Local, State Leaders Support Miners
August 30, 2007 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
East Kentucky Miners News Release
PIKEVILLE, KY. - Professional basketball has been welcomed with open arms in the City of Pikeville and throughout Eastern Kentucky. The East Kentucky Miners, an expansion team in the CBA, continue to gain the support of veteran basketball fans. Kentucky is known for its basketball-savvy residents and diehard fans. Those residents as well as local and statewide government leaders value the brand of basketball that is two-plus months away from hitting the hardwood and representing East Kentucky and the entire Commonwealth. Members of the East Kentucky Miners professional basketball organization have made a commitment to being community leaders themselves. Local and statewide government leaders took early notice of the CBA expansion team's commitment and strong work ethic. The East Kentucky team's work ethic is very similar to that of many hard-working Kentuckians.
The support from local and statewide leaders was evident at the team's first press conference held on Thursday, July 19. During the event, Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford awarded members of the Miners organization with a proclamation, commemorating the arrival in Pikeville. Jay Fiedler and Demetrius Ford, co-founders of Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group, Inc., owners of the East Kentucky Miners, also accepted a Key to the City from Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn. Pikeville Mayor Frank Justice was also present at the debut press conference, joining many local dignitaries in welcoming the CBA expansion team.
In early-August, shortly after the East Kentucky Miners professional basketball organization arrived in Pikeville on an official note, State Representative Keith Hall (District 93, Pike) delivered another proclamation. Hall has served in the House since 2001.
"To have the House of Representatives give us its stamp of approval speaks volumes in terms of the support we have received since announcing our arrival," said East Kentucky Coach Kevin Keathley. "I couldn't be more happy to be a part of the Commonwealth. Getting the state government's acceptance is important to our organization on many fronts."
Both Pike County and the City of Pikeville have expressed support for the CBA expansion team.
"(Pike County) Judge-Executive (Wayne T.) Rutherford has been very supportive since day one," Keathley commented. "I firmly believe he has the community's best interest at heart. It was an honor to have him speak at our press conference. I've had the opportunity to speak with the county judge on a couple of different occasions and he has always been more than willing to help in any capacity."
The Miners are Kentucky's only professional basketball team.
"We look forward to building a lasting relationship with the City of Pikeville as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a whole," Keathley said.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from August 30, 2007
- Local, State Leaders Support Miners - East Kentucky Miners
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