A family-owned dry cleaning business with roots dating back more than 75 years has returned to Owensboro, bringing a third-generation approach to an industry that continues to evolve while remaining a staple service for many customers.

Nu-Look Cleaners, which operates a location at 3101 Alvey Park Drive East across from Chick-fil-A on Kentucky 54, is part of the broader Nu-Look Family of Cleaners, a company that now operates 11 locations across western Kentucky and southern Indiana.

“We’ve been in the family-owned dry cleaning business under the Nu-Look name since 1970,” owner Noah Mills said. “My grandfather purchased Nu-Look Cleaners in Henderson from a gentleman who had been running it since 1950.”

Mills represents the third generation of ownership and joined the business in 2018 after returning home from college. Since then, the company has expanded beyond Henderson through acquisitions and new locations, adding cleaners in Hopkinsville, Evansville, Newburgh, and Vincennes.

The company’s connection to Owensboro is not new. Mills said Nu-Look previously operated two locations in the city beginning in 1996 before selling them in 2003.

The return to Owensboro came after the company acquired the former Concord Cleaners pickup and drop-off location on Kentucky 54.

“We’ve been trying to get back over there, and this kind of fell in our laps,” Mills said. “We’ve been very happy with it since opening back up in Owensboro.”

While the company maintains storefronts across the region, all cleaning and pressing operations are handled at a centralized facility in Henderson. Drivers transport garments between stores and the processing plant daily, a model Mills said has become increasingly common throughout the industry.

“What the industry switched to about 10 to 15 years ago was this centralized model,” Mills said. “It used to be that every store was its own plant. People just don’t wear as many dry-clean-only items as they once did, so the need for that quick turnaround time isn’t what it used to be.”

That shift has reshaped the dry cleaning industry nationwide.

Mills said modern clothing materials, such as polyester and spandex, have reduced the number of garments that require traditional dry cleaning. At the same time, consumers have increasingly embraced casual attire in workplaces and everyday life.

“I think the definition of dressing up has changed,” Mills said. “It used to be you wore a suit and tie to work every day and definitely wore one to church on Sundays. That’s just not the case anymore.”

Instead, many customers now view dry cleaning and laundry services as a convenience.

“We specialize in what we call ready-to-wear clothing,” Mills said. “People want to be able to go to their closet and find something ready to put on. It’s become more of a time-saving service.”

Mills said while traditional dry cleaning remains important for suits, dress shirts, and formalwear, the company’s business has diversified significantly. Household items such as comforters and bedding now make up a substantial portion of the workload.

“We clean more than 100 comforters a week,” Mills said. “Everybody has these large king-size beds, and a lot of home washers just can’t handle them.”

Alterations have also become a growing segment of the business.

“It’s really hard to find seamstresses nowadays,” Mills said. “The need for alterations has definitely picked up over the last year or two.”

Despite challenges facing the industry, Mills remains optimistic about its future.

“When I came into the business, I thought it was something good to get started in, but I didn’t see it being something I’d do the rest of my life,” he said. “In the last five years, I’ve totally changed my opinion on that and realized it is a service that people like to have.”

He believes dry cleaners continue to occupy a unique place in communities, particularly family-owned operations that have served customers for generations.

“Everybody knows what a dry cleaner is. They just don’t know what happened to dry cleaners,” Mills said. “They were always a staple in every community.”

Many smaller communities no longer have local dry cleaners, a trend Mills said has continued across the region. Yet he sees opportunities for businesses that focus on customer service and long-term relationships.

“What we always try to tell people is that when we go to do something, we’re not doing it as a make-some-money-quick type thing,” Mills said. “We like being involved in the communities we’re in and try to stay open and in business for a long time.”

In addition to its Kentucky 54 storefront, Nu-Look also provides pickup and drop-off service through The Laundry Room on Old Hartford Road, continuing a service previously offered there by another cleaner.

For Mills, the Owensboro expansion represents more than business growth. It is a continuation of a family legacy that now spans three generations and multiple communities across the region.

“We’ve had some good success over in Owensboro that we want to continue,” Mills said. “We’ve been trying to get back over there, and this kind of fell in our laps. We’ve been very happy with it.”

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 over 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 John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art was created in 1977 — a year after the nation’s Bicentennial.

But it’s going all out for this year’s Sestercentennial — the nation’s 250th birthday.

Jason Edward Hayden, the museum’s executive director, said a highlight of “Kentucky 250,” which is sponsored by Owensboro Health, will be the unveiling of portraits of Col. Abraham Owen, for whom the city is named, and his wife, Martha Dupuy Owen.

The portraits are on loan from the Stacy family of Charleston, South Carolina, he said.

Those portraits will be displayed along with a portrait of Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, for whom Daviess County was misspellingly named, that is already in the museum’s collection.

Both men died in the battle of Tippecanoe on Nov. 7, 1811.

The exhibition will open with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 27 at the museum.

Hayden said the reception will feature reenactors of three important figures from the American Revolution.

McCellus Mayes will portray Crispus Attucks, who is considered the first casualty of the Revolutionary War, having died during the Boston Massacre.

Thomas Moseley, an Owensboroan and a member of the 9th Virginia regiment, will be portrayed by Asa Seiber.

And Jeff Stokes will portray Capt. John Parker, who commanded the Minutemen who fought at the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.

The historic reenactors are sponsored by Modern Welding and Gene and Jacquie Howard.

They will also be in the museum galleries on June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m.

A number of art works from the museum’s collection that explore Kentucky history will be featured in the exhibit.

Hayden said, “A meticulously researched American Colonial Day Dress by Paula Alex Naas, a handcrafted Frontier ‘Possibles’ bag by Joe Mills and a traditionally forged knife by bladesmith Max Soaper highlight the skill, craftsmanship and material culture that shaped everyday life in Kentucky’s early history.”

Also showcased are miniature replicas of early American ships by Bardstown artist Jim Cantrell and several examples of “Ships in Bottles” by Owensboro artist Greg Alvey.

Leitchfield quilters Sharon Duke and Linda Gentry created a “Teaching Wall Hanging” that depicts historical events leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

On loan from the Hancock County Museum and Historical Society is a handmade replica of the steamboat Robert E. Lee, by Hawesville artist Franklin Meserve.

And a needlepoint by artist John Schleicher rounds out the exhibition that highlights the state’s artistic heritage, family traditions and human connection with maritime technology.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has loaned three graphic reproductions from William D. T. Travis’s Civil War panorama.

The original work stretched over 500 feet of canvas.

David Taylor, an expert in early Kentucky art and owner of David Taylor Antiques, said, “The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art is providing a not-to-be-missed opportunity. The KY250 exhibition has assembled a remarkable and historically significant collection of paintings by many of Kentucky’s finest 18th and early 19th century artists.”

Dr. R. Wathen Medley and Jeanette Napier Medley, Greg Alvey, Dr. James F. Naas and Mrs. Paula Alex Naas, Jason Edward Hayden, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Kentucky Historical Society, Jim Cantrell, Jamie DeWitt, Sharon Duke and Linda Gentry, the Stacy family and the Hancock County Museum and Historical Society all contributed to the exhibit.

It will continue through July 12.

Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer

Back in 1981, what’s now the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce announced a new program called “Leadership Owensboro.”

The charter class had 30 members.

The program was so successful that the Chamber is taking applications this summer for its 45th class.

“Strong communities need strong leaders and Leadership Owensboro helps cultivate the people who will shape the future of the Greater Owensboro region,” said Julia Kimbrell Brooks, director of talent programs for the Chamber.

She said, “We are excited to bring together the Class of 2027 and welcome a diverse group of individuals who are ready to grow, connect and lead.”

Leadership Owensboro is described as a “premier talent development program designed to educate, engage, and empower emerging and established leaders throughout the Greater Owensboro region.”

It helps participants develop “a deeper understanding of the opportunities, challenges and resources that shape our community,” the chamber says.

Topics studied include economic development, education, healthcare, government, justice, philanthropy, human services and the arts.

Brooks said participants are selected through a competitive application process and take part in monthly sessions from September through May.

Nomination packets are available on the Chamber website — chamber.owensboro.com.

They must be submitted to Vice President Kitty Jones at kjones@owensboro.com no later than July 3.

Applications will be sent to all nominees on July 6, and completed applications must be submitted by July 31.

The class begins with a mandatory overnight retreat September 17-18.

Members will participate in monthly programs through June 2027.

Class members will also complete assignments and engage in community meetings and events.

By Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer

For the first time in 17 years, a newly chartered Kentucky bank has officially opened its doors, and it’s in the middle of Owensboro.

Cornerstone Community Bank has received its charter from the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions and its certificate of deposit insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, both effective June 8, clearing the final regulatory hurdles for Owensboro’s newest locally owned financial institution.

The bank opens with approximately $25 million in capital raised from about 200 local shareholders, reflecting strong community support for what is the first de novo bank charter issued in Kentucky since 2009 and the first new community bank founded in Owensboro since 1997.

The charter and FDIC insurance approvals officially allow Cornerstone to begin accepting deposits and conducting banking operations.

Located at 1819 Frederica St., the bank officially opened on Monday with a soft opening before gradually expanding services over the coming weeks.

“We officially opened as Cornerstone Community Bank on June 8,” said Kyle Aud, the bank’s president and CEO. “We’ll start with a soft opening to make sure everything is working the way it’s supposed to, then spend the following week opening accounts for our 200-plus shareholders before opening to the general public the week of June 22.”

Aud said the bank will still welcome customers immediately.

“We won’t turn away any potential customers if they want to bank with us,” he said.

The locally owned institution continues to accept additional investors as it works toward a goal of approaching $30 million in capital.

Jon Lawson, chairman of the board, said organizers began discussing the project in December 2024 and have spent the last year and a half working through the process of launching a new community bank.

“It feels great,” Lawson said of the opening. “We started this back in December of ’24, and it’s gone really smooth ever since. I’ve been involved in some bank charters before, and this one went very smoothly.”

Cornerstone is the first de novo bank charter issued in Kentucky since 2009. Lawson said the scarcity of new bank charters can largely be traced to changes implemented after the 2008 financial crisis.

He said minimum capital requirements for new banks increased dramatically following the recession, creating a significant barrier for new institutions.

“No new bank could be opened unless it had $20 million in capital,” Lawson said. “That’s not a small number.”

Lawson said the bank’s local ownership and leadership set it apart from many financial institutions.

“Our board is composed of local people with local interest in the community,” Lawson said. “They have a strong desire for success, not only for the bank itself, but also for the community.”

Aud said several factors convinced organizers that the time was right to launch a new community bank.

“There’s currently only one local community bank in Owensboro and Daviess County that was founded here, and of all the banks in our market, only one has less than a billion in assets,” he said. “While there has been some consolidation among community banks locally, the bigger shift has been larger banks pulling back from supporting our community through small business lending, supporting local nonprofits, and volunteering their time.”

He said Cornerstone’s leadership team wants to return to the traditional role community banks have played in local communities.

“Cornerstone Community Bank is made up of community bankers who want to get back to the basics, and that includes being the kind of community leader that shows up for our neighbors,” Aud said.

A key focus for the bank will be local decision-making.

“The gap we want to fill is in local decision-making,” Aud said. “Between our board and employees, we have the knowledge to make the right calls for our customers, employees, and shareholders because we’re from here and we know them.”

Market President Andrew Howard said the bank’s mission extends beyond simply operating a local branch.

“Opening our doors marks an exciting milestone and a deep commitment to our community,” Howard said. “We are energized by the opportunity ahead to serve with intention and purpose, building meaningful relationships and providing a lasting impact in the lives of our customers and our community.”

Howard said local banking is about more than geography.

“Being local is more than having a presence; it’s who we are and how we serve,” he said. “It means showing up.”

Aud emphasized that the bank will not rely solely on personal relationships when evaluating loans, but said local knowledge remains an important part of the process.

“Character is a significant factor in every loan decision, and it’s one our organization is positioned to assess well,” he said.

Cornerstone’s first-year priorities extend beyond balance sheets and loan growth. Aud said organizers want to create a workplace culture that attracts talented employees and encourages community involvement.

“If you forced us to choose our top priority for year one, it would be to build a brand rooted in the belief that true leadership creates happy employees, then happy employees naturally want to help their customers and give back to their community,” Aud said.

The bank also plans to maintain a strong community presence through volunteerism and charitable support.

“Strong community banks play a significant role in the health and well-being of the communities they serve, and we plan to do exactly that,” Aud said. “Our employees and board members will be out there volunteering their time and showing up for our community.”

Organizers envision future growth beyond the bank’s initial location. Aud said success over the next three to five years would include opening additional branches, growing the employee base, and becoming recognized as one of the state’s top workplaces.

“Success for Cornerstone Community Bank in three to five years would be a bank with multiple locations in the area, a growing employee base, and one that ranks high in the Best Places to Work in Kentucky voting,” Aud said. “If we’ve been successful in hiring the best talent and we’re able to keep them happy and having fun, then satisfied customers and strong financial performance should follow.”

The bank’s ownership structure is another point of pride for organizers. Cornerstone is organized as a C corporation, allowing broad community ownership while preventing any one individual, family, or investor group from controlling the institution.

“We all agreed early on that to be a true community bank, the whole community needed an opportunity to invest,” Aud said. “We didn’t want to be perceived as owned by any one person, family, or group.”

Aud said opening a new bank has been a challenging process, particularly given increased capital requirements and regulations implemented since the Great Recession.

“It takes a special set of circumstances for a de novo to happen,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate because we had talented bankers willing to take the risk, organizers who believed in those bankers, and a community willing to show their support by investing alongside them.”

Cornerstone Community Bank’s main office is located at 1819 Frederica St. in Owensboro. Lobby hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drive-thru hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The bank can be reached at 270-215-2685.

By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden’s 17th annual Daylily Festival is coming up June 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Garden, 2731 W. Second St.

Laurna Strehl, the Garden’s executive director, said it will be an “evening set among the beauty of an astonishing display of over 800 varieties of daylilies. This is an evening with something for everyone to enjoy and great memories to be made. Bring your lawn chairs and plan to stay awhile. There is food and entertainment for everyone with a cash bar and live music.”

Through the years, thousands of daylilies have been sold by The Garden to gardeners throughout the area.

Strehl said, “Daylilies are blooming early this year, so the dig beds are now open. Each shovelful is only $15, with a wide variety to choose from.”

She said The Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Strehl said, “The Daylily Festival and daylily sales are all a fundraiser for the botanical garden. As a nonprofit, our annual budget is supported by these events. We are also supported by admission fees, memberships, private event rentals, private donations and grants from the city and county.”

She said the Frogtown Stringband will be making music in The Garden from 5 to 7 p.m.

Top Dog Concessions, GG’s Kettle Corn, Go Go Goodiez and Leonard Libations will be selling food and drinks.

Strehl said there will be a petting zoo, Hole In Fun mini golf, a bubble wonderland and crafts for children.

She said, “The Daylily Festival is one of the prettiest times of the year to be at the botanical garden. There is a shift in how the garden feels as evening sets in and opportunities to be in the garden after hours are limited. It’s a relaxing evening that provokes quality time with friends and family. All the amenities of a night out are at your fingertips for a unique and relaxing time.”

Drew Watson at Align Wealth Management is sponsoring the event.

Garden members and children under 18 are admitted free.

The cost for all others is $5.

By Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer

For many families, the search for nursing care begins during a difficult transition — after a surgery, illness, injury, or when a loved one needs more daily support than can be provided at home.

Located at 2420 W. Third St. in Owensboro, Twin Rivers Nursing & Rehabilitation combines rehabilitation services, skilled nursing care, specialty medical programs, and residential amenities under one roof. The facility serves both short-term patients recovering from illness or surgery and residents requiring long-term care.

At Twin Rivers, the goal is to provide a continuum of care that ranges from short-term rehabilitation to long-term skilled nursing, while also creating an environment focused on comfort, independence, and quality of life.

The facility combines around-the-clock nursing services with rehabilitation programs, specialty medical care, social services, and amenities designed to make residents feel at home.

Twin Rivers offers 24-hour licensed nursing care, medication management, physician visits, wound care, disease management programs, restorative rehabilitation, dietary counseling, vision and dental services, and assistance with activities of daily living.

The center serves both individuals recovering from medical events and those requiring long-term residential care.

For rehabilitation patients, Twin Rivers provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy in an inpatient setting. Individualized treatment plans are developed under the direction of the facility’s medical team with the goal of helping residents regain independence and prevent further decline in function.

The skilled nursing program includes short-term and long-term rehabilitation, physician services, restorative nursing, diabetes management, IV therapy, post-operative care, wound care, and specialized treatments such as peritoneal dialysis.

One of the facility’s featured specialty programs is wound care. Twin Rivers utilizes a certified wound nurse and physician-directed treatment protocols to help patients recover from complex wounds and return home as quickly as possible. The program serves residents with post-traumatic wounds, surgical wounds, amputations, and wounds requiring frequent dressing changes or vacuum-assisted closure therapy.

In addition to traditional nursing services, Twin Rivers offers palliative care for residents facing advanced illnesses.

The multidisciplinary program focuses on comfort, quality of life, and support for both patients and families. Facility information notes that palliative services are designed to help residents live with dignity while ensuring their final days are as comfortable as possible.

Twin Rivers also offers respite care, providing temporary stays for individuals whose primary caregivers need time away to rest, travel, or address personal needs.

The respite program allows residents to receive professional care in a supervised environment while participating in activities and social opportunities. Facility materials describe respite care as beneficial not only for caregivers but also for residents who gain opportunities for socialization and a change of scenery.

Additional specialty services include respiratory therapy, which is available in-house five days per week and on call. Therapists work with patients recovering from illness, injury, or surgery to improve lung function and overall respiratory health.

The facility also maintains a dedicated social services department staffed by licensed social workers. Services include advocacy, care coordination, discharge planning, and supportive interventions for residents and their families.

While clinical care remains a primary focus, Twin Rivers emphasizes quality-of-life amenities as well.

Residents have access to social activities, community outings, beauty and barber services, complimentary Wi-Fi, family gathering spaces, cable television, laundry services, and private-room options. Family visits are encouraged, and pets are permitted to visit with proof of vaccination.

One unique offering is the facility’s monthly Chef’s Selection Dinner.

Each month, culinary staff create a themed gourmet dining experience inspired by a specific region or cuisine. The program is designed to give residents the feeling of enjoying an evening at a fine restaurant without leaving the facility.

The combination of medical services, rehabilitation programs, social opportunities, and residential amenities reflects Twin Rivers’ mission of providing compassionate care while promoting wellness and independence.

Families interested in learning more about Twin Rivers Nursing & Rehabilitation or scheduling a tour can visit  Twin Rivers Nursing & Rehabilitation⁠.

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 over 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 John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

There’s something special happening in Owensboro.

You can feel it in the way leaders across this community are stepping up, bringing energy, ideas, and a shared commitment to moving Owensboro forward.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Strong communities are built by people who choose to get involved.

Right now, that’s happening across the board.

Nonprofit leaders are meeting real needs with heart and dedication.

Business leaders are investing not just in growth, but in people and progress. Higher education is also playing an important role by preparing the next generation of talent, expanding opportunity, and helping strengthen the foundation for Owensboro’s future.

City and county governments are helping move Owensboro forward by investing in infrastructure, supporting quality of life, and creating the conditions for continued growth and opportunity.

That kind of leadership and sense of community is special.

And the way it all comes together matters.

Our GO Chamber serves as the catalyst connecting leaders, encouraging collaboration, and creating the space for ideas, partnerships, and momentum to grow. It plays an integral role in facilitating the shared effort that is moving Owensboro forward.

The Chamber’s partnership with economic development is also a strategic collaboration for advancing our city’s direction, helping align vision, opportunity, and community leadership around what matters most for Owensboro’s future.

We’re fortunate to have it here and we shouldn’t take it for granted.

What we’re seeing today is just how strong it can be when leaders step up together.

If your business or organization is not part of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, take a moment to strongly consider joining. There’s a network of passionate and dedicated professionals and leaders who are ready to help you be a part of the energy that’s shaping Owensboro’s future.

I’m thankful for the community leaders we have in Owensboro and for the work they are doing every day to make this happen.

Their commitment, collaboration, and willingness to serve are helping create the kind of momentum that moves a community forward.

By Shawn Patterson For the Messenger-Inquirer
 

The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Owensboro program will have its 44th annual commencement exercises at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at its offices at 200 E. Third St.

The Class of 2026 includes: Rhonda Bergstrom, Kyle Best, Joni Bocianoski, Jake Boswell, Morgan Brown, Nico Bustamante, Alex Coomes, Sheila Crowe, Emily Davis, Robyn Edgell, Tara Estes, Kyler Fannon, Drew Frey, Zach Gilles, Katy Hart, Richard Hayden, Mandie Hicks, Logan Johnson, Nick Jones, Bryan Kennedy, Julia Kimbrell Brooks, Lisa Knott, Jarrod McCarty, Grant Miller, Lakeia Nard, Michelle Nobles, Todd Palmer, Jacqueline Russell, Khaibar Shafaq, Cory Smith, Nina Solis, Samantha Taylor-Kaai, Carsten Tindle, Brigette Wayne, Kristi Winkler and Courtney Yerington.

Dave Kirk, chamber president, said, “We’re grateful to this year’s class for their investment in themselves, and to their employers for their flexibility and their acknowledgement that Leadership Owensboro develops leaders who are prepared to serve their organizations and community.”

He added, “I’m also incredibly proud of our chamber staff, whose dedication and hard work helped make this year’s Leadership Owensboro experience one of our strongest to date.”

Kitty Jones, chamber vice president, said, “Leadership Owensboro gives participants the opportunity to better understand our community, build meaningful connections and see firsthand the work happening across Owensboro. This class embraced that opportunity, and we are excited to see the impact they will continue to make.”

Leadership Owensboro says it is designed to “educate and empower emerging and established leaders through an in-depth exploration of the community’s industries, challenges and opportunities.”

The program is open to the public.

It will include refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

For more information about Leadership Owensboro and graduation details, go to chamber.owensboro.com/.

By Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer

The Owensboro Coin Club is hoping to change perceptions about coin collecting while growing its membership and expanding its impact throughout the community.

Founded in 2015 after an earlier Owensboro coin club dissolved decades ago, the organization has grown to approximately 30 members from throughout western Kentucky and southern Indiana. Under the leadership of President Tony Halcomb, the club has placed a renewed emphasis on community service, youth education, and charitable outreach.

“We need to be serving our community,” Halcomb said. “Coin collecting isn’t just for highly intelligent old men. It’s for everybody. Young and old, boys and girls. It’s our heritage, it’s our history.”

The club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Kennergy Operations Center, 3111 Fairview Drive. Meetings begin at 6 p.m., though members typically begin arriving around 5:30 p.m. to socialize, discuss recent finds, and prepare items for the club’s member auction.

Annual membership costs $20 for adults and $5 for youth members age 18 and under.

Halcomb said membership has grown steadily since he became president earlier this year.

“When I took over, I think we had about 19 members,” he said. “Now we’re up to around 30, and every month we seem to pick up one or two more.”

Members collect everything from half dollars and Buffalo nickels to rare denominations, paper currency, and foreign coins.

“Each member usually prefers a specific coin,” Halcomb said. “One guy collects 20-cent pieces. Another collects currency. We’re always learning from each other.”

For Halcomb, the hobby began at age 8 after an uncle introduced him to coin collecting.

“Every weekend or every other weekend, he’d take me down to the local coin store and let me pick out a coin,” Halcomb said. “That’s where it all began for me.”

While collecting remains the club’s foundation, Halcomb said community involvement has become a major focus.

Members collect canned goods at every meeting for Crossroads Food Bank, where Halcomb volunteers. The club has donated more than 100 pounds of food this year and awards points toward its annual Member of the Year recognition for members who contribute food or volunteer at community events.

The club also plans to participate in the Homeless Coalition of Ohio Valley’s annual fall festival in October by hosting a hot dog and bean soup fundraiser.

One of the organization’s newest initiatives is the Coin Books for Kids program, designed to introduce young people to coin collecting, history, and financial literacy.

The program recently held its first presentation at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Owensboro. Participants receive a free copy of the 2026 edition of the “Red Book,” a widely used guide to U.S. coins, along with a historic U.S. coin.

Students learn how to identify, research, and grade coins while exploring the history behind American currency.

“There’s art, there’s history, there’s science, what the coins are made of, mathematics, economics,” Halcomb said. “There are so many aspects of education that coin collecting involves.”

The program was originally conceived by former club treasurer George “Rusty” Hagan III. Halcomb said he was able to tell Hagan that the program had become a reality shortly before Hagan’s death.

“I witnessed the greatest joy I have ever seen in my life,” Halcomb said.

Following Hagan’s passing, his family donated numerous items to the club, including the first 50 Red Books used in the program, more than two pounds of sterling silver, and other coin-collecting materials.

Halcomb is working to expand the program through partnerships with Daviess County Public Schools, Owensboro Public Schools, private schools, Girls Inc., the Opportunity Center, Rotary Club of Owensboro, and other organizations.

The club has also become a member of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and is exploring grant opportunities to support future educational and community initiatives.

Additional fundraising efforts are planned throughout the year, including a family-friendly magic show this summer and sales of commemorative 2026 Enduring Liberty Semiquincentennial half dollars celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Halcomb said the club’s goal is not only to preserve the hobby but also to create opportunities for education, service, and community engagement.

“The more the merrier,” he said. “We’re trying to get people interested and show them that coin collecting can teach you a lot about history and about the world around you.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the Owensboro Coin Club can attend a monthly meeting or contact Halcomb at 270-316-8866.

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 over 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 John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times

The new Nothing Bundt Cakes location in Owensboro is hosting several grand opening events next week, including community appreciation days, a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, and giveaways for free Bundtlets for a year.

The bakery, which recently opened at 2490 Calumet Trace, Unit 3, in Gateway Commons, is owned by Brad Paxton, Matthew Keiser, and Neal Hawkins.

“Owensboro feels like home to me, and it’s been amazing to see old friends and make new ones,” Paxton said in a release. “Growing up in Paducah, I have such fond memories here, and it’s the perfect place for our first location.”

The bakery’s grand opening activities are scheduled for June 2-6.

Community Appreciation Days will run June 2-4, with select groups receiving a free Bundtlet with the purchase of another Bundtlet by showing a badge, ID, or uniform. Healthcare workers, first responders, and military members will be recognized Tuesday, while teachers and school staff will be honored Wednesday. City employees will be recognized Thursday.

A ribbon cutting with the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. on June 3.

On June 5, the bakery will host a benefit day for Habitat for Humanity of Owensboro-Daviess County, donating 20% of sales to the organization.

The week will conclude Saturday with a “Free Bundtlets for a Year” giveaway beginning at 9 a.m. The first 50 guests ages 18 and older will receive a punch card redeemable for one free Bundtlet each month for a year at the Owensboro location.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times