Candidates for Owensboro-area state offices discussed data center regulations and state taxes Wednesday evening at a lengthy forum sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and held in partnership with the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer.

The question-and-answer session, moderated by Messenger-Inquirer Executive Editor Don Wilkins, was for candidates of the 7th, 13th and 14th House districts and 8th Senate District took up most of the forum at the Daviess County Courthouse.

But the event started with the two candidates for East Daviess County commissioner giving their thoughts on data centers, management of the county animal shelter and how Fiscal Court should make appointments to the library board.

East County commissioner

Candidates Joe Hagan, a Republican, and Democrat Sagan Storm are competing for the East County seat on Fiscal Court, which became an open seat when Commissioner Janie Marksberry made an unsuccessful run for judge-executive.

Hagan and Storm were close to agreement on at least some of the issues, with both saying they supported local ordinances that would regulate any data center considering Daviess County and saying the county government needs to be more involved with management of the animal shelter.

“I’m against hyperscale data centers” locating in the county, Storm said. “They are just a little too new” and there are no regulations on the facilities currently in place.

“We need to write strong ordinances to protect our land, our water and people,” Storm said.

Hagan said there is a possibility of data centers being a “win-win” in Daviess County if regulations on them are put in place first.

“If I had to vote today, I would vote ‘no,’ ” Hagan said. The county should adopt data center regulations regarding noise, water and power use, Hagan said.

“If they can fit those (regulations), wonderful,” Hagan said. “If not, wonderful; we don’t let them in.”

Fiscal Court selected It Takes A Village, a no-kill animal rescue, to manage the county animal shelter in 2025.

“We made a mistake” outsourcing the animal shelter, Hagan said.

“We need to have more hands on the animal shelter, and a little more control,” Storm said.

Regarding the Daviess County Public Library board, Storm said the library staff needs a voice in the process, and Hagan said there needs to be more people involved in the nomination process than just the judge-executive.

The library board has become an unlikely place of contention over the issue of books that some said were inappropriate for placement in the children’s and teen sections of the library. That debate has spilled over to where Fiscal Court was unable to approve either of the two most recent nominations to the board.

“The library board was pretty balanced just a few years ago,” Storm said, but that the board now lacks diversity and “diversity of thought.”

A change to state law gives judge-executives authority to nominate people for the library board if the judge-executive rejects the library board’s recommendation for a nominee.

While the county needs to follow the law, “we need to go back to the people who understand how the library runs, our librarians” for their input, Storm said.

Hagan also said Fiscal Court needs to follow the law on nominations, but said, “We need to get more people involved in the nomination process.” More candidates should be considered during the process, Hagan said.

“We’ve got to get more insight,” Hagan said, and said there should be “more names in the hat” when there is a library board opening.

8th District State Senate

Incumbent Republican Sen. Gary Boswell is facing Democrat Vicki Quisenberry in the race for the 8th District seat.

Boswell said the Republican supermajority, and having Republicans in the Owensboro-area House seats, has paid for Daviess County and the region.

“We have been able to deliver millions of dollars to the Eighth District,” which covers Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties, Boswell said.

Boswell said he has been able to advance local priorities at the state capitol.

“Being a state senator is about relationships, and I’ve got those in Frankfort,” Boswell said, adding later, “I can get stuff done.”

Quisenberry, who said she has been a board member or director of groups such as the Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools, said the 8th District races give voters “a choice against two distinctly different candidates,” adding that she has “a history of addressing real issues for real people.”

People Quisenberry has met, she said, “are exhausted by the culture wars.”

“I’m thrilled with the bipartisan support I’ve gotten,” Quisenberry said.

Both Boswell and Quisenberry said they supported the state moving to protect the public against the potential drawbacks of large-scale data centers. But they disagreed on the GOP Legislature’s system for reducing the state’s income tax, with the goal of eliminating the tax entirely.

Quisenberry said she attended a forum on the issue, where a speaker said a state with no income tax is either “a state with a lot of natural resources or a state with a lot of tourism.”

“Which state is Kentucky?” Quisenberry said. Without an income tax, “How do you fund your government?” Quisenberry said.

Boswell said state tourism is generating tax revenue.

“We have … all kinds of tourist attractions,” Boswell said, and that taxes from tourism “will continue to replace our income tax.”

7th District State House

The 7th District race is between incumbent Rep. Suzanne Miles, a Republican, and Laurie Campbell, a Democrat. Miles is field representative for Congressman Brett Guthrie, and Campbell has worked in banking and taught computer skills and digital citizenship for Daviess County Public Schools.

Miles, who is majority caucus chair for the GOP House majority, said, “There is a state role, to put guardrails in place” for data centers, and said she thinks such a bill could pass in the 2027 General Assembly session. But communities should have the say on where data centers are located, Miles said.

“If communities don’t want them, that’s not where they should go,” Miles said.

Campbell said large, “hyperscale” data centers “are not a good fit for Daviess County,” and said the impacts currently outweigh any potential benefits to the community.

On whether she supported eliminating the state’s income tax, Campbell said that move “is not helpful unless you’re a millionaire or a billionaire.”

Cutting the income tax rate, without a way to replace the revenue it generates for the state, “is not responsible government,” Campbell said.

Miles said reducing the income tax rate to zero would be “a benefit for anyone paying taxes.”

Miles said the state has slowly reduced the income tax rate and said lawmakers came up with a “responsible way” of lowering the rate.

State revenues “have only increased” since the income tax rate started being reduced, Miles said.

When asked for ideas for improving access to housing in the community, Campbell said the General Assembly has reduced housing assistance. The state, Campbell said, should fund a program to revitalize existing housing, which would increase the number of available houses while moving people “out of substandard living,” Campbell said.

On the issue of Medicaid and Medicare spending shifting from the federal government to the states, Miles said lawmakers did make provisions for the contingency by placing dollars in the state’s “rainy day fund,” but said fraud is an issue in the system.

“Let’s make sure fraud and abuse is out of Medicaid,” Miles said.

13th District State House

Republican incumbent DJ Johnson, an Army veteran and small-business management consultant, is facing a challenge this year from the Rev. Rhondalyn Randolph, senior pastor of Pleasant Point Baptist Church and executive director of the Owensboro Human Relations Commission.

On whether the income tax should be eliminated, Johnson said he supported the plan.

“It’s the people’s money,” Johnson said. “As much as we can return the money people have worked for, we should do that.”

Eliminating the income tax will also make Kentucky competitive against states that have already taken that step, such as Tennessee, Johnson said.

“Tennessee is eating our lunch along the state line” in terms of economic development, because Kentucky still have an income tax, Johnson said.

Randolph said eliminating the income tax “mostly benefits wealthy families.”

“I don’t support that, because it puts a burden on working families,” Randolph said.

“I don’t think we have anything in place that will make up for the (tax revenue) that is lost,” Randolph said.

When asked what more the state should do to build on legislation lawmakers passed this year to improve access to child care in Daviess County, Randolph said the state needs to put more resources toward child care.

“We have to increase the number of slots by investing into all daycare centers in the community,” Randolph said. But there was a larger issue as well, Randolph said.

“It’s affordability of child care that’s the issue,” Randolph said. “We don’t have the wages to keep up with the rising cost of child care.”

Johnson said he has worked as state representative support expansion of local daycare, such as with the Owensboro Family YMCA, which is opening two new daycare facilities. But the state should make it easier for for-profit daycare facilities to operate by reducing regulations, Johnson said.

“For-profit daycare centers are definitely being challenged” by regulations, Johnson said.

On improving access to housing, Johnson said the price to build a new starter home is more than first-time buyers can afford. The state should look at how regulations have made homebuilding more expensive, Johnson said.

“We have issues with zoning in the state of Kentucky,” Johnson said.

The state has made finding housing more difficult when the state “took away housing supports” such as vouchers, Randolph said.

“We need to invest in people and invest in increasing our housing units,” Randolph said. Later, Randolph said, “We need to invest in people and (in) the programs that are important safety nets” for residents.

14th District House race

The 14th District seat is being vacated by Rep. Scott Lewis, who is retiring from office. Vying for the seat are Donna Haynes, a Democrat and organized labor advocate who has been a member of the Kentucky AFL-CIO executive board and vice president of IBEW Local 1701, and Republican Wes Pate, a nurse and farmer and mayor pro tem of the Lewisport City Council.

Hancock County is the site of a major $4 billion data center being built by TeraWulf LLC, in partnership with Anthropic, at the former Century Aluminum site.

“We’ve seen it first-hand,” Pate said, and that his family farm is 3 to 5 miles from the TeraWulf data center site. “I’m a concerned citizen first; are these data centers telling us the truth? Do we take them at their word?”

Pate said it’s important for state lawmakers to make sure data center projects don’t hurt communities in the long run and that data center developers pay their share of taxes.

Data centers should be considered “if it can be done smartly, and if we can hold them accountable,” Pate said.

Haynes said while data center construction would provide jobs for union workers, how many people would work at the completed data center is a question.

“I have heard so many conflicting numbers” on how many people would be employed, Haynes said.

“We need to regulate them,” Haynes said, adding later, “We need more information and more state protection from them.”

On the cost of Medicaid and Medicare shifting to the state, Pate said, “I want to find a happy medium where we are able to cut the waste and cut the fraud.”

There is a need for Medicaid and Medicare, Pate said, and by reducing fraud, funds can be used for “people who legitimately need it.”

Haynes said there is Medicaid fraud.

“Any time you have more expenses, that is a problem,” Haynes said.

Hayne said she opposed eliminating the state’s income tax.

“There’s no good way (the state) can spend on child care or Medicaid with no money coming in,” Haynes said. “You can’t spend it if you don’t have it.” Haynes said she supported collecting taxes “especially for the wealthy, to help people in Kentucky.”

Pate said there are ways to make up for eliminating the income tax, such as by making sure industries like the gaming, horse and data center industries pay their share of taxes.

“We do have to get creative,” Pate said. With the TeraWulf data center project, “it’s so much (tax) money, if we can make them pay it.”

Of the income tax, Pate said, “In general, I think taxation is theft.”

By collecting taxes in other areas, the state potentially could also eliminate property taxes, Pate said.

The Chamber of Commerce will hold a final election event Oct. 29, when it hosts the “Red, White & Blue” picnic at the Daviess County Courthouse.

By James Mayse Messenger-Inquirer

For John Ross Martin, commercial real estate is about more than finding someone a building. It is about helping turn an idea into something real.

Martin moved into real estate after a career in corporate America. Over time, he said the work became less about the property itself and more about helping people find the right place for an idea and bring it to life in Owensboro.

“A big part of what I do is help people turn ideas into something real,” Martin said.

Sometimes that process begins with a conversation, a sketch, or an idea for a small business.

From there, he works with clients to find the right space, determine what a property could become, and connect the pieces needed to get the doors open.

He said he tries to start with the person and the idea rather than simply focusing on the property.

“Real estate can be one of the biggest obstacles between someone having a great idea and actually opening a business,” he said. “I enjoy helping remove those obstacles and finding a path forward.”

Redevelopment is also an important part of Martin’s work. He said giving an older or overlooked property a new purpose can have an impact beyond the building itself.

“When an older building comes back to life, it can change more than just that property,” Martin said. “A new restaurant, shop, office, or local business brings people to an area, creates jobs, and can encourage someone else to invest next door.”

Martin also enjoys working with local entrepreneurs who may need help turning an idea into a physical business.

“It might be finding the right building, working through what renovations are needed, or simply connecting them with the right people,” he said.

For Martin, economic development often happens one project at a time.

“A lot of economic development really does happen one building and one business at a time,” he said. “Sometimes it starts with an empty storefront, a good idea, and a few people willing to work together to make it happen.”

He said being part of the Owensboro community is especially meaningful because of the people who live, work, and invest here.

“We have families who have been here for generations, young people with new ideas, small business owners willing to take a chance, and neighbors who show up for one another,” Martin said.

More information about Martin’s real estate work is available at JohnRossMartin.com or on Instagram at @john.ross.martin.

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for more than a century.

Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.

By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times

Members of the community and media, along with representatives from the Publix leadership team, came together Friday morning for a walk-through of the new grocery store before it opens to the general public at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Members of the community were able to tour the newly constructed, more than 50,000-square-foot facility at 3370 Hayden Road in Owensboro’s Gateway Commons and sample some of the grocery store chain’s most popular selections. Publix management also presented a donation of nearly $200,000 to Tri-State Food Bank Chief Development Officer Steve Dabrowski, highlighting a continued partnership between the retailer and the nonprofit.

“Gateway Commons is our eighth location in the Bluegrass State,” said Kim Reynolds, a community relations representative from Publix who represents the Kentucky service area. “Publix has more than 1,400 stores in our 96-year history of service across the southeast. But what will bring that experience to life here in Owensboro truly is our associates and the people that you will meet today.”

Reynolds, via the store’s manager, said 107 employees have been hired to get the store ready for opening day.

“I wanted to start with just a thank you for the warm welcome Owensboro has provided us. I know our store team has been here for a couple of months preparing for this day and has felt nothing but love, support and warmth from the community. Owensboro is certainly a place that we have felt takes care of each other and takes care of the community, and it has been such a gift to be here and celebrate,” she said.

The grocery retailer, which was founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins in Winter Haven, Florida, announced in August 2024 that it would build a location in Gateway Commons, and work began on the project around May 2025.

“Owensboro and Publix share a long and deep-rooted history, grounded and caring for others and a commitment to service. Guided by those shared values, we truly look forward to growing alongside Owensboro and becoming part of the fabric that makes this community great for generations to come,” said Reynolds.

Publix has already worked closely with both Daviess County Public Schools (DCPS) and Owensboro Public Schools (OPS), along with the United Way of Ohio Valley, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.

“We are also so excited to just talk about what really makes Publix special in the community. When we began in 1930, our founder…believed that it was important to invest in each other and in our communities. And 96 years later that belief continues to guide Publix and Publix Super Markets Charities. In fact, being responsible citizens is so important to us, it’s a part of our mission statement. We invest in efforts that reduce hunger, alleviate homelessness, support youth in education and serve alongside first responders,” said Reynolds.

She continued, “Publix believes that as a food retailer, our greatest opportunity to give back truly is through partnering with our local food bank and other organizations in the community that are helping to feed our neighbors in need.”

Before even opening the doors to the Gateway Commons location, the grocery retailer has already donated four trailer loads of produce totaling more than 160,000 pounds of food to Tri-State Food Bank. Publix will also be partnering with the Daniel Pitino Shelter for its “food rescue” program.

“So the shelter will be picking up food that is still safe to eat, but that we may not sell to serve their residents at the shelter, and we’re really proud of that partnership as well,” she said.

Reynolds said what sets Publix apart from other grocery stores stems from the company being “the largest employee-owned company in the nation.”

“Our associates have opportunities to share the success that they help create, which builds pride, accountability and a personal commitment to every customer. You will see that ownership in the details from a clean, bright store, quality products…premier customer service and going above and beyond to treat our customers like the kings and queens they really are,” she said.

And what should customers expect from that shopping experience?

Fresh produce deliveries seven days a week, skilled meat cutters “who will custom cut meats to your liking,” a bakery, including a team making fresh buttercream daily, an expansive deli, complete with the famous “Pub Sub,” the most popular of which being the chicken tender sub, described as a “double hand-breaded chicken tender” on a sandwich with customizable cheese and toppings, along with a variety of quick grab-and-go options, free Wi-Fi and a pharmacy, Reynolds detailed. Publix, she said, is also known for its ice cream, which is manufactured by the chain.

Publix opens at 7 a.m. Saturday, following a short ribbon-cutting ceremony.

So far, the company hasn’t announced when the Carter Road location will open, but the leadership team said to expect that to happen “after the beginning of the year.”

By Michele Lohman Messanger-Inquirer

The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum Thursday morning between Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen and his Democratic challenger, Rod Kuegel, during its monthly Rooster Booster breakfast at the Owensboro Convention Center.

Kuegel told the audience during his opening remarks that he entered the race out of concern that the next generation of Daviess County children and grandchildren “wouldn’t have the opportunities we had here” and they “may be forced to move away because of a lack of opportunity.” He cited a recent Kentucky Leadership job growth report that showed Owensboro-Daviess County grew at minus 1.5% over 10 years while the state grew at 10%.

“That’s just not acceptable,” said Kuegel, who put much of the blame for the poor numbers on a lack of cooperation between city and county government, which he said state officials have noticed. He said a state official told him, “we want to put (businesses) somewhere where governments get along, where they have commonality, communication, collaboration, and have a vision for their community.”

“Understanding what he told me remained the cornerstone of this campaign, to assure that we build strong relationships between our governments, our commissioners, our judge-executive, our mayor, our city manager.”

Castlen opened by telling the crowd he learned the value of “hard work, treating people right, and faith” while growing up on a small farm near Stanley. He said he is “pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-family,” and that he was “proud” of the accomplishments Daviess County Fiscal Court has achieved “under his leadership” during his first term as judge-executive.

“Undeniably, the best economic development news in many years: $414 million invested, 727 good-paying jobs, and the lowest property tax rates since 1975,” Castlen said. “Countywide broadband has been completed, we have a brand-new senior center, strong financial backing for the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the Daviess County jail, the RNG methane to clean gas project is completed at our landfill, a solid repaving schedule for our county roads, we passed an ordinance banning junk papers tossed in driveways and yards, and we have new pickleball courts, restrooms, and shelters in our parks, and a more conservative board for our library.

“But the work is not complete, and that is why I’m here today.”

The candidates gave opposing views of what the role of judge-executive entails, with Castlen believing the position encompasses two distinctly different roles.

“I’m the judge when we sit in fiscal court meetings and an executive, CEO of the county, the rest of the time,” Castlen said. “There are many, many decisions that are made in the course of the day that I don’t have time to call the fiscal court and say, ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’ I had to make the decision. And many of them are very time sensitive.

“The way that we are structured, there are certain things that are done and handled by the CEO, and there are other things that go to fiscal court, and those are the items that the fiscal court members vote on.”

Kuegel, meanwhile, sees the position more as being one part of a group effort.

“I want to make a team out of our fiscal court; I want to make a team out of the county commissioners,” Kuegel said. “I want us to communicate. I want them to know everything I know. You elect them, they are full-time. They’re not advisors, they’re your commissioners. We’ll work together, put the court on a straight and narrow path and a path that we can do in unity.”

Kuegel returned to his view on city-county government cooperation being critical to economic success when the candidates were asked how they would grow and strengthen the business community.

“In the past, in our history, we have always had joint ownership between the city and the county on industrial property, on opportunity, and now we have an industrial park that only the city owns because the county didn’t want to participate,” Kuegel said. “We’ve got to clear that up. We’ve got to make Frankfort understand that we work together. We’ve got to be partners in everything we do here in Owensboro and Daviess County.

“We also need to clean our place up. We have to beautify this place. When somebody comes to visit our community, it’s like the first date, and that first date makes an impression, whether it’s a person visiting as a tourist or somebody that comes in looking to create jobs or bring a business. We have to look like we’re open for business.”

Castlen noted the amount of land in Daviess County has not and never will change, but that fiscal court took action to make properties more available for economic development ventures.

“The reality is, what I did, and the leadership that I had, is we opened the gates to where, if you were on any of the major road corridors, it’s easier now to rezone that to industrial,” Castlen said. “So if you’re on Highway 431, 231, 81, 56, 54, and the rest of them, 60 east and west, it is now easier to rezone those to commercial. … I look forward to additional growth in our community.”

When asked their top priority for improving the quality of life for people who live in Daviess County, both noted having good-paying jobs as important.

“The truth of the matter is jobs are important, and that’s why I’m proud to say, again, that we’ve had the best economic news that we’ve ever had in this community with the 727 new jobs,” Castlen said. “Many of those were at Swedish Match, and those are excellent paying jobs; I would argue they are premier jobs for this community. (Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation president and CEO) Claude Bacon has done an excellent job. I serve on the GOEDC board, and I’m very pleased with the work that we’ve done, and when Claude champions something, I’m right there with him championing.”

Kuegel also applauded the work of Bacon and the GOEDC, but again, he said government cooperation is mandatory for true success.

“We just have to help Claude by putting our governments together, by concentrating on that effort, by recruiting and bringing in jobs that pay well,” Kuegel said. “We need jobs here that can support families. We need jobs here that pay, where we can make a living wage and support a family. And that’ll be my main topic, my main concern, if I’m an elected judge-executive.”

The potential for a data center to locate in Daviess County has been a hot topic in recent months, and both candidates said whether one would be welcome here depends on what the county and its residents would gain from it.

“Every business opportunity that we have in Daviess County needs to be vetted, and we need to understand what the potential benefit is, and we need to understand what the potential cost is,” Kuegel said. “We have to vet it and make sure that we guard our resources, our water, our electricity, and our people. All of that has to be weighed in, and in the end, you look at the benefits and the costs. If the community doesn’t benefit, it doesn’t exceed the costs of bringing that company in here, then we don’t do it.

“But when we take a year to do a moratorium, and I think we have four or five of them now, when we have a full time fiscal court, and we pay them full time, it shouldn’t take a year to find out what’s best for our community. Find out who’s doing it right and who’s doing it wrong, and you move forward.”

Castlen said he continues to hear from residents who want a full ban placed on data centers in the county, which others have done. But Castlen is adamant such a move won’t hold up legally.

“We did a one-year moratorium so that we can get the rules right, but the reality is, we cannot legally ban any business from coming to Daviess County,” Castlen said. “Those (bans) are not constitutional, and they’ll be overturned in court, and I’m not going that route. I lean heavily on our legal staff and (the Kentucky Association of Counties). I’m not going to get us into lawsuits.

“The reality is, we need to be open for business, and we need to make sure that whatever business comes to Daviess County is going to serve our community well and be a good partner. That’s why we’ve got the moratorium, to try to get the rules in place and make sure that if they come, that they’re taking care of our community.”

Both candidates agreed that flooding is an ongoing issue, and Castlen noted that Daviess County is “essentially a bowl,” and Panther Creek, one of the main drainage routes, drains parts of five counties, which can cause flooding in Daviess County when one of those other counties experience flooding. Fiscal court re-established a Daviess County Drainage Commission this year to better focus on the issue.

“One of the things that I think we need to look closely at is we have 9,300 acres that are where farmers have built levees, that are displaced in water, creating a flooding problem for their neighbors,” Castlen said. “One of the things we need to look at, particularly in the season when there are no crops in the fields, is those levees need to have something to where the water can naturally flood those fields.”

Kuegel said the cleanout of Panther Creek needs to be addressed.

“This drainage of Panther Creek, that drains 210,000 acres, is critically important to Daviess County,” Kuegel said. “It’s gone in front of a fiscal court several times, voted down twice to spend any money on it. And now we’ve established a drainage commission. We have a really good drainage commission. Our challenge is to clean out Panther Creek. We have six or seven big blockages, and an inch-and-a-half rain causes flooding in the Browns Valley area. Probably 10,000 (crop) acres was lost this fall.

“We have to go beyond just clearing (Panther Creek) out. We have to look for some help from Washington. We need some retention basins. Retention basins would have saved probably 5,000 acres of crop, and that’s substantial. You’re talking about $3 million.”

Kuegel closed his comments by telling the audience change is needed.

“As I talk to individuals, I’m continually reminded that we’re a pivotal crossroads,” Kuegel said. “The choices here are not about personalities, or our political parties. It’s about our people, and the opportunities we leave and provide for our next generation. We can continue down the road we’ve been on for the past 10 years, and we can continue to expect the same results. Or we could choose a new direction.

“I just couldn’t sit this one out. I don’t pretend to have every answer, but I’m a listener. I promise that I will listen, and that no one will outwork me for Daviess County.”

Castlen said he wants to be judged on his accomplishments and his track record of conservative leadership.

“You know me, you know my conservative credentials; you know me as an honest, faithful and thoughtful servant,” Castlen said. “I believe my Democratic opponent has tried to make you believe he’s a super conservative candidate, maybe even a Republican that simply forgot to change his registration. Let me offer this. I believe he remains a Democrat because at his core, he supports the leftist policies of the Democratic Party. If I’m wrong, I invite him to use the next 33 days to very publicly reject the Democratic Party’s leftist agenda and be specific in what parts he rejects.

“The choice is clear. If you want a proven conservative leader for your community, vote for Charlie Castlen on Nov. 3.”

By Scott Hagerman Messanger-Inquirer

The eight candidates for Owensboro City Commission tried to stand out individually while largely giving answers that echoed one another at a commission forum Tuesday night at City Hall.

With eight candidates and a 90-minute forum, answers were kept short or were sometimes simply cut off when the speaker ran out of time. All eight candidates on the November ballot — Mayor Pro Tem Bob Glenn, Tyler Goad, Steve Johnson, Commissioner Curtis Maglinger, John Ross Martin, Commissioner Sharon NeSmith, Commissioner Jeff Sanford and Pam Smith-Wright — participated in the forum.

The questions were submitted by members of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. The questions touched on some of the hot-button issues of the year, such as data centers, affordability and how to address the city’s homeless population, along with universal issues such as economic development and how to grow the city.

Data centers The first question, whether the candidates would support a data center locating inside city limits, prompted answers ranging from a direct “no” to others saying the city commission needs its own data center regulations.

“Data centers, there’s pros and cons to what it can bring,” Martin said. “From an economic standpoint, it could be fantastic for the community. From a noise pollution and recyclables standpoint, it may be the worst thing we’ve ever done.

“The biggest point to data centers in general is we have time,” Martin said. “There’s no decision that needs to be made today. …It may take a year or two, or more, to determine if a data center is right in this community, and right now it may not be right, because we need more time to consider the long-term effects.”

Sanford said he has heard strong opinions for and against data centers and that the city should establish regulations on the facilities.

“With reasonable regulation of some sort, I think that has to be looked at, no matter if one comes or not,” Sanford said. “These things are popping up everywhere, so I think we need to be ahead of the curve.”

Sanford said he does have concerns about issues such as noise, water usage and potential health impacts from data centers, but said, “But the thing I’ve learned is the newest generation of these things are a lot more efficient than the older models.

“This is not an easy issue,” Sanford said. “It’s something we all need to think about.”

Other candidates were more definitive in their opposition to a data center inside the city.

Goad, who voiced his opposition to data centers in the community in his opening statement, said, “Given the track record we have, lots and lots of data and studies that we have on-hand already, I think it’s very clear that there is too much environmental harm. There are too many documented cases of rates going up and harm being done in the communities in which these data centers are placed.

“I’m willing to admit technology has advanced and (developers) have changed designs, but I don’t see the track record for that yet,” Goad said. “Until that happens, until there is an established track record, my vote is ‘no.’ ”

“I am not in favor of data centers in the city,” Smith-Wright said. “We need to listen to our residents because they pay the taxes and need to be heard.”

If a data center did come, it would need to be “away from hospitals, schools, (and) where people are living, because we don’t know what effect that has on the human body at this point.

“Nobody can tell you if it causes any kind of diseases or mental illnesses from the noise and all the stuff that goes along with them,” Smith-Wright said.

“I don’t think we currently have a location suitable in Owensboro,” Glenn said, and that the Massie industrial site the city purchased in 2025 would not be right for a data center.

“We don’t have a proposal before us” for a data center, Glenn said, and that the city is still under the county’s one-year moratorium. Glenn said he supports the commission adopting the model data center ordinance crafted by the Kentucky Resource Council, which the organization’s website says is a “statewide public-interest environmental law and advocacy organization.”

That model ordinance “provides the most stringent and protective standards for the environment … and for the use of electricity and water,” Glenn said.

Maglinger said, “as of right now, I do not support large-scale data centers in Owensboro.”

Maglinger said, “But, with any new development, we need to bring smart growth. We need to look at providing jobs and opportunities … Our city would need to listen to residents and make sure developers understand our citizens are concerned about safety, infrastructure and especially our environment.”

Johnson said the community would have to study all aspects of a data center proposal and put guarantees about the number of jobs it would generate before moving forward.

“I’m not going to sugar-coat it; it brings in real tax revenue,” Johnson said.

“Before any project moves forward, we need to have grid studies, we need to have water studies,” Johnson said.

Regarding data center jobs, Johnson said, “There should be claw-back provisions in there; if you’re not going to provide the jobs you say you’re going to provide, there’s a way to capture that money back, period.” There would need to be an “open public process” and written commitments on jobs and factors such as water and power usage, Johnson said.

“Growth is welcome here, but it needs to earn its keep,” Johnson said.

NeSmith said the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended restrictions on data centers and added, “We are going to protect our environment.”

“There are good data centers and there are bad ones,” NeSmith said. “We’ve got to go with the future, we can’t ignore it. We need technology. But we need to make sure protections are in place.”

“We also have to make sure there’s a reason we have a data center, not just because there are 20 acres that are available,” NeSmith said.

Later, NeSmith said, “Everybody is trying to find out what’s good, what’s bad. We just need to research and make sure there is a good reason … for us to bring those here.

“We are not going to do anything that’s going to hurt our community, none of us are,” NeSmith said.

Affordability Moderator Jake Boswell said low cost of living has been one of the factors residents have cited historically as a reason they chose to live in Owensboro. When asked how candidates would “keep Owensboro competitive,” Sanford said he would want to increase the number of available houses for sale.

“The more inventory we have the lower” housing costs will be, Sanford said. “It’s supply and demand.”

The city has already done several housing projects.

The current commissioners, “did not raise taxes,” Sanford said. “Actually one of them went down.” Sanford said the commissioners “do a good job with our budget here; that’s why we don’t have to raise taxes, as others do.”

Smith-Wright said, “I think we are not doing all we can do to bring in new jobs.

“I don’t feel we go out and search for these new companies — or maybe not new companies, but a company to come to Owensboro, so the jobs pay more and people can afford to buy these houses,” Smith-Wright said. “We need better paying jobs, and that’s one of the things I want to work toward.”

Glenn said the commission has made the city competitive over the years through financing downtown development and development along Kentucky 54. Those projects “make the community a more attractive community, to draw more people here, because it’s an economy of scale.”

But affordable housing “needs to be a huge focus” in a future term. “There are not enough affordable housing units in Owensboro.”

“We are looking for new developers who will offer new affordable housing options,” Glenn said, and that, “most importantly we have worked to not raise taxes, and spend your money responsibly.”

Johnson said he would work to bring state and federal grants to the city.

“The Owensboro taxpayers deserve a commissioner that … is going to exhaust every other option before asking for more,” Johnson said. Fuel and groceries are currently expensive, Johnson said, and that the city needs “a voice that’s got a proven track record, 35 years, $130 million I’ve brought in” grants.

Johnson said he would approach issues involving funding by asking “have we pursued every grant and partnership available? Have we cut our own spending first? Can we show residents exactly what they are getting?

“If not, we are not ready to ask for more” funding from taxpayers, Johnson said.

Maglinger said, “To be competitive, we need to make sure we do whatever we can to be business-friendly.”

“Good-paying jobs; that’s what’s going to help keep costs down and be competitive,” Maglinger said.

Goad said the city needs to help grow existing businesses as well as attract new ones.

“I think there’s a lot of pie-in-the-sky, ‘let’s go find that ideal business out there that may or may not exist and bring them in to Owensboro,’ when what we could be doing is helping the mom and pops grow into bigger businesses that employ people right here and eventually provide bigger and bigger paychecks,” Goad said.

Goad said the high schools and colleges need to work with businesses to determine “what our businesses need, so we can grow them.”

On a similar note, Martin said he is developing a mentorship program to bring middle school and high school students into the workforce in the former Likens Building on Frederica Street.

“That not only supports local businesses … but it also supports new businesses, because we have the talent pool that has a reason to stay in Owensboro,” Martin said.

As a developer, “I have phone calls every day from people around the county, and sell Owensboro daily,” Martin said.

NeSmith said to be competitive as a city, “You have to look at our city’s broader mission, which is economic development, neighborhood quality, community facilities and efficient services.

“We need a balanced budget that invests in these areas without a tax increase,” NeSmith said.

Homelessness The homeless population has been a topic in front of the public after residents near Kendall-Perkins Park complained of vandalism, alleged drug use and other inappropriate activity in the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

“There are always going to be homeless people,” NeSmith said. “We just need to figure out how to provide the facilities, so when people want to change, they have the opportunity.”

NeSmith said the city should increase the size of OPD, “not to arrest people, but to encourage people and find them other things.”

“Our policemen offer, ‘do you want to go to a shelter?’ and they’ll say, ‘no.’ ” NeSmith said.

Homeless shelters and services for the homeless should not all be located in the city’s west side neighborhoods, NeSmith said.

When asked how candidates planned to address the homeless issue, Maglinger said the city needs to work with OPD and with agencies that offer services to the homeless.

“There’s not a single, silver bullet answer. It involves mental (illness), addiction, violence, housing,” Maglinger said.

People can’t be removed from public parks if they are not engaged in illegal activity, Maglinger said. The city should be “working with our police department and other resource agencies to do whatever we can to make sure our parks and anything else is as safe as it can be for our citizens.”

Smith-Wright said, “If you’ve been by Kendall-Perkins Park, you’ve seen (the park shelter) is full of people laying on the tables, and we have that same problem at English Park.

“The parks are public places, but there ought to be some kind of regulation on how long you can stay there. Will it be loitering if you’re there 20 hours?” Smith-Wright said. OPD has increased patrols around Kendall-Perkins Park, she said.

“We want all of our parks as safe as Smothers Park,” Smith-Wright said.

Johnson said, “You really can’t talk about this issue without talking about housing and affordability.

“Housing affordability and homelessness are connected,” Johnson said. City growth “has to include housing that families can afford, and there’s some good thoughts out there on how you can do that.

“On homelessness, I want to fix it; I don’t want to just manage it, I want to fix it,” Johnson said.

The cities of Houston and Chattanooga have both seen sharp declines in their homeless population, Johnson said, and that Owensboro officials should consult with those cities.

Goad said he would support local agencies creating a “response team” that would replace OPD patrols, with those teams going to homeless encampments “and bringing those services to the people that need it and potentially bringing them to a homeless shelter.

“I see a lot of over-policing in these issues, and I would like to see a lot more social response,” Goad said.

Martin said, from talking with homeless people, “80 or 90% are not from Owensboro.

“So, take care of our own, yes, most certainly,” Martin said.

The city needs an “exit strategy” on homelessness, Martin said.

“When they come into town, provide them a path home,” Martin said.

Glenn said he supports creating a “hygiene center,” where the homeless can clean up, charge their cellphones and get other services.

“We need to look at a public-private partnership to do that,” Glenn said. When the Elizabeth Munday Center is vacated by the senior center, the building could be used for “rapid rehousing” for the homeless, Glenn said.

Sanford said a focus for him is stopping vandalism and inappropriate activity in city parks.

Sanford said the issue of homelessness starts with families.

“We can throw money at any situation we want, but when you raise your kids right … you’ll stop a lot of this stuff,” Sanford said.

Many homeless “are coming from other places,” Sanford said. “We are a victim of our own success. We have great facilities (for the homeless) and they come from everywhere.

“I want to say to these other counties: You need to help pay for it,” Sanford said, and added, “As far as the parks, they are not going to destroy our parks.”

The candidates bring a wide variety of professional and government experience. Martin and Sanford work in real estate and development; Johnson has worked in county and federal government and the Bluegrass Music Initiative; Goad is a retired Navy officer and instructor at Daviess County High School; Glenn is a college professor; NeSmith manages the Hampton Inn & Suites downtown; and Maglinger runs his own audio and video business. Smith-Wright has served multiple terms as a city commissioner and is chair of the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County.

The election is Nov. 3.

By James Mayse Messenger-Inquirer

Owensboro Times and the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce are partnering today to give voters a chance to hear directly from candidates for Owensboro City Commission. It’s the first of four election-focused events the Chamber is hosting ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election.

The City Commission Legislative Forum will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. at Owensboro City Hall today, Sept. 29. The event will also be streamed live on the Owensboro Times Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

Candidates for City Commission will discuss key issues facing Owensboro and their priorities for the city.

The forum is the first of four election-focused events the Chamber has planned through October, with subsequent events featuring candidates for Judge-Executive, County Commission, and state offices before concluding with the annual Red, White and Blue Picnic.

“We are providing multiple options for the public to choose from to educate themselves on who they want to vote for,” Chamber President and CEO Dave Kirk said. “A thriving community is one that is civically active and participates in the voting process. We are grateful to our media partners for working with us to create these opportunities to learn about the candidates.”

Judge-executive forum set for Thursday

Incumbent Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen and challenger Rod Kuegel will take the stage Thursday during the Chamber’s October Rooster Booster at the Owensboro Convention Center.

The forum will run from 7:30-8:30 a.m. as part of the monthly breakfast, which is sponsored by Owensboro Community and Technical College.

Castlen and Kuegel will discuss priorities and issues affecting Daviess County. The forum will be moderated by El’Agance Shemwell, morning anchor for Eyewitness News.

“This is one of the largest general election tickets we have had in our county’s history with Judge/Executive right at the top,” Kirk said.

Campaign signage, handouts, literature and other disruptive campaign materials will not be permitted at the event. Personal pins, buttons and campaign-related clothing will be allowed.

The cost to attend is $16 for Chamber members with reservations, $21 for members with no reservations, and $26 for the public. Reservations include breakfast, which will be served buffet style at the beginning of the event.

County, state offices forum Oct. 7

The Chamber will continue its election programming Oct. 7 with the County Commission and State Offices Legislative Forum from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Daviess County Courthouse.

The event, held in partnership with the Messenger-Inquirer, will give voters an opportunity to hear from candidates for Daviess County Commission and state offices about issues affecting Daviess County and the region.

Red, White and Blue Picnic closes series

The Chamber’s election series will conclude Oct. 29 with its annual Red, White and Blue Picnic, sponsored by U.S. Bank.

The event will run from 4-7 p.m. on the Daviess County Courthouse lawn.

Rather than a traditional forum, candidates will deliver stump-style speeches, and attendees will have opportunities to speak with candidates about issues affecting the Greater Owensboro region in a more casual setting.

By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times

LeAnne Musick has watched Musick Studios grow from a hip-hop-focused studio with 98 students into a longtime Owensboro business that has taught more than 15,000 children and adults over the past 19 years. Musick Studios was one of Kentucky’s first hip-hop-based dance studios when it opened, and its offerings have expanded significantly since then.

Musick said the studio has continued to grow not only in the styles of dance it teaches, but also in its involvement throughout the Owensboro community.

Today, Musick Studios offers hip-hop, boys street, hip-hop foundations, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, jazz, and tap.

The studio also teaches dance programs in local public and city schools and has provided choreography for dance teams for many years. Musick Studios has also had a competitive dance team for the past 12 years, competing in several states across the country.

Musick said the studio’s “true heart and care for others” is what sets it apart.

The studio has also elevated its training this year by bringing in guest choreographers and offering online training with professors.

“We don’t settle,” she said. “We don’t repeat dances year after year. Everything we do is original.”

She added that the studio lets its work and showcases speak for themselves.

Another important part of Musick Studios has been the consistency of its staff, with several staff members having been together for more than 10 years.

DeAsia Douglas has been part of Musick Studios since the day it opened, when she was 4 years old. She now helps manage the studio alongside Noelle Shelton and Aryn Speaks.

The Owensboro community has also played a large role in the studio’s story.

“The relationships we have formed have become a huge part of our story at Musick Studios,” she said.

The studio has built connections with local schools and participated in community events including the Owensboro Lip Sync Battle, Owensboro’s Dancing with Our Stars, Friday After 5, and Bourbon & Barrels.

“The connections to schools and community events truly make a difference in who we have become and continue to strive to be,” Musick said.

She described the support the studio has received from the community over the years as “astronomical.”

That support is also beginning to span generations.

Musick said one of the studio’s students from 19 years ago now has a daughter who is set to graduate next year. Both the mother and daughter remain a large part of the studio.

Musick Studios also has several upcoming events planned.

Its “Musick High” Halloween show will be held Oct. 23-24 at the Owensboro Sportscenter, with tickets currently on sale.

The studio will also host Rhythm Awards Volume 2, its showcase scheduled for May 3, 2027.

Musick Studios is located at 411 E. Second St. in Owensboro. More information is available at musickstudios.com or by calling 270-688-8908. Updates are also available through LeAnne Musick on Facebook.

The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for more than a century.

Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.

By Morgan Urbanski The Owensboro Times

A recipe developed together, a busy week in the kitchen, and an outpouring of community support helped Pinocchio’s Deli earn the outside-the-box sales crown during Owensboro Times Pizza Week.

The restaurant, run by individuals with disabilities under the supervision of Opportunity Center staff, won the “Dough Maker” award with Pinocchio’s Chicken, Bacon and Cheese Please! 

For Pinocchio’s crew member Steven Shively, learning the team had won brought a joyful reaction.

“I was excited. I was happy,” Shively said.

Fellow crew member Hunter Ross said the team approached the week with customers in mind.

“We made these Strombolis for everyone to enjoy,” Ross said.

Located at 1101 East Byers Avenue, Pinocchio’s entered seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, ranch, mozzarella, and cheddar piled into Italian bread, topped with a golden Parmesan crust, and baked until warm and crisp. It was served with ranch for dipping.

Tiffany Vinson, the Opportunity Center’s training and employment specialist who also runs Pinocchio’s Kitchen, said the creation grew out of a group discussion. The team wanted something different that would appeal to customers who preferred an option without spicy ingredients.

They settled on chicken, bacon, and ranch, then added plenty of cheese. Vinson said the crew spent about a week learning the recipe, including a couple of days perfecting the house-made ranch.

“It was a team effort. We all did it together,” Vinson said.

Shively said crew members and staff worked together to get the orders out. He also sampled the finished product.

“I had one, and it was delicious,” he said.

For crew member Danny Hofmann, being part of the kitchen has fulfilled a personal goal.

“It was my dream to be in the culinary class,” Hofmann said. “And Tiffany was an amazing teacher, and I don’t know what I would have done without her.”

Vinson said watching the team earn the award was especially meaningful after seeing the work that went into the week.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our culinary crew,” she said. “I watched them work incredibly hard all week, prepping, cooking, filling orders, and working together as a team. They put so much heart and pride into what they do, and winning the dough maker award is a reflection of that effort. They earned this, and I’m so proud of each and every one of them.”

Christy Chaney, co-owner of Owensboro Times and Pizza Week organizer, called it a huge win for Pinocchio’s. 

“To finish first in outside-the-box sales is an accomplishment that every member of that kitchen should be proud of,” Chaney said. “Their team created something people wanted to try, put in the work to serve it, and earned that top spot. They deserve to be celebrated.”

Vinson said Pinocchio’s participated Monday through Friday, missing the event’s opening weekend. Crew members rotated through shifts of a couple of hours to keep up with demand without becoming overworked.

Despite the shorter schedule, the response exceeded the team’s expectations.

“The turnout and the support from the community have been absolutely amazing,” Vinson said.

That support has already extended beyond Pizza Week. Vinson said customers who discovered Pinocchio’s during the event have since reached out about catering.

Pinocchio’s does not currently operate as a daily restaurant, but the team offers catering, boxed lunches, and monthly pop-ups. Vinson said the culinary program has been operating for about two years and continues to grow.

In the traditional pizza category, Niko’s earned the Dough Maker award with its Saturday Night Special, adding a sales title to its second consecutive Pizza Week Judges Award.

For owners Matt and Jessica Weafer, the sales win was especially surprising because the bakery was only open at lunchtime.

“I’m blown away,” Matt said.

Located at 601 Emory Drive, Niko’s entered a pizza featuring a light, fluffy, crispy crust topped with sun-dried tomato pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, freshly cracked black pepper, fresh herbs, and Parmesan crema. The Saturday Night Special was inspired by the pizza the family makes at home every Saturday night.

Matt credited the bakery’s staff with making the successful week possible, describing Pizza Week and Burger Week as intense stretches that test the restaurant’s ability to keep orders moving.

“We definitely have to do a huge thank you to the staff,” he said.

Jessica agreed.

“Matt’s the brains behind the creation, but the staff gets it out,” she said.

The Dough Maker awards recognize the most creations sold in the traditional pizza and outside-the-box categories. Rounding out the standings were:

Traditional pizza

• Second: PeezO’s Pizza — Italian Stallion. Located at 2100 West 2nd Street, PeezO’s entered a pizza featuring pepperoni, ham, bacon, red onion, banana peppers, and pepperoncini with Italian dressing and special sauce.
• Third: Donatos — Alfredo Meats Tomato. With locations at 3415 New Hartford Road and 2601 West Parrish Avenue, Donatos entered a pizza featuring a house-blended sauce of marinara, creamy Alfredo, roasted garlic, and Romano, layered with provolone and fresh mozzarella. It was topped edge to edge with sausage, deli salami, and Italian-seasoned meatballs, and finished with a signature drizzle and served with fresh, crunchy pickles.

Outside the box

• Second: Becca Bakes — Want S’more’s Pizza? Located at 4026 Frederica Street, Becca Bakes entered a chocolate chip cookie crust baked with graham cracker crumble, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. It was finished with toasted marshmallows, chocolate chips, and a marshmallow glaze.
• Third: Cold Stone Creamery — Ultimate Waffle Explosion. Located at 5140 Frederica Street, Cold Stone entered a homemade waffle cone base topped with vanilla whipped icing, sprinkles, brownies, fudge, and cake batter ice cream.

“These awards reflect a lot of work in the kitchen and a lot of support from customers,” Chaney said. “We’re grateful to the teams who made these creations happen and to everyone who went out and gave them a try.”

By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times

A returning favorite and a first-time competitor earned the community’s votes during Owensboro Times Pizza Week, with Donatos winning the “People’s Slice” award for traditional pizza and Rosie Helen’s Treats & More taking the outside-the-box honor.

For Donatos, the recognition marked a second consecutive “People’s Slice” win. Marketing Director Leanna Byrne said the repeat honor reflected the support the business feels from its customers.

“It means a lot to us,” Byrne said. “That means that the community loves and supports us, and we very much appreciate that.”

Donatos’ Alfredo Meats Tomato featured a house-blended sauce of marinara, creamy Alfredo, roasted garlic, and Romano, layered with provolone and fresh mozzarella. It was topped edge to edge with sausage, deli salami, and Italian-seasoned meatballs. It was finished with a signature drizzle and served with fresh, crunchy pickles.

Byrne said the idea came from the team sharing its preferences and building around an Italian theme.

“It was just a combination of our team deciding what they like the best, and we also went with an Italian theme,” she said. “Donatos means to give a good thing, and that’s what we try to do.”

Byrne said employees also enjoyed connecting with other participating businesses and meeting new customers.

“We love the community aspect and the camaraderie. Trading pizzas is our favorite part of this, and we love seeing new customers, and it’s just super fun,” she said.

Donatos has locations at 3415 New Hartford Road and 2601 West Parrish Avenue.

For Rosie Helen’s owner Sebree Brown, the outside-the-box win carried a personal meaning. Brown entered the competition with a sweet potato cookie creation inspired by her grandmother, who was from Georgia and died in November 2022.

“This is my first time ever doing a competition like this, and I did it mainly to honor my grandma,” Brown said.

Brown said seeing people enjoy the creation and earning the award was “mind-blowing.”

Rosie Helen’s, located at 1212 East 18th Street, entered Love at First Bite, an 8-inch sweet potato cookie pizza topped with apple butter, pumpkin-orange buttercream, caramelized shaved sweet potatoes, toasted marshmallows, buttery brown sugar crumble, and white chocolate shavings. It was inspired by Southern sweet potato casserole and grandmother Rosie’s Georgia roots.

Brown said sweet potato cookies were something her grandmother enjoyed making. Drawing on those Southern roots gave her a starting point for an entry that customers said reminded them of fall and Thanksgiving.

“They did say it wasn’t really too sweet, and it kind of felt like fall and Thanksgiving,” Brown said. “So I kind of felt like it brought them back to their home roots too.”

Brown said she had been building her small business for about a year and saw Pizza Week as an opportunity to introduce her work to more people. Encouragement from others helped persuade her to enter.

“The People’s Slice awards give customers a chance to celebrate their favorites,” said Christy Chaney, co-owner of Owensboro Times and Pizza Week organizer. “Having a returning winner in Donatos and a first-time participant in Rosie Helen’s makes this year’s results especially fun.”]

The other People’s Slice finishers were:

Traditional pizza

• Second: Niko’s Bakery & Cafe — Saturday Night Special. Located at 601 Emory Drive, Niko’s entered a pizza with a light, fluffy, crispy crust topped with sun-dried tomato pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, freshly cracked black pepper, fresh herbs, and Parmesan crema. It was inspired by the pizza the family makes at home every Saturday night.
• Third: 54 Pizza East and West — Sweet Swine O’ Mine. With locations at 3101 Alvey Park Drive East and 1700 Starlite Drive, 54 Pizza entered homemade stuffed-crust dough brushed with garlic butter and layered with house pizza sauce, apple-maple bacon jam, Grande mozzarella and provolone, pepperoni, and bacon. It was finished with sharp cheddar for a sweet, smoky, savory pizza.

Outside the box

• Second: Becca Bakes — Want S’more’s Pizza? Located at 4026 Frederica Street, Becca Bakes entered a chocolate chip cookie crust baked with graham cracker crumble, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. It was finished with toasted marshmallows, chocolate chips, and a marshmallow glaze.
• Third: Cold Stone Creamery — Ultimate Waffle Explosion. Located at 5140 Frederica Street, Cold Stone entered a homemade waffle cone base topped with vanilla whipped icing, sprinkles, brownies, fudge, and cake batter ice cream.

“We want Pizza Week to help people discover businesses they may not have tried before,” Chaney said. “Our hope is that someone comes in for a special creation and finds a place they’ll keep coming back to throughout the year.”

By The Owensboro Times

A Saturday night family tradition turned into another winning creation for Niko’s Bakery & Cafe, which earned “The Supreme” judges’ award during Owensboro Times Pizza Week for the second consecutive year.

Owners Matt and Jessica Weafer drew inspiration from the pizza they make at home with their children, creating the Saturday Night Special around a combination their family requests every week: pepperoni, black pepper, and Parmesan.

“My kids are very adamant. It needs to be pepperoni, needs to be black pepper and parmesan, and nothing else is allowed,” Matt said. “We jazzed it up a little bit for the competition, but that was it.”

Niko’s, located at 601 Emory Drive, entered a pizza featuring a light, fluffy, crispy crust topped with sun-dried tomato pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, freshly cracked black pepper, fresh herbs, and Parmesan crema.

Jessica said the appeal came down to executing a familiar favorite well.

“Classic done right is always a good choice,” she said.

The win follows Niko’s judges’ honor during the inaugural Pizza Week, when the bakery took the top award with its loaded Sicilian pizza. 

“What I love about Niko’s entry is that it started with something personal — the pizza their family makes together on Saturday nights,” said Christy Chaney, co-owner of Owensboro Times and Pizza Week organizer. “Seeing businesses share those stories through their food is part of what makes Pizza Week special.”]

The Weafers said they were able to sample several other entries through exchanges with participating businesses, giving them an appreciation for the competition.

“That’s my favorite part — the community and the exchanging amongst the businesses and everybody kind of rallying behind each other,” Jessica said. 

Second place in the judges’ award standings went to Rosie Helen’s Treats & More with their creation Love at First Bite. Located at 1212 East 18th Street, Rosie Helen’s entered an 8-inch sweet potato cookie pizza topped with apple butter, pumpkin-orange buttercream, caramelized shaved sweet potatoes, toasted marshmallows, buttery brown sugar crumble, and white chocolate shavings. 

Third place went to The Oven with their pizza The Hot Mess. Located at 1012 East 4th Street, The Oven entered a pizza featuring pepperoni, bacon, Italian sausage, jalapeños, caramelized onions, banana peppers, mozzarella, and provolone. It was finished with a hot honey drizzle and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

“We appreciate every business that put time and thought into a creation for Pizza Week,” Chaney said. “From familiar pizza flavors to unexpected desserts, they gave people plenty of reasons to get out and try something new.”

For the Weafers, a second consecutive judges’ win also prompted a little discussion about what might come next.

“It means maybe we need to make pizzas more often,” Matt joked, with Jessica adding, “We need to add pizzeria onto our name.”

By The Owensboro Times