May 5, 2010
Moberly honored for
service in legislature

By Brian Smith
Register News Writer

RICHMOND — A crowd of dozens gathered at the Richmond Area Arts Council on Tuesday night as the Chemical Weapons Working Group paid tribute to a retiring local legislator.

State Rep. Harry Moberly of Richmond is leaving the Kentucky General Assembly after 31 years in office, and the working group wanted to honor him for his years of support in destroying chemical weapons stored at Blue Grass Army Depot safely, executive director Craig Williams told the crowd.

“Harry has been with us every step of the way,” Williams said about Moberly's opposition to the construction of an incinerator to destroy the munitions and subsequent efforts to ensure the weapons were destroyed safely.

Williams also took the opportunity to deliver a brief update on the construction of the munitions neutralization plant being built to eliminate the mustard gas and other chemical weapons rounds stored at the depot.

The construction plan has received “full funding” through 2015, Williams said, and plans are being considered to turn the plant over to the depot following destruction of the chemical rounds to allow the depot to destroy conventional weapons rounds as well.

“If this facility is moved over to the depot, that would be an improvement,” Williams said about the depot's current procedures for conventional munitions destruction.

Williams presented Moberly with a certificate in recognition of his service, and Moberly delivered some brief remarks about his work in support of the group's mission.

“I've had a very small part in it,” Moberly said. “It ought to be thanks to the citizens of this community.”

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694. For breaking news, follow Brian on Twitter at twitter.com/RR_BSmith.