By Drew Adams/Madisonville Messenger
Hopkins County, KY – The Hopkins County Sherriff's department was recently awarded over $70,000 in grant funds from the Department of Homeland Security. Much of the funds will go to the ongoing project to convert to a digital radio system. The Madisonville Messenger reports that additional funds for the project have been awarded from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. The new radio system will allow first responders a greater range of communication throughout the county and will provide coverage in areas the current system is unable to reach. The funding will also help the county to become compliant with an F-C-C mandate that all emergency departments operate on a digital system by January 1st, 2013.