The Clark County Community Education Advisory Countil met Jan. 15.

Members present were Kent Coogle (Family Resource Centers), County Judge-Executive Chris Pace, City Commissioner Kitty Strode, Angela Bereznak (Clark County Health Department, Michael Smith (Franklin Avenue Church of the Living God), Deborah Jackson (Parks and Recreation), Madison Mathieu (Edward Jones), Candice Tackett (Clark Regional Medical Center) and Grissom Yates (GRC junior). The meeting was chaired by Greg Yates, Community Education coordinator.

Members absent were Cindy Banks (Chamber of Commerce), Mike Caldwell (The Winchester Sun), Charlie Pasley (Clark Energy), Bruce Manley (BCTC), Derek Mastin (Catalent), Debbie Fatkin (Clark County Community Services), Gordon Parido (Clark County Public Schools Board of Education member), Kirsten Petry (MurrayPetrey CPA) and Alycia Okolo (GRC).

After introductions, Yates explained milestones had occurred since the last meeting in November. Yates served as a judge for the Amazing Shake speech contest at Robert D. Campbell Junior High School and volunteered to help out at the RDC “It’s Your Reality” fair on Nov. 26 with all 450 eighth-grade students participating.

Yates said 170 adults participated in the fall Community Education classes, and the program will be offering 21 classes in the spring catalog, which should be mailed the first week of March. New classes being offered in the spring include Conversational Spanish, Sign Language for Beginners, Financial Foundations, Beginning Pickleball, Intro to Chess and more.

The CE website was recently updated to now include Facebook posts.   

Yates then asked for the members to share anything important is happening with their organization. He reminded the members they can email information to him and he will forward it to everyone on the council.

Bereznak said the Clark County Mental Health Task Force is providing their Mental Health and Substance Misuse Resource Guide available on their website at: www.ClarkHealthDept.org and they have printed Resource Guides available.

Over the next year, Edward Jones will be hosting some community financial seminars. They will be hosting a Chamber of Commerce breakfast March 6 at Loma’s.

Strode informed the group the city is having conversations with the county about leaving the white Christmas lights at the courthouse up year round.

Jackson reminded everyone that registration is ongoing for the annual Wellness Challenge. There are more than 75 classes offered for the challenge.

Parks and rec received a grant which will be used to address all 11 parks in the community to update their master plan. They will be hosting community information gathering meetings over the next few months at various locations throughout our community.   

Pace reminded the group that the next Fiscal Court meeting is scheduled for Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Yates reminded everyone the Kiwanis Club annual auction is scheduled for March 2 at 6 p.m. and it will be at Bargains on Broadway.

The next meeting will be March 18 at noon at the downtown Central Bank.