NITA JOHNSON Contributing Writer

Strong leadership is key in continued success and Laurel County demonstrates that through trials, disasters and challenges.

As the community celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2026, the year

already holds great promise for growth and prosperity.

Laurel County Judge Executive David Westerfield has specific goals in mind— from continuing to help those affected by the May EF-4 tornado to rebuild to improving disaster preparedness operations.

" We will continue to help

families rebuild and we look to have a successful year for repairing our roads and bringing in new industry with good jobs," Westefrield said. " We have applied for a grant to build an emergency shelter that would include a full kitchen and bathrooms. That facility could be used for disasters or cold weather

— whatever the need." Need is a commonly used word to describe the growth in the county. Paula Thompson, Executive Director of the London Laurel County Economic Development Authority, said the calls and requests for property and buildings to establish new business is still