Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight and Christian County Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam shared a proclamation recognizing October as domestic violence awareness month along with Sanctuary, Inc. at Tuesday’s Hopkinsville City Council meeting.
Before the meeting got underway regional domestic violence and sexual abuse awareness and victim advocacy nonprofit, Sanctuary, Inc. shared a video of men in the county reminding watchers that domestic violence is a matter that affects everyone.
The video featured community members such as Christian Fiscal Court Magistrate Russ Guffey, Christian County Public Schools Equity Coordinator Vice Killebrew and local Human Rights Commission member Desaepa Vansauwa.
The video focused on that fact that men can be victims of domestic violence too, and they can also play a role in preventing it.
Reading the proclamation, Gilliam said the justice system will do everything in its power to uphold basic human rights and work toward a violence free community.
Further focusing on the local justice system, Christian County Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen reappeared in front of the Council for public comments. Bolen last appeared at the September 26th meeting.
During the September meeting Bolen shared what she has had to undergo since taking on her position as Commonwealth’s Attorney in March from having to build cases and to having to hire staff to handle the number of weekly cases her office receives.
At Tuesday’s meeting Bolen says during her time as Attorney she has seen multiple cases of constitutional rights being violated and nothing being done about it, so Bolen says she requested for the Kentucky Department of Justice to review lawsuits, cases and unconstitutional instances she says she has witnessed in the county.
Following public comments, the Council unanimously approved three zoning amendment ordinances for Canton Pike, Devonshire Drive and Wilshire Circle on first reading. On Canton Pike approximately 22 acres and on Devonshire Drive approximately 15 acres of land was approved for the development of a single-family residential district. Property located on Devonshire Drive and Wilshire Circle were designated as a one and two family residential district.