By Paco Long-Mendez
Hopkins County, KY – The Hopkins County Sheriff's Department is gearing up to provide better communications equipment for first responders and other agencies. The department recently received federal funding for a new radio system. Sheriff Frankie Latham says the system will enable county-wide communication for first responders, schools, utilities and other agencies. A two-hundred and sixty thousand dollar grant will cover most of the first stage costs. The county will use a portion of W-K-M-S's soon to be completed Madisonville tower site. Once the site is completed it will save the county at least half a million dollars. It will take an expected two to four years to complete the first stage.