Traveler's information now being broadcast
By JAMIE VINSON-STURGILL/Sun Staff Writer
Winchester has a new tool in place that will be used in a variety of ways - such as helping promote local attractions or alerting motorists of road closures.
A traveler's information station (or highway information station) began operating Tuesday evening. A tower located off the Bypass holds the radio broadcast station that transmits on 1610 AM, according to Gary Epperson, Clark County's director of disaster and emergency services.
The station's first task, Epperson said, will be to provide information about the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival, which kicks off tonight with a street dance downtown.
"These are scattered different places around the country to provide people information and we have one now," he said. "The plans are immediately to take our electronic boards to different places, strategic locations in and out of Clark County such as on the Interstate, U.S. 60 ... and get people to tune to 1610 for event information (about the festival)."
Epperson said the station is funded through the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, the collaborative effort of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of the Army and state and local emergency mangers to ensure emergency preparedness steps and procedures are in place in communities surrounding the Blue Grass Army Depot.
"Through the program (CSEPP), this is funded to provide evacuation information for residents of Madison County should they have to come to Clark County. The intent is to provide shelter information, etc., but we are going to use it to promote Winchester and Clark County," Epperson said. "We can also provide information about any road closures, tell people why they are shut down, how long they are going to be shut down, etc.; we can do live broadcasts," noting plans also are to eventually provide listeners weather updates, which would come in the form of station interruptions.
In addition to the local tourism office having access to the station, the idea also is to allow Clark Middle and Strode Station Elementary schools access to the broadcast, Epperson said.
"There will be a lot of traffic information and stuff like that (on the station), but our first plan is for the festival. If you want information about what's going on, be sure to tune it in."
The broadcast is intended to cover about a four-mile radius, but Epperson said it actually can cover more area and "far exceeds" his expectations.
"I have heard (the station) can go as far as Paris and Richmond, but for us, it's mainly intended for travel in and out of the city area," he said. "It mainly just covers the city."