Culture

Almanac

Homes That Are Sweet

Mt. Sterling and Montgomery County Housing

Mt. Sterling and Montgomery County are building reputations as places with plenty of housing options. The city and county have choices for any budget‚ with home prices ranging from about $90‚000 to just under $1 million. Since this is the heart of the South‚ historic homes also abound.

“Home options are plentiful in this area‚” says Lynn Romano‚ a local Realtor with Caswell Prewitt Realty‚ Inc. “We have everything from town homes to subdivisions on golf courses to planned retirement communities.”

Aunt Jemima Lived Here

It’s true: Montgomery County native Nancy Green was the woman chosen to portray Aunt Jemima on boxes of the famous pancake mix.

Green‚ who lived from 1834-1923‚ was selected in 1893 to become one of the first black corporate models in the United States. Born into slavery in Montgomery County‚ she was hand-picked for the trademark role by businessman R.T. Davis.

Davis‚ head of the R.T. Davis Milling Co.‚ bought the pancake formula from a bankrupt milling company‚ but it was his idea to use a living spokesperson to promote the product. Davis discovered Green in Chicago‚ and she signed a lifetime contract as spokeswoman for Aunt Jemima at age 59.

Flying High in Mt. Sterling

The Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the state – and it’s also a significant reason why Mt. Sterling was recently named a Top 10 Micropolitan Area by Site Selection magazine.

Located on U.S. 60‚ just two miles west of Mt. Sterling and fives miles east of I-64 off the 101 exit‚ the airport features a 5‚000-foot runway with lighted instrument approach‚ enabling direct flights by corporate jets. Services offered include pilot flight instruction‚ aircraft pre-purchase inspections and more.

For personal or corporate needs‚ the airport charters flights anywhere in the country. Scheduled charters run seven days a week with overnight stays‚ if required. Flights are available to carry up to five people or 1‚100 pounds of cargo. Kentucky Airmotive runs the airport‚ which is a publicly held property.

For more information‚ visit the Web site at www.kentuckyairmotive.com.

Love the Location

What makes Woodlands Industrial Park an ideal place for a company to locate its business?

“I like to say that our industrial park offers not just one thing – it has everything‚” says Sandy Romenesko‚ executive director of the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Industrial Authority/Chamber of Commerce. “We are on Interstate 64 and near an airport. There is plenty of land available‚ and we have a good workforce and business climate in Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County.”

Mt. Sterling Tobacco Services is a tenant in the industrial park‚ which has space for a variety of different businesses.

“Woodlands Industrial Park also has the advantage of being less than a half hour from Lexington‚ Kentucky’s second-largest city‚” Romenesko says.

Park It Here

Another fresh-air recreation option is in the works for Mt. Sterling.

More than 30 acres are under development next to Mt. Sterling Elementary School to establish a nature trail‚ picnic grounds and amphitheater.

The park is still a couple of years away from completion‚ with grading and water line installation taking place during 2007. The property is being referred to as Easy Walker Park II for now‚ but recreation officials say it will be renamed.

Court Is in Session

Mt. Sterling hosts a festival that dates back nearly 200 years.

October Court Day takes place on the third Monday in October‚ with festivities actually beginning the prior Saturday and Sunday. More than 80‚000 people from all parts of the country visit the city for the three-day event.

Court Day derives from the early 1800s when the Kentucky General Assembly decreed that each county should meet once a month to hold court and decide on business. As years went by‚ court day became more of a trading day in Montgomery County.

Today‚ the festival features a variety of live music‚ food‚ craft booths and an abundance of unusual antiques‚ collectibles and handmade furniture.

Shop – Dine – Discover

Been downtown lately? The Mt. Sterling Downtown Merchants group invites you to take a look at what’s going on.

Members meet to discuss how downtown Mt. Sterling can remain vital‚ with a number of activities and special events planned each year. Two of the annual events planned are a Spring Fling shopping extravaganza and an Open House Christmas Tour.

“Our motto is Shop – Dine – Discover‚ and we want people to become reacquainted with all the unusual shopping opportunities and good restaurants that Mt. Sterling has to offer‚” says Roberta Gilbert‚ spokeswoman with the Mt. Sterling Downtown Merchants and owner of The Plaid Rabbit. “There’s good parking and a scenic setting down here. Come visit us again.”

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