunn. There was also a cake and ice cream to celebrate the milestone. “These kinds of milestone are something we should celebrate, we want to recognize Scott for his years of service to the City. This is something that you do not see as often anymore, someone to dedicate that many years to one place of employment.” Gunn said. During the presentation Gunn also stated that the 30 current City employees have 376 years of service. “That is also something we are proud of ” Gunn said.

If you haven’t been to visit this holiday season, mark it down to do so. Come and visit Fulton and South Fulton at night. The lights and trees are up in both Unity Park and Pontotoc Park as well as along Lake Street. The holiday cards are all up and their are lots of photo opportunities.

Changes Rehabilitation, LLC, is proud to locate its newest residential rehabilitation facility in Fulton. Join us Tuesday, March 26th, at the Pontotoc Community Center when we kick off our recruitment efforts to hire caring and dedicated team members. We are seeking to fill the following positions at this event:

Activities Assistant Administrative Assistant Care Giver
Food Service Supervisor Food Service Tech Housekeeper
Laundry Attendant Maintenance Attendant Maintenance Supervisor
Medical Secretary Receptionist Security Officer
Van Driver

The West Kentucky Workforce Board is funded through the federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act from the US Department of Labor through the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, Department of Workforce Investment, Kentucky Office of Employment & Training, Division of Workforce Services. Equal education & employment opportunities – M/F/D—Auxiliary aids and services are available for individuals with disabilities. Printed with federal funds.

The KenTenn EMS Board understands that citizens have concerns and questions regarding the ambulance service. We invite you to attend any of the three upcoming public meetings where we will discuss our efforts to take over ambulance service operations on December 16, 2017.

The meetings will be held Tuesday, September 26th at 4:30 PM at South Fulton City Hall in the Commission Room, then we will hold a meeting at 6:30 PM at the Pontotoc Community Center in Fulton. The final meeting will occur on Thursday, September 28th at 6:30 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Hickman.

Click Here for The Banana Festival Home Page

Why Bananas in Kentucky and Tennessee?

Upon hearing that the twin cities are hosting a Banana Festival many reply with, “Why Bananas?” While it is true our weather is not conducive to growing bananas, the twin cities have had a great impact on bananas in the United States.

In about 1880 the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad was the first to develop refrigerated cars. Suddenly those not living in tropical regions could have the same fruits year round that others enjoyed. Fulton, at the time, was home to a large railroad facility and became the redistribution point for the railroad because of its central location between New Orleans and Canada. The United Fruit Co, now Chiquita, began shipping bananas from South America by ship to New Orleans. The bananas were loaded onto railcars on top of 162 pound blocks of ice for the trip north. Fulton had the only ice house on the route north to Chicago. The bananas were re-iced with blocks from the Fulton Ice Plant, now closed. Empty railcars were pulled up to the side of the ice house and these large blocks of ice were loaded end up covering the entire box car. The bananas were then laid on top of the ice to continue their journey. At one point, over 70% of the bananas that were consumed in the US passed through Fulton. Fulton became known as “The Banana Capital of the World.”

So now that the concept of Bananas in Fulton, Kentucky makes sense why all the fuss? Well we owe that in part to Carolyn Allen Dunavant. When Carolyn was an 8th grade student at Carr Elementary School, she wrote a letter to Chet Huntly, a news anchor for NBC, inviting him to the International Banana Festival. Chet took her up on her offer and sent national news cameras to cover the small town festival. Carolyn was honored as a Top Banana that year and invited to a luncheon with Miss America, Donna Exum.

The International Banana Festival has had many changes over the years. In the early years “Amigos”, who ranged in age from 16-20, from South America would come about two weeks before the festival to stay with local families. They would attend parties, churches, schools, and socialize with local teenagers. This provided both groups with a wonderful experience that no textbook could match.

Several distinguished visitors have made appearances at the festival including Miss America, Miss Kentucky, Miss Tennessee, Miss Dairy Princess, officials from the United States State Department, congressmen, senators, and governors. Latin American guests have come from Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru, Columbia, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela.

The highlight of the festival has always been the 1-ton Banana Pudding, deemed the world largest. After traveling in the parade the pudding is then distributed to hungry festival attendees. We hope you join us as we are “Pudding Back Tradition” to the Banana Festival. We are bringing back several events and adding new ones. We hope you find something for the whole family and help make the festival the highlight of the year in the twin cities!

Total Solar Eclipse Expected to Bring Thousands to Western Kentucky

State and local agencies asking both visitors and residents to be prepared

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 24, 2017) – State and local agencies are preparing for a massive influx of visitors during a Total Solar Eclipse that will sweep across the region on the afternoon of August 21, 2017.  While the celestial event will include 14 states across the nation’s midsection, ground zero for the eclipse runs from near Carbondale, Illinois, to Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

The total eclipse is truly a once-in-a- lifetime event.  According to NASA, any given point on the planet will only experience a total solar eclipse about once every 375 years. Ten western Kentucky counties are bracing for an influx of anywhere from 100,000 visitors up to a half-million or more starting about three days before the eclipse. Another 11 counties are preparing for a mass of traffic as visitors travel to and from the total eclipse zone.

At 2 minutes and 40.2 seconds, Kentucky has the longest eclipse duration making it even more attractive as a viewing destination.

The total eclipse will arrive at 1:20 p.m. CDT on August 21. The partial eclipse will start about an hour before the total eclipse and will continue on until about an hour after the total eclipse has ended.

Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) is working with local, state and federal officials on a number of contingencies for the Eclipse event.

“We’ve undertaken a significant planning initiative over the past six months, engaging with local county officials in the 21 counties within the eclipse zone, in addition to our state and federal partners, to ensure the availability of mutual aid resources, communication interoperability and command and control to provide a safe and enjoyable event area,” said KYEM Director Michael Dossett. “Before you leave home, plan a specific destination for viewing off the roadway, possibly from a park or other reserved location.  With the increase in visitor traffic, planning ahead is a must to enjoy the event. Kentucky is always a favored travel destination and our emergency services partners are working diligently to ensure our visitors enjoy a safe venue for this benchmark event,” said Dossett. 

According to weather experts, Kentucky and Tennessee have the least likelihood of cloud cover that might block viewing opportunities. Dossett says visitors should also be prepared for variable weather conditions in late-August such as hot weather and the potential for severe weather.

“During the third week of August, we often have temperatures in the 100-degree range. That creates concern about heat related and other health issues. Visitors should bring plenty of water, about a gallon per person per day for the duration of their stay. During this time of year, there is always a chance for severe thunderstorms. Visitors in rural areas may have difficulty finding shelter and should familiarize themselves with their surroundings.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is helping plan for potential traffic issues that might result from thousands of visitors flocking to the area.

“We anticipate that a majority of the visitors will filter into the eight-county region over the two or three days before the eclipse,” said Wade Clements, KYTC District 2 chief engineer. “Once the eclipse is over, we are expecting traffic issues akin to what Louisville faces before and after the Kentucky Derby or Thunder Over Louisville. We urge motorists to plan ahead before traveling to or through the region the day of the eclipse.” 

With the increased number of visitors in the area, there is potential for gridlock along our Interstate 24 corridor through Kentucky and along KY 91 between Princeton and Hopkinsville. Expect local roadways to become heavily congested as well. In an effort to minimize traffic delays, KYTC is partnering with local law enforcement, Kentucky State Police and emergency planning agencies to assist with traffic control before, during and after the event.

Local and state officials are asking visitors who plan to travel to view the eclipse and people who live within the eight counties in the total eclipse zone to be fully prepared for what they will encounter.

State officials provided the following list of specific recommendations for eclipse watchers:

·        Choose a specific place to watch the eclipse. If you stop randomly along area highways, you can be issued a citation for impeding traffic. Parking along right of way creates a number of hazards.

·        Restroom facilities will be at a premium. Pick a viewing location with appropriate facilities.

·        Bring an ample supply of food and water for the duration of your planned stay.

·        Have a specific place to stay – Either a hotel room or appropriate campsite.

·        Be prepared for traffic delays. Thousands of visitors may create traffic gridlock at some critical intersections and interchanges, particularly along the I-24 corridor and KY 91 corridor.

Additional eclipse planning resources are available at these websites:

http://www.kentuckytourism.com/eclipse/eclipseevents.aspx

http://www.starnetlibraries.org/EclipseGuide/

http://nationaleclipse.com/  

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/

KYTC and KYEM will provide additional information and traffic advisories as the eclipse date approaches.

For up-to-date Kentucky traffic and travel information, visit www.goky.ky.gov  or navigate traffic by downloading the free Waze app to your mobile device.

Additional helpful links and resources can be found on the KYEM website at:  http://kyem.ky.gov where you can follow KYEMPIO on Twitter, like us onfacebook and sign up for mobile alert messages.