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Murray
Time & Temp
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by Aaron
W. Hughey
“The general economy in this area exceeds the national economy,”
according to Larry Elkins, who is currently in his third year as Judge
Executive of Calloway County. “The tax rates in Calloway County are
very favorable and the quality of living is second to none.”
“The recent loss of the Mattel factory was definitely a blow, but
we’ll be fine,” Elkins continues. “Our tax base is pretty
solid.”
Before becoming Judge Executive of Calloway County, Elkins spent 23 years
in local law enforcement.
“Calloway County currently has a population of around 34,000,”
Elkins reports. “We also have about 125 County employees who work
to maintain the roads, the jail, the fee offices, and other things associated
with the general fund.”
“Everyone works together well,” Elkins says. “We all love
what we do and want the best for Calloway County.”
Calloway County was formed in 1822 and contains about 395 square miles.
Originally, it included what is now Marshall County. The County is named
in honor of Colonel Richard Calloway, who had a long association with
Kentucky.
During the Civil War, loyalties of those living in Calloway County were
divided, with about 500 men joining the ranks of the Confederacy, whereas
approximately 200 joined the Federal forces.
The primary crop raised today in Calloway County is tobacco, as it has
been for almost 200 years. At one time, there were 15 tobacco factories
in Calloway County.
The original County seat was Wadesboro. Murray became the County seat
in the early 1800s when many of Wadesboro’s citizens moved away after
much of the surrounding lands had been parceled and sold.
Elkins indicates that Calloway County has always had a very good relationship
with the City of Murray.
“Calloway County works together with the City of Murray on a number
of projects,” Elkins explains. “The expansion of rural water
is a perfect example of how well we cooperate for the common good.”
The City of Murray has extended its water distribution system about 11
miles out into Calloway County; about 200-300 households are affected.
“We are looking to expand the water services even further,”
Elkins adds. “We are also attempting to make sure that the telephone
and cable services that are provided to County residents are state-of-the-art.”
“We are currently in the advanced planning stages of renovation of
the George Weaks Community Center,” Elkins asserts. “As most
folks around here know, that facility was destroyed by fire in December
2000.”
“Calloway County is also looking to renovate the main Courthouse,”
Elkins adds.
As is the case with most everyone in the Murray/Calloway County area,
Elkins is constantly thinking optimistically about the future.
“I would like to see us do a better job of long range planning over
the next few years,” Elkins notes. “I think we are doing fine,
but the future will probably be a little more tricky than the past.”
One of the projects Elkins identifies as important in this regard is Calloway
2020 - Prosperity By Design. This is a citizen-driven initiative to develop
a strategic plan for Calloway County through the year 2020. It seeks to
protect and preserve the unique quality of life in the region while managing
the changes that are bound to occur.
“Another development that will obviously affect us will be the coming
four-lane highways that are currently under construction,” Elkins
observes. “Highway 68/80 is currently being converted to a four-lane
and Highway 641 will be widened between Murray and the Tennessee state
line.”
“The improvements to our highway system are obviously needed,”
Elkins says. “Hopefully, the Bypass will still be close enough to
Hazel that it will not have much of an impact on the businesses there.”
Elkins is obviously happy to be in a position to help Calloway County
meet the challenges that lie ahead.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” Elkins concludes. “There’s
just no other place I’d ever want to be.”
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