Email: press@oc.usda.gov
Secretary Perdue Applauds President Trump’s Selection of USDA’s Rural Utility Service Administrator
Washington, D.C., February 5, 2018 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded President Donald J. Trump’s intent to appoint Kenneth Johnson to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utility Service Administrator. Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued this statement:
“As President Trump pursues his comprehensive agenda of infrastructure improvements like increased broadband access for rural communities, adding Ken Johnson to the USDA team is exciting. Ken’s experience with rural utilities, including real success in expanding access to high-speed Internet, will serve us well as we strive to increase prosperity across rural America. While this is welcome news, I’d also like to take this opportunity to urge the U.S. Senate to take up key nominations we have pending, so we can add to our team and continue our mission of doing right and feeding everyone.”
Kenneth Johnson’s Biography:
Mr. Johnson serves as General Manager/CEO of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative and President for Co-Mo Connect in Tipton, MO. Co-Mo is the first to deploy a fiber-to-the-home network to all its members without federal or state funding, providing gigabit internet, video, and voice services to nearly 16,000 subscribers. Johnson is a director and past president for Central Electric Power Cooperative, a director for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives and served on the Executive and Legislative committees. Johnson was General Manager for Twin Valleys PPD in Nebraska after beginning his career with the Nebraska Public Power District. He earned an undergraduate degree from Kearney State College, and is a graduate of the NRECA Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program. Ken grew up on a farm near Edgar, NE and has spent his life working and serving rural America. He and his wife cherish spending time with their children and grandchildren.
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Party marks success of scheme to tackle loneliness
Jeremy Lefroy MP and Karen Armitage, the Chief Executive of Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) were amongst special guests at a party to celebrate the success of a project that’s combatting loneliness in Stafford and surrounding areas.
BeConnected has proved a huge hit since it was launched last year, bringing together people who may be feeling isolated or lonely for a programme of events organised by SARH in partnership with Stafford Borough Council.
Dozens of people took up the opportunity to take part in a range of fun and free activities including arts, crafts, gardening and exercise classes. At the same time, the project has helped them to make new friends and engage with the wider community, including volunteers recruited as part of the project.
During the party at St Bertelin’s Church Hall in Holmcroft Road, Stafford, Mr Lefroy said: “It’s lovely to be invited to this party which celebrates an excellent project that’s so important to people who may find themselves on their own following the loss of a loved one, for example.”
As well as tucking into a fantastic buffet lunch, guests at the party also enjoyed a dance and sing-along led by local artist Holly Reynolds who performed a string of hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
BeConnected Project Worker, Susan Cooke, commented: “Everyone had a thoroughly great time and the party proved a fitting way to celebrate a programme that has already made a real difference to the lives of those who’ve taken part.
“It’s also provided a boost for carers, giving them the opportunity for a well-earned break and also the volunteers who’ve really enjoyed the chance to support their local community.”
Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) is the largest social landlord in Stafford with around 6,000 homes across Stafford, Stone and the rural villages across the Borough. Established in 2006 to own and manage the former Stafford Borough Council housing stock, SARH set up a trading subsidiary company Housing Worx, to deliver planned maintenance works to its properties and fulfil commercial contracts in 2012. SARH also offers 18 Independent Living schemes for people aged over 55 and an award winning Telecare home safety and personal security system for the elderly and vulnerable. SARH has invested more than £100 million on improvement and regeneration programmes and building over 500 high quality new homes for rent and shared ownership which have benefited SARH customers by improving neighbourhoods and creating job opportunities for local people. The housing association works in partnership with local authorities, health trusts, statutory bodies and a range of voluntary organisations to create safe, sustainable communities where residents can ‘Live, Work and Grow’.
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With Valentine’s Day around the corner and more than 45 percent of all U.S. adults being single, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018's Best & Worst States for Singles.
To help unattached Americans improve their chances of finding love, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 27 key indicators of dating-friendliness. The data set ranges from share of single adults to movie costs to nightlife options per capita.
Best States for Singles
Worst States for Singles
1
California
41
Oklahoma
2
Florida
42
Kansas
3
New York
43
Wyoming
4
Texas
44
New Mexico
5
Pennsylvania
45
North Dakota
6
Wisconsin
46
Kentucky
7
Massachusetts
47
Mississippi
8
Illinois
48
Alabama
9
Ohio
49
West Virginia
10
Arizona
50
Arkansas
Best vs. Worst
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-singles/31667/
