McConnell dedicates robotics lab Friday

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., visited Western on Friday to attend the dedication of a robotics lab for which he helped get federal money.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Lab will give students in the architectural and manufacturing sciences department the tools they need to create machinery that’s as efficient as possible and gain the experience they need to succeed, said Robert Neyehaus, a graduate of the department who spoke at the dedication.

McConnell said he doesn’t want anyone at Western to think that the money spent funding the program worsened the financial problems of the federal government.

The money would have just gone to a university in another state, but he was able to keep it for Western, he said.

McConnell also praised President Gary Ransdell for his leadership and said their jobs are similar.

“They’re both like being an overseer at a cemetery,” McConnell said. “Everyone’s under you, but nobody’s listening.”

—Laurel Wilson

Transition to cooling begins on campus

Charlie Jones, Western’s new director of Facilities Management, announced yesterday — his first day on the job — plans to make the transition on campus from heating to cooling.

According to an e-mail from Jones, officials have started to turn off steam heaters in order to prepare to turn on the cooling systems.

If warm weather continues as forecasted, officials will activate building chillers and air conditioning this week, Jones said.

Dorms will get first priority for air conditioning, because students live there. Buildings with windows that don’t open will be air conditioned before buildings with windows that do open, according to the e-mail.

Air conditioning will be activated on a first-come, first-serve basis as requested by building coordinators, Jones said.

—Tessa Duvall

Downtown officials find potential hotel developer

Mary Cohron, chairwoman of the Warren County Downtown Economic Development Authority, said the group received a letter of intent last week from a developer.

The developer wants to build a hotel on Block 12 downtown, which is part of Bowling Green’s Tax Increment Financing district.

Block 12 is the section of land between Center and Kentucky streets near campus where Western plans to build a new alumni center, non-traditional student housing and administrative offices for the campus police department.

Cohron can’t name the developer until it and the Alliance Corporation, the TIF’s master developer, sign an agreement.

She said she anticipates it will be signed later this week. Then, the developer will have about 90 days to conduct studies before committing to build the hotel.

The studies will help the developer determine things such as what type of hotel to build and what rates to charge, Cohron said.

She said about seven developers have shown interest in the project.

—Mary Barczak