Most cooling centers reporting low attendance

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Elizabeth Fields

Story Created: Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:19 PM

Story Updated: Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:50 PM

FULTON, Ky. — The number of cooling centers is the area is increasing but most report low attendance.

The Willingham Community Center at 200 Carr Street in Fulton, Kentucky, has not seen anyone come in just to get cool. That's a big concern for Bill Milliken. He's both a church leader and city commissioner. He said he knows the need is great in their community.

"Sixty-seven percent, I believe, of our population is retired or on fixed incomes," he said. "We're 20.4 percent unemployed so that is a real issue for us. If you talk about increasing your electric bill, many people can't afford that."

He and front desk worker Theresa Patton agree one of the reasons for the low attendance is low awareness.

"We're just trying to get the word out.," Patton said. "Come on in if you're in that heat. We don't want anybody taking sick or anything like that when we have this place."

The center will stay open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday as long as the temperatures are above 100 degrees.

For a compete list of all cooling centers, click here.