Kentucky Ag Connection - KSP Debuts New Safety Town Exhibit at State Fair

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KSP Debuts New Safety Town Exhibit at State Fair
Kentucky Ag Connection - 08/17/2018

The Kentucky State Police kicked off the 2018 Kentucky State Fair Thursday with a grand re-opening and dedication ceremony for its new "Safety Town" exhibit, a perennial favorite with fair attendees for more than 50 years.

KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders hosted 2018 Miss Kentucky Katie Bouchard; Kentucky Venues President and CEO David Beck and Mr. Fair Bear (Ky. State Fair mascot) at a red-carpet, ribbon-cutting ceremony in the south wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center to highlight the event. The first 100 children entering the booth received plastic KSP Trooper badges.

Sanders noted that the agency has a long history with the Kentucky State Fair. "KSP had its first booth at the fair in 1949 stressing a highway safety message," he said. "Every year since then it has partnered with the Kentucky State Fair to present public safety messages that included highway safety, drug awareness, child safety and internet and social media safety."

"We are so thankful for the Kentucky State Police and all they do to protect communities across the Commonwealth," said David Beck, president and CEO of Kentucky Venues, the organization that produces the fair. "We're especially excited as they open this new Safety Town at the Kentucky State Fair to engage and educate our young guests on the importance of traffic safety."

KSP originally introduced "Safety Town" at the 1961 Kentucky State Fair. It featured pedal-powered kiddy-cars -- some with the official KSP seal and vehicle striping -- and streets lined with scaled-down buildings, stop signs and traffic lights. The basic concept remained the same throughout the years with only cosmetic changes and physical maintenance.

"Safety Town has remained true to its original mission of reaching children in their formative years with safe-driving and other messages that will serve them throughout life," explained Sanders. "Many times, it also provides a friendly "first contact" between a child and law enforcement officers in a fun environment."

Last updated in 1975, this year's Safety Town exhibit was produced by DCX Incorporated, a Louisville-based business owned and operated by Tommy Glogower.

"We want to recognize Tommy and his crew for the great partners they have been to KSP and their hard work and dedication on this exhibit," added Sanders.

The KSP Safety Town exhibit is located in the South Wing Exhibit Hall, Section B of the Ky. Exposition Center at the Kentucky State Fair. It will be open during regularly schedule fair hours from August 16 through August 26. The exhibit also features vintage and current KSP vehicles and various highway safety and drug awareness displays.

Visitors to the exhibit can also purchase $10 raffle tickets for a chance to win a new 2018 Dodge Charger R/T 392. The winning ticket will be drawn on the last day of the fair. Funds raised by the raffle support Trooper Island, a free summer camp for underprivileged boys and girls age 10-12 operated by the Kentucky State Police on Dale Hollow Lake in Clinton County. It is financed entirely by donations, no public funds are used. Each year, the camp hosts approximately 700 children, providing good food, fresh air, recreation, guidance and structured, esteem-building activities designed to build good citizenship and positive relationships with law enforcement officers. (Charitable gaming license #0000633.)

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