The Russell County Fiscal Court discussed a possible expansion of the Detention Center at the monthly meeting a week ago Monday.

Jailer Bobby Dunbar reported back to the court following inquiries last month that he research the possibility of building a new structure to house low risk prisoners, thus freeing up bed space in the more secure jail to possibly house more state inmates or overflow inmates from other counties, referred to as “paying customers” by Dunbar.

Dunbar agreed to continue research into requirements and costs of building a 1,500 ft. structure, enough for 30 low risk inmates, but that with the labor of inmates it would be “less than six figures,” estimated Dunbar, and would require hiring of a few part-time deputy jailers.

Dunbar said he’d find out more at a meeting he will have later but that “If we could build it, I would just say it will be a big asset to the county.”

In response to another question, Dunbar said that the low risk, class one or two inmates that are seen working out in the county is equal to $193,000 worth of labor if valued at $8 an hour. These would be the inmates to be housed in the new dormitory facility, if building the structure were to receive the go ahead by the Department of Corrections and agreed to by the fiscal court.

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Kentucky Sports Radio made its way to Russell Springs last week as ESPN Radio 1060, WJKY AM and Duo County Telephone hosted the popular radio show and even broadcast it live on the air and on Duo County’s community channel 2.

The show, hosted by KSR foundor Matt Jones and former Lexington sportscaster Ryan Lemond, airs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. central time on Talk Radio 1080 WKJK in Louisville and is simulcast on various radio stations throughout the state, including WJKY in Jamestown.

Usually, WJKY re-airs the program from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily but last Friday the show was aired live in Russell County on both the radio and television.

With the show nearing two years on the radio, Jones said he was pleased Russell County was his ninth stop at affiliates around the state, which has included the nearby cities of Columbia and Monticello.

“We decided we wanted to go and visit all the stations that had taken the show as an affiliate,” Jones said. “We’ve made nine stops so far and it has been great.”

Jones said it has been great to meet the fans and supporters of the radio talk show and his University of Kentucky blog at www.kentuckysportsradio.com.

Traversing around the Lake Cumberland area and rural southeastern Kentucky took Jones back to his days growing up in Bell County in eastern Kentucky.

“I know this part of the state well, it’s beautiful,” Jones said. “We have a lot of fans in this area and we’ve got four stations in about 100 miles here. We really appreciate how much people seem to like it here.”

The fact that the UK talk show centers on the fans is Jones’ favorite part of hosting the program.

“We sort of don’t take it seriously and we enjoy being able to recreate the UK fan experience in a radio show,” he said. “Our goal is for the show to be like a bunch of buddies sitting around and watching sports and we’ll be celebrating our two-year anniversary with the show in a few days.”

For the upcoming Wildcat football season, Jones said he envisions another down year but says he believes it won’t be as bad as some fear.

“It’s going to be a struggling year in football but I’m not sure they’re going to be as bad as everybody thinks,” he said. “In basketball, it is going to be a rebuilding year but for Cal that could still be a Final Four. There was just such excitement around everything last year and I think in (2013-14) they’ll win another one. It is great to be a part of that experience.”

Lemond, who got out of full-time sports broadcasting in 2007, now sells real estate in Lexington but was afforded the opportunity to co-host the radio show with Jones on several occasions and later became a staple on the show.

“He hasn’t kicked me out yet,” Lemond said. “It is one of those things where I was invited in and never left.”

Lemond said he got into real estate because it would allow him more opportunities with his three boys.

“My dad coached me and I wanted to be able to coach my boys and go to their games,” he said. “But this radio show has come along and has allowed me to keep my finger in the sports media world a little bit. It is the most fun I’ve had doing a show, by far.”

Following the broadcast a week ago Friday, the KSR crew along with employees of WJRS-WJKY and Duo County Telephone joined with local sponsors of the show for a luncheon at the Lake Cumberland Golf Club in Jamestown. Jones and Lemond posed for photos with fans and sponsors following the meal and Jones thanked the local group for making the show possible to Russell County.

“Kentucky Sports Radio has been a great addition to our weekday afternoon programming on ESPN Radio 1060 WJKY-AM,” said the radio station’s Joey Hoover.

“We appreciate the opportunity to host the program locally this past Friday. Matt enjoyed his visit to Russell County and wants to come back for another show as soon as possible.”