Tagged: Owensboro

A Daviess County family is planning to restore a cemetery that's the resting place for a Revolutionary War soldier who counted Thomas Jefferson among his friends.

Charles Evans tells the Messenger-Inquirer the plans are to set the tombstones back up in the family plot and to fence it off. Evans also plans to apply for a historical marker.

Evans' great-great-great-grandfather, Capt. Benjamin Field, is buried there. Field was commissioned as a captain in the American Revolution by Jefferson, who was governor of Virginia at the time.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro is celebrating its 75th Jubilee with several free events.

The celebration Saturday begins with a Mass at the Owensboro Sportcenter, then moves to the RiverPark Center for concerts, food, children's activities and tours of the International Bluegrass Museum.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports the newly renovated St. Stephens Cathedral in Owensboro will be open for tours for much of the day.

Thirty-two western Kentucky counties make up the diocese, which was formed in 1937 by Pope Pius XI. It is home to 79 churches.

Owensboro's tourism economy took a pounding after its largest hotel, the Executive Inn Rivermont, closed in 2008 as the national economy started to falter, but now things are looking better. The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is funded primarily by a hotel room tax, brought in $587,567 at the end of this fiscal year --more than the $512,000 budgeted.

A wet-dry vote for a precinct in Owensboro is set for next month. The Messenger-Inquirer reports voters in the city’s 13th precinct will have the chance to cast ballots December 11th on whether to continue to allow alcohol sales or to make the area dry. The precinct includes the athletic arena known as the Sportscenter and nearby Moreland Park.