Business briefcase: Nov. 30, 2012

Chamber of commerce names officers for year

Submitted

Candi Waford

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce announced its new officers for 2012‐2013. These officers were elected by chamber’s newly inducted board of directors at a meeting earlier this month, joining previously announced president Candi Waford of Shelby Energy.

They are:

• Brian Webb of Citizens Union Bank as president elect.
• Shawn Adelsberger of Martinrea Heavy Stamping will continue as vice president.
• Hart Megibben of Megibben, Robinson & Chandler as vice president.
• Gary Walls of Kentucky Perinatal Association, the past president, will serve on the executive committee.

 “We are fortunate to have such a strong board with leaders who are willing to step forward and direct the chamber for the coming years,” Executive Director Shelley Goodwin said in a release announcing the officers. “The strength of the chamber is reflected in the strength of our volunteer leaders. I am excited for the opportunities and improvements our members will see in the coming year.”

ALC now in new offices

ALC Pregnancy Resource Center has moved from the Village 

Square Shopping Center to its newly constructed offices at 711 Henry Clay St., in the rear of the same building that houses Operation Care.

ALC’s telephone number and E-mail contacts remain the same: 647-0300 and

alovingchoice@insightbb.com.

KU, LGE bills may increase in January

Customers of Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas and Electric Company could see their bills increase at the first of the year. KU announced the company has reached an agreement with intervening parties to settle a rate case currently before the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

The agreement, which remains subject to PSC approval, would up the companies’ base electrical and gas rates, lower late-payment charges, extend the time period before payments are deemed late, gives the company responsibility for national gas lines and provides for additional charitable giving, KU says.
Under the agreement, KU customers would see an increase of $4.82 for every 1,000 kilowatt hours used each month, a hike of 5.8 percent.
“We’re pleased with the settlement. There is a diverse group of interests represented in this case and they worked hard to develop an agreement that balanced the needs of everyone,” said Lonnie Bellar, vice president, State Regulations and Rates in a prepared statement. “There is always give and take in a settlement process, but in the end we came together to create a viable solution.”
Other changes include reducing the late payment charge from 5 percent to 3 percent and extending the due date to 16 business days — at least 22 calendar days before a late payment charge is applied to the bill.

Republic scraping to help Honor Flight

All 34 Republic Bank outlets, including the one in Shelbyville, is accepting donations of $1 or more in exchange for an ice scraper, with all proceeds going to benefit the Honor Flight Bluegrass Chapter.

“As the area’s largest community bank, we wanted to assist Honor Flight’s mission to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices, Republic Chairman and CEO Steve Trager said in a release. “By supporting Honor Flight, these veterans will be able to visit their memorial at no cost to the veteran.”

This is the 10th year Republic Bank has used the ice scraper program to raise funds for local charities.

Bulletin board

• HJW Career & Financial Literacy Institute, Inc. is conducting a free "Knowing Where You Are...To Get Where You Are Going!!" financial education workshop from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Stratton Community Center in Shelbyville. For more information, contact Yolanda Bradford at 647-3072.
• The Shelbyville Board of Realtors will meet at 9 a.m. Dec. 11 at the Coldwell Banker office. The 2012 Realtor of the Year will be honored, and officers for 2013 will be installed.

Bits & bytes:

• Small banks in rural areas have weathered the economic recession better than their larger competitors, an official with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis says. Julie Stackhouse, senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and LaVaughn Henry, vice president and senior regional officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Cincinnati branch, discussed the agency and other financial issues facing the U.S. during a luncheon at Kentucky State University Tuesday.
• Average retail gasoline prices in Louisville have risen 3.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.21 per gallon as of Sunday. This compares with the national average that has not moved  in the last week to $3.43, according to LouisvilleGasPrices.com. Prices Sunday were 11.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and 23.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 14.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 11 cents higher than this day one year ago.

Briefcase is compiled from press releases and other information submitted to The Sentinel-News. The Kentucky Press News Service contributed to this report. Information and photos may be E-mailed to sharonw@SentinelNews.com. The deadline is noon Wednesday.