Work on bourbon barrel project ended ...
Controversy leads KY TECH to terminate students' participation

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

David Billingsley Executive Director Office of Career & Technological Education

State education officials, citing the controversy generated by local vocational students' work on what would be the world's largest bourbon barrel, have terminated the students' role in the project.

According to the Sunday, May 7th edition of The Kentucky Standard, the decision to end students' involvement was not a local one, but came down from David Billingsley, the executive director of the Office of Career and Technological Education (OCTE) in Frankfort.

The local vocational school -- Nelson County County Area Technology Center (ATC) -- is part of Kentucky Tech, one of 56 technical schools operated by the OCTE. The local school board owns the building, but the OCTE directs the programs inside it.

When completed, the 17-foot barrel will be touted as the "world's largest bourbon barrel." The barrel was proposed by Bardstown businessman Steve Hayden as a tribute to the Nelson County men and women who have worked in the bourbon industry.

When completed, the barrel will be located next to Hayden's business, Keene's Depot. Hayden said in earlier published accounts the barrel would be a good photo opportunity for tourists.

Public reaction to the barrel has been mixed -- for several reasons.

Some cite the negative impact of alcohol and question the message the community wants to send to its children and visitors. Others have objected to the fact that the Nelson ATC students -- mostly minors too young to drink -- were working on the barrel project.

Some have been critical for what appears to be a stealthy attempt to build an attraction next to his business for the sake of building his business -- a fair assessment given its proposed location, and the fact local public officials have steered clear of calling the barrel a business builder for Hayden.

In the Standard's story, Stan Lampe, a spokesman for the state Education Cabinet, lamented the controversy over the students' involvement in the barrel project, calling it "an unfortunate situation."

In the same story, Bardstown Mayor Dixie Hibbs said the city continues to work on the behalf of the barrel project.

So far there's been no published comment from the Nelson County School Board or Dr. Jan Lantz, superintendent of Nelson County Schools regarding the project.

When asked by the Standard, Hayden would not comment on what his plans are now for the barrel project.