The Expo Center

I have heard a lot of comments about the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center since its' opening, (from this point forward referred to as the Expo Center) both good and bad. I have a lot of trouble swallowing the bad, but I realize that noone or no organization bats a thousand. It's just that the Expo Center catches a lot of undeserving grief.

The reason I have trouble hearing the bad is because of the effort they have made to make it a first class venue. Yes, there have been glitches, but I think if you checked with any of the major venues in this country you would find that there are inherent problems with opening a new building.

Their choice of diversity in shows has been outstanding! Rock, Country, Kids, Family...it goes on and on...they have chosen wisely.

People have been quick to judge, sometimes negatively, about the operations of the Expo Center. Be it security, door open time, concessions or otherwise, a lot of negative comments have been made. Folks, Rome wasn't buit in a day. SMG, the management company, runs some of the biggest and most notable venues in the country, but new buildings and new markets always require a "feeling out and learning process" and this one is no exception. A lot of money was spent to build this arena, but it is a learning process for both SMG and the Expo Center. They have done an outstanding job thus far and it seems to only get better!

If you have a beef, or a suggestion, go to the web site www.eastkyexpo.com and everyone's e-mail address is listed. They will listen and respond respectfully if your request or comment is made in the same tone.

By the way, if you have comments or questions for me you may always e-mail wdhr@wdhr.com and I will respond...respectfully. We're here for you and we don't take that lightly.

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Stay tuned
Randy

Random Thoughts...Like I Ever Have Anything Different

Welcome Back!

If you enjoy these posts, then I apologize for them being so few and far between, and if you don't enjoy them then it doesn't matter anyway. HA!

Like the headline says, these are just random thoughts as I sit here on Christmas Eve reflecting on the holidays and life in general.

Random thought #1.
Trooper Johnathan Leonard.

Doggone it all! The same age as my oldest son. It happened at Christmas time. I am good friends with several Troopers, Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains and everyone of them, to a man, tell me what a fine boy he was. Boy? Yep, same age as my son; remember? I also know Eugene Sisco, Jr. He's always been courteous, kind and friendly. What brings two fine people together in such a horrible tragedy? What brings them to the wrong place at the wrong time? Don't know. God bless all!

Random thought #2.
The weather.

My buddy, Peter Girouard, says there's a price to pay for all the nice weather. I say "at Christmas time this is not nice weather!" We need a few snow dabs (sic) flying in the air! So, maybe, just maybe, this is not nice weather and we don't have a price to pay. PHHHHWWWWTT! Peter Girouard.

Random thought #3.
Sick.

Dadburnit, everybody I know, it seems, has been sick for a month. (The weather?) I dunno. I started out about 3 weeks ago with a respiratory thing, then it was the stomach virus, and now this week the coughing, wheezing and the respiratory thing AGAIN. There have been numerous people here at EKB who have been sick including my boss, Keith, who has been sicker than I have ever seen him. A physician friend of mine speculates that the warm weather causes the viruses and bacteria to grow muscles instead of dying off as they normally would in cold weather. Maybe we're paying the price now instead of later Peter. PHHHHWWWWTT! on you.

Random thought #4.
The past and the future.

It has been my distinct pleasure to have had Keith Casebolt as my General Manager since August, 1999. (That's not sucking up. He doesn't read this thing because he doesn't know how to turn a computer on). Every year at this time we have looked back and talked about how we could have predicted our successes and failures. No way! We have tried to enter each year with a well oiled plan for success, and thank God, we have been successful, but we have had setbacks as well. When we succeed, a certain amount of it has to be attributed to planning. When we fail, maybe it's fate or maybe we didn't plan well enough. Whatever it is, if we plan for success we will succeed to a degree as fate will allow; and if we plan to learn from the setbacks and it hardens our desire to succeed...then that becomes a success also. Plan to succeed and plan to make that which seems a setback at the moment work in your favor. It can only be called a success.

God Bless!
Stay tuned.
Randy

Christmas Party For The Needy

Welcome back.

Sunday, December 17th marks the 30th renewal of the annual "Christmas Party for the Needy" staged by Marlow Tackett. This event garners a lot of support from a lot of people, and draws skepticism from others.

I don't suppose being skeptical is all-in-all a bad thing. After all, without it, the Watergate Scandal would not have been exposed and we would still believe the world is flat. Certain skeptics question every club, civic organization, charity, fundraiser, and company on the planet Earth, and in the end maybe that's what keeps things on the up and up to a degree. I am skeptical in some instances, but overall I'm just naive enough to take things at face value, especially if I believe the good outweighs the bad, assuming there is any bad.

My boss, Keith Casebolt, has a way of stating facts when he is absolutely, positively, unquestionably sure, that what he is stating is the truth. He says, "Here's what I know". The "know" meaning it is a profound truth.

Here's what I know about Marlow's party for the needy:
1) It has helped thousands of needy people...thousands...through the years. Families, little children who otherwise would not have had a Christmas, nursing home patients and those in despair have benefitted.

2) I have been there more times than I care to count, and I will be there this year, and I have seen the faces and I have heard the thank yous and I know it's needed.

3) People always need help. Marlow never declines as long as he has the resources to do so. Year round, it doesn't matter. If it's someone he finds scrounging through a dumpster in mid July, he'll give money if he has it. If it's a family burned or flooded out and he has the furniture and appliances, he'll give it to them.

4) HE NEEDS HELP THIS YEAR! BADLY!

The party was late getting started this year; you know the story. I do not want to hear the skepticism! I'm picturing the face of a little child, not a dang court battle. The folks from Food City stepped up the to the plate and donated a building to use. East Kentucky Broadcasting has donated thousands of dollars in advertising and the items are rolling in, but more, much more is needed.

One of the most generous contributors to this event passed away this year and left a big void. That's why we need to step it up. If you can find it in your heart, please help. Give canned food, new or used toys, old or new clothes, old or new appliances, anything a needy person can use.

If you are skeptical that's fine. There is one sure fired way to be sure you're not being duped if you'd like to help and are...skeptical. Buy what you will, donate what you will and go the former Food City location in the Town and Country shopping center on Sunday December 17 at 12 noon. Take whatever it is you'd like give and put it in the hand of any person you deem worthy. You be the judge, you pick somebody. It won't be taken from them and noone involved with Marlow or the party will be offended. They'll be elated!

Stay tuned
Randy

HELLO EVERYBODY!

It's good to be back again! I have received a bunch of e-mails as a result of the last post and I really appreciate your response. I have answered all of the questions with personal e-mails and will continue to do so.

One of the things that comes to mind as I read your questions is how none of them have been to complain about what we do. With my tenure in this business I realize that whatever you do, you don't please everyone. Whether it's the music, the talk, the public service announcements...whatever... someone has a bone to pick. I am not naive enough to believe that everyone who listens absolutely enjoys every element of the show, but I know a lot of people DO listen and stay with us through the good and the bad.

We try not to be offensive. We try to give you the things that you can talk about around the water cooler(yes, that's a cliche), but we don't choose to go as far as to give you reason to be offended. In our "Randy's Skewed News" we try to make a mockery of the stories that the entertainment industry keeps throwing out as if it made a difference in our everyday lives. When we talk about the Britney Spears, the Paris Hiltons, the Michael Jacksons of the world, we are hoping to make you realize that this stuff is such horse#$&*^* when it comes to everyday life.

Here at home, we need to concentrate on UNITE, Westcare, H.O.P.E, the Domestic Abuse Shelter, Judi's Place for Kids, and many others. We do not need to concentrate on what movie star is dating what movie star and who's impregnating whom. I know people need an escape, but if we do not pay attention, the monsters out there will comsume us.

I sat with a group of people at lunch this week who were looking over one of those "Entertainment" magazines. They were talking about who looked fat and who looked thin, who had looked best in their last movie and what they looked like now. They were very well versed in these star's lives and who they were. One of these people had young teenage children, two had grade school children and one is newly married (a couple of years). NOT ONE OF THEM could tell me about UNITE, the next meeting, the efforts in their child's school or whom they could contact if they had a problem in their home. (1-800-368-6483) That's 1-800-Do-Unite.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying music or entertainment. We'll do our best to give you all the information avialable on your favorite Country Music Artists, where you can find the best deals for your money, and more of those things that allow you to escacpe for a few minutes, but for goodness sakes, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL!

Stay Tuned
Randy